We've had more people added to the Joining Us list, and added more to the Definitely Maybe list (people who want to join us but couldn't commit quite yet).

You have until Dec. 1 to get your deposits in, but please let us know now if you plan on, or hope to join us so we can get a head count.

This is going to be a unique and exciting experience to see some of the most beautiful parts of Europe combined with your love of music and the piano.

We will be traveling in comfort on a bus made for touring (with an English speaking guide).
Although piano and music are the focus, we will also be sure to take in the incredible scenery, architecture, food, and people of the areas we visit.
And yes, there will be plenty of opportunities for picture taking (and shopping if you are so inclined).

What are you waiting for? Exclusive and unique trips like this don't come along every day. Go ahead, add your names to the list.

If you haven't done so already, please take a moment to read the first 2 sections of this thread ad they contain all the details.
http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1474102.html

See you in Germany!

Bump...

Keeping this in front of our friends, hoping we can add your name(s) to the list!

I would love to go. This trip looks spectacular! Alas, my finances will probably not allow for it. I will tell anyone that would be interested and can afford to go for you.

Regards,
Jason

frank, what an incredible trip you've put together. clearly a lot of careful thought and planning went into this.

i did a similar tour in 2005 alone, and i can tell you the logistics were extremely challenging to do this on the cheap and figure out everything yourself. just the service of having it all planned out is worth a lot of coin.

if my financial situation improves significantly by next spring, i'd love to join you, but i am pretty sure it won't have improved enough to make a dec. 1 commitment.

to all those who are posting that the trip could be more affordable--certainly it could, but to plan such a trip on your own is incredibly complicated and time consuming--what is your time worth?

it can be very affordable to travel in europe, but that also presents a whole host of other challenges.

i just want to say that i've been to bayreuth and the steingraeber factory--the most exquisite pianos! and the factory itself is like stepping back in time--everything is done by hand. the city is so beautiful.

i've also been to the deustche museum and have played the mozart era piano there. the curator is an incredibly gracious person and the visit to this piano collection alone is worth going on the trip for.

i've been to several of the other stops on the tour, but missed out on going to vienna, and that alone would make me jump on going on this trip, if i could.

so while i, being a poor freelancer, cannot manage the costs right now, i certainly see the incredible VALUE that frank is offering. and i encourage people who are on the fence to consider it from this perspective.

Thanks Pique', I hope you get the opportunity to join us.

Yes, I think it's going to be a very special tour.

Half the fun for me is getting to share it with others who also like the piano.
But even if you aren't a piano lover, this is going to be a fun trip.

Come on folks, we only need a couple more people to move us into the next price bracket where everyone will save over $500.00 !

And a few more after that will get everyone even more savings.

You know you want to join this unique tour.

DO IT!

Anyone else extending their stay?

I have been searching Vienna area for a possible continued stay until Sun. There is something to do both east and west of Vienna. Will probably fly out of Munich as there is a direct route to Boston from there.

It would be nice to visit a cathedral/church on Sun to hear a nice old church organ. Looks like that would be Bayreuth on the 12th (and for extended stay, either Vienna or Salzburg). Anyone else interested or know about an early morning service and church?

Edit
The old church in Bayreuth is All Saints Church - Schlosskirche. Martin Luther's tomb is there. Didn't see anything about the organ yet. Service is at 10

We are considering an extra day or two.
Thinking about heading up to Estonia to visit Indrek's place.

We have members who live in Vienna, perhaps they will chime in with more details about the churches and pipe organs.

I love the sound of a big pipe organ, it's a shame they let the one at the Hammond Castle fall into disrepair. I heard it played by Virgil Fox and E. Power Biggs (separate concerts) years ago. Amazing.

how far is talinn from vienna? would you take a train?

Was thinking of flying, but the train would be an interesting idea.

I'll check with Indrek to see what he suggests.

My 60th birthday is in January 2011 and I'm taking early retirement at the end of March. You know what?... I'm thinking this tour would make a wonderful treat to myself in this special year. And, as I live in northern Germany, the logistics wouldn't be too difficult.

Please count me in as a definite maybe for the time being... I'm just off to do some Euro-Dollar conversions or, could I pay directly in Euros?

Cheers!
Mike

Hi Mike,

What a great treat, I like your thinking.

Hmmmn, do you also read & speak German? :-)

We'd be happy to have you join us.
You can check directly with our travel agent about the Euro/dollar question.

Tour Arrangements Made Through Hills Travel, St. Petersburg, FL

Hill's Travel Service has been around for over 80 years helping make travel
dreams come true. With personal relationships with thousands of airlines,
cruise lines, hotels, resorts and premier destinations worldwide, you are
guaranteed the best pricing and service available. To learn more about Hills Travel or to contact them with questions...
visit www.hillstravel.com or contact Kimberly Winters at 727-896-7161 or
Kimberly@hillstravel.com .


