Best of France
Tour Operator:
Tour Code:
FBOFZN19-30-
Start City:
Paris
End City:
Paris
Tour Style:
Tour Quality:
First Class
Tour Length:
13 days
Dates & Prices
| Start Date | End Date | Offers | Brochure Land Price | Quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Mar 31, 2024 | Friday, Apr 12, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Apr 07, 2024 | Friday, Apr 19, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Apr 14, 2024 | Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Apr 21, 2024 | Friday, May 03, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, May 12, 2024 | Friday, May 24, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, May 14, 2024 | Sunday, May 26, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, May 19, 2024 | Friday, May 31, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Jun 09, 2024 | Friday, Jun 21, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Jun 23, 2024 | Friday, Jul 05, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Aug 25, 2024 | Friday, Sep 06, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Aug 27, 2024 | Sunday, Sep 08, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Sep 01, 2024 | Friday, Sep 13, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Tuesday, Sep 03, 2024 | Sunday, Sep 15, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Sep 08, 2024 | Friday, Sep 20, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Sep 22, 2024 | Friday, Oct 04, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Oct 06, 2024 | Friday, Oct 18, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote | |
| Sunday, Oct 13, 2024 | Friday, Oct 25, 2024 | Get Lower Price | Get Quote |
Promotions
LOW UNPUBLISHED PRICES ON TRAFALGAR TOURS
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Promotion Details
Group benefits and applicable discounts apply to Scheduled Departure and Exclusive Departure groups only, booked on the same booking number. Group benefits and discounts do not apply to Custom Groups, flight segments, train vacations, cruises, extensions or any pre/post-trip additions. Group Benefits are not available on all trips and/or departure dates and are not combinable with Limited Time Offers. Please refer to your group’s contract for further details. Other conditions may apply.
Tour Itinerary
Expect only the best on one of our favourite France trips, beginning and ending in Paris. Spend the night as a French lord or lady in an elegant Loire Valley château, be inspired like Cezanne was, by the beauty of Provence and visit the playground of Monaco.
Arles , Avignon , Beaune , Biarritz , Bordeaux , Carcassonne , French Riviera , Giverny , Loire Valley , Lourdes , Lyon , Omaha Beach , Paris
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Day 1
Bonjour ParisAll the flavours of France come to life on this unforgettable journey, which kicks off in Paris, the 'City of Light'. Spend your day strolling past its iconic landmarks in search of hidden treasures, before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception and an orientation drive through the city.Accommodation: Mercure 17 Batignolles
Meals: Dinner -
Day 2
Journey through Burgundy to LyonWe travel south to Burgundy and on to the medieval town of Beaune. On a visit to Hospices de Beaune admire the colourful geometric roof tiles of the 15th century. Next we continue to Lyon, the gourmet capital of France. Consider spending your evening delving into the epicurean delights for which Lyon is justifiably famous. Why not wander up the city's narrow lanes lined with pastel pink and yellow façades in search of a cosy bouchon for a tasty dinner with newfound friends?Accommodation: Mercure Centre Saxe Lafayette
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 3
Onwards to Avignon, Monaco and the French RivieraToday we journey to the city of Avignon at the heart of Provence. See the Papal Palace and the bridge made famous by the song - Sur le Pont d'Avignon. Continue through the Provençal countryside to Monaco. Upon arrival we'll view the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married, then in the evening we'll enjoy a Regional Dinner in Monaco before continuing along the Riviera to our hotel.Accommodation: Holiday Inn Nice
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 4
The French Riviera Your WayThe sun-kissed shores of the French Riviera are yours to explore today. Consider relaxing on the beach with your fellow sun-worshippers or an Optional Experience could see you visit the hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence, consistently named the most beautiful hilltop town in this region. In your free time, soak up the fresh sea air and perhaps indulge in a delicious Salade Niçoise.Accommodation: Holiday Inn Nice
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 5
Admire Arles and Continue to CarcassonneVisit Arles with its honey-coloured façades, Roman ruins and Camargue culture, and enjoy some time at leisure to explore this beautiful city. Alternatively, choose an Optional Experience to gain a deeper understanding of Vincent van Gogh and local history with our resident expert before winding your way to the fortified city of Carcassonne. A guided exploration of this exquisite, ancient town will reveal the Cité, its double ring of ramparts and 52 towers.Accommodation: Mercure La Cité
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 6
Pilgrimage to Lourdes and on to BiarritzWe drive toward the Pyrenees this morning and arrive in Lourdes, the global centre of the Marian pilgrimage. You will have an opportunity to see the Basilica, perched atop St. Bernadette's Grotto, where the young girl, turned saint, is said to have seen visions of the Virgin Mary. Then, travel west to the Basque Coast, where we spend the night.Accommodation: Novotel Anglet Biarritz.
