Spas of Bohemia in First Class
- 8
- £1,399
- Czech Republic
- Travel to Bohemia with a stopover in Frankfurt
- Historic Karlovy Vary with its thermal springs and 19th century colonnades
- The elegant resort of Marianske Lazne, popular with the likes of Robert Edison, Mark Twain and King Edward VII
- Fabulous 5* spa hotels in both Czech resorts
- Return journey through Germany to Cologne
- Add extra nights & destinations
- Choose alternative hotels
- Let us suggest the most scenic routes
- First Class rail travel with seat reservations.
- 7 nights’ 5-star hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
Depart London on your spa holiday in the morning and after an easy change in Brussels, take a German ICE train in First Class directly through to Frankfurt on the river Main. Check into the Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof Hotel (or similar) for an overnight stay.
After a sumptuous breakfast, head back to the station and make your way east towards Bohemia. There’s a change in Dresden (pictured) where you have time to stop for lunch. If you would like to break your journey, we recommend an overnight stop here. Continuing across the Czech border, continue to Karlovy Vary.
Upon arrival, make your way to the centrally located Grandhotel Pupp (or similar) for your 3-night stay.
Named after Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV, who founded the city in 1370, Karlovy Vary is an elegant spa resort, famous for its hot springs. As well as ‘taking the waters’ (there are 13 main springs to choose from as well as numerous stunning spa buildings), there is also a thermal swimming pool overlooking the city, where you can swim all year round.
Also recommended is the funicular ride up to the Diana Look Out Tower for fabulous panoramic views. If you’re feeling energetic, you can also walk up the hill through lush forest to reach the tower.
A short rail journey brings you from Karlovy Vary to Marianske Lazne, where you have a private transfer waiting to take you to the Esplanade Hotel (or similar) for your 2-night stay.
Also known by its German name of Marienbad, Marianske Lazne has been a popular spa resort for centuries. Nestled in amongst the wooded hills of Bohemia, the town boasts 40 mineral springs and beautiful Art Nouveau architecture. Enjoy spa treatments at the famous Esplanade Hotel itself, or treat a variety of ailments at any number of mineral springs throughout the town.
Leave Marianske Lazne early this morning and make your way back to the station for your train journey back across the German border to Cologne. Change at the border town of Cheb and then again in Nuremberg, arriving into Cologne in the early evening, in time for dinner. Check in for an overnight stay at the conveniently located Excelsior Ernst Hotel (or similar).
TMR RECOMMENDS: If you would like to break your journey, why not stop for a night in Nuremberg? From here, you can take the slower Rhine Gorge route back to Cologne.
Enjoy a morning at leisure in Cologne. Perhaps take a cruise along the Rhine or visit the city’s famous twin-spired cathedral. Those with a sweet tooth will love the Chocolate Museum, which offers a history of the confection, along with tastings.
After lunch, return to the station for your return journey to London via Brussels, with an easy change onto your homeward Eurostar service.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
Established in 1876, Steigenberger Icon Frankfurter Hof is conveniently situated in the financial district of Frankfurt, close to the main station. The bedrooms are furnished in an elegant style with flat-screen TV, air-conditioning and luxury toiletries. There are a choice of restaurants on-site as well as a bar where you can enjoy afternoon tea or an evening drink and an indulgent spa.
Grandhotel Pupp is a luxurious hotel which dates back to 1701. Spacious bedrooms and suites feature traditional furnishings with amenities including a flat-screen TV, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine. Guests enjoy free access to the hotel’s extensive spa facilities which include a swimming pool, sauna and gym. There are also a choice of restaurants and a summer terrace.
A luxurious hotel, the Esplanade Spa and Golf Resort is an Art Nouveau masterpiece, built in 1911. The hotel features extensive spa and wellness facilities including an indoor swimming pool and fitness centre. In the summer, breakfast can be taken on the terrace overlooking the city.
Occupying a great location opposite the famous cathedral in the centre of Cologne, the Excelsior Ernst is one of the ‘Leading Hotels of the World’, with a history dating back to 1863. The Michelin starred Taku restaurant has an Asian-inspired menu and innovative French cuisine is served in the Hanse Stube restaurant. Wi-Fi internet access is available throughout the property.