Paris & Alsace
NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 6, 2024
Joyeux Noël!
Surprise your family and friends with Christmas presents from France this December! Join us on our France Christmas Market Tour from November 30 to December 6, 2024.
Paris, the City of Light, sparkles even more at Christmastime! Together, we will discover the city’s rich history and culture as we visit iconic landmarks and experience the city's enchanting holiday atmosphere. But the magic doesn't stop there. Prepare to be whisked away by high-speed train to picturesque towns and villages nestled in idyllic corners of eastern France. In the region of Alsace the spirit of the season comes to life like nowhere else. Come experience the festive cheer and timeless tradition of this fabled region of France! Alsace is known for quaint, authentic Christmas markets. It is simply magical!
This trip is designed for adults and children 16+
Your Trip Includes:
4 nights in a 4-star hotel accommodation in downtown Paris
2 nights in a spacious 4-star boutique hotel accommodation in Colmar
All group transportation (bus and train)
All breakfasts and 3 additional group meals
Paris city tour
Day trip to Alsatian villages
Walking tours of Colmar and Strasbourg
Seine River cruise in Paris
Your choice of 3 additional activities: museums, cultural events, baking demonstration
Guided tour of the Orsay Museum
Baptiste’s guide services throughout the trip
Trip Itinerary: November 30-December 6, 2024
WHAT YOU’LL SEE, DO, AND DISCOVER
Join us on an enchanting 6-day journey! Paris and Alsace offer distinct yet complementary experiences, blending urban sophistication with rural charm.
Starting in Paris, we will experience the city's culinary delights, sampling gourmet pastries, savoring world-renowned cuisine, and exploring iconic landmarks like the Louvre Museum. No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Entering this opulent château is like stepping back in time to the height of French royalty. From the grandeur of the Hall of Mirrors to the meticulously landscaped gardens, every corner of Versailles exudes splendor and history. While in Versailles, we will enjoy a baking demonstration of festive desserts favored by French families at Christmastime. An expert pastry chef will showcase their skills, revealing helpful tips for you to create a classic bûche de Noël in your own home.
Upon arrival by train in Alsace, we will step into a world of quaint villages, rolling vineyards, and centuries-old traditions. The culinary experiences will be a highlight, with opportunities to enjoy regional specialties from local chefs, like tarte flambée and choucroute. We will also explore the vibrant Christmas markets filled with handcrafted decorations and artisanal specialties. The landscape of Alsace is beautiful, with foothills covered in vineyards and picturesque castles dotting the horizon along the Vosges Mountains. Walking tours will offer a chance to soak in the beauty of the countryside, while also learning about the history and culture of the region.
This 6-day journey promises to be a feast for the senses, combining the best of French cuisine, culture, and scenery. It's a perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and indulgence—a true immersion into the heart and soul of France.
A more detailed itinerary will be sent to all participants several weeks before departure. Baptiste reserves the right to modify the itinerary in light of unforeseen local schedule adjustments or weather conditions.
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Board your overnight flight to Paris.
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Welcome to France! Travel to your hotel, meet fellow travelers, explore Paris by bus to get oriented. Gather with everyone for an introductory lunch party. After lunch, enjoy the City of Light on a Seine River cruise.
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Travel to the region of Alsace in eastern France by high-speed train. Check in at our hotel in Colmar and explore this renowned historic city with a local expert. Visit the well-preserved old town filled with beautiful architectural landmarks while mingling in the festivities of the Colmar Christmas market. Experience the unique Alsatian Christmas spirit! After strolling through the Christmas market, enjoy our delicious group meal prepared by a local Alsatian chef.
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Travel to the fairytale village of Riquewihr and visit charming local boutiques and Christmas market stalls, including one of our favorite boutiques specializing in holiday decorations and handmade cuckoo clocks. Next, we will go to Kaysersberg, a town considered one of the most charming villages in the French region of Alsace, filled with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. Finally, stop in the storybook village of Eguisheim and explore a typical small-town Alsatian Christmas market in this breathtaking medieval village.
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Check out of our hotel in the morning and travel to the largest Christmas market in France! From the towering magnificent cathedral to the city’s most beautiful squares, Strasbourg, Capital of Christmas and Capital of Europe, offers more than 300 wooden market chalets, spread throughout the city. Later in the afternoon, we will head back to Paris by high-speed train.
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For the next two days, you can select any three activities from the list below, or simply explore Paris on your own with free time to go sightseeing, shopping, enjoy pastries at your leisure, tour a museum, or relax at the hotel.
