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YOU PAY FROM $8,335pp $4,999 AFTER GCASH TRAVEL CREDITS & FFV
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Normally European river cruising is hugely expensive, but not when you book with us. Experience the best of Paris and regional France in luxury and save up to 40% off retail! Cruise the Seine River to discover the history, idyllic landscapes and culture that border this mythical river with its hidden secrets. In Giverny-Vernon, you will visit Claude Monet’s house with its beautiful gardens featured many times in his now priceless artworks. Visit the sumptuous Martainville Chateau, stroll along the Cote Fleurie and tour the French countryside and coast. See the beautiful and famous beaches of the Normandy region as well as the picturesque towns of Caen, St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.
* Two packages are available. Silver Star package highlights shown. Various itinerary options are also available including 3 to 5-day river cruise extensions. Package price varies according to season and departure city. See Inclusions and Itinerary for full details.
In the style of most Global Escapes Independent Traveler itineraries, this is a perfect blend of self-guided adventure and forward-planning to ensure that the main elements are organised in advance allowing for plenty of time to relax and take in each place you visit.
Getaway Cash travel credits are used to reduce the price of your travel from retail down to wholesale. Free Flights Vouchers further discount flights.
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RETAIL VALUE $8,335pp GCASH CREDITS APPLIED $3,136 YOU PAY* $5,199 |
| DISCOUNT OFF RETAIL VALUE: 38% |
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AUSTRALIAN ESCAPES FREE FLIGHTS VOUCHER (FFV) PACKAGES USE FREE FLIGHTS VOUCHERS TO SAVE AN EXTRA $200 PER PERSON (YOU PAY $4,999) |
| USE YOUR FREE FLIGHTS VOUCHERS TO GET THE LOWEST PRICE! REQUEST PRICING FOR YOUR TRAVEL DATES TODAY... |
Membership due for renewal or not enought travel credits to get the maximum discount? Book this trip or any featured package and get a free 2-year renewal plus bonus travel credits so you get the lowest price. Call today on 1800 669 579. |
* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. Price, Getaway Cash travel credit usage, Free Flights Voucher usage and deposit amount varies according to travel date. All prices are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Full booking terms and conditions are available here.
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This is a great opportunity for you to indulge in the French escape you’ve always dreamt of, with a combination of river cruising, touring and free time to discover the treasures of Paris and France at your own pace. Your included Lonely Planet guide provides you with lots of information to help plan your free time.
This is a first-class travel itinerary that's fully flexible. Want more or fewer days or you want to include a special destination or activity? No problem, we’ll customise a travel plan for you.
Silver Star package:
Gold Star package:
Optional Loire River cruise extension or replacement for 2-day tour and/or London segment. 3 to 7-day cruises available.
All packages include:
Read about our accommodation rating standards and the methods used to assess quality.
This itinerary is fully customisable to suit your requirements. Your personal travel consultant is available to discuss changes and additions that will enhance your travel experience.
Add comprehensive, best-in-class, travel insurance for just $199 per person*, valued at over $700 per couple. Full insurance cover details are available on request.
Lonely Planet is renowned for its first-hand approach, up-to-date maps and commitment to providing the best information for travelers. Lonely Planet authors are experienced, insightful travel experts. They personally research the places they write about - both in the first and in subsequent editions - and provide essential travel details along with a wealth of insider information and first-hand tips.
You will receive these guides to help you gain the most out of your holiday. Recommendation: Take the time to read suggestions for things to see and do before you leave home. Take your Lonely Planet guides with you in your luggage.
* All prices are per-person on a twin-share basis and bookings are subject to availability. Price and deposit amount varies according to travel date. A flight cost provision (allowance) applies. Total price after Getaway Cash credits and Australian Escapes Free Flights Vouchers is generally payable as follows: Deposit on booking, balance 120 days prior to departure. Packages can be priced for families and groups on request. All prices are estimates only. A firm quote (travel plan) with payment terms will be submitted for consideration prior to agreement to proceed. Standard (retail) price comparisons are with similar packages offered elsewhere or what would be payable by a non-member for the same package. Flight pricing included in packages or other estimates is based on travel from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Travel can be arranged from any other major centre and for any number of people. Travel insurance pricing if stated is based on two travellers aged 69 years or less as at the date of departure from Australia. Surcharge applies for travellers aged 70 years and over. Pricing and availability based on travel in 2019. Valid for 2019 and 2020 departures subject to availability. Full booking terms and conditions are available here.
