Paris is lovely, even in January! The days will be grey, damp and chilly, but not cold!! There won’t be the summertime crowds, and perhaps the best part is that you’ll be there during the sales period, which only happens twice a year! This trip includes some of the must-see sights in this fabulous city, and also has time for unexpected, more rare experiences! Our hotel will be a charming 3 or 4-star boutique hotel, to be determined closer to departure. This itinerary is flexible and there is time for you to experience what you would most like to do in addition to, or in lieu of the planned activities! This is also the most economical time of year to go and it’s during the MLK holiday weekend! While your friends and colleagues will be envious they didn’t get away to Paris!
DAY ONE Saturday, Jan 17
We depart for our transatlantic journey to France. I suggest US Airways, but please use the airline you are most loyal to. We overnight on the plane. Please make your own travel arrangements. If you would like help purchasing your ticket, I am happy to advise! I also have access to private travel agent rates if you would like to compare.
DAY TWO Sunday Jan. 18
We arrive in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in the morning. I suggest you take a taxi and we meet at our hotel. For those who prefer to take a bus into the city, I can advise!!! We will stay at a charming 3* or 4* boutique hotel. Trust me on my choice of the best available within our budget. We will freshen up and then head out! I suggest we try to not rest until bedtime! We can then head out on foot or hop on bicycles!
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We’ll visit Place Vendôme, the Palais Royale, the Louvre, the Tuileries Gardens and then end up at Place de la Concorde. We’ll park the bikes and pop into the newly re-opened Orangerie museum where Monet’s Water Lilies hang! We can also head up to the Montmartre area and the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur overlooking the city. We’ll visit the artists’ square, the Moulin Rouge and the street where Van Gogh lived! We will probably eat a light supper and retire early!
DAY THREE Monday Jan. 19
We’ll awaken as early as we can. This is the day people may have a hard time getting up. I suggest we get over to the Musée du Louvre as early as possible to avoid the crowds! We can do a quick hour visit of the highlights and those who wish to stay longer and linger may! A 1-hour visit of the must-do highlights includes the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samethroce and the crown jewels. We can walk across to the fabulous Palais Royale where the kings actually lived. It’s a beautiful area with a famous consignment shop and parfumerie!
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Lunch today will be at Fauchon or Hédiard—fabulous foodie havens overlooking the Place de la Madeleine! How about shopping this afternoon? We can either get lost in the grand department stores or head over to the haute couture shops of Hermès, the original Chanel, and Dior boutiques. For the shopping-averse, I suggest a brief anti-jet lag massage at the lovely Annick Goutal spa and boutique. (45€) Divine!
DAY FOUR Tuesday, Jan. 20
We have several choices! This is the perfect time to spend a half day at the Chateau de Versailles! Those who would rather stay in town may want to do a hands-on cooking class with lunch included! This starts with a visit to an open air market, then you’ll prepare a 3-course meal. Wine included (110 €) Alternatively, you could sit in on the morning classes at Le Cordon Bleu!!! (approximately 50€)
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On the way back from Versailles, those who wish can get off at the Eiffel Tower. I then suggest we all meet at the Musée d’Orsay with its splendid Impressionists Collection. Paintings by Van Gogh, Manet, Monet and the famous ballerina sculptures of Edgar Degas! A fun thing to do around 6:00 or so is a champagne cruise along the Seine. This would include a 3-glass tasting and hors d’oeuvres. (45€)
DAY FIVE Wednesday, Jan. 21
We begin today exploring the Champs Elysées, marveling at the Arc de Triomphe and walking down the huge boulevard. We may want to stop at the flagship Louis Vuitton store, pop into the Maison Guerlain or stop into the famous Ladurée pastry shop and tea house! This is an excellent place for gifts and souvenirs!
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The afternoon is then free for personal choices. Some suggestions include consignment shops, the Rodin museum to see The Thinker, a wine tasting, or a spa treatment, or any specialty shopping! In the evening, we may want to find an organ concert at one of the splendid churches in Paris!
DAY SIX Thursday, Jan. 22
A nice thing to do this morning is take a brief tour inside the splendid Opera Garnier on the Right Bank. It is truly opulent and one of the loveliest opera houses of the world. A special treat today is a free lunchtime concert at the Church of the Trinity! We then can eat lunch and visit with the musicians afterwards! This afternoon is the last chance to explore the Left Bank, including the cathedral of Notre Dame. We’ll wander along the small streets of St. Germain. I know a lovely café for people watching! We will walk along a cobblestone street where Picasso lived and painted, “Guernica” and we can take a peek at Hemingway’s first apartment in Paris when he had no money! Boutique and shoe shopping is good here too!
DAY SEVEN Friday, Jan. 23
Alas, we must depart today. After breakfast at the hotel, we will return by private chauffeur to the Charles de Gaulle airport for our flight home. I will help you through the detaxe process to get your tax refunds. We arrive home in the evening.
Interested? For more information, click here!!.
YOUR LUXURY TRIP INCLUDES:
5 nights accommodations
at
a 3* or 4* boutique hotel
Breakfast daily
Lunch with champagne at Fauchon or Hédiard
Unlimited use of t
he Paris Metro
Admission to all
Paris museums
Roundtrip Train & Admission to Chateau de Versailles,
Personal Bilingual Guide
Discount Coupons to the major Department Stores
All Taxes & Tips
for hotel staff
Cost: $1760 per adult
Non-refundable deposit of $500 due to reserve space.
Contact: Suzan Becker
704-552-8964
www.shopfranceinc.com