-Visit the world’s largest museum, the Louvre, with a private guide who will show you the highlights and greatest hits. The Mona Lisa is waiting for you!
-Christmas baking demonstration with a local pâtissier. This has been a favorite excursion with every group!
-Visit the Château de Versailles, Europe’s largest royal palace, the best way possible—with a private tour guide!
-Attend a classical music concert in a beautiful Parisian church and soak in the cultural side of this magical city. Past concerts have included performances by piano soloists and string quartets.
-Other suggestions: Venture to the Montmartre neighborhood and watch local painters, visit Sacré Cœur Basilica, walk around the Marais district with dozens of unique boutiques, tour the historic Opéra Garnier, shop at grand Parisian department stores (Le Printemps, Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché), climb the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Elysées, visit the Eiffel Tower, and more. You are always welcome to ask Baptiste for more ideas!
Finish your trip on our last evening together with a guided tour of the Orsay Museum, home to Impressionist masterpieces from Monet to Van Gogh. After the tour, join us for our farewell dinner and share your favorite memories with new friends!
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Bon voyage! Au revoir, merci et Joyeux Noël! (Goodbye, thank you, and Merry Christmas!). Travel by bus to Paris Charles de Gaulle International Airport for flights leaving by 10 AM.
Important items!
Airfare
Once your tour registration and departure are confirmed, book your own flight to Paris CDG departing the USA on November 29, 2024 and returning on December 6, 2024.
Passport
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the return date to the USA. If you don't have one, please apply right away and request for it to be expedited.
Other travel documents
If needed, Covid-19 tests to and from France, and vaccination, or other related documentation.
What isn’t included?
Airfare
Transportation from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris hotel outside of times mentioned in itinerary
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Incidental expenses incurred at the hotels
Items of personal nature and any other not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary
International travel-related insurance (medical, baggage, and flight cancellation recommended)
Tips to tour facilitator
Trip Cost
Cost per person, double occupancy: $4,150. Payments are accepted via Venmo or Zelle with no fees, or directly through this website with the credit card of your choice with a non-refundable 4% transaction fee added to each payment.
$1,575 deposit due to confirm booking
$1,575 payment due 90 days before departure (September 1, 2024)
$1,000 payment due 30 days before departure (October 31, 2024)
Booking is approved for two participants per hotel room. To reserve and guarantee a private room, you will need to purchase a single room supplement for the additional fee of $1,090, based on limited availability. While a single supplement guarantees a private room, it does not guarantee a larger or 'nicer' room. Single room supplement due with final payment. Please contact Baptiste with any questions regarding single room availability.
Covid-19 Information
Covid-19 vaccination and tests are not currently required to travel to France or to return to the USA. However, for the health and safety of our group, we strongly encourage vaccination, a booster dose, and the wearing of a mask while flying and in crowded areas, such as public transit.
We will share any updates and details with you regarding changes to Covid-19 requirements closer to departure.
If you decide to register, we ask that you abide by all policy changes that may happen between now and the departure date set by airlines, bus companies, hotels, restaurants, museums, tourist sites, etc. Please note that European Experts LLC is not responsible for airline cancellation or change fees, Covid-19 tests fees, vaccination fees, or any additional travel documentation fees that may be required. Airlines reserve the right to refuse boarding or service to anyone that does not comply with new Covid-19 guidelines, which does not constitute a refund to the participant from European Experts LLC.
Terms & Conditions
FLEXIBILITY
The itinerary as stated for each tour must be taken only as an indication of what each group may accomplish and not a contractual obligation. The client acknowledges that the nature of this type of travel requires significant flexibility and should allow for changes. The client understands that the amenities, type of transport, route, schedule and itinerary may change without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include mechanical breakdown, flight cancellations, illness, strikes, political disputes, weather, global pandemic as designated by the WHO, border crossing problems and other enforceable factors.
We remind you that we will be walking significant distances during the trip (3 to 5 miles per day) and you must be able carry your own luggage on trains, buses, etc. We also encourage you to be open to trying new foods and may be served food items such as fish.
International travel may change between now and November 2024. If we are unable to travel to France, participants will be notified at least 30 days before departure. Participants’ deposits will be refunded IF and ONLY IF the trip in 2024 is cancelled. Deposits may also be used for a later trip.
Note that the cost of the trip may increase if scheduled to a later date. European Experts LLC reserve the right to cancel or change this itinerary based on the information received in order to comply with government regulations. In the event of a cancellation or postponed dates, European Experts LLC is not responsible for airfare cancellation fees or charges.
