"Uber-Geeking out at the Essen Spiel in Germany" Tour

Tour Dates: October 17-28, 2011

Pre-Registration Open

***Hello all.  Geek Nation Tours and BoardGameGeek are re-scheduling our Essen tour because of some logistics and timing issues to 2011.  Start saving as next year is sure to be a go!!!  Next year's tour is now open for pre-registration so if you really want a spot you might want to secure it now here.  The exact dates and prices will be announced January 2011.  Email me at headgeek@geeknationtours.com any time for more information.  For reference we have kept the tentative 2010 information below so everyone can see what we have in mind for 2011.

Derk and I would like to thank all of you that have expressed interest, given suggestions, and of course would like to apologize to all those that booked this year. We are however very excited about next year - it is sure to be a blast***


The ultimate convention for board gaming Geeks is the Essen Spiel in Germany.  Game to your heart’s content at the Internationale Spieltage Spiel.  Four days of the world’s biggest gaming convention for board gaming, role playing games, card games and much much more.  There will be gaming designers and publishers demonstrating their newest games, retailers selling games at discount, live action role playing, computer games and comic books.

Join us as we cruise down the Rhine, eat bratwurst and drink beer at a traditional brew house, visit Koln Cathedral, crash the gates of the Essen Internationale Spiel, and eventually end up in Amsterdam.  This is a huge trip – 12 days – and we have a lot in store for you.

Of special note, Derk Solko from boardgamegeek.com will not only be joining us on the tour, but will also be offering advice at our “How to get the best out of your Essen Spiel” Dinner.  It is sure to be both informative and also a great deal of fun.

I will be coming along as normal but this will be a double team event.  My wife Christine will be on the tour as she is fluent in German and will be a great asset throughout the tour. Even better, Christine’s family is from Dortmund – just a few cities away from Essen - so she's familiar with this part of Germany. For those not wanting to “Spiel” you can join Christine as she explores the sites in and outside of Essen.  I will of course be Spieling out with the rest of you and offering Geek Nation Tours support during the Convention.

October 17 – Day 1 - Travel from Toronto or your home city to Frankfurt.  Airfare from any originating city can be arranged.  Send us your details and we will send you a quote.

October 18 – Day 2 – Arrive at Frankfurt Airport.   Our group is met by our German tour guide and we transfer to our hotel for a bit of relaxation and free time.  We will be picked up in the evening for a quick city tour and end up in one of the oldest parts of Frankfurt, Sachsenhausen, which houses loads of restaurants and bars.  There, we will have a welcome dinner and get to know each other.

October 19 – Day 3 – The tour will start in the morning with a drive through one of the best winemaking regions in Germany - passing the Eberbach monastery where “The Name of the Rose" was filmed.  We then reach Sankt Goarshausen, and one of the most scenic spots on the Rhine - Lorelei Rock.

From here, we board a Rhine river steamer and take a leisurely cruise down the Rhine River.  We will be served a 3 course lunch onboard while we enjoy the sites.

Upon reaching the town of Rudeshiem we can stroll down Drosselgasse – its cultural heart. We then head up by gondola over the vineyards to visit Niederealddenkaml monument, which commemorates the victory over France in the Franco – Prussian War in 1871.  We then visit the engineering spectacle of Siegfried’s Mechanical Musical Instruments museum.  These self-playing music cabinets are a wonder to see and hear.

Afterwards, we'll be treated to a four course dinner in a cosy wine tavern in Rudesheim – live music and all.

After dinner, a short drive will return us to our Frankfurt hotel.

October 20 – Day 4 – Today we check out of our Frankfurt hotel  and go exploring the city of Cologne - famous not only for the cathedral, perfume and much much more. 

After our city tour we will have some free time to continue our exploration of downtown Cologne.  We will then make a quick transfer to our hotel in Essen.

Upon arrival and check in at our hotel we will be guided by subway to the Essen Spiel site so everyone knows how to get there the next day...When we get back to the hotel we will joined for dinner by Derk from Board Game Geek. Tonight we will have our "How to Get the Best Out of your Essen Spiel" Dinner.  This should not only be an informative evening but loads of fun.

