GN Voyages
2015 - 16
Escorted Holidays
Rail • Air
GN Voyages
18 Years of Quality Travel - 1997 to 2015
Dear ‘voyager’ I am delighted to present you this unique selection of escorted
v06-10
Rail Travel with GN Voyages
Flight options and holidays by air also available
holidays by rail and air. From the The Riviera of Flowers to Maranello -
CHAMPAGNE CHECK-IN (ST PANCRAS ONLY )
home of Ferrari sport cars, we will take you to must see destinations
The grandeur of St Pancras’ famous Champagne Bar is the perfect place to begin your holiday with a glass of bubbly, or alternative non-alcoholic beverage - included in selected holidays in this brochure - see the itinerary.
and events rarely offered by other holiday companies. Did you notice GN Voyages on the front cover? This is a new addition to GN Holidays’ portfolio, introduced to distinguish our Escorted Holidays & Cruises from our UK holiday programme. This is purely a ‘cosmetic’ enhancement, any bookings you make will still be with GN Holidays and fully protected by our ABTA and ATOL bond. We’ve been in business since 1997, so you can rest assured our holidays come with plenty of experience and know how. We are passionate about what we do and we believe in quality, personal service and value for money. You’re in safe hands too, as all our holidays are fully bonded and protected against financial loss, so you can book with confidence that your money is safe. Not all holiday companies can provide this guarantee, but we are pleased to say that peace of mind is part of the package at GN Holidays with every aspect of your holiday managed by us - something you don’t get with D.I.Y travel. With our Rail Holidays the journey is as important as the final destination, an experience to satisfy your spirit of adventure, without challenging your survival skills. If you’re not content with just lazing
ST PANCRAS PRE & POST DEPARTURE HOTELS For your comfort and convenience we can arrange overnight hotels near St Pancras station before and after your holiday. Hotels range from 2 to 4 star. Please call for availability and prices.
EBBSFLEET DEPARTURES
EUROSTAR & EUROPEAN TRAINS
Selected departures can also be joined at Ebbsfleet (see itineraries). Note: Due to timetable restrictions, on some departures you may need to travel unescorted on Eurostar before joining the escorted main group in Lille, Paris or Brussels. The inbound Eurostar may also be unescorted. A supplement may also apply to these departures.
From London St Pancras, Eurostar takes as little as 1 hour 40 minutes to Lille and around 2 hours 15 minutes to Brussels and Paris. At these cities we connect with the European rail network including the TGV for southern France, Thalys & Intercity for northern Europe, and the Thello sleeper train for Italy. Plenty of time is allowed to ensure onward trains are boarded comfortably and at a relaxed pace, or an overnight stay en route may be included for your comfort and enjoyment. On board the Eurostar you will have a reserved, semi-reclining aircraftstyle seat. You’ll also find a buffet car serving hot & cold beverages and snacks. Sterling, Euros and cards accepted. You can eat and drink in the bar area (standing space only) or take your purchases back to your seat. You can also take your own food and drink on board. European trains are modern and comfortable with a range of facilities depending on route and destinations.
around the pool or hiding away for a quiet read this selection of holidays is definitely for you. Stunning scenery, history, culture, fun and lasting memories are the order of the day - albeit at a relaxed pace with all the organising and arrangements taken care of by us and your experienced Tour Manager. We look forward to welcoming you on board.
Perry Mahoney GN Holidays & GN Voyages Founder & Managing Director
Booking is easy - call. .
01895 83 33 33 and quote the holiday code We are open 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays
More holiday details online. .
www.gnvoyages.co.uk Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
All prices are per person and based on 2 persons sharing the included accommodation, single accommodation available for a supplement, and were correct at time of printing. All holidays are organised and operated by GN Holidays/GN Voyages, 3 Station Approach, Higher Denham, Uxbridge UB9 5EL, ABTA Y0291 & ATOL9362 protected.
ST PANCRAS DEPARTURES Departure times range from early morning to mid afternoon (see itinerary), with check-in closing at least 1 hour before the train departs - exact times confirmed to us 8 weeks before travel. Champagne check-in opens 2 hours before departure. Please bear this in mind when planning your journey to St Pancras.
