My London and Paris 2012

Would you like to come shopping with me?

Many of you have followed my shopping adventures in London and Paris and wished you could come along... now is your chance! I am planning a trip for April 2012 and would love to have you join me. I will be in Paris already, teaching at an event called Version Scrap with Donna Downey, Jenni Bowlin, and several French teachers if you'd like to come early and take some classes! That part of the trip is not included in this information but if you'd like to do that on your own, I would be glad to help you with information.

Our trip will officially begin in London on Wednesday, April 4, and then continue in Paris on Sunday, April 8, (Easter Sunday in Paris!) returning home on Sunday, April 15. You can either do just London, just Paris, or both, for a once in a lifetime eleven night trip! All the details are contained in the posts below. Please feel free to email me with any questions you have.

You can feel free to pass it on to friends who might be interested. I will only be taking twenty people along with me. I would prefer to have this be a ladies only trip (I'm not sure the men would have the shopping endurance that's required!) and we will not be able to accomodate children under the age of eighteen.

The format will be similar to my New York City trip during the holidays. We will start out together, armed with maps and suggestions, and then break off and then meet up again throughout the day. There is complete freedom to follow along with my itinerary or just do your own thing. For example, I won't have museum visits on the itinerary but that is something you might want to do on your own. Please remember that I am not a travel agent or official guide and won't have a flag to follow or flourescent t-shirts for us to wear, but I will be very accessible and there to help in any way I can. It is impossible to keep twenty women together while shopping, but we'll stay in an area together and remember that wandering is part of the charm of Paris and London! I do not speak French but have never had any trouble finding someone to help me if needed.

This trip requires that you be in good physical condition and be able to walk long distances. (It's not for the faint of heart or knees! :) Some of our walking will be on uneven and cobblestone streets. Much of London and Paris are not handicap accessible.

A passport is required for travel outside the US. You are responsible for having the travel documents you need. Travel insurance is strongly recommended as I cannot control the weather and other unforseen circumstances that might affect our travel. You also should check with your health insurance provider to be sure of your coverage in a foreign country. Travel health insurance policies are readily available. (Please see additional information on the registration form.)

I am offering two different price structures for these trips. The lower price is possible because of the reduced rate to book a non-cancellable room at the hotels and to prepay in full when booking the room. For those who would like the option of making payments and being able  to cancel (less the deposit,) I will book a regular reservation at a higher rate. I will be taking the first twenty people who complete their registration. Your reservation will be considered complete when your payment and registration form are received.

I'm so excited to share these cities with you! I'd love to have you join me!

My London 2012

Date: April 4-8, 2012, 5 days/4 nights. Join me for a dream-come-true adventure of shopping and strolling and taking in the beauty of London in the springtime!

You will need to leave US on Tuesday, April 3, for an overnight flight to London (either Heathrow or Gatwick airports) arriving on Wednesday, April 4. We will be departing on Sunday, April 8, to take the Eurostar train to Paris (or you can depart for home.)

We will be staying at the Holiday Inn Kensington Forum. All participants will need to stay at the same hotel. The hotel is modern and steps away from the Gloucester Tube stop on the Picadilly line of the Underground. I have stayed at this hotel twice before and have found it very convenient for getting around the city.

Price includes hotel (single occupancy or double occupancy) for 4 nights, hotel tax, a transportation pass for travel on the local Underground train and buses for the duration of our stay, an on/off bus tour of London, shopping guidance, and itineraries. Activities will include attending at least one of London's fabulous flea markets on Saturday, shopping at some the best stores in the world such as Cath Kidston and Liberty of London, and seeing the sights and landmarks of this beautiful city.

Price does not include gratuities, food, airfare, transportation other than the travel pass, transfers from airport to hotel and back to airport or to the train station, any other optional sightseeing and shopping. (See Terms and Conditions on Registration Form.)

The price of the train ticket on Sunday, April 8, to Paris is not included for those who will be continuing their trip in Paris. It is up to each individual to make that reservation unless arrangements are made with me to make a group reservation. The Eurostar train from London to Paris opens for reservations 120 days before our travel date. The fare goes up the closer we get to the travel date, so it is important to make the reservation as soon as possible when the 120 day time period begins. The link to information about the train is Eurostar.com. We will take the 8:20am train from London to Paris, if the schedule is the same when it is time for us to purchase tickets. Right now a coach seat is $60 and a premier seat with breakfast is $165.

All participants must be registered for the trip and be over the age of 18 years old.

Much of London is not handicap accessible and all participants will need to be in good physical condition and be able to walk up and down stairs and on uneven streets for long distances. You will need to be able to handle your own luggage on and off the train.

This trip is limted to 20 people. You will be considered a registered participant after your payment and release form are received by me. Travel insurance is strongly suggested.