Paris is often referred to as the most romantic city in the world. You'll start with two nights in central Paris then two nights aboard your cruise ship to get aquainted with the Parisian lifestyle. There's a sense of romance that you cannot help but experience here. Next, you'll cruise the Seine River through the French country-side to the pretty coastal town of Honfleur, passing magnificent museums, charming towns, imposing chateaux and graceful cathedrals along the way.
This round trip stops in Vernon, Duclair, Honfleur, Rouen and Les Andelys, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich culture of northern France and indulge in the captivating sights and culinary specialities.
"It’s not what you look at that matters. It’s what you see." – Henry David Thoreau
After arriving into Paris and checking into your central accommodation you'll start your holiday in style. Depending on arrival time, you'll have free time to start enjoying Paris.
Your Lonely Planet guide will help you plan your free time and also to find a great restaurant nearby to return to for dinner.
Today is your first full day in Paris. We'll give you plenty of guidance on the best things to see and do including how to take advantage of the Metro underground rail system. Watch the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles and lights up the night sky, stroll the glamorous Avenue des Champs-Elysees to view the Arc de Triomphe and walk across the lamplit bridges spanning the Seine. Enjoy art nouveau cafes and wicker-chair-lined terraces. These are just a few of the things you can experience at your own pace in this magnificent city of dreams.
Don't forget France's reputation for its cuisine (the French word for 'kitchen') precedes it, and whether you seek a cosy neighbourhood bistro or a triple-Michelin-starred temple to gastronomy, you'll find that every establishment prides itself on exquisite preparation and presentation of quality produce, invariably served with wine. Enticing patisseries, boulangeries (bakeries), fromageries (cheese shops) and crowded, colourful street markets are perfect for putting together a picnic to take to the city's beautiful parks and gardens.
Optional: Consider adding an Eiffel Tower dinner and Moulin Rouge evening for an unforgettable taste of Paris at night.
The day is yours to continue to discover the city of Paris. We give you our top recommendations for free and affordable things to do. This evening you'll board your cruise ship from 6pm.
After comfortably settling into your cabin, the crew will introduce themselves at a welcome cocktail. That will be followed by your first included French dinner. Enjoy a cruise through Paris later tonight (depending on the water level) and see the buildings, bridges and Eiffel Tower lit up.
Your cruise ship will remain docked for the day giving you an extra full day to see and do things in Paris. There are guided activities as well. All excursions are optional and extra charges apply. Details will be supplied on request.
You'll be free to explore the city on your own this afternoon.
This morning will be spent cruising. Join us on an optional excursion: We'll leave for a tour of the Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny - the second most visited spot in Normandy after Mont Saint-Michel.
Enjoy an evening of entertainment on board. Later we start sailing towards Duclair.
This morning will be spent cruising with an optional excursion: the Norman Abbey Circuit before the ship sets sail towards Honfleur.
This morning, you have an optional excursion: Discover the Cote Fleurie from Deauville to the Chateau du Breuil, complete with a Calvados tasting. In the afternoon, join us on an optional excursion: Guided tour of Honfleur.
Alternatively there is a full-day optional guided tour (lunch included) to the landing beaches of Normandy (only as a pre-booked tour and valid for a minimum of 30 participants). Note: Your two-day tour of the Normandy region includes a visit to Omaha Beach.
You will spend this morning cruising followed by an optional excursion: Guided tour of Rouen. Enjoy an evening of entertainment.
This morning will be spent cruising before your optional excursions: Visit of the Chateau de Martainville or walk to the Chateau Gaillard.
Tonight, is our famous gala dinner.
Enjoy one last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 am for the end of your Seine River cruise.
Make your way to your centrally located Paris accommodation and spend the afternoon taking in more of Paris. There are many great restaurants to try, so head out for a lovely evening at a nearby restaurant for more French cuisine.
Optional: Take advantage of our early-check-in offer: Use GCash credits for a 50% room discount. Head to your hotel after departing the cruise ship and go straight to your room. This saves you having to store your luggage at reception to return later.
