Lourdes and the Shrines of France

Lourdes and the Shrines of France
Included Features
PARIS: Welcome and farewell
dinners; guided sightseeing, visit
Notre Dame Cathedral, the Basilica
of Sacre Coeur, Our Lady of the
Miraculous Medal Shrine, and the St.
Vincent de Paul Shrine
LISIEUX: Visit Les Buissonnets,
family home of St. Therese; the
basilica; St. Peter’s Cathedral; and the
Carmelite Convent
PARIS–LOURDES: By high-speed
“TGV” train
LOURDES: Visit the grotto; guided
walking tour, visit the Our Lady of
Lourdes Shrine and St. Bernadette’s
birthplace and family home
CARCASSONNE: Medieval town
AVIGNON: Palace of the Popes
PARAY-LE-MONIAL:Visit the
Chapel of the Apparitions and the
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
NEVERS:Visit St. Gildard
CHARTRES: Visit the cathedral
Day 1- Board your overnight
transatlantic flight
Day 2- Arrival in Paris, France
• Transfer to hotel
upon arrival
• Balance of day at
leisure until 6pm
when you will
meet with your
tour director and
companion for a
welcome dinner
Day 3- Paris Day 3- Paris
• With a local guide visit Arc de Triomphe,
Louvre, Champs-Elyées and Eiffel Tower
Day 3- Paris Day 3- Paris
• Basilica of Sacre Coeur on Montmarte
Day 3- Paris
• Visit Our Lady
of the
Miraculous
Medal Shrine
and St. Vincent
de Paul Shrine
Day 3- Paris
St. Vincent De Paul Shrine
Day 4- Paris
• The morning is
dedicated to the
architectural wonders of
NOTRE DAME
CATHEDRAL, where
the relics of the Passion
of the Christ can be
seen. Afternoon and
evening at leisure.
Day 5- Paris. Lisieux Excursion.
• In Lisieux, see Les
Buissonnets, family
home of St. Therese,
and Basilica of St.
Therese
• Next, St. Peter’s
Cathedral and the
Carmelite Convent
Day 6- Paris-Lourdes
• Board the “TGV”
Train to Lourdes to
visit the Grotto
• Join the candle
procession this
evening in Lourdes
Lourdes candle procession
Day 7- Lourdes
• Walking tour
of Our Lady
of Lourdes
Shrine, St.
Bernadette’s
birthplace
and family
home
Day 8 – At leisure in Lourdes
• Full day at
leisure to further
explore Lourdes
on your own or
join an optional
excursion to the
nearby Pyrenees.
French Pyrenees
Day 9- Lourdes-Carcassonne- Avignon
• Stop in
Carcassonne,
UNESCO world
heritage site
• Onto Avignon
and the Palace of
the Popes
Day 10- Avignon- Parnay-le-MonialNevers
• Morning at leisure
for shopping or visit
Palace of the Popes
• Continue to Paray-leMonial
– Chapel of the
Apparitions
– Basilica of the
Sacred Heart
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Day 11- Nevers-Chartres-Paris
• Visit St. Gildard and see the incorrupt body of St.
Bernadette
• In Chartes, see the Cathedral
• Enjoy your farewell dinner this evening
Day 12- Your homebound flight arrives
the same day
Meals
• Daily buffet breakfasts
• 5 three-course dinners including welcome
and farewell dinner in Paris
Quality Hotels
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PARIS Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
LOURDES Grand Hotel Moderne
AVIGNON Mercure Cité des Papes
NEVERS Mercure Pont de Loire
PARIS Pulman Paris Rive Gauche
subject to change
Paris
Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
• Overlooks the Seine, moments away from
the Eifel tower
• 764 guestrooms, all with air-conditioning,
safe, radio, satellite TV, hairdryer
• 2 full restaurants, 1 bar
Paris
Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
Lourdes
Grand Hotel Moderne
• Location offers easy access to the
Sanctuaries, the Grotto and tourist sites of
the city
• Guestrooms complete with air-conditioning,
satellite TV, hairdryer, safe
• 1 full restaurant, 1 bar
Lourdes
Grand Hotel Moderne
Avignon
Mercure Cité des Papes
• Situated on the Place d Horloge sqaure, the
city centre of the old city. Close to Palace
of the Popes
• 89 guestrooms, all with air-conditioning,
safe, satellite TV, radio, hairdryer
• 1 restaurant, 1 bar
Avignon
Mercure Cité des Papes
Nevers
Mercure Pont de Loire
• Located on the sides of the Loire River, 5
minute walk from the town centre
• 59 guestrooms, all with air-conditioning,
satellite TV, radio, telephone, hairdryer
• 1 full restaurant, 1 bar
Nevers
Mercure Pont de Loire
Paris
Pullman Rive Gauche
• Ideal location. Close to the Porte de
Versailles and Paris exhibition centre.
