LA FRANCE (RA2010)

Hotels


Paris
Mercure Tour Eiffel Suffren (F),

Caen
Mercure Centre (F),

Mont St. Michel
Mercure Mont St. Michel (F),

Tours
Holiday Inn City Centre (F),

Bordeaux
Mercure Château Chartrons (F),

Nîmes
Imperator Concorde (F),

Nice
Boscolo Park (F),

Grenoble
Grand Hotel Mercure Grenoble Président (F),

Dijon
Mercure Clémenceau (F),

Paris
Pullman Paris Bercy (SF)

Meals
Full buffet breakfast (B); 8 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Paris.

Day 1:
(Sun.) Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

Day 2:
Arrive in Paris, France. (Mon.) The day is free to rest or to start exploring the splendid French capital. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and leave the hotel for a welcome dinner with wine at one of Paris’ lively restaurants. After dinner you may wish to join an optional outing to get a first impression of the “City of Light.” (D)

Day 3:
Paris. (Tue.) Sightseeing with a Local Guide features the Arc de Triomphe, Opéra, Madeleine, Louvre, and Champs-Elysées. Visit magnificent NOTRE DAME CATHEDRAL and for a panoramic view, take the elevator to the second floor of the EIFFEL TOWER. Balance of the day at leisure and lots to do. An optional afternoon excursion to the Palace of Versailles and evening excursions are available. (B)

Day 4:
Paris–Rouen–Caen. (Wed.) A pleasant drive through the rural area west of Paris takes you to historic Rouen in the lower valley of the River Seine. Time here for a leisurely stroll along the lovely cobbled Rue du Gros-Horloge leading from the cathedral to the square where Joan of Arc was burned in 1431. Then, continue to Caen and look forward to the highlight of the day: a visit to the fascinating MEMORIAL MUSEUM FOR PEACE. Its great exhibits and audiovisual show focus on the Battle of Normandy. (B,D)

Day 5:
Caen–Normandy Beaches–Bayeux–Mont St. Michel. (Thu.) Drive by the Normandy Beaches on the way to Bayeux. Here, admire QUEEN MATILDA’S TAPESTRY, depicting in extraordinary detail William the Conqueror’s conquest of England. In the afternoon, visit the famous ABBEY OF MONT ST. MICHEL, perched on a rocky isle in the Gulf of Saint Malo. Overnight on the coast near Mont St. Michel. (B,D)

Day 6:
Mont St. Michel–Tours. (Fri.) Enjoy a scenic ride right across Brittany via Châteaubriant to Angers. Stop here for pictures of an impressive 13th-century castle overlooking the River Maine. Then, continue your journey to Tours in the Loire Valley. Tonight is your chance to sample French cuisine at one of the area’s excellent bistros. (B)

Day 7:
Tours. Loire Valley Excursion. (Sat.) A rich day of sightseeing. Visit the jewel of the French Renaissance, Château CHAMBORD, and the 16th-century château of Catherine de Medici, lovely CHENONCEAU. Time to explore on your own. Return to Tours in the late afternoon. (B,D)

Day 8:
Tours–St. Emilion–Bordeaux. (Sun.) First stop this morning is in St. Emilion, world famous for its wines. Enjoy a WINE TASTING before continuing to Bordeaux, and join your Tour Director for a walking tour through this pretty city. (B,D)

Day 9:
Bordeaux–Carcassonne–Nîmes. (Mon.) From Bordeaux to the beautifully preserved, medieval, walled town of Carcassonne for a leisurely walk on the ancient BATTLEMENTS and time to explore the town on your own. Overnight in Nîmes. (B,D)

Day 10:
Nîmes–Pont du Gard–Avignon–Cannes–Nice. (Tue.) Motor through the splendid vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon. At Pont du Gard, admire the Roman Aqueduct, a monumental feat of engineering completed in the year 19 BC. Stop in Avignon for pictures of the magnificent Palace of the Popes and the bridge of the popular song. Next, drive through Cannes, opulent resort of film festivals, on your way to Nice, the sophisticated “Queen of the Riviera.” Later, why not join an exciting optional outing to Monte Carlo? (B)

Day 11:
At Leisure in Nice. (Wed.) Enjoy this enchanting resort on the Côte d’Azur at your own pace. Browse through the elegant shops or stroll along the Promenade des Anglais. Join your Tour Director for a walk through the OLD TOWN and its colorful flower market, and you may wish to join an optional excursion to the famous artist town of St. Paul de Vence. (B)