October 21 to 24 – Days 5, 6, 7, and 8 - Time to “Spiel” out.  We have four days of Geeking out and exploring the Essen Spiel in all its grandness. In the evenings we have group dinners each night so we can relate our "Spiel" stories to each other over sausages and beer.  Derk will be on hand for these dinners and so gaming conversations will abound. During the meals we can exchange loads of ideas on how to best use our Essen Speil Geek time.  We will reload and get ready for the next day of Spiel goodness.

Please note that there is a lot to do in Essen for non-geek spouses or those that want a break from the rarefied confines of the Essen spiel. So, if 4 full days at the Spiel is not your thing, Christine will be available to help coordinate and accompany other excursions around Essen and area. Whether it is finding a mall, visiting the local botanical garden or taking in a soccer game, please let us know the specific interests of non-geek spouses when booking so we can plan alternative activities.  Look here to whet your appetite.

While we are at the Spiel Geek Nation Tours will be hiring a taxi cab for the day.  We will figure out a meeting place and the taxi will shuttle all your goodies back to the hotel.  This way you can go crazy when you shop and still stay at the Spiel.

October 25 to 27 – Day 9, 10, 11 After a quick breakfast on the 25th, we will transfer by bus to our hotel in Amsterdam.  Here you will have free time to do as you will, though we will be on hand to take people to various spots in the city over these 3 days.  You can either elect to stay with the tour or explore the city on your own.  For those that want to join us we will be getting together for dinner sometime mid-way through our stay in Amsterdam.

Derk will be joining us on our Amsterdam visit to keep our gaming theme going strong.

Optional Tours: For those that would like to add a bit of sightseeing to their stay in Amsterdam – Geek Nation Tours can plan a multitude of excursions for you.  We have a lot to offer,  including a tours to Delft Blue, The Hague, and the Miniature City of Madurodam (where all of Holland is reduced to 1:25 scale), a Windmills and Edam tour, a Candlelight and Wine Cruise, and for those that are looking for something more relaxing a Day Pass on the Canal Bus.

October 28 – Day 12 - Transfer to the airport and fly to Toronto (or your home city).

Included in the tour: All accommodations, all entrance fees, all transfers, Rhine cruise, breakfasts in Frankfurt, Essen and Amsterdam, Welcome dinner, Rhine River dinner, 4 dinners in Essen and our exclusive “How to get the best out of your Essen Spiel” Dinner.

Price: $2499.00 Canadian Dollars (tax included) for the tour.  That is just over $200.00 per day!

For those that would like to join the tour leaving from Toronto the tour plus airfare would be a total of $3499.00

Keep in mind that Geek Nation Tours only has 49 spots on this tour.  Book soon here to secure your spot.

Deposit: $500.00 upon booking - final due August 1^st 

Essen Only Tour:  Geek Nation Tours wants everyone to be able to join us on our tour.  For those that are in Europe and that would like to join us in Essen only we have that too!!!  Join us for $1000.00 CAD and take part in all we offer on Days 4 to 8.  Including our "How to Get the Best Out of your Essen Spiel" Dinner.  Not only that but it includes any side trips for that" non-Geek Spouse" that Christine will be leading and our soon to be released promo. Please NOTE however, we only have 20 spots for this portion of the trip.  If you are interested please book asap here to secure your spot.

All Prices are based on double occupancy taxes included.

Promotions:

Geek Nation Tours wants to help you with your Game Library! We have arranged two promotions for our Essen tour.  The first one is a draw for $300.00 worth of games shipped straight to your door.  If you book by July 11th you will be entered to win $300.00 worth of games of your choice.  The winner just has to visit the Strategies Games and Hobbies online store and poof you will be getting loads of games.

Not enough? Teras from Geek Nation Tours will be opening his wallet in Essen and will buy $200.00 dollars worth of games for another lucky winner.

The promotional draws are open to everyone.  Those that book land and air, just the tour or the Essen only package.

So there you have it - two gaming shopping sprees! Book Soon!

Non- Geek Spouse argument: Look at the history and splendour of the tour...There is even stuff to do while I “Geek out”. 

Departs from: Toronto or Home City