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 7
Venture to BordeauxThis morning, perhaps join an Optional Experience across the border into Spain to discover more about the Basque Country. Later, after journeying through Les Landes, we arrive in the wine capital of Bordeaux, whose stunning Garonne riverfront and Age of Enlightenment history and architecture have made it one of France's most visited cities. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century and the biannual wine fair attracts buyers from all over the world. Spend some time seeing the sights during your orientation of the city.Accommodation: Mercure Centre Ville
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 8
Discover Scenic DordogneThe lush green valleys and hills of the Dordogne take centre stage today during a scenic half-day included excursion to Saint-Émilion, whose wine heritage dates back to Roman times. You will also have free time to explore Bordeaux and perhaps tease your taste buds with delicious Bordelaise cuisine or stroll through the city's historical centre admiring its beautiful architecture.Accommodation: Mercure Centre Ville
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 9
Explore a Château in the Loire Valley Dive Into Culture Stays With StoriesToday we journey to the renowned Loire Valley, known as the 'Garden of France'. Along the way, we will stop to Connect With Locals over a light lunch and unique Be My Guest experience. Next we Dive Into Culture and visit the remarkable gardens at Château de Villandry where you will see an array of beautiful gardens; such as the Water Garden which is filled with spectacular ponds and fountains. Later, arrive at our special hotel for the night - one of Trafalgar's Stays With Stories.Accommodation: Château de Beauvois
Meals: Breakfast Lunch Dinner -
Day 10
Off to Mont-Saint-Michel and the Normandy BeachesWe travel through the patchwork landscapes of Brittany, to the island settlement of Mont-Saint-Michel on the Normandy coast, where we visit the island town and view the impressive Norman Benedictine Abbey. Follow the Liberty Highway to St. Lô and on to Omaha Beach. Reflect on the bravery of the young men who sacrificed their lives for freedom and visit the D-Day Landing Zone to learn how the operation was planned and executed. Arrive later at your hotel where you dine tonight.Accommodation: Mercure Omaha Beach
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 11
Journey to ParisWe travel east towards Paris, stopping at Giverny to visit the house and gardens that once inspired Claude Monet's exquisite Impressionist works of art. This evening, consider a trip to one of the city's renowned cabarets.Accommodation: Mercure 17 Batignolles
Meals: Breakfast -
Day 12
Discover the Delights of ParisJoin your Local Specialist on a journey through the historic neighbourhoods of Paris to see where the locals live and shop. Visit the remarkable church of Saint-Sulpice. Spend the rest of the day enjoying the sights on your terms. Enjoy a leisurely café au lait in quiet surrounds or consider an Optional Experience to the opulent Palace of Versailles. This evening, we celebrate an epic adventure with your Travel Director and newfound friends at a Farewell Dinner.Accommodation: Mercure 17 Batignolles
Meals: Breakfast Dinner -
Day 13
Farewell ParisFor now it's time to bid a fond au revoir to the Best of France and your fellow travellers at the end of a magical and memorable holiday.
Meals: Breakfast
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Dining Summary
- 6 Dinner (D)
- 12 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- Villandry: Return to 17th-century France and join the de Montferrier family on their farm near the famous Château de Villandry for a delightful Be My Guest lunch.
Iconic Experience
- Beaune: Vist the Hopsices de Beaune and learn about its captivating past as well as admiring its flamboyant Gothic architecture.
- Avignon: View the Pont d'Avignon and walk the medieval narrow streets of the Old Town to the Palais des Papes.
- Monaco City: See the cathedral where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace were married.
- Arles: Hear more about the city that is famed for being the inspiration behind the Van Gogh paintings during a city orientation.
- Lourdes: Explore Lourdes, globally renowned as a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site and attracting over three million faithful visitors every year.
- Saint-Émilion: Take in the vine-laden surroundings and established wine-making heritage of Saint-Émilion.
- Mont-Saint-Michel: Savour your first sight of the fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel and cross the causeway to explore the tidal island town.
- Omaha Beach: Join an emotive journey tracing the story of the D-Day landings and visit Omaha Beach.
- Giverny: View the gardens that inspired many of Impressionist Claude Monet’s most famous masterpieces.
- Paris: Join a Local Specialist to discover the hidden squares and secret lanes of Paris.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Villandry: Visit Château Villandry in the Loire Valley and admire the exquisite Renaissance gardens that surround this elegant estate.