There are two pricing options:

Fully prepaid upon registration: No refunds of any kind unless I am able to fill your spot because I will need to make a non-refundable payment for the room that cannot be canceled. If you would need to cancel for any reason and I am not able to fill the spot, you would need to obtain a refund through your travel insurance according to their terms. (These are the rates right now. I will be adjusting them as needed if the rate changes at the hotel. Until the rate is locked in with a reservation, it is subject to change.)

Single occupancy: one person in a room $1360 per person

Double occupancy: two people in a room $925 per person

Price with payment plan: (see below for terms) (These are the rates right now. I will be adjusting them as needed if the rate changes at the hotel. Until the rate is locked in with a reservation, it is subject to change.)

Single occupancy: one person in a room $1575

Double occupancy: two people in a room $1030

Payment plans terms: A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due with your registration form. A payment of 1/3 of the balance will be due on January 1, 1/3 balance due on February 1, and the final payment due on March 1. No refunds will be given after March 1. It will be necessary to obtain a refund through your travel insurance in case of emergency.

Every effort will be made to find a roommate for you, if you do not already have a travel companion, to be able to take advantage of the double occupancy rate. There is no further discount by the hotel for more than 2 people in a room, because the rooms are not equipped for more than two in a room.

You can pay through Paypal.com by sending a payment to me at memorybee@msn.com choosing an instant payment of funds from your bank or a credit card. Please let me know if you have any questions about how to do this. If you would prefer to send a check, you can send it to my address on the registration form. Registrations will be processed in the order they are received until all spaces are full.

Please email me at memorybee@msn.com with any questions you have.

My Paris 2012

Date: April 8-15, 2012, 8 days/7 nights. Join me for a dream-come-true week of shopping and strolling and taking in the beauty of Paris in the springtime! We'll explore a different neighborhood each day, sampling pastry, sipping our coffees, and making memories to cherish forever!

You will need to leave US on April 7, for an overnight flight to Paris (CDG Charles DeGaulle Airport) arriving on Sunday, April 8. We will be departing on Sunday, April 15. Those who are starting out with me in London will travel to Paris on Sunday morning via the Eurostar train arriving in Paris about noon.

We will be staying at the Paris Marriott Rive Gauche. All participants will need to stay at the same hotel. The hotel is modern and very convenient to two Metro stops on a main Metro line. I have stayed in this hotel twice and found it very comfortable.

Price includes hotel (single occupancy or double occupancy) for 7 nights, hotel tax, Metro pass for unlimited travel from Monday to Sunday, train ticket and admission to Versailles with guided private tour, on/off bus tour of Paris, shopping guidance, and itineraries. Activities will include attending at least one of Paris' fabulous flea markets on Saturday, exploring legendary neighborhoods of Paris, strolling Parisian gardens, searching out quaint shops and fabulous department stores, and people-watching at cafes, as well as taking in some of the most beautiful landmarks in the world.

Price does not include gratuities, food, airfare, transportation other than the Metro pass, transfers from airport to hotel and back to airport, any other optional sightseeing and shopping. (See Terms and Conditions on Registration Form.)

All participants must be registered for the trip and be over the age of 18 years old.

Much of Paris is not handicap accessible and all participants will need to be in good physical condition and be able to walk up and down stairs and on uneven cobblestone streets for long distances. You will need to be able to handle your own luggage.

This trip is limted to 20 people. You will be considered a registered participant after your payment and registration form are received by me. Travel insurance is strongly suggested.

There are two pricing options:

Fully prepaid upon registration: No refunds of any kind unless I am able to fill your spot because I will need to make a non-refundable payment for the room that cannot be canceled. If you would need to cancel for any reason, you would need to obtain a refund through your travel insurance according to their terms. (These are the rates right now. I will be adjusting them as needed if the rate changes at the hotel. Until the rate is locked in with a reservation, it is subject to change.)

Single occupancy: one person in a room $2230 per person

Double occupancy: two people in a room $1425 per person

Price with payment plan: (see below for terms) (These are the rates right now. I will be adjusting them as needed if the rate changes at the hotel. Until the rate is locked in with a reservation, it is subject to change.)

Single occupancy: one person in a room $2525

Double occupancy: two people in a room $1570

Payment plans terms: A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due with your registration form. A payment of 1/3 of the balance will be due on January 1, 1/3 balance due on February 1, and the final payment due on March 1. No refunds will be given after March 1. It will be necessary to obtain a refund through your travel insurance in case of emergency.

Every effort will be made to find a roommate for you, if you do not already have a travel companion, to be able to take advantage of the double occupancy rate. There is no further discount by the hotel for more than 2 people in a room, because the rooms are not equipped for more than two in a room. There is a 3 person Junior Suite but the price per person is more than the double occupancy rate.

You can pay through Paypal.com by sending a payment to me at memorybee@msn.com choosing an instant payment of funds from your bank or a credit card. Please let me know if you have any questions about how to do this. If you would prefer to send a check, you can send it to my address on the registration form. Registrations will be processed in the order they are received until all spaces are full.

Please email me at memorybee@msn.com with any questions you have.