Christmas in Paris - Three Days

Dec 24 - Dec 26 2011 € 329

Enjoy the magic of Christmas in the City of Lights when the shops are decked with lights, there is ice-skating in front of the town hall and the Christmas markets burst to life. This light-filled, festive time is the perfect time for a romantic vacation or an enchanting holiday season with the kids.

ITINERARY

Day 1

We're setting out late at night/early in the morning from various pick-up points. The journey to Paris takes us through the scenic countryside of the Lorraine and Champagne regions.

During our stay in Paris experience all the exitement, culture, art and history the city has to offer. Our Sightseeing Tour features all the landmarks from the majestic Eiffel Tower to the designer shops and chic restaurants of the Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe, Invalides Dome, Elysée Palace, Opera House and the historic City Island, the cradle of Paris.

Spend some time visiting the traditional Christmas markets which spring up all over the city, offering customary holiday treats like mulled wine, gingerbread and specialities from various regions of France. What better place to find unique gifts in a beautiful Christmas atmosphere with all the shops lavishly decorated - shopping in Paris at Christmas is a delightful experience.

Before checking in to our hotel discover the treasures and riches of the Louvre, one of the finest museums in the world. Explore the underground remains of the medieval Louvre fortress, pay a visit to the magnificent Mona Lisa, marvel at the Greek and Roman masterpieces, or spend some time browsing the shops annexed to this majestic museum and former royal palace (extra: entry fee € 10, children free).

Relax at the hotel or set out again late at night to attend mass in Notre Dame Cathedral on Christmas Eve, a truly unique experience.

Day 2

Explore the ancient heart of Paris, the Latin Quarter, with its cobblestone lanes and medieval churches, many of them displaying charming nativity scenes. What better way to spend Christmas morning than to visit Notre Dame Cathedral and be enchanted by its beautiful stained glass windows or to attend a Gregorian Christmas Mass.

Ride up the dizzying heights of the Eiffel Tower (extra €13). Enjoy the breathtaking view from the very top of the city's most iconic monument.

Wine and dine, come along and indulge yourself with a lavish Christmas Dinner and enjoy the charm and allure of an evening out in Paris (extra: approx. €35).

Illuminated and sparkling, Paris truly lives up to its name as the 'City of Lights' and never more so than at Christmas when the trees that line the Champs-Elysées are covered with strings of lights and the Eiffel Tower becomes the focal point of the nighttime skyline with its shimmering lights. Join us as we embank on an Illumination Tour and a boat ride on the Seine River to explore the city in its full festive splendour. (extra: € 11). As a special treat round off Christmas with a visit to the Moulin Rouge Cabaret, where Montmartre's joie de vivre and famous bohemian atmosphere is still alive (extra: ticket € 102).

Day 3

Join us on an excursion to the Palace of Versailles, this 17th century masterpiece of baroque architecture. A vast and elegant symbol of the reign of Louis XIV and the dominance of France, it truly embodies the spirit of an age (extra: entry fee € 15; children free).

Round off your stay with a meal at the Hard Rock Café (extra: € 20) or stroll through the nearby 19th century shopping galleries famous for their arts and crafts shops, tiny specialty stores and lovely bistros and restaurants before it is time to begin our return journey. We'll arrive back at the various drop-off points late at night/early in the morning.

INCLUDED:

Roundtrip transportation by nonsmoking Deluxe Bus
2 Overnights with Breakfast Buffet in a 3-4 Star Hotel
City Sightseeing Tour
Visit to Latin Quarter
Trip to Versailles
Visit to the Champs Elysées
Trip to the Louvre Museum
Services of a paris tours Guide

NOT INCLUDED:

Single room supplement, €50 per person per night (If booking on a share basis and none is available, please understand that you will be required to pay the single room supplement)
French multicourse dinner with drinks (approx. €35) on second night
Ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower (€13)
Entry fee for Palace of Versailles (€15; children under 18 years old free)
Entry fee for Louvre Museum (€10; children under 18 years old free)
Seine Boat Ride (€11)
Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show (€102; ticket includes half a bottle of champagne per person)
Hard Rock Café Lunch (€20)

DOCUMENTS:

Valid US Tourist Passport for military and civilian personnel. Military without a tourist passport should check with their Personnel Office for information on current travel regulations in France. Non US-citizens must meet proper Visa requirements.

CHILDREN:

Children under 3 years require a bus seat and their own safety seat (not provided) and pay €100 Children 3-12 years of age get a €30 discount.

CANCELLATION FEES (Per Person):

More than 7 days prior to departure, 50% of tour price, 7 days or less, 100% of tour price will be charged. No Refund for NoShows.

NOTE:

Right is reserved to program changes and alterations, price changes as well as substitutions of services listed above, when and where necessary without prior notice. We reserve the right to cancel the tour if the minimum participation is not reached.

The tour price is based on a double or triple occupancy of a room.

paris tours is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged articles.

Conditions accepted upon booking.

DEPARTURE TIMES AND PICK-UP POINTS

2245 - Bamberg: Warner Barracks, Outside Gate 3, Zollnerstrasse
2345 - Schweinfurt: Ledward Barracks, Outside Main Gate, BMW Car Dealer
0100 - Illesheim: Storck Barracks, Outside Main Gate
0145 - Stuttgart: Panzer Kaserne, outside main gate
0330 - Heidelberg: Park and Drive Circle, Outside Back Gate, Patrick Henry Village
0345 - Wiesbaden: Airfield, Outside Main Gate
0400 - Mannheim: Ben Franklin Village, Outside Main Gate, Traffic Circle
0500 - Kaiserslautern West: 'Share a Ride' Parking Lot (off A6 West exit), next to traffic circle near McDonalds
0515 - Ramstein: Shell Station (Autohof), off A6, Landstuhl exit # 13 (parking fee €5/day)

No Pick-up in your area? Please contact us for info.

Note:

Pick-up times for Bamberg and Schweinfurt refer to late Wednesday night.

RETURN TIMES

2100 - Ramstein
2115 - Kaiserslautern West
2215 - Mannheim
2315 - Wiesbaden
2245 - Heidelberg
0045 - Stuttgart*
0115 - Illesheim*
0230 - Schweinfurt*
0330 - Bamberg*
0530 - Grafenwöhr*

Note: All times are estimates.
* times refer to the following morning.