DOCUMENTATION
A valid U.S. Passport is required to travel to France. Group tour participants are responsible to secure the necessary documentation. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months after the return date to the USA. If you don't have a passport yet, please apply for one right away and request for it to be EXPEDITED as the processing time has increased significantly.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
A cancellation must be made in writing by email to info@thefrenchmanguide.com. The date that European Experts, LLC receives the letter determines the cancellation charge applicable. Please note that European Experts will hold a $950.00 non-refundable deposit for each participant on the trip past October 1, 2024 (60 days before departure). No refunds will be given after October 30, 2024. The cancellation and refund policy is based on the contracts signed by European Experts, LLC and its vendors to ensure that payments are paid in full. No refunds will be made for any unutilized feature of the tour.
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
European Experts, LLC is hereby appointed as the Tour Operator, agrees to represent you in booking, confirming, and acting as agents in providing the services described in this proposal. European Experts, LLC is a Utah based company EIN 83-2366758. Your information will NOT be shared outside of the needs of the tour planning purposes. Note that additional information including currency exchange, packing list, hotel amenities, etc. will be shared 2-3 weeks prior to departure.
FAQs
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A deposit of $1,575 is due to secure your spot on the tour. Deposits are refundable up to 50% until 90 days prior to departure. Your final balance is due 60 days prior to departure.
If you make a reservation within 60 days of the trip’s departure, full payment will be required upon confirmation.
Once you submit your application form and pay your deposit, you will be sent a confirmation email. Baptiste will reach out when it’s time to book airfare after a minimum of 10 travelers have enrolled on your departure.
Final trip details will be sent approximately 2–3 weeks before departure.
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To get in touch with Baptiste, your travel guide and trip leader, please send an email to info@thefrenchmanguide.com.
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Airfare to and from the starting and ending point of the tour is not included in the price to give you maximum flexibility in choosing your preferences for air travel. You can use frequent flier miles, depart from your airport of choice, or add pre- and post- trip extensions with no constraints.
Please refrain from booking your airfare until Baptiste reaches out to confirm your departure.
Tips to local guides, restaurant staff, bell staff, and drivers are all included in the trip cost.
Tips to your trip leader are not included.
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Baptiste Prevot is the owner and founder of European Experts, a USA-based tour and travel consulting business. A native of the Rhône-Alpes region of France, Baptiste has extensive knowledge of both French and American cultures. Having guided over 1,000 travelers on tours throughout Europe for well over a decade, Baptiste has a wealth of experience as a seasoned travel connoisseur. He will be your guide on this trip.
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Our trips have a maximum group size of 24 people. They are large enough to meet new people with diverse backgrounds, but small enough to be on a first-name basis with everyone. Our groups have a great time together!
Prior to our departure, we’ll arrange to have a video call and start a group text thread to introduce ourselves and discuss trip details.
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Solo travelers are welcomed on our trips. Group meals generally take place at medium to large tables, and we ensure that everyone is included in conversation. Because our trips are priced for doubles sharing a room, there is a supplemental cost for those who choose to have their own room.
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Our trips are designed to give our travelers authentic insight and understanding of the places we visit. Traveling with Baptiste is what makes our itinerary special, and this type of curated, insider’s experience cannot be obtained on one’s own. Our trips generally do not incorporate long periods of free time during the day, although several evenings will be at leisure.
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Travelers should be in good health and able to walk up to 3-5 miles (with stops) over uneven terrain (primarily cobblestones) and be able to navigate stairs. All hotels will have elevators. You do need to be able to carry your own luggage from the bus to hotels. You also need to be able to load your own luggage onto trains. We highly recommend packing light! In city centers, we try to walk from place to place due to traffic restrictions.
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Every effort will be made to try to accommodate any special dietary requests you may have. Please discuss your requests with us when signing up for a trip. We also encourage you to be open to trying new foods. Our group meals will be a set menu that typically include food items such as meat or fish.
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We’ll send you a detailed packing list well before departure. We provide the rest: comfortable accommodations, an engaging daily itinerary, expert trip support, and access to people and places that will leave a lasting impression!
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Deposits will be 50% refundable 120 days prior to departure. Cancellation between 119-91 days before departure: 100% of deposit is forfeited. Cancellation between 90-61 days, 50% of the trip price is forfeited. Cancellation within 60 days of departure: no refund.
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We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance should you face trip cancellation or interruption due to sickness or quarantine. No refunds will be made for any unutilized feature of the tour.
You can find recommended travel insurance options here: https://www.usnews.com/insurance/travel/international-travel-insurance