• 617 guestrooms, all with satellite TV, radio,
air-conditioning, safe, telephone, hairdryer
• 1 full restaurant, 1 private dining room for
groups, 1 bar
Paris
Pullman Rive Gauche
To Know About Your Destination
• On rare occasions, the road to Our Lady of La Salette may
not be accessible due to weather conditions.
• In the unlikely event that the “TGV” train is unavailable,
alternative transportation will be provided.
• Sometimes there is a small charge for public toilets
• Stores may close earlier than back home and are usually
not open on Sundays
• Ice machines are not available in all hotels, nor are
washcloths (you might like to pack a couple)
To Know About Your Destination
• Please remember that it is not customary in Europe to drink iced
water with meals. Ice is not normally added to drinks unless
specifically requested.
• If you intend to visit a specific museum or other public venues,
ask your tour director for the days and dates they are open.
• Request and keep receipts for all your personal spending (meals,
souvenirs etc.) Sales tax or VAT (value added tax) is already
included on price tags; VAT refunds, if applicable, will take
about three months to process. Obtain the relevant tax form plus
invoice from the store and hand it to the appropriate office when
leaving.
Money
• 1 U.S. Dollar = .707 Euro (subject to change)
• We recommend use of a money belt while traveling.
• Please note that it is not very easy to change travelers
checks.
• Even banks and exchange offices do not always offer this
service and if it is offered, then charges are extremely high.
• We therefore recommend that you take a credit card with
you plus a small amount of cash (preferably in US dollars).
Additional Information
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We recommend layered, easy care clothing, a pair of comfortable,
tried-and-tested walking shoes, a heavy cardigan or jacket, and a small
umbrella for the occasional shower.
Evening dress: smart casual. Shorts and bare shoulders are considered
inappropriate at some religious sites, so carry trousers and a pullover in
your hand luggage, or ask your tour director.
Having laundry done can be very expensive, so you may wish to bring
some travel soap.
Remember a good quality, electric current converter (check that it is
sufficiently powerful for your appliance) and international plug adapter
for using electrical equipment abroad.
Many restaurants only serve bottled mineral water (for a fee).
Additional Information
• Europeans generally dine slightly later than might be your custom
• Coffee and tea are usually only served after meals and cost extra
(ask the hotel staff).
• To reduce charges on calls home, we recommend you use a calling
card (this service may not be available from every telephone).
• Items to pack in your hand luggage: a good supply of any
medication you are taking as it may not be available, extra film and
spare batteries for your camera, a pen, light rainwear, a sweater, a
road map if you enjoy "plotting your progress," and maybe a small
travel pillow.
• Label your camera and rolls of film with your name and tour code;
should you lose them, there's a better chance of their being
returned.
• Remember to check that you have not left your camera or film on
the motorcoach at the end of your tour.
Baggage Allowance
• Globus will provide you with a carry-on bag
• If you would like to take your own, carry-on bags
should not exceed the dimensions of 12”x11”x6”
• For safety reasons, wheeled carry-on bags are not
suitable as hand luggage on the motorcoach
• Porterage for one suitcase per person is included
• One suitcase per person