London, Paris & Venice..... our three favourite cities

Discover the history romance and beauty of these magnificent cities. Spending 4 nights in each, staying in 3 and 4 * hotels, with continental breakfast and guided half day programmes with expert local guides included. Afternoons and evenings are free for relaxing, exploring and indulging your special interests.   [Theatre tickets can be arranged]
DAY 1 - LONDON:    
You will be met at Heathrow, and transferred to Flemings Hotel Mayfair, where Maggie will meet you and introduce your travelling companions. Leaving your luggage behind, we will walk to Green Park Tube Station, to join our first London Walks guide, for an entertaining wander through “Old Mayfair”  until about 12.30pm.  From here on you’re free to continue exploring London, or if you’ve succumbed to jet-lag, an afternoon nap!
Meet again in the evening for our “welcome dinner”.
tower_bridge tube st_pauls_summer restaurant_london eye
DAY 2 - LONDON:
After breakfast, we’ll meet our guide at Hyde Park Corner, for a day “Inside Westminster” to see Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace Gardens, The Changing of the Guard, etc.  There will be time afterwards for further exploring. Perhaps enjoy an ‘Evening Concert by Candlelight’ at the world renowned St Martin-in-the-Fields followed by dinner at ‘The Café in The Crypt’.
DAY 3 - LONDON:
Today’s walk is entitled “Somewhere Else” London.  It will take you to streets of ‘unaltered Dickensian London’ across the River Thames and to a stunning birds eye view of the capital. Stop for some lunch, then spend the afternoon shopping or visiting one [or two] of London’s foremost Galleries or Museums.  Maggie will be happy to give directions and suggestions. For dinner, try one of the many excellent restaurants or bistros within walking distance of the hotel.
swtlondon london city hall harrods double decca bus
DAY 4 - LONDON:
On our last day in London, we’ll start it with a walk “Paved with Gold”. After meeting our guide at Sloane Square Tube, we’ll saunter into the very best of Knightsbridge and Belgravia – “it’s vintage London”. The afternoon is free, once again for your own enjoyment. [Most Galleries and Museums are open till 6pm every day].
DAY 5 - LONDON - PARIS:
Travel from LONDON to PARIS by Eurostar. Approx 2 ½  hrs. Transfer to our hotel in the centre of PARIS for four nights, with breakfast and half day programmes, and time to soak up the beauty of this city.
Once we arrive at the HOTEL ECOLE CENTRALE you can unpack, settle in and start savouring the delights of Paris, perhaps take a River Cruse, and find a typical Parisian Café for dinner.
poplars arcade st_germain
DAY 6 - PARIS:
After breakfast in the elegant breakfast room, we’ll join our local guide on a walking tour of the Marais, with it’s mix of avant-garde and ancient architecture, beautiful gardens and fascinating history.  For lunch, choose a café or buy a baguette and retire to a garden bench, and watch the world go by. Then discover the ultimate street of shoe shops. [a favorite haunt of Maggie!] Crossing the bridge you’ll find yourself on the Ile de la Cite, with the grand Notre- Dame, and the exquisite, hidden treasure, Sainte- Chapelle.
notre dame eiffel seine lunch
DAY 7 - 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. In the afternoon, 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. DAY 8 DAY 8 - PARIS:
Discover St Germain-des-Pres. 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. You’ll find somewhere to lunch, without any trouble. Then choose how to spend your remaining afternoon and evening in the city of love.
paint sac-coer autumn arc

DAY 9 - PARIS - VENICE:
Today we say au revoir to Paris and fly to Venice, where we will settle into Hotel Centauro, in the heart of VENICE. Spend the next three days [four nights] discovering the wonders of this grand city, on foot and vaporetto [water-bus]. Breakfast and half day guiding included each day.  As the sun sets, take a walk with Maggie to Piazza San Marco, and drink in the atmosphere.

DAY 10 - VENICE:
Venice is one of the few cities in the world that can truly be described as unique. The secret to seeing and discovering the real romance and beauty of VENEZIA is to walk. You can become lost for hours in the narrow winding streets, crossing dozens of bridges, with an irresistible photo opportunity at every turn. Spend the morning wandering with Maggie. This is her favourite city in the world, and there’s nothing she loves more, than sharing her passion with new comers. See the Rialto Bridge and markets. Buy a leather handbag, or a piece of jewellery made of glass. Head to the ‘less touristy’ area of Dorsoduro, and sit in Campo Santa Margherita, eat pizza, and watch the Venetians living in their city. Maggie will be happy for you to join her unplanned wanderings for the afternoon. You may like to visit Peggy Guggenheim’s great modern art collection, or the Accademia, home to the world’s greatest collection of Venetian paintings. The choices are endless!
rialto crowd camposm smarcs

DAY 11 - VENICE:
Today, visit the splendid Doges Palace, a triumph of Gothic architecture. This will take time…. In the afternoon you might visit the Basilica di San Marco. See the flooring of intricate designs in marble, and it’s walls of dazzling gilded mosaics, the oldest dating from around 1063. Climb the stairs to the Galleria [not nearly as many as at the Arc de Triomphe!] and be rewarded with wonderful views of the interior, while the terrace offers equally captivating vistas of the Piazza below. [The basilica closes to tourists at 4.30pm]  Treat yourself to coffee at the famous Florian’s café, a ‘bellini’ at Harry’s Bar, a gentle ride on a Gondola.

DAY 12 - VENICE:
After breakfast, we’ll walk to the vaporetto  stop, hop on a No 42, and head across the Lagoon to the Islands of Murano [glass making] and Burano [lace making], where we can enjoy lunch surrounded by the colourful cottages of the island. Return to Venice in your own time, but make sure you get to the Grand Canal before sunset. Enjoy cruising along, as the lights come on, and the sun goes down over the water.
Meet for our ‘farewell dinner’ at a typical Venetian Restaurant.

DAY 13 -   DEPARTURE:

Say arrivederci to our new found friends and set off for further travel or return flights home. Venice airport and railway station are easily accessible and are the step-off point for countless destinations.
PRICE per person: AUD$6870.00 [double/twin share basis]

Single supplement: AUD$900.00 per person.

A deposit of $1000 is required at the time of booking, with the balance due 90days 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 for '09 Tours on 1st February, 2009.

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THREE CITIES INCLUSIONS;

  • Land content only, including 12 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.
  • 12 Continental breakfasts, 2 dinners [first and last nights].
    Airport pick up. Transportation between destinations.
  • Guided half day programmes, using the services of an expert local walking guide as per the Itinerary.
  • Entrance fees to all venues during guided programmes, [museums, churches, etc] as per the Itinerary.
  • A complimentary 2 Day Paris Museum Pass, which provides free entry to over 60 attractions in and around Paris, for use anytime in those 2 days. See www.paris-pass.com
  • A complimentary 3 day Venice vaporetto pass.
  • Your personal guide andprogramme co-ordinator.

NOT INCLUDED;

  • Airfares.
    Meals, apart from breakfasts and 2 dinners.
  • Entrances to museums etc during ‘free time’ [apart from those included in The Paris Museum Pass].
  • Items of a personal nature, [telephone, laundry etc]
  • Travel Insurance. [essential]
 
bridge stmark gondola burano
  Terms and Conditions. Home. ABN 72015845816