Valkenburg Christmas Market

Early booking is advised for these great value popular tours to the Dutch town of Valkenburg, experiencing Christmas markets with a difference - staged in the illuminated municipal caves!
Also on this special weekend join the coach to pretty Aachen - where the centre is transformed into a Christmas Village.

Departure points to suit you...
Crusader Holidays uses an interchange system, taking place at either Beaconsfield Services (M40), South Mimms Services (M25/A1M) or Thurrock Services (M25).

Here you may have to change to your holiday coach and we are renowned for ensuring that this is smooth and efficient.

The holiday coaches typically depart from Beaconsfield Services at 11.15, Thurrock Services at around 09.30 and South Mimms Services at 10.30. Some customers find it more convenient to join direct at the interchange, please let is know when booking if this is the case.

*Due to increased operational costs, from Monday 16th October 2023 Dover, Folkestone, Canterbury & Ashford joining points will be subject to a £25.00 per person supplement on all 2024 UK Tours.

NOTE: Pick up points are a guide so please refer to your holiday confirmation for specific locations as details are subject to change.Highlights
- Hotel for 3 nights with breakfast- Last night dinner in the hotel- One evening with live music- Leisure Time in Valkenburg- Included visit to Aachen Christmas Market

Your Itinerary
DAY 1 From your chosen joining point your feeder vehicle will take you to your designated interchange point where your holiday begins. After joining your holiday coach, head to Dover for the short sea crossing to Calais. Drive through France and Belgium and onto your hotel in Valkenburg, Holland for your 3 night stay. First 2 nights with breakfast, last night with dinner included in the hotel.

DAY 2 - 3 At leisure in Valkenburg with one INCLUDED excursion

Visit Valkenburg town centre where you have ample time to explore the shops and the Christmas Market. Valkenburg's Christmas Market is spectacularly held in the Town Cave and the Fluweelengrot (Velvet Cave). Twinkling lights and magic illuminations reflect off the walls and soft Christmas music gently disturbs the serene silence more typical of these surroundings. You will see caverns, decorated niches, stalls with various Christmas items for sale and stalls demonstrating old Dutch trades and handicrafts. On Saturday evening the Christmas Parade passes through the centre of Valkenburg (starts at 19.30).

NB Your free day in Valkenburg is likely to be the Sunday and an entrance fee applies to both caves (not included). In the past few years timed entrance tickets had to be pre-booked and pre-paid online (https://www.christmastownvalkenburg.com/tickets/) with no option to buy these locally at the caves themselves. This is likely to still be the case for 2024 but tickets should not be booked until your tour has been guaranteed to operate as once booked, the tickets cannot be amended or refunded. As a guide, entrance tickets in 2023 were Velvet Cave approx €8.50 pp and Municipal Cave approx €8.50 pp plus booking charges.

INCLUDED EXCURSION
Aachen Christmas Market
For about four weeks before Christmas, the squares and lanes around Aachen Cathedral and the town hall are transformed into a Christmas village. Twinkling lights and the scent of mulled wine and Aachener Printen (kind of gingerbread) wherever you go - and all in a unique atmosphere! It's no coincidence that Aachen Christmas market has regularly made it to the top tenBest Christmas Markets in Europe in recent years.

DAY 4 After breakfast, travel back through Holland, Belgium and France to Calais for your return to England arriving back early to mid-evening.3 Star Hotel .

GRAND HOTEL MONOPOLE, VALKENBURG - 3 STAR
Stay for 3 nights at the family-run Grand Hotel Monopole, which is a firm favourite with Crusader clients.This hotel features a restaurant, terrace and cosy bar with a conservatory. Monopole is located in the centre of Valkenburg, 15 minutes' walk from Thermae 2000 and Holland Casino Valkenburg.Each of the rooms at Grand Hotel Monopole features a TV and bathroom with shower or bath. Some of the rooms benefit from a seating area.

Guests can enjoy a daily buffet breakfast.Lift to all 48 en-suite bedrooms all with TV and telephone.

Please note that porterage is not included at this hotel