London and Paris | October 19 – 28

Oct 19/20 –  US to London

Today you board your international overnight flight to London Heathrow. Welcome to London! Your Universal Travel representative will meet you at Heathrow airport and assist you with your transfer to London downtown. Here you will have some free time before checking into your hotel. After some time to freshen up, enjoy a welcome-to-London dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: London           (D)

Oct 21 | London – Sightseeing incl. Changing of the Guards, Westminster Abbey & Churchill War Rooms

After breakfast this morning, you are off to explore one of the most exciting cities in the World! Did you know that London is not only the capital city of the United Kingdom, it’s also a county that covers a total area of ​​607 square miles and incorporates 32 boroughs, as well as the City of London? The capital of England was moved to London from Winchester as the Palace of Westminster developed in the 12th and 13th centuries to become the permanent location of the royal court and thus the political capital of the nation.  On your tour, you will see the  Changing of the Guard, a formal ceremony in which the group of soldiers currently protecting Buckingham Palace are replaced by a new group of soldiers. The guard that looks after Buckingham Palace is called The King’s Guard and is made up of soldiers on active duty from the Household Division’s Foot Guards. The guards are dressed in traditional red tunics and bearskin hats. Next,  enjoy an included lunch before visiting Westminster Abbey. Another highlight today will be a visit to the Churchill War Rooms. Walk through the top-secret corridors of Churchill War Rooms and get a glimpse of what life would have been like during the tense days and nights of the Second World War. After a full day of sightseeing, you return to your hotel overnight.

Overnight: London                (B,L)

Oct 23 | London – Sightseeing incl. Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Borough Market & Thames River Dinner Cruise!

After breakfast, you will be taken straight to the Tower of London where your entrance tickets have been arranged for a guided walking tour of the palace. The Tower of London is one of the top sights to see in the city right in front of the majestic Tower Bridge. This historic castle with over 1,000 years of history is home to the Crown Jewels, the iconic ‘Beefeater’ Yeoman Warders, and the legendary ravens that have kept the kingdom from collapsing. Next, take a short walk to the Tower Bridge where entrance tickets have been arranged. Take an elevator up to the top and discover the marvelous high-level Glass Walkways of Tower Bridge. Spanning the North and South Towers, the Walkways offer breathtaking panoramic views of London from 42 meters above the River Thames. Re-join the coach and travel a short distance to Borough Market for a walking tour of one of London’s most famous food markets. Here you will have free time for lunch and shopping before returning to your hotel to relax and freshen up. Tonight, enjoy a fun-filled farewell to London dinner cruise on the River Thames!

Overnight: London                   (B,D)

Oct 24 | London to Paris via Highspeed Train & Galeries Lafayette

This morning after breakfast and checking out of your hotel, you will be transferred to the London St. Pancras train station. Upon arrival, board the Euro Star highspeed train bound for Paris, France. Once onboard, enjoy comfortable seating, free WiFi, a café-bar area, and power sockets as a standard amenity. This is the fastest, most direct way to travel from the UK to France, and typically takes less than 2.5 hours to travel the 212 miles from   London to Paris. Upon arrival at the Paris Gare du Nord station, your local guide will greet you and assist you with your transfer to your motor coach. Travel a short distance to downtown Paris where you have free time for shopping under Galleries Lafayette’s famous glass Dome! Don’t miss the breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre from the rooftop terrace! Later this afternoon check into your hotel for a fabulous four-night stay.

Overnight: Paris                         (B)

Oct 26 – Orsay Museum or Louvre | Opera Garnier

This morning you have the option to visit the Orsay Museum or the Louvre. Orsay Museum: The former train station with the appearance of a palace inaugurated for the 1900 World Fair. Known throughout the world for its rich collection of Impressionist art, the Musée d’Orsay is also the museum of all the artistic creations of the Western World from 1848 to 1914. Its collections represent all forms of expression, from painting to architecture, including sculpture, decorative arts and photography. Louvre Museum: The Louvre is a must-see museum, home to some of the world’s greatest masterpieces. This museum has been intimately linked to the history of France for eight centuries. Conceived from its creation in 1793 as a universal museum, its collections are among the finest in the world. The Louvre houses Egyptian Antiquities, Oriental Antiquities, and Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities sit alongside more modern collections such as those in the Departments of Paintings, Sculptures, Works of Art, Graphic Arts, and Islamic Arts. In the afternoon discover on your private tour the Opera Garnier, imagined by Napoleon III and built by Charles Garnier. Inaugurated in 1875, it is today one of the oldest theatres in Paris. After your private tour of the Opera House, return to your hotel with the remainder of the evening at your leisure.

Overnight: Paris                      (B)

Oct 27 – Versailles Palace | Laduree | Seine Dinner Cruise

At 8:00 am you depart this morning to visit Versailles Palace for a guided tour of the Royal Apartments and the Hall of Mirrors. Classified for 40 years as a World Heritage Site, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most beautiful achievements of French art in the 17th century. The former hunting lodge of Louis XIII was transformed and enlarged by his son Louis XIV who installed his Court and his government there in 1682. Until the French Revolution, the kings succeeded one another, embellishing the castle in turn. After your tour, you have time to visit the magnificent royal gardens and admire the opulent fountains. Return to your hotel in the afternoon at your leisure. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine.

Overnight: Paris                        (B,D)

Oct 28 – Flight back home to the US

This morning transfer to the Charles de Gaulle airport and check in for your flight home. Fond memories of your time in London and Paris will last forever.       (B)

Inclusions:

• Round trip transfer to the ORD airport
• Airfare from ORD to London and from Paris to ORD
• Luxury motor coach transportation while in London & Paris
• Eight nights 4-star hotel accommodations (4 in London, 4 in Paris)
• Daily Breakfast, two lunches, High Tea in London & Tea Time in Paris & three dinners
• All sightseeing and admissions as listed on the itinerary incl. Admissions & Tickets for: Westminster Abbey, Churchill War Rooms, London Eye, Double Decker Bus High Tea experience, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Dinner cruise on the Thames River, One way Highspeed Train ticket from London to Paris, rt. street train ride to Montmartre, Eiffel Tower, Orsay Museum OR Louvre, Opera Garnier, Versailles Palace, Laduree Tea Time & Seine Dinner Cruise
• Hotel taxes, meal taxes, and gratuities
• Service of a Tour Director
• Porterage of one bag per person

(excludes airline baggage fees)

• All resort, service, and government fees

$800.00 deposit due to confirm the reservation

Final payment due Jul. 1, 2024

50% non-refundable Jul. 5, 2024

100% non-refundable Aug. 19, 2024