Must-see Highlights
- : Explore Carcassonne and Paris with a Local Specialist
- : Discover Lyon, Avignon, Monaco, Nice, Arles, Lourdes and Bordeaux
- : Visit the Hospices de Beaune, Château de Villandry, the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach, Claude Monet's home at Giverny and the Saint-Sulpice Church in Paris
- : View the Papal Palace in Avignon, the Royal Palace and Cathedral in Monaco, Promenade des Anglais and Place Massena in Nice, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Esplanade des Quinconces in Bordeaux, the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, the D-Day Beach of Omaha in Normandy and the Eiffel Tower in Paris
- : See the Roman Amphitheatre and the Cathedral in Arles
- : Scenic Drive through the Dordogne and the Loire Valley
Trafalgar Difference
- Loire Valley: Step back in time with a stay in the regal 16th and 17th-century Chateâu de Beauvois.
Whats Included
- : An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- : Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- : All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- : All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- : Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- : Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- : Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- : Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- : Optional Experiences and free time
- : On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Health and Safety Protocols for Trafalgar Tours
Trafalgar has introduced these enhanced hygiene protocols – for you and team members.
You can travel with Trafalgar and be assured that their team has put numerous new measures in place to elevate their hygiene standards and protocols. The well-being of guests and team has always been, and always will be, their primary concern.
In this new, fast changing Covid-19 era, Trafalgar is doing all they can to adapt to new requirements and expectations. Here are some important new steps and procedures that they have implemented to enhance hygiene protocols, to comply with physical distancing requirements by relevant government authorities and to give you the peace of mind when you are traveling during these new times.
Expertly Trained Travel DirectorsTravel Director training equips them with enhanced hygiene and physical distancing procedures. During your trip, they will operate with a duty of care and monitor the hygiene etiquette of the guests, reacting and advising as needed, to ensure high standards are maintained. Before you travel, Trafalgar will also keep you well informed about new protocols required in these areas, and ask that you cooperate with and heed the advice and direction of Travel Directors while on your trip. The Travel Directors have preventative measures in place to try and ensure your well-being and in the event that any unexpected issues arise on trip, they will activate additional protocols.
Stringent On-the-Road ProtocolsThe customized luxury coaches are sanitised before the start of your trip and have always been kept to very high standards. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Trafalgar have taken additional measures to elevate hygiene and sanitary practices in accordance with guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and as required, applicable government regulations. The Driver training provides them with the latest hygiene protocols. They will clean and disinfect all surfaces including handrails, door handles, tables, seats, air-conditioning filters and overhead lockers on a daily basis. All the guests are asked to follow hygiene practices recommended by the World Health Organisation including the thorough and regular washing of hands and sanitising when required. Hand sanitiser is freely available on board for your use throughout the day. Please bring your own washable face mask and gloves with you, and additional hand sanitiser to make you feel comfortable, as these will be required to be worn in public in some countries. Should an unexpected situation arise, additional face masks, rubber gloves, antiviral sprays and wipes will be available for guest distribution on all trips.
A Full Team of Support 24/7It’s not just your Travel Director and Driver who will be taking care of you. Behind the scenes, the operations and guest support teams are in contact with them and on call 24/7, so you can rest assured that you’re in good hands.
Physical DistancingAdapting to the right size groups, based on government distancing requirements, you can rest assured that you will travel with the comfort of your own personal space. Have peace of mind that all of the experiences, hotels and restaurants you’ll enjoy on your trip have been vetted to ensure they adhere to physical distancing and hygiene guidelines.
Trusted Partners, Exceptional StandardsTrafalgar is very selective in who they work with and choose to only use hotels, restaurants, ground handlers and venues that take the well-being of the guests as seriously as Trafalgar does and agrees to meet expected guidelines and specifications. Trafalgar only works with establishments that they are confident will consistently adhere to their high standards.
Always in the KnowAs part of The Travel Corporation (TTC) , Trafalgar is kept up to date with all government advisories and travel alerts on a daily basis and is continually in touch with all of the partners on the ground in each destination. Also, rest assured that during your trip, the teams work to ensure the supplier partners (hotels, restaurants, museums and other venues) are also applying the same standard to these new hygiene and distancing protocols, to the extent possible.
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Question: How many people are on each tour?
Question: How many suitcases can I take with me on my trip?
Question: Is Airfare Included in the Price?
It was a good trip. The accommodations were good. We went through 2 of the worlds best wine growing regions Burgundy and Bordeaux and stopped at one winery, but the itinerary never mentioned wine tasting. It only said wine would be offered with dinner in Bordeaux region. So I booked another venue that stopped at 3 wineries.
