France, Belgium & the Battlefields with Colleen Alsberg
August 31, 2021 to
September 12, 2021
Join Colleen Alsberg on this very special trip to France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This Fox custom tour is packed with incredible sights, unique venues and tours, as well as incredible battlefields and museums from WWII. You will travel in comfort on Insights executive style motorcoaches that only seat 40 guests, and have roomy business class seating.
This tour has something for everyone! In addition to the battlefields and museums, you will have an opportunity to see some of the most beautiful sites in Paris, including lunch in the Eiffel Tower, a trip to Giverny to see Monet’s Garden and a visit to stunning Mont-Saint-Michel. Then, travel through the pasture lands of Belgian Flanders to Ghent and enjoy a canal cruise in beautiful Bruges. We give you free time to explore on your own as well. Perhaps stop in at one of the many art museums in Paris, enjoy a coffee at a café along the Champs Elysées, or taste some of the fine beers in Belgium.
The tour is led by Insight Vacations Tour Director, John Bromage. John was born in London, met his American wife in Paris and has lived in Normandy for the last 15 years. He is Insight’s leading WWI and WW2 Battlefield historian and expert. John has worked with us to handpick the hotels, restaurants and tour stops just for our guests. We hope you will come along on this trip of a lifetime!
Itinerary
Your journey begins aboard a motorcoach transfer from select cities to Chicago O’Hare, where you will board your overnight flight to Paris. Or travel independently and meet us in Paris.
Welcome to Paris, known as the “City of Lights”. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Later,
join your Travel Director for welcome drinks and a relaxed evening of dinner and wine at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile (or similar)
Meal: Welcome Dinner
This morning you enjoy a Paris orientation tour by motorcoach en route to visiting Notre Dame. Continue onto the Eiffel Tower for a second-floor visit and lunch. This afternoon you are at your leisure to explore this romantic city.
Hotel: Le Meridien Etoile (or similar)
Meal: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch
Travel to Giverny, where you visit Monet’s house and gardens. Continue onto the beautiful town of Honfleur where you are at your leisure to explore. End the day at Bayeux where you enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: La Reine Mathilde Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner
See Omaha and Utah beaches which played a part in the 1944 Normandy landings. Visit the Utah Beach Museum. Continue to Ste. Mere Eglise to visit the Airborne Museum. Spend a few reflective moments at the American Military Cemetery of Saint-Laurent. Follow the route of the Rangers, visiting the bunkers and the Rangers Memorial at Pointe du Hoc.
Hotel: La Reine Mathilde Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Visit the Pegasus Bridge Memorial before traveling to Courselles sur Mer for lunch. Travel past Juno Beach to Arromanches for a stroll along the floating harbors and lounges. Visit the Bayeux Tapestry Museum that chronicles the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066.
Hotel: La Reine Mathilde Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch
Journey through Bocage country for an exploration of the hilltop abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. The abbey stands on an island and is reach by a causeway across the shining sands.
Enjoy lunch at Cancale before continuing along the Emerald Coast to stunning Saint-Malo, situated on the Rance Estuary and one of the most stunning places in France. A local Expert will take you on an exploration of the City of the Corsairs. Walk through the maze of streets of Intra Muros, the walled city.
Hotel: La Reine Mathilde Hotel (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Lunch
Leave Bayeux for Dunkirk to visit the 1940 museum. Continue to Ypres, to see the Menin Gate. Here availability permitting you dine and enjoy a beer at the Brasserie Kazematten, a restaurant house inside a barrack.
Hotel: Novotel Leper Centrum Flanders Ypres (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Bruges where you meet your local Expert for a stroll along cobbled streets, lined with high-gabled houses from the 16th century. Visit the market square dominated by the 80-meter belfry of the Market Hall. Explore the Burg Square with its ornate Gothic town hall and glorious frescoes on the walls of the Holy Blood Chapel. This afternoon cruise along the canals of beautiful Bruges.
Hotel: Du Tuilerieen Hotel Bruges (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Cross the pasture lands of Belgian Flanders to Ghent, the City of Flowers. With a local Expert, visit the St. Bavo’s Cathedral with its Van Eyck masterpiece and see the Castle of Counts. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel: Du Tuilerieen Hotel Bruges (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner
Travel to Luxembourg where you visit the National Museum of Military History. Visit the grave of US
General George S. Patton.
Hotel: Chateau d’Urspelt Clervaux (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Head for Bastogne to visit the Mardasson Monument, dedicated to the US troops who died during World War II’s Battle of the Bulge, and visit the Bastogne Barracks Museum. This evening, enjoy a celebration dinner.
Hotel: Chateau d’Urspelt Clervaux (or similar)
Meals: Buffet Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast before you are transferred to the Luxembourg Airport. Upon arrival at Chicago O’Hare, your motorcoach transfer will return you to your original pick-up point.
