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Fabulous France - Chic, Shutters & Chateaux
During this 16 day Guided Holiday of Fabulous France, You’ll spend a
full week in Paris, five nights in Provence and four in the Loire
Valley. You’ll visit the famous sites you’ve dreamt of seeing, as well
as those little out of the way places you might have missed on your
own. You’ll stay in carefully selected 3 and 4 * hotels and a
real 17th Century Chateau. Breakfast and guided half day and full
day programmes with expert local guides, the Paris Museum Pass, as well
as ‘welcome’ and ‘farewell’ dinners. Most afternoons and evenings are
free for indulging your special interests and relaxing.
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DAY 1 PARIS:
Arrive
Paris. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to our small
hotel in the chic area of the Marais. With it’s mix of avant-garde and
ancient architecture, beautiful gardens and fascinating history, it is
perfect for our week in Paris. Being within walking distance of many of
the sites we’ll be visiting is a real bonus.
We’ll check in, unpack and meet each other. In the afternoon
we’ll venture out and start savouring the delights of Paris. Maggie
will lead an orientation walk around the area to get our bearings. You
can choose to continue and we’ll cross the river to the Ile de la Cité, and visit the exquisite, hidden treasure, Sainte Chapelle
or if you’ve succumbed to jet-lag, back to the hotel for an afternoon
nap! Meet at 6.30pm for a pre dinner drink before our “welcome dinner”
in a nearby bistro.
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DAY 2 PARIS:
After
breakfast we’ll meet our local guide for the first of our daily
walks. We’ll see Notre Dame – learn about the cathedral’s
history, architecture, detailed façade and the coronation of a famous,
albeit short, emperor. Then we’ll follow the River Seine and come upon
the Louvre Museum – former seat of the French throne and now the
grandest museum in the world. Musée D’Orsay – world famous for its
Impressionist collection.
Lunch - settle down at a charming café nestled in the Tuileries Gardens
or buy a baguette from a street stall. Place de la Concorde – site of
royal beheadings during the Revolution. And finally the Champs-Elysées
– perhaps the most famous avenue in the world. The afternoon and
evening are free. You might like to head back to the Louvre [open till
10 tonight]or the Musée D’Orsay [open till 6pm] for some fabulous art
and architecture. Or [window] shop on the Champs-Elysées! |
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DAY 3, PARIS:
Discover St Germain-des-Prés. With its wonderful cross section of
Paris, the old abbey church of St Germain, the oldest church in Paris,
the stately St Sulpice with beautiful murals by Delacroix, charming
streets, old squares, artists' studios, famous literary cafes,
and the hotel where Oscar Wilde died. Choose somewhere to lunch, from
the dozens of cafes and bistros in the area. The afternoon and evening
are free. Perhaps take a river cruise or see a show.
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DAY 4 PARIS:
The
day of heights – A walking tour of The Village of Montmartre. See one
of the stunning landmarks of the Paris skyline; the Basilica of
Sacre-Coeur. Lunch while watching the street artists, painting, as
painters have done for 200 years. Afternoon and evening are free, if
you’re feeling energetic, climb the 274 steps to the top of the Arc de
Triomphe. The view really is worth the effort! To finish
the day, be at the Eiffel Tower for the light show at sunset. |
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DAY 5 PARIS:
Today
is completely free for you to choose. The Louvre is open today, as are
the shops! Or find a café on the street or a garden bench, sit
back and watch the world go by. Enjoy your ‘day off’. |
DAY 6 PARIS:
The
Grand Palace and Gardens of Versailles is the order of the day
today. An all day excursion by train from Paris. We’ll be
back in time for dinner. |
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DAY 7 PARIS:
Perhaps
you’ll say we’ve kept the best till last! We’re heading out of
Paris again, this time to a very different house and garden – that of
the famous Impressionist painter Claude Monet, in the village of
Giverny. Have your camera charged! We’ll be back in time for
dinner. |
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DAY 8 PARIS to PROVENCE:
Time
to say ‘Au revoir’ to Paris. We’ll head south on the fast
train, the TGV to Provence. Sit back and relax for the 3 hr journey.
Contemporary Avignon (ah-veen-yohn) bustles and prospers behind its
mighty walls. Our wonderful hotel is right in the medieval
centre. Unpack, settle in then we’ll take a wander to get our
bearings. We’ll visit the monumental Palace of the Popes and the
surprising Sur le Pont d'Avignon. Evening free. |
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DAY 9, 10, 11, PROVENCE:
For
the next three days we’ll wander the countryside and coastline of this
stunningly beautiful region. With our own English speaking
driver/guide, we can relax in the comfort of the mini-bus. We’ll
make frequent stops for photos, coffees and walks in quaint
villages. We’ll see towns clinging to the side of hills, deep
gorges, Roman ruins, rolling hills, beautiful abbeys and the azure
Mediterranean. Drop into Market Day and see how the locals shop. We’ll
visit wineries for wine tasting, watch artists at work, and see why Van
Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso, Renoir, and Matisse where drawn to this magical
place. |
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DAY 12, AVIGNON:
A free day for you to do as you please!
DAY 13, PROVENCE to LOIRE VALLEY:
Pack
up, we’re on the move today. We’ll catch the TGV again to our
final destination – A real 17th Century Chateau in The Loire
Valley. What a treat! Set in beautiful extensive grounds, our
hosts will welcome us to this very special accommodation, where we will
have time to relax as well as seeing the wonderful sights this region
has to offer. We can dine ‘in house’ this evening. |
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DAY 14, 15, 16, LOIRE VALLEY:
After breakfast each morning, we’ll set off in our mini-bus for a
half-day sight seeing adventure, visiting the famous chateaux, wineries
and fascinating villages set among the rivers and hillsides of this
beautiful Valley. Afternoons and evenings free, apart from Friday
when we’ll come together for our ‘Farewell Dinner’.
DAY 17 DEPARTURE: We’ll travel back to Paris airport for our journey home [or for further travel].
Price per person, [double/twin share basis] AUD$7770.00. Single supplement AUD$950.00 per person
A deposit of $1000 is required at the time of booking, with the balance due 90 days prior to departure. Payment by credit card via Pay Pal, is available, with a surcharge of 1.3%, or by direct deposit or personal cheque.
Min 4, Max 7 people. Bookings close 1st February 2009. |
For further information or to book this holiday call Maggie on +61(0) 410 412 036.
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FABULOUS FRANCE INCLUSIONS;
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Land
content only, including 16 nights in 3* or 4* accommodation, carefully
selected for its character and position [always in the centre of town].
Twin/share or single [with supplement], all with private
facilities.
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16 Continental breakfasts, 2 dinners [first and last nights].
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Airport pick up. Transportation between destinations.
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7
guided half day and 7 full day programmes, using the services of an
expert local walking guide or driver/ guide in mini-bus.
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2 free days as per the Itinerary.
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Entrance fees to all venues during guided programmes, [museums, chateaux, etc.] as per the Itinerary.
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A
complimentary 4 Day Paris Museum Pass, which provides free entry to
over 60 attractions in and around Paris, for use anytime in those 4
days. See www.paris-pass.com
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Your personal guide and programme co-ordinator.
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NOT INCLUDED;
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Airfares.
Meals, apart from breakfasts and 2 dinners.
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Entrances to museums etc during ‘free time’ [apart from those included in The Paris Museum Pass]
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Items of a personal nature, [telephone, laundry, etc.]
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Travel Insurance. [essential]
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