Guide was amazing. Itinerary fantastic!
Great itinerary, saw France extensively. Hotels are all centrally located, close to restaurants tour director was knowledgeable, funny and professional
Good trip. We did not like some of the hotels were far out of town with no Metro near. The wine was mostly terrible. The Tour Director could have provided more information about things to do and see at the hotel stops!
I felt there were too many optional tours, especially on the last two days. Several of these such as the tour of Monmart would have been better as part of the tour and prices adjusted accordingly. The welcome dinner was also marginal at best and the location too loud for any real conversations. All other dines including the optional ones were very good.
Three was too much rushing to get to places, often we didn't get to see the sight but for a short time or in 2 stops, not at all. The accommodations were below my expectations in 2 hotels. My suggestions for this tour are less stops , and advise seniors that this is tough, steep terrain.
Taking any tour, there are destinations you definitely want to visit and others, not so much. One part of the tour that disappointed me was the minimum time spent at Omaha Beach. I stood on that beach and reflected the best I could on what happened there 75 ago. It was a short visit there and the American Cemetery. We were then back on the bus. I would have like to visit Utah Beach but not possible. I think this year especially, more time should have been spent there.
We have gone on 7 Trafalgar tours. All have been excellent.
Most of the rooms included with the tour were below average. We expected better.
I researched several companies and decided on a particular trip/operator. Then I discovered Affordable Tours which pleasantly surprised me with a huge monetary discount that I would not have received had I booked with the company of the tour. The agent, Mason, that I dealt with was absolutely wonderful!! He made me feel that I was a priority even though I know I was just one of his many clients. Thank you so much!!
We are very thorough when it comes to booking tours - we need to know that we're getting the best value for our money while still experiencing all that we want to experience. We look at every tour out there and narrow it down by price and places visited. This is the 2nd bus tour that we have taken with Trafalgar - both have been exceptional.The Best of France truly was the best of France!!!
Need more time in Paris
Trafalgar offered a very good tour. The tour director was excellent, organized and courteous . The tour met my expectations.
Great trip. Active and packed itinerary which is what we wanted. Saw so many things. Recommend the optional experiences as they make the trip more robust.
I highly recommend the Best of France tour with Trafalgar. The trip ran so smoothly with seeing so many places all over the country. The hotel rooms were clean and comfortable. The food was delicious. Our bus driver was excellent. The tour guide was good. She was helpful but not high energy like other tour guides we have had in the past. We had a wonderful trip. I think going on the last tour of the season was a great idea. We had a total of 30 in the group. The weather was cooler and the places we visited were not crowded as they are in the summer months.
Always difficult to figure out what "look, see, and visit" means on a tour. On the downside this tour, Best of France 2015 came down to long days due to travel distances, and lack of available free time to explore cities we spent the night at. Arrived at Normandy and Omaha Beach late in the day and only had 1 3/4 hrs to try and see it all. This memorial deserves better than that. The attractions as a whole, were all worth seeing. I this this trip would be better severed by adding two extra time off or free time days to rest and relax. The booking agency itself was very good and no problems with booking nor payment. Would have to experience Trafalgar one more time to determine if this trip was the exception or the norm. We drove 4000 Km or 2400 miles on this trip.
After adding in the cost of the optional excursions, the cost of the trip is high. All the extras should be included in the trip.
The tour was exhaustive because of very early wake-up call followed by long hour bus ride. Frequently,the bed time was no earlier than 11:00 pm because of late dinner. Most of the sites visited provided no local tour guides. We were given a bunch of verbal instructions on the spot prior to setting us loose. The sites that had local guides were equally disappointing because of their strong accent and difficult to understand.
Our agent set up our first tour with Trafalger, so we were really glad to be working with her again. Our trip through France with Trafalger was wonderful. Our tour director and our driver were the best. I'm excited to plan another trip through Affordable.
The trip was good, however two tours were not. the river cruise in Paris was wall to wall guests with no seats available but they still poured more in. Versailles was over crowded with as many as three tour trips in the same room all being addressed by the their tour directors at the same time while crowds were passing thru in both directions. No consideration given to capacity at these two events. I would not recommend either in spite of the great items to be seen in Versailles.
I wished that the hotels were closer to the towns so that we could do some exploring on our own. The hotel in Nice was perfect. The one in Paris was a little out of the way. Our last time there the hotel was in a perfect location. Our tour director and driver were excellent.
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Operator: CosmosStarts
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I highly recommend the Best of France with Trafalgar. The itinerary was what I was what I had anticipated and the Travel Director and local specialists were all very good.