From the first week of the advent, the traditional Christmas markets fill many North European cities with a wonderful festive atmosphere.
Brightly coloured market stalls, the glow of fairy lights and candles, the delicious scent of hot Glühwein and freshly baked biscuits create a special Advent atmosphere.
Shop for hand-made decorations, traditional specialities and special gifts that you cannot find at home.
A perfect opportunity to take a trip abroad with a difference.
Introduce students to different lifestyles and culture of another country in a magnificent setting at a wonderful time of year!
Curriculum Focus
Accommodation
STS offers a choice of different types of accommodation in Cologne, Valkenburg, Lille and the Black Forest, for Christmas Market tours.
Cologne
Valkenburg
Black Forest
Lille
Cologne
JGH Koln-Deutz A school, group-friendly, centre offering a superb range of on-site activities.
Official Rating: Youth Hostel
Capacity: 520
Location: On the right bank of the River Rhein, within easy walking distance to museums and shopping area. Also near to the U-Bahn or S-Bahn.
Facilities: Lounge area and dining room which can be booked for evening activities.
Accommodation: Bedrooms accommodate 4 students with twins or single rooms for staff. All rooms are ensuite.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
STS also works with other Youth accommodation in Cologne and with the JGH in Bonn.
Valkenburg
Hotel Dupuis This friendly family run hotel has been a popular base for school groups for many years.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 100
Location: Situated in a quiet avenue in a central part of the town.
Facilities: Bar, dining room/recreation area with pool table, TV screen and video games. Disco evenings and Karaoke can be arranged.
Accommodation: In rooms for 4-6 pupils, most with facilities. Additional showers and toilets are to be found on the corridors.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Black Forest
Hotel Anker This renovated, traditional hotel in the Black Forest region of Germany offers a good standard of accommodation and a warm welcome.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 120
Location: In Kippenheim town centre.
Facilities: Attractive dining room (can be used for evening recreation), bar and lounge area. A disco can also be arranged.
Accommodation: In rooms for 2 - 5 people all with private facilities. Twin rooms are available for Party Leaders and accompanying staff.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Lille
Hotel Kyriad, Villeneuve d’Ascq The Hotel Kyriad offers a high standard of accommodation for schools.
Official Rating: 2 Star
Capacity: 180
Location: In the Villeneuve d'Ascq suburb of Lille, close to the Heron National Park, Forum des Sciences Museum, Planetarium, Museum of Modern Art and Archaeological Museum. A bowling alley and indoor swimming pool are also easily accessible by coach.
Facilities: The hotel has its own restaurant, a bar/lounge and additional meeting rooms (subject to availability).
Accommodation: All rooms have full private facilities and TV. Pupils are accommodated 2 - 3 to a room.
Meal Basis: Full Board.
Sample Itinerary - 3 DAYS TO FRANCE (LILLE) CHRISTMAS MARKET BY COACH
Day 1 — Depart School. Connect with a Channel crossing and travel to Lille for evening dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 2 — Full day in Lille to explore the city and its Christmas Market.
Day 3 — Depart after breakfast taking a packed lunch and travel to Bruges. Connect with a late afternoon Channel crossing. Return to school.
Sample Itinerary - 4 DAYS TO GERMANY (BLACK FOREST) CHRISTMAS MARKET BY COACH
Day 1 — Depart school. Connect with a morning Channel crossing. Arrive at your accommodation for evening dinner.
Day 2 — Full day in Strasbourg to explore and visit its Christmas Market at Place de la Cathédrale.
Day 3 — Full day to the Europapark theme park with its Christmas market, Parade, Ice Show and Christmas theme (entrance not included). Alternatively visit Freiburg, the Black Forest capital.
Day 4 — Depart after breakfast taking a packed lunch. Connect with a early evening Channel crossing. Return to school.
Sample Itinerary - 3 DAYS TO GERMANY (COLOGNE) CHRISTMAS MARKET BY COACH
Day 1 — Depart school. Connect with Channel crossing and travel to Cologne for evening dinner and overnight accommodation.
Day 2 — Full day in Cologne to explore the city and its Christmas Markets.
Day 3 — Depart after breakfast taking a packed lunch and make a stop at the historic city of Aachen (2 hours maximum). Connect with an evening Channel crossing. Return to school.
Sample Itinerary - 3 DAYS TO THE NETHERLANDS (VALKENBURG) CHRISTMAS MARKET BY COACH
Day 1 — Depart school. Connect with morning Channel crossing and travel to Valkenburg arriving in the afternoon. Enjoy the Christmas markets. Evening dinner and overnight accommodation in Valkenburg.
Day 2 — Full day in Valkenburg to explore the town and its Christmas markets, or visit Maastricht.