Putting you down as a definite maybe, please let us know when we can move you up to a "Joining the Tour" status :-)

For those of you who plan on joining us on the tour (come on, you know you want to)...

There is an interesting and fun thread about Learning German, and about the cultural differences of Germany & Austria vs America HERE

Alas, having done the calculations, this wonderful tour is out of my financially reach and so I must confine my participation to the Hamburg element, where I hope to join you all for the Steinway visit.

Also, I'm already planning a return trip to New York (went there in February this year) and another visit to Carnegie hall.

My very best wishes to all participants for what will, I've no doubt, be an unforgettable experience.

Viele Grüße
Michael

Sorry to hear you won't be joining the full tour Michael.

Looking forward to meeting you in Hamburg though, and perhaps we'll meet
up in NY some time.

Speaking of the financial calculations, we only need a few more people to
make it into the next price category, where EVERYONE SAVES $530.00!

Come on folks, this is an adventure of a lifetime ... JOIN US!

I'm still trying to make this work, so I am a maybe (with spouse). Will there be some fine beers tasted during the trip:)

Sounds like fun!

Great ryawarr!

I see this is your first post. Tell us a little about yourself somewhere here on PW! I see you own a Schimmel from your sign-in. I bet there will be more than one beer tasting evening! Me? I wanna try the wines!

By the way, if any of you know of any travel, social sites, other piano/music sites, etc. where you can mention this one-of-a-kind tour, please feel free to help us promote it.

We would certainly appreciate the help, and you'd be doing piano/music lovers a favor by letting them know about this adventure.

The more people we have the better the pricing for everyone.

(think Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn, travel sites, etc.).

Note that you can also use the Facebook and Twitter icons at the bottom of the page to help us spread the word.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give us in spreading the word about this unique fun-filled adventure for piano and music lovers.

Please note that although the first payment is due by Dec. 1st, you will still have until March 1st to change your mind.

(cancellations between Dec.1 and March 1 will be subject to a $100.00 handling fee).

Come on folks, you know you want to join us. Just look over the itinerary and check out some of the pictures. This is going to be a very memorable adventure.

Join us, and please tell your friends about the piano & music tour of Europe.

Those of us going could each pay a little for a couple of "ghost" tour members so we could each save the $500!

If you really want to promote this tour, post the tour page link http://www.pianoworld.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/1474102.html on Facebook. That's what I did.

A thought, but I'd rather have real people joining us.
Believe me there are lots of people on the sidelines trying to decide if this should be their big trip. Look at the itinerary folks, of course it should you should join us!

Some people are even planning on arriving early and/or leaving later to visit other places while they are in Europe. In fact Kathy and I are considering staying a little extra to jump up to Estonia so we can visit our friend Indrek's piano shop.

Agree 100%. And I do think we will have significantly more enthusiasts join us. My wife and I are really looking forward to this trip!

TIP:

Watch for flight savings.

I have been watching for a few weeks. Checked Expedia, Travelocity, Trip Advisor and the airlines themselves.

I was surprised to see that Travelocity today was just the best I have seen for my first choice. - almost $300 savings over the airlines themselves.

Also note the changes in time. Leave USA Sat, get there Sun. I had to book for Fri leaving to get there on Sat. If I left on Sat I would not have arrived until Sunday later than our Sun beginning outing.

Yes I will need to book an overnight on Sat in Hamburg but better to have that and another day to enjoy Germany than to pay the airlines for a Sat expensive flight, right?

If anyone else has Sat free, let me know. I might enjoy traveling around with you!

BTW, I am not comfortable with paying extra price for a single with this tour. More on that later.

By the way everyone, you should know that Udo Steingraeber and his family are postponing the start of their vacation just to accommodate us.

I told him they didn't need to do that, he insisted.

A real gentleman and a great representative of the family business.

This is Udo with with his C212

Udo is so classy that I bet he'll gift us all with a new 212 and the rest of you will be sooooo jealous!

(she dreams!!!)

I'm gonna need a bigger carry-on.

Frank- is Hills travel teh same travel group who arranges the cruises?

No, the cruise was arranged by a guy I ran into while we were driving to Key West one weekend, his is a one person operation.
Although he did ok, for a number of reasons I will not be using him next time.

We chose Hills because they have experience in Europe and in fact have people over there (and they are based in St. Petersburg, FL 20 minutes from my house). They have a good reputation and seem to really know their stuff.

Just a small pointer, your picture titled "Bayreuth" on the first page does in fact show a picture of lovely Heidelberg, also my hometown! Pictured is the Heidelberg castle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_Castle

May I suggest this picture of Bayreuth as a replacement?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Marktplatz_Bayreuth.JPG