Meals: Buffet Breakfast
Inclusions
Air-Inclusive Package Transportation Inclusions
- Round-trip motorcoach transportation to Chicago O’Hare airport from select locations
- Round-trip air from Chicago O’Hare to Paris, and return from Luxembourg, including current air taxes and fees
- Round-trip airport/hotel transfers in Paris and Luxembourg
Hotel Accommodations:
- Two nights in Paris at Le Meridien Etoile (or similar)
- Four nights in Normandy at La Reine Mathilde Hotel (or similar)
- One night in Flanders Ypres at Novotel Leper Centrum Flanders Ypres (or similar)
- Two nights in Bruges at Du Tuilerieen Hotel Bruges (or similar)
- Two nights in Luxembourg at Chateau d’Urspelt Clervaux (or similar)
Meals
- Daily breakfast buffet
- Three lunches including a lunch in the Eiffel Tower
- Five dinners including a Welcome Dinner in Paris, three 3-course dinners and a final Celebration Dinner in Luxembourg
Tour Services
- A luxury air-conditioned coach with extended leg room and an onboard restroom, for transportation and sightseeing
- Handset for guided sightseeing visits and walking tours
- Professional tour manager from Fox World Travel*
- Insight Vacations professional local tour director, John Bromage
- Customized, informative travel documents
Premium Sightseeing Experiences
- Paris: Paris Orientation city tour with a visit to the Eiffel Tower with lunch and a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral
- Giverny: Visit Monet’s home and gardens
- Honfleur: Visit the picturesque port town
- Normandy: Omaha & Utah Beaches, American Military Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc, Arromanches, Bayeux Tapestry Museum and Pegasus Bridge
- Mont-Saint-Michel & St. Malo: Visit the hilltop abbey and drive the Emerald Coast to stunning Saint-Malo
- Dunkirk & Ypres: Visit the 1940 museum and see the Menin Gate and enjoy dinner and a beer at the historic Brasserie Kazematten
- Bruges: Walking tour of the city, canal cruise
- Ghent: Tour the “City of Flowers” and visit St. Bavo’s Cathedral and the Castle of Counts
- Luxembourg: National Museum of Military History, Grave of General George S. Patton
- Bastogne: Visit the Mardasson Monument dedicated to US troops, visit Bastogne Barracks Museum
Not Included: Air with tour only, gratuities for airport porters, tour guides, motorcoach drivers, meals (other than those included in the package), optional excursions that may be offered, trip cancellation insurance, any items of a personal nature and anything not specifically listed as included in the package price.
* A minimum number of passengers are required for the Fox World Travel tour manager to accompany this group. If the minimum is not met, the tour will still include a professional local guide in the destination. Hotels, tour itinerary and tour inclusions are subject to change.
Special Offers
Early Booking Discount: Deposit by April 30, 2021 and receive a $300.00 per person discount
Past Passenger Discount: $100.00 per person (subject to change at any time)*
*Must have traveled with Insight Vacations, Uniworld, Brendan Vacations, Trafalgar or Contiki within the last five years to qualify.
Discounts are subject to change at any time
Flights
Flights from Chicago are currently pending
Flight schedules are subject to change and Fox has no control over flight changes, seat assignments, delays or cancellations. Tickets will be non-refundable once issued. Changes will be subject to a fee plus any fare difference. Additional restrictions may apply. Checked baggage fees may apply.
Pricing and flight options from other cities available upon request.
Meet Your Host - Colleen Alsberg
Colleen began her career with Fox World Travel in 1995. After escorting her first tour, a motorcoach group to Canada, she fell in love with the job and hasn’t stopped since. In her 20+ years of being a tour manager, her travels have taken her throughout the Americas & Europe. She has met wonderful people and shared a multitude of experiences with them in destinations like Alaska, Hawaii, Italy, Ireland, France, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean & Mexico and so many more!
Her personal travels have extended throughout the world including Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Scandinavia, Russia, South America, the South Pacific and the Middle East. Her travel list is never-ending! She’s been truly blessed and hopes to continue exploring new destinations throughout our amazing world!
Notes
Optional Insurance
Cancellation and travel protection is strongly recommended. Fox World Travel offers several plans with Travel Guard Insurance. Details and rates can be obtained from your travel consultant.
Cancellation Penalties
- From date of deposit to May 26, 2021: Initial deposit of $400.00 per person
- May 27, 2021 to June 24, 2021: 50% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees
- June 25, 2021 to July 30, 2021: 75% package price cancellation fee + applicable airline fees
- July 31, 2021 to day of departure: No refunds
Air is non-refundable once ticketed.
Contact Us
To talk to a travel specialist or book your trip, please call 1-888-369-8785 or request more information online.
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