Visit the beautiful Le Louvre’s must-see attractions. Discover numerous treasures on this comprehensive tour. Skip-the-line access means you more time to absorb all that this legendary museum has to offer. Your expert guide will share their passion for the collection, unveiling subtle details most visitors never learn about the works of art on show. The 'Mona Lisa'; the 'Venus de Milo'; the 'Winged Victory of Samothrace'. While they're familiar the world over, no one can truly know these works without spending time in their presence.
Highlights:
Inclusions:
If you are feeling tuned-in to art history, cross the river to Musee D'Orsay, to surround yourself with the world's most impressive collection of impressionist artworks in a beautiful setting.
There is never enough time to enjoy everything Paris has to offer, with so many attractions and experiences at your fingertips. Today is your last free day and we recommend you take the time to visit and experience any part of Paris that you might have missed using your Lonely Planet Guide to assist you.
Discover the highlights of the French countryside and coast on this two-day tour. See the beautiful beaches of the Normandy region and the picturesque towns of Caen, St. Malo and Mont St. Michel.
Highlights:
Inclusions:
Day 1: Enjoy a scenic drive through Normandy to Rouen. See the old square where Joan of Arc was burned alive for heresy and learn about the turbulent history of this ancient mediaeval town. After a lunch on your own in Honfleur, continue to the beaches of Normandy and visit the D-Day landing site of Omaha Beach. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and then end your day with dinner and overnight accommodation in Caen.
Day 2: On your second day, leave Caen and head to St. Malo, a walled port city in Brittany. Follow your guide through bustling cobblestone streets. See the cathedral and walk along the ramparts for stunning views of the old town and the beautiful bay. After lunch on your own, depart for Mont St. Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guided tour takes you to the enchanting Benedictine Abbey, a grandiose ensemble of clerical buildings, including the cloister, the refectory and the church. Spend some free time here before making your way back to Paris and check-in to your Paris airport accommodation.
Optional: Add three days cruising the Rhone River from Lyon to Martigues in the south of France. Package includes train from Paris to Lyon and return from Martigues. Connects to train from Paris to London (Gold package.) This package can also be exchanged for the Normandy, St. Marlo & Mont St. Michel tour. Small extra charge applies.
Au revoir (Oh reh-vwah) is the most commonly heard term for "goodbye" in French which actually means "until we meet again". It is time to say Au revoir to France and return home with an easy departure from your Paris airport accommodation using a prearranged airport transfer.
GOLD STAR PACKAGE
Your holiday continues with a trip to London.
Make your way to the train station because today we're off to London. Once you arrive you will check-in to your centrally-located London accommodation.
We recommend that you take the time to use your Lonely Planet guide to help plan your stay.
You have two full days to visit the highlights of London at your own pace. To start you in the right direction you have a 48-hour ticket for the iconic hop-on hop-off bus. Visit the best of London's attractions and charm-filled districts from the open-air top of a comfortable, double-decker bus.
Take advantage of unlimited rides along five routes. You can choose to stay on the bus and take in the scenery for the entire loop, or stop at world-renowned landmarks along the way including the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. Engaging pre-recorded commentary highlights the main monuments and provides insights into the city's history and heritage.
Your ticket also includes a River Thames cruise letting you see landmarks between Tower Hill and the London Eye from the water. Admire the view from the boat before completing your adventure with a choice of 2 guided walking tours—the Royal Walking Tour or the Beatles London Walking Tour.
Highlights:
Inclusions:
Today you will be whisked off to roam the picturesque Cotswolds on this tour of beautiful villages, ancient stone circles, and stunning cathedrals where you will experience the standing stones of Avebury, where you unearth the mysteries of Neolithic civilisation. Explore the rural villages of the Cotswolds, where you discover a more relaxing pace of life. And you learn about Bath and Oxford, two places that boast England's rich and extravagant heritage.
Your tour heads west to the village of Avebury. Here you have the chance to wander amongst the majesty of the largest stone circle in the world. A short journey from here is a hillside where you find the Cherhill White Horse, a huge white horse cut into the chalk by the 'Mad Doctor' in the 18th century. Further along the road lies Lacock, a preserved medieval village famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings, and role as a period film and television location.
