Lourdes and the Shrines of France

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Lourdes and the Shrines of France
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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 ShrineLISIEUX Visit Les Buissonnets,
  family home of St. Therese the basilica St.
  Peters Cathedral and the Carmelite
  ConventPARISLOURDES By high-speed TGV
  trainLOURDES Visit the grotto guided
  sightseeing, visit the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine
  and St. Bernadettes birthplace and family
  homeCARCASSONNE OrientationAVIGNON
  OrientationLA SALETTE Visit the Our Lady of
  La Salette Shrine, the church, the Apparition
  site, and springARS-SUR-FORMANS Visit the St.
  John Vianney Shrine, his home, and
  churchPARAY-LE-MONIAL Visit the Chapel of the
  Apparitions and the Basilica of the Sacred
  HeartNEVERS Visit St. GildardCHARTRES
  Visit the cathedral

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Day 1Board your overnight transatlantic flight
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Day 2Arrival 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

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Day 3Paris Day 3- Paris

• With a local guide visit Arc de Triomphe, Louvre,
  Champs-Elyées and Eiffel Tower

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Day 3Paris

• Then onto Notre Dame Cathedral and Basilica of
  Sacre Coeur on Montmarte

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Day 3Paris

• Visit Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Shrine and
  St. Vincent de Paul Shrine

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Day 4Paris. Lisieux Excursion.

• In Lisieux, see Les Buissonnets, family home of
  St. Therese, and Basilica of St. Therese
• Next, St. Peters Cathedral and the Carmelite
  Convent

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Day 5Paris-Lourdes

• Board the TGV Train to Lourdes to visit the
  Grotto
• Join the candle procession this evening in Lourdes

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Lourdes candle procession
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Day 6Lourdes

• Walking tour of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, St.
  Bernadettes birthplace and family home

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Day 6Lourdes

• Balance of day at leisure
• Bathe in the healing waters or attend the
  Blessing of the Sick
• Join this evenings candlelight procession

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Day 7Lourdes-Carcassonne- Avignon

• Stop in Carcassonne, UNESCO world heritage site
• Onto Avignon and the Palace of the Popes

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Day 8Avignon-La Salette- Lyon

• Journey to Lady of la Salette Shrine, and visit
  the Church, Apparition Site and Spring

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Day 9Lyon- Ars-sur-Formans-Paray-le-Monial-
Nevers

• Visit the St. John Vianney Shrine, see the
  incorrupt body, and explore the Church
• In Paray-le-Monial, see the Chapel of Apparitions
  and Basilica of the Sacred Heart

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Basilica of the Sacred Heart
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Day 10Nevers-Chartres-Paris

• Visit St. Gildard and see the incorrupt body of
  St. Bernadette
• In Chartes, see the Cathedral
• Enjoy your farewell dinner this evening

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Day 11Your homebound flight arrives the same day
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Meals

• Daily buffet breakfasts
• 5 three-course dinners

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Quality Hotels

• PARIS Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
• LOURDES Grand Hotel Moderne
• AVIGNON Mercure Pont dAvignon
• LYON Mercure Grand Saxe Lafayette
• NEVERS Mercure Pont de Loire
• PARIS Pulman Porte de Sévres
• subject to change

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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

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Paris Novotel Paris Tour Eiffel
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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

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Lourdes Grand Hotel Moderne
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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

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Avignon Mercure Cité des Papes
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Lyon Mercure Grand Saxe Lafayette

• In the heart of the business area of Lyon, close
  to Presquile and Old Lyon
• 156 guestrooms, complete with air-conditioning,
  safe, radio, satellite TV, telephone, hairdryer
• 1 full restaurant, 1 bar

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Lyon Mercure Grand Saxe Lafayette
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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

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Nevers Mercure Pont de Loire
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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

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Paris Pullman Rive Gauche
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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)

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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.

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Money

• 1 U.S. Dollar .643052 Euro
• 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).

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Additional Information

• 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).

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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.

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Baggage Allowance

• We 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 12x11x6
• 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