Day 12:
Nice–Grenoble. (Thu.) This morning, a scenic drive along the famous Route Napoleon through the French Alps past medieval towns to Grenoble. (B,D)

Day 13:
Grenoble–Lyon–Dijon. (Fri.) Your orientation of Lyon includes a panoramic view from FOURVIÈRE HILL with its basilica to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city and its Roman ruins. Then, drive north into Burgundy, where road signs read like the wine list of an expensive restaurant, to Dijon, which was the capital of Burgundy from the 11th to the 15th centuries. During your orientation, hear about the various dukes who ruled over the area, then have the rest of the afternoon to browse the shops and enjoy this charming city. (B,D)

Day 14:
Dijon–Paris. (Sat.) Enjoy a ride on the highspeed TGV train to Paris. In the afternoon, an optional excursion to the Louvre Museum is available, as well as exciting possibilities for an unforgettable night out on the town! (B)

Day 15:
(Sun.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

Don't miss our current specials: Save up to $1,100 per couple on 2010 Greece Cruise & Tour Vacations Save up to $1,100 per couple on 2010 Greece Cruise & Tour Vacation booked by August 31, 2010 It might be easier to list things that can’t trace their origin to Greece. When you travel to Greece, the cradle of western civilization, you will come to understand how these lands could have inspired humanity’s greatest strides. Today, the energy of Athens stands in sharp contrast with the pristine tranquility of the Greek islands. With one foot in the past and another in the future, Greece Cruise & Tour Vacations are sure to capture your heart and engage your mind. - Save $1,100 per couple on Splendors of Greece & Turkey Cruise & Tour - Save $1,100 per couple on Three Continents Cruise & Tour - Save $800 per couple on Jewels of the Aegean Cruise & Tour - Save $580 per couple on Aegean Legends Cruise & Tour *Book a select Globus Greece cruise & tour vacation to receive the discount. Book Footsteps of Apostle Paul for the $40 pp discount, Aegean Legends for $290 pp discount, Jewels of the Aegean for $400 pp discount and Splendors of Greece & Turkey or Three Continents for $550 pp discount. Must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between October 14, 2009 and November 1, 2010 for travel through November 6, 2010. Offer is combinable with other consumer offers. Applies to new 2010 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Tours Discount for young travelers Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations. Pay less for your second vacation We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent. Triple room reduction On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room. Avoid the single room supplement We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!
YOU CAN BOOK THIS TOUR ONLINE. Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/8/2010 - 8/22/2010	$2,879
8/15/2010 - 8/29/2010	$2,889
8/22/2010 - 9/5/2010	$2,889
8/29/2010 - 9/12/2010	$2,899
9/5/2010 - 9/19/2010	$2,899
9/12/2010 - 9/26/2010	$2,899
9/19/2010 - 10/3/2010	$2,889
9/26/2010 - 10/10/2010	$2,889
10/3/2010 - 10/17/2010	$2,889
10/10/2010 - 10/24/2010	$2,879
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

City Highlights


Headsets throughout the tour


Paris:
Welcome dinner at a local restaurant; guided sightseeing, visit the Notre Dame Cathedral, ascend the Eiffel Tower

Rouen:
Walking tour

Caen:
Visit the Memorial Museum for Peace

Normandy Beaches


Bayeux:
Visit Queen Matilda’s tapestry in the Tapestry Museum

Mont St. Michel:
Guided visit of the abbey

Châteubriant:
Morning break

Angers:
Picture stop of the castle

Loire Valley:
Full-day guided sightseeing, visit the Châteaux of Chambord and Chenonceau

St. Emilion:
Wine tasting

Bordeaux:
Walking tour

Carcassonne:
Walk on the ancient battlements

Pont du Gard:
Take pictures of the Roman Aqueduct

Avignon:
Walking tour, take pictures of the Palace of the Popes and Pont d’Avignon

Cannes:
Drive through the film festival town

Nice:
Walking tour of the Old Town

Lyon:
Orientation including Fourvière Hill

Dijon:
Orientation

Dijon–Paris:
By TGV trainNote:In the rare event that the TGV train is unavailable, alternative services will be provided.

Price Details US
Single room supplement: $793Triple room reduction per person: $13Extra nights per person in Paris:in single room $284, in twin room $152, in triple room $147

Save up to $1,100 per couple on 2010 Greece Cruise & Tour Vacations

Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus Tours

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