You will then visit Bath to enjoy its rich cultural history and magnificent architecture. You can also take the opportunity to visit the Roman Baths complex and Abbey cathedral. Heading into the Cotswolds, you travel to the Cirencester, a market town whose wealth was founded in the medieval wool trade. It was the second largest town in Roman Britain.
Highlights:
Inclusions:
After spending the might at your London airport accommodation, with your prearranged airport transfer, you will have an easy departure after an unforgettable holiday!
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"Just to let you know what a wonderful holiday we had in Canada/Alaska thanks to Ben. He did a great job with our Travel Itinerary everything went to plan I would recommend Australian Escapes and this holiday to my friends and family we are definitely going to do this holiday again. I did give Ben a ring and thanked him and told him what a great job he did. We are looking forward to our next holiday with Australian Escapes." Rosanna M.
"I was one of the ladies who went with Cherrie to Norfolk. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and thought you did a marvellous job organising it all for us. The accommodation in both Sydney and Norfolk was outstanding - I had never been to either places before and could have stayed much longer in Sydney, as the view from our hotel windows was wonderful. Everyone on Norfolk was so friendly and nothing was ever too much trouble. Thank you so much for making our holiday so enjoyable." Jan W.
"Hi, have finally returned. Wonderful, wonderful trip. We think we loved Paris and its age/artworks but all was full of laughter fun and learning. Paris apartment was beautiful, & quiet when windows were closed, which wasn't bad anyway. The street is full of lots of restaurants and cafe's. (we also loved Shakespeare & co bookshop.) Fruit and chocolates in most rooms and champagne which I think we only drank in Brussels. we were ready for bed everywhere else though we almost had it for morning tea at Amsterdam on check in. Magnificent. Cheers." Val C.
"Have just returned from our wonderful trip to the UK. Just wanted to say a huge thanks for your organisation, we had the best holiday ever, an absolutely marvellous time, the tour was magnificent. We would recommend the Trafalgar Britain and Ireland Winter delights tour to anyone who wants to do adventurous travel, learning about other countries, and making friends. The coach was actually over half full of Aussies! Thanks so much for organising such a memorable holiday for us." Lee D.
"Deb and I are very grateful for the work you have put into our holiday. 10 days in and we are blown away by the quality and location of the motels and apartments. Many thanks." Jen W.
"My husband and I have recently returned from a holiday to Canada and Alaska booked through Australian Escapes. The itinerary was planned to take in all aspects of the holiday we required. The travel transfers worked seamlessly and the accommodation was at a standard that met our expectations of comfort and location. We absolutely loved the cruise and surprise upgrade to our stateroom. From our experience with this recent trip I would recommend Australian Escapes." Margaret & Bill T.
"We've arrived back safely after a thoroughly enjoyable trip where all the arrangements ran like clockwork, for which we want to thank you and your team, especially Sonya and Skye. We'd have no hesitation in recommending you and Volga Dream cruises to anyone who asks. Kind regards and thanks again." Irene and Blake S.
"I want to thank you for all the accommodation you arranged for us during our holiday in North Queensland in August. It was all excellent. The transfers went very smoothly too and we couldn’t have been more pleased with our holiday. Thank you for making everything so easy." Gloria K.
"My life has been like a whirlwind since I got back. I am now on holidays and catching up with people that I have not had time to contact since coming back. Thank you so much for organising my trip to The States and Canada for me. I had a great time and everything went really well. All flights went well. The hotel you booked me into in Champaign was a really old home with beautiful gardens, all done up and run by two gay guys. It was really quaint and I loved it. I had a great time, everything went without a hitch, I loved all the accommodation that you organized for me and I would like to wish you a happy Christmas and all the best." Marlene S.
"A message of thanks to you and your staff. The holiday went off without any problems and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and and had a wonderful time. Again many thanks." Dianne D.
"We are back and rested after a hectic few weeks (away), but everything worked out extremely well. Thanks so much for all your organisation – once you get used to the trains and buses, life becomes easy. Once again, thanks to you and the team for all the organisation from both Lorraine and I – we really enjoyed the holiday. All the best." Bob C.
"We just wanted to let you know that the arrangements you put in place for us in WA worked beautifully. You said the Margaret River accommodation was exceptional and it certainly was both in terms of location and facilites. Thanks again." Betty and Clancy S.
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