Day 1: Bienvenue! Welcome to Paris, France “The City of Lights ”
I greet you at your private apartment in the exclusive area located near the Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Les Invalids districts. Settle your belongings into your new home, and then enjoy lunch at a neighborhood café. After lunch, we spend some time getting oriented ~ going over maps, metro and bus stops. The remainder of the day is at your leisure for you to unwind and settle at your own pace. (L)
Day 2: French breakfast, Outdoor market tour & picnic
Enjoy your first traditional French breakfast in our main Paris apartment ~ fresh pastries and croissants from the nearby pâtisserie and a bowl of café au lait. Following breakfast, visit one of the most beautiful outdoor markets in Paris, in an elegant neighborhood near the Eiffel Tower. Witness a tremendous array of delicious fare, including abundant fish, cheese, meats, and exquisite produce. Choose from among the finest delicacies in Europe for our cooking dinner party tonight, as well as for our picnic lunch. Meet and visit with vendors, sample some tasty products, with free time to purchase provisions for yourself or shop for garments or household goods. For your convenience, Karen will have a rolling caddy to transport your purchases back to your apartment. Picnic on the lawn at nearby Champs de Mars, in front of the Grande Dame herself, the Eiffel Tower. For a magical time to enjoy the Impressionists amongst fewer crowds, consider spending the evening at the Musée d'Orsay ~ open late tonight. (B, L)
Day 3: Paris at your own pace…Cooking Dinner Party
Today's a free day to enjoy Paris as you wish! Take pleasure in the museums of your choice , if desired, but c onsider visiting the Musée du Louvre after 6pm, tonight it closes late ~ the crowds will have thinned and the galleries take on a more serene air by which you can better appreciate the masterpieces housed in this former palace of the kings. Tonight we'll dine as local Parisians do ~ meeting late in one of our beautiful apartments for a cooking dinner party with our fresh finds from the market. (D)
Day 4: Versailles in all it's glory!
Take a 20 minute train to the Château of Versailles. Enjoy a private VIP tour of the Palace & Gardens of Versailles. After 7 years of renovation, Versailles can now be seen in full glory. Visit the Private King & Queen Apartments, including the secret hallways joining the apartments ~ areas where the public is not granted access ~ as well as the
Opéra Royal and Marie Antoinette's pastoral escape: her private hamlet. While in the gardens, witness the majestic Les Grandes Eaux Musicales. Lunch will be taken either on the grounds or in the town of Versailles, depending upon time.
Day 5: Savor Paris the way you wish today… Seine River Cruise
There are infinite ways to enjoy Paris. This morning you have the option to visit a charming Paris flea market ~ I will be glad to accompany you personally. As an alternative to the flea market, if you haven't gotten your fill of outdoor markets, I suggest the comprehensive Marché Bastille ~ a stone's throw from the 400-year-old Place des Vosges in the quaint Marais district. This evening, enjoy a one-hour cruise along the Seine to admire the monuments bathed in golden sunlight, as we pass under 25 bridges, each unique in style ~ the perspective from the water offers a view of Paris like no other. Dine together in an authentic neighborhood restaurant unknown to tourists. (B, D)
Day 6: Paris Chocolate Tour…. Optional Hands-On Culinary Class at Lenôtre
Find out about the history of chocolate during a 2-hour privately guided walking tour. Visit a variety of superb chocolatiers (master chocolate makers) on this enjoyable walk which mixes history and anecdotes with chocolate tastings. Serious cooks might wish to deepen their culinary knowledge during an optional 3-hour Hands-On Culinary Class at the exclusive Lenôtre Ecole de Cuisine located on world-famous Avenue des Champs Elysées. Enjoy preparing 2-3 courses alongside the Chef with a generous gourmet meal to take home (perfect for dinner in your apartment!)
Day 7: A day of bubbly
Take the new high-speed train to the capital of the Champagne region, Reims ~ a short 45 minutes from Paris. Pay tribute to the impressive Reims cathedral ~ the gothic splendor where many French kings have been crowned. Visit the oldest Champagne house for an exclusive VIP tour of the chalk caves and vinification facility. Learn about the fascinating history of champagne making and then delight in a tasting. Enjoy a light café lunch, then drive into the picturesque countryside amidst the vines to visit a small-size producer and witness the “artisanal”-style of the champagne making.
Day 8: Versailles-themed dinner with native Parisian & French chef
Tonight, enjoy the rare opportunity of a private themed dinner party with an esteemed French Chef in the home of a native Parisian, Véronique, who resides in a fashionable neighborhood of Paris (and whose neighbor is legendary fashion designer, Hubert de Givenchy!) Véronique will give insight into Parisian life and impress us with her refined table decoration. (D)
Day 9: “Au Revoir” … “Bon retour & MERCI!”
After savoring your last French pastries and coffee, your taxi will collect you to take you to the airport. As they say in French “Good return, and THANK YOU!”
