The ARS/DRG 2018 International Rhododendron Conference in Europe

An archive of past alerts and other emails is available at http://ars2018.org/archive/

Alert!   Registration Closed, Mar. 15
All Payments were Due Fri., Mar. 30

Overall Description of the Conference

Download the Conference 4-Page Brochure (PDF)

The 2018 ARS Convention will be hosted by the Deutsche Rhododendron Gesellschaft (DRG) in Bremen, Germany. There will be 3 optional tours before the Convention and one optional tour after the Convention. The first pre-tour in the Netherlands will be hosted by the Dutch Chapter of the ARS. It will start on Monday, May 7, 2018, in Amsterdam. The second pre-tour in Germany will be hosted by the DRG. The third pre-tour in Denmark and Sweden will be hosted by the Danish and Swedish Chapters. The post-tour in Finland will be hosted by the Finnish Chapter. Attendees are responsible to make their own way to their first hotel and to make their way home from the last hotel. All tours connect with the next tour. See the other tabs on this website to learn more about the tour options, the tour gardens, the hotels, the speakers and registration.

Convention Details: Dates, Costs, What's Included

The following is the pricing for the optional tours and Convention. Note: the tours are optional, the Convention is not. If you book adjacent tours, there are no gaps. Rooms are priced per person for double occupancy and single occupancy. Registration is offered on a first come, first served basis. Some tours are full. Others are filliing up. To avoid problems, get your reservation in early.

Payment information depending upon their itinerary will be sent each registrant.

Add all desired

Dutch
Pre-Tour 1

German
Pre-Tour 2

Danish-Swedish
Pre-Tour 3

Convention
in Bremen

Finnish
Post-Tour

Dates

May 7-12

May 12-14

May13*-20

May 20-27

May 27-31

Choice

Optional

Optional

Optional

Mandatory

Optional

Cost:
(Euros)

1,018 € double
1,325 € single†

292 € double
398 € single†

1,236* € double
1,730* € single†

1,855 € double
2,279 € single†

1,325 € double
1,547 € single†

Start

Amsterdam, Neth.

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Included:

G=Garden Tours
S=Speakers
B=breakfast
L=lunch
D=dinner
H=hotel

May  7,            D,H
May  8, B,G,L, D,H
May  9, B,G,L,D,H
May 10,B,G,L,D,H
May 11,B,G,L,D,H
May 12,B,G,L,     

May 12,            H
May 13,B,G,      H
May 14,B,G,L,       

May 13,            H*
May 14,B,G,L,    H
May 15,B,G,L,D,H
May 16,B,G,L,    H
May 17,B,G,L,    H
May 18,B,G,L,    H
May 19,B,G,L,    H
May 20,B,G,L,       

May 20             H
May 21,B,      D,H
May 22,B,S,L,D,H
May 23,B,G,L,D,H
May 24,B,G,L,D,H
May 25,B,S,L,D,H
May 26,B,G,L,D,H
May 27,B,               

Train to Hamburg
Plane to Helsinki

May 27,              H
May 28,B,G,L,D,H
May 29,B,G,L,D,H
May 30,B,G,L,    H
May 31,B,             

End

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Bremen, Germany

Helsinki, Finland

* Those on both the German Pre-Tour 2 and the Danish-Swedish Pre-Tour 3 will receive a 70 € credit per person double and a 140 € credit single for the night of May 13. The Danish-Swedish Pre-Tour 3 starts with an overnight in Bremen on the 13th before leaving for Denmark on the morning of the 14th with a stop at Hachmann's Nursery en route. The duplication of hotel and meals shown in the chart will not actually occur, instead there will be the credit.

† Double means per person double occupancy. Single means per person single occupancy.

†† If choices are not contiguous, you must arrange your own lodging the missing nights.  If you would like
travel agent assistance arranging additional lodging or booking your flight, indicate under remarks.

  • 1st Pre-Tour:  May 7 to May 12, 2018, Netherlands: starting in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and visiting Dutch Gardens including Keukenhof Gardens. It will be hosted by the Dutch Chapter of the ARS.
  • 2nd Pre-Tour:  May 12 to May 14, 2018, Germany: connecting in Bremen, Germany, and visiting RHODO 2018 Rhododendron Festival in Westerstede, Germany and the famous Hobbie Rhododendron-Park on May 13. On May 14 we will visit Hachmann Nursery in Barmstedt in the morning. It will be hosted by the DRG.
  • 3rd Pre-Tour:  May 13* to May 20, 2018, Denmark & Sweden: starting in Bremen and visiting public & private gardens in Denmark & Sweden. In the afternoon of May 14 we will cross the border into Denmark and visit the first of many private gardens in Denmark and South Sweden. It will be hosted by the Danish and Swedish Chapters of the ARS.
    *Note, this tour starts with an overnight in Bremen on the 13th before leaving for Denmark on the 14th with a stop at Hachmann's Nursery enroute.
  • Convention:  6-day Convention in Bremen, Germany, from May 21 to 26, 2018, including 3 tour days. It will consist of tours of German gardens, programs by an international array of speakers, and the annual meetings of both the ARS and the DRG. It will be hosted by the DRG.
  • Post-Tour:  May 27 to May 31, Finland: starting in Bremen, Germany, and visiting gardens in Finland. This tour includes train from Bremen to Hamburg, air from Hamburg to Helsinki, and hotels and travel in Finland. This tour ends in Helsinki on the morning of May 31. Participants must book their own travel plans from Helsinki. It will be hosted by the Finnish Chapter of the ARS.

You are responsible to be at the hotel on your tour's start date and to make your own reservations after the finish date. If choices are not contiguous, you must arrange your own lodging the missing nights.

Return to Top


JARS Articles & Itineraries

Articles published in the Journal of the ARS provide detailed information on the convention & the tours.
Itineraries have hotel contact information and daily listings & map of the gardens & hotels.

ARS 2018 Convention Overview and Registration - Fall 2017 JARS

Dutch Pre-Convention Tour - Summer 2017 JARS (Itinerary & Map)

German Pre-Convention Tour - Fall 2017 JARS (Itinerary & Map)

Danish & Swedish Pre-Convention Tour - Fall 2017 JARS (Itinerary & Map)

Convention Gardens Tours and Lectures - Fall 2017 JARS (Itinerary & Map)

Finnish Post-Convention Tour - Spring 2017 JARS (Itinerary & Map)

Return to Top


Maps of ARS 2018 Tours

clicks arrows in lower corners to change maps

slide slide slide slide slide

clicks arrows in lower corners to change maps

Return to Top


ARS 2018 Tours PDF and Power Point Presentations

The following PDF and PowerPoint presentations describe the Convention and the garden tours. For an overview of the tours and Convention with maps, visit the Home page. For a preview of the garden tours, visit the Gardens page. To see the Convention program speakers visit the Speakers page. Note: the pre-tours and post-tour are optional.

Denmark-Sweden Pre-Tour - Bremen - Post-Tour

Denmark-Sweden

Denmark-Sweden Pre-Tour Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top

Denmark-Sweden

Germany Pre-Tour and Bremen Convention Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top

Finland

Finland Post-Tour Presentation (PowerPoint) (PDF)

Return to Top

Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional

Last Updated: April 8, 2018