Here is the update itinerary for our Spring trip to Germany:
Meeting the group in Zuerich on April 10th
Spend the first night in Zuerich exploring this wonderful city
Heading towards Germany the next day, we will spend 2-3 days in the Southern German area between the Blackforest and the River, where delicous food and Pinot rules. We'll have an opportunity to "spaaaahhh" in the town of Badenweiler with it's incredible thermal baths.
Off to Alscace-Lorraine, where German and French culinary culture create the most memorable experiences, including a spectacular flower festival.
The last few days we will spend in Freiburg, on the German Riviera, for hikes shopping and more great food and wine, before heading back to Zuerich to depart on April 20th .
Brigitte, your personal guide was born and raised in Freiburg , Germany and will show you places and points of interest that are not available through guidebook or travel agents. This is a personalized tour and the itinerary may be changed slightly to accommodate group preferences.
This is a small and personalized tour with a maximum of 8 participants, so book early.
Cost is $2,200 per person in a double room, $2,500 in a single room
included: transportation starting and ending at Zuerich hotel, mostly by train or private coach
10 nights in comfortable hotels/bed and breakfast inns
daily breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
daily guide for shopping touring, etc.
not included: personal expenses, additonal meals, shopping, insurance, flight to and from Zuerich.
Deposit of $500.00 due by February 5, 2011, balance due March 15, 2011
Brigitte will assist with planning additional intineraries or other ports of entry.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
TIPPING
A pet peeve of mine...tipping. Restaurant servers are now tipped between 15-20 percent of the bill. In a good restaurant servers make more money than a trained chef. Although most do a good job of taking care of guests, rarely do any servers have professional training and pick up information along the way. In the hospitality industry many others who serve and take care of guests are forgotten. We know, gratuity is exactly that... a gracious gesture of a guest to a service person. Some guests are not are aware or unsure of whom to tip, so I am taking the liberty to remind everyone, that if you have received service and care beyond the basic and you want to show your gratitude, remember the following service people:
Housekeepers/Maids - they make your bed, empty your trash, clean your toilet and pick up your socks, they make between $8 - $10 per hour, you don't see them, they take care of your needs in a very unglamorous way. Why don't they get $15%???
Front Desk personnel - they take care of your forgotten toothbrush, your dinner reservation, your limo or cab ride and recommend the locals favorite places to go, they earn between $8-$15 per hour.
Kitchen staff/Chef - if your dinner was exeptionally delicious, the chef and the kitchen staff is to be credited, so tip your server, but don't forget to leave a tip (or a beer) for the chef and his crew. Kitchen staff make between $8 - $14 per hour, chefs about $20-$25 after expensive culinary training and years of experience.
Breakfast included in your room rate? The person bringing breakfast to you and refilling your juice and coffee is a server too, so c'mon leave a few dollars, they make minimum wage!
Massage therapists - although they make between $40-$60 per hour, they too have to have expensive training and licenses, insurance.. and hey they have to work on your naked body and get out all the kinks...that's almost charity work!
Your tour guide driving you to wineries and other places, this person gives you all the inside info and personal care, although these trips are not cheap, insurance alone is a killer.
Owners of a small businesses - if they perform regular staff duties, any above, they do it to give you a special experience and these small inns/restaurant don't make enough money where the owner just wlks around and shakes hands. They are doing the job, let them know with a nice tip that you appreciate them too!
So you wonder why small hospitality businesses pay so little? Well there aren't any small business owners who are wealthy, we make it work as best as we can, especially in areas with (still) high priced real estate...it's the banks who collect and profit.
Small business owners love what they do and love the interaction with their guests and customers, they are what America is all about, remember?? SUpport them, show them your appreciation.
Thank you! Brigitte
Housekeepers/Maids - they make your bed, empty your trash, clean your toilet and pick up your socks, they make between $8 - $10 per hour, you don't see them, they take care of your needs in a very unglamorous way. Why don't they get $15%???
Front Desk personnel - they take care of your forgotten toothbrush, your dinner reservation, your limo or cab ride and recommend the locals favorite places to go, they earn between $8-$15 per hour.
Kitchen staff/Chef - if your dinner was exeptionally delicious, the chef and the kitchen staff is to be credited, so tip your server, but don't forget to leave a tip (or a beer) for the chef and his crew. Kitchen staff make between $8 - $14 per hour, chefs about $20-$25 after expensive culinary training and years of experience.
Breakfast included in your room rate? The person bringing breakfast to you and refilling your juice and coffee is a server too, so c'mon leave a few dollars, they make minimum wage!
Massage therapists - although they make between $40-$60 per hour, they too have to have expensive training and licenses, insurance.. and hey they have to work on your naked body and get out all the kinks...that's almost charity work!
Your tour guide driving you to wineries and other places, this person gives you all the inside info and personal care, although these trips are not cheap, insurance alone is a killer.
Owners of a small businesses - if they perform regular staff duties, any above, they do it to give you a special experience and these small inns/restaurant don't make enough money where the owner just wlks around and shakes hands. They are doing the job, let them know with a nice tip that you appreciate them too!
So you wonder why small hospitality businesses pay so little? Well there aren't any small business owners who are wealthy, we make it work as best as we can, especially in areas with (still) high priced real estate...it's the banks who collect and profit.
Small business owners love what they do and love the interaction with their guests and customers, they are what America is all about, remember?? SUpport them, show them your appreciation.
Thank you! Brigitte
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