Day 3 — Morning at leisure in Valkenburg depart in the early afternoon to connect with an evening Channel crossing. Return to school.
Towns & Cities Lille, France -
Just a short distance away, this vibrant Flemish city has a rich architectural heritage. Excellent museums and galleries including the second most important art collection outside of Paris. Good shopping and a busy Christmas Market during the advent season. There are around 80 stalls selling local produce and crafts - ideal for Christmas gifts! The Christmas craft market also features a majestic big wheel that rotates to sounds of Christmas carols. A truly magical experience. Markets open: Advent period - dates to be confirmed.
Cologne, Germany - The Christmas market on the Alter Markt is picturesquely situated in Cologne's Old Town. There is also a Christmas market at Neumarkt and a fairy-tale market at Rudolfplatz. By Colognes magnificent Cathedral there is the fascinating Christmas Market “Am Dom”. There is also a Christmas market on a ship moored alongside the Rhein promenade in Cologne's old town and a Mediaeval Christmas market at the Chocolate Museum. Round trip Rhine Cruise available. The Phantasialand theme park at Bruhl has limited opening during the advent period.
Please request further details. Markets open: 27.11.09 - 23.12.09 (dates to be confirmed.)
Bonn, Germany - The illuminated façades on Münsterplatz, Bottlerplatz and Friedensplatz squares and in ajoining pedestrian streets provide the evocative backdrop for the Christmas market in “Beethoven's city”. The historical town hall is transformed into a giant advent calendar. There is a large ice rink at Friedensplatz.
Markets open: 20.11.09 - 23.12.09 (dates to be confirmed.)
Valkenburg, The Netherlands - Valkenburg's has two Christmas Markets, both underground. The town Cave market (Gemeentegrot) is the oldest and largest underground market in Europe. The market is held in the ancient labyrinth of subterranean passageways. The Velvet Cave (Fluweelengrot) is a maze of marlstone caves under the ruins of Valkenburg Castle. Stroll through a labyrinth of decorated passageways with stalls selling goods from all over Europe. Entrance fee applies to both, combined market ticket available.
Market Open 13.11.09 - 20.12.09 (dates to be confirmed.)
Maastricht, The Netherlands - The Vrifthof Square is transformed into a Christmas Wonderland with a skating rink and a 25 metre tall Christmas tree. There is an old-fashioned merry-go-round and a Christmas train. A Christmas Market is held on the edge of the square with more than 50 stands.
Markets open: 27.11.09 - 04.01.10 (dates to be confirmed.)
Aachen, Germany - Around the Cathedral and the town hall numerous stalls offer Christmas specialities.
Markets open: 20.11.09 - 23.12.09 (dates to be confirmed.)
Strasbourg, France - The Christmas market has been a tradition in Strasbourg since 1570. The market is situated in the Place Broglie, Rue de la Comedie, Place de La Cathedrale and Rue des Hallebardes and devotes itself to handicrafts and handmade Christmas decorations. At the Place de la Bare there is a traditional market featuring cakes, pastries and Christmas biscuits. There is an outdoor a giant Ferris Wheel. Special boat trips are available for the winter period.
Market Open: 27.11.09 - 23.12.09. (dates to be confirmed.)
Europapark, Germany Situated close to Freiburg on the edge of the Black Forest. This park offers many rides and attractions. The park will be decorated for the festive season and there will be a Christmas market in the German Alley. A good combination of Theme Park thrills with a traditional German Christmas atmosphere. Special group rates.
Opening approximately from 28.11.09 - 03.01.10 (dates to be confirmed.)
Freiburg, Germany - The capital of the Black Forest. The single spire of the cathedral is one of Europe's great masterpieces of Gothic architecture in Europe. Around the cathedral lies the beautiful Old Town with the colourful Market Square and impressive historical buildings. The Christmas Market is one of Germany's most beautiful; staged in the Town Hall Square where wooden stalls strung with twinkling lights overflow with goodies.
Markets Open: 23.11.09 - 23.12.09. 2009 (dates to be confirmed.)
All dates quoted may be subject to change. Some markets may have limited opening 23/11.
Departing from your school and returning to school by standard touring coach, arriving at your centre on Day 1 and departing from your centre on the final day. Minimum group size: Coach tour price is based on 35 paying passengers. Supplements apply for smaller groups.
Standard Channel Crossing
Ferry: Dover to Calais: 1½
Other channel crossings: Available at a supplementary charge.
Eurotunnel: Folkestone to Calais: 35 minutes platform to platform.
For groups travelling from the North we can provide quotations on P&O North Sea Ferries (overnight sailing) from Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge and superfast ferries Rosyth - Zeebrugge.
Shop for hand-made decorations, traditional specialities and special gifts that you cannot find at home.
A perfect opportunity to take a trip abroad with a difference.
Coach Travel 
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