Itinerary Details
Spotlight on Paris
Day 1 Overnight Flight
Iconic skylines of picturesque towers. A trend-setting culinary scene. The inspirational muse for the world’s greatest artists. Fashion-forward haute couture. This is the “City of Light.” Feel the essence of Paris as the locals do – with its chic cosmopolitan vibe and constant energy. You’re on your way to a 7-night stay in the thriving heartbeat of France.
Day 2 Paris, France - Tour Begins
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Be swept off your feet as the Paris of your dreams comes alive. Make your way down the Champs-Élysées, the hotspot for Parisian fashion, and marvel at the towering Arc de Triomphe. Words can’t do justice to the view from within the Eiffel Tower,* where you’ll enjoy an exclusive dinner featuring savory French cuisine.(D)
Day 3 Paris
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Step into the shoes of a local and navigate Le Métro – your main mode of transportation for the week. Get to know this underground system with a local pro, giving you the freedom to set off later as you wish. First stop – the Louvre Museum.** The ethereal glass pyramid at the Louvre’s entrance serves as your gateway into another realm, where ancient sculptures lead to 19th-century canvases. Wander past and marvel at the palette progeny of Raphael and Botticelli before making your way to Da Vinci’s renowned Mona Lisa. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure to explore Paris as you please. Perhaps you’ll take a leisurely stroll through the Tuileries Garden or elegant Place Vendôme with its glittering vitrines displaying jewelry and high-fashion designs.(B, D)
Day 4 Versailles
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Channel your inner royal at Versailles – an iconic palace located in the heart of France. There’s a reason why Versailles has served as a model for countless international abodes, which you’ll discover as you wind your way through sprawling green gardens and palace halls with a local guide. From the prominent Hall of Mirrors to the opulent bedchamber of the queen, take in the palace’s most famous sights. This evening, experience Paris’ nightlife during an optional dinner at the dynamic Paradis Latin*** for a champagne-flowing, can-can kicking, music-driven night at the cabaret.(B)
Day 5 Paris
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Make the most of a free day in the world’s most chic capital city. If you’d prefer to continue touring, you can join an optional tour to Normandy. If you choose this, you’ll retrace the history of World War II with visits to Mulberry Harbor – a WWII engineering marvel, the Normandy American Cemetery, and the D-Day landing site at Omaha Beach.(B)
Day 6 Le Marais
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Your cultural lesson continues this morning with a culinary quest through the hip and historic district of Le Marais.**** Join a local foodie and venture to the neighborhood’s beloved venues, getting a taste of the cozy shops and Parisian flavors. Along the way, meander through the flourishing trees and bright grassy patches of spectacular Place des Vosges, the oldest town square in all of Paris. Take a walk down to the Ile de la Cité to snap a picture of the awe-inspiring Notre Dame or relax in one of Le Marais’ cozy cafés and indulge in the Parisian art of people watching. As your day wraps up, make the most of an evening at leisure. Or, enjoy an optional tour taking in the city from the backseat of a retro car. Take in the City of Lights while cruising through the chic boulevards to the Montmartre neighborhood, where hip bohemia meets heaven-seeking basilicas.(B, L)
Day 7 Paris
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
Enjoy your day on your own to explore Paris however you want. You may want to take an optional tour and delve into the creative mind of Claude Monet and let the art scene leave its impression on you with a visit to his countryside home at Giverny.***** Stroll through the colorful living work of art that is Monet’s garden, where you’ll see the source for the artist’s inspiration, including the setting for his iconic Waterlilies.(B, D)
Day 8 Montmartre
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile
It’s your last day in Paris – spend the morning exploring the hip bohemian neighborhood of Montmartre. Blending artistic roots and quirky modernity, this 18th arrondissement neighborhood is home to classical painters and cultural provocateurs. Choose how you discover the area because it’s your choice! Venture into the Musée de Montmartre and glimpse the roots of cabaret and the lives of Paris' most famous artists with a local guide -OR- head inside Sacré-Coeur and take in the city from this iconic hilltop basilica. Tonight, say salut as you toast to the end of your Parisian getaway, admiring the city skyline as you gently float down the Seine on a dinner cruise.(B, D)
Day 9 Paris - Tour Ends
Au revoir! Your tour comes to a close today.(B)