TRAVEL & LUGGAGE There are no actual luggage weight restrictions imposed by the rail companies. However, for your comfort and convenience we recommend you limit your luggage to the following: ONE main suitcase/holdall with built in WHEELS weighing no more than 15 to 20kgs per person - Plus ONE small shoulder bag/holdall per person. Restricting the bulk of your luggage to manageable sizes will make the journey more enjoyable. You will need to move all your own bags on and off trains and between platforms and transfer vehicles. Our tour manager will be unable to provide physical assistance with luggage. On TGV trains, you may be allocated seats on the the upper floor, which means you would have to carry your bags upstairs. Many train stations and platforms are big and long, sometimes with stairs or escalators. Some stations have lifts, but using them can involve a longer walk, so be prepared for this when walking with your luggage.
LUGGAGE HANDLING (FROM ST PANCRAS ONLY ) On some holidays we offer optional, full, or partial, luggage handling on and off trains and through the stations (see itineraries). Maximum 23kg per bag, 1 bag per person.
IMPORTANT Please Help us to Help You In our experience, clients who discuss with us their concerns over mobility limitations and/or health issues (including visibility, hearing etc) when booking, are far more satisfied with the level of service we provide and enjoy a more relaxed and fun holiday, compared to those who attempt to cope without the benefit of our expert advice. We must stress that in our experience these holidays are not suitable for users of mobility scooters, wheelchairs or walking aids (frames, sticks, etc).
2
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Riviera of Flowers, Monaco & Portofino
BY RAIL v04-08
Portofino
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks Champagne check-in
8 Days from £849pp This super holiday, taking in the French and Italian Rivieras, starts with a glass of Bubbly at St Pancras’ famous Champagne Bar (from Ebbsfleet on request) before boarding the Eurostar to Lille or Paris. After an overnight stay, we continue by TGV train to Nice and onward coach to the Italian Riviera. On the Riviera enjoy free drinks every night and visits to Monaco & Eze, Portofino & Dolceacqua. By train to Nice via Lille or Paris After our private Champagne check-in at St Pancras, our Tour Manager - with you throughout the holiday - will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Lille or Paris. The journey time is around 90 minutes to Lille, 2hrs 10mins to Paris. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free to explore at leisure and obtain dinner. The next morning we join the TGV for our journey to Nice. On board the TGV, settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as we speed south. Making the most of the Riviera On arrival in Nice, we board our coach for the drive (around 90 mins) to our hotel, on the Italian Riviera of Flowers. You will have time to settle in before dinner at the hotel. During your stay there will be time to explore the resort at your own pace and our included excursions will ensure you enjoy the best of the French and Italian Rivieras. Itinerary: Day 1: Eurostar to Lille or Paris Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Lille or Paris (from Ebbsfleet The Rock of Monaco
on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre. Day 2: Diano Marina/Alassio Depart the hotel to join an earlymorning TGV to Nice. On arrival we meet our coach and drive to Diano Marina/Alassio and check-in at the Hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 3: Diano Marina/Alassio Free day to enjoy the resort. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 4: Monaco & Eze After breakfast join our included excursion to Monaco and Monte Carlo where you can enjoy the architecture, including the Casino and the Royal Palace and marvel at the prices in the designer shops and boutiques. We then continue to Eze, home to the famous Fragonard perfumery, perched like an eagle’s nest on a rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 5: Diano Marina/Alassio Today is free to explore on your own or your Tour Manager will be able to assist with local travel by bus to San Remo. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 6: Portofino After an early breakfast we will travel by coach to Santa Margherita, where we join the ferry to Portofino. The approach to Portofino by boat is spectacular with coastal views not available by other transport. We return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 7: Dolceacqua Today we have a half day excursion to Dolceacqua, a medieval village at the foot of the Rebuffao mountains. Here Dolceacqua
you can meander through the village streets and climb to the 12th century castle, or cross the single-arch bridge to the 15th century ‘new’ town. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 8: To London Depart the hotel after breakfast for the drive to Nice Station. We board the TGV to Lille or Paris where we transfer to Eurostar for the return to St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request). We expect to arrive mid-evening. Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions. Your hotel Paris/Lille: 2/3-star hotel Diano Marina and Alassio All our hotels are set in a quiet location within walking distance of the sea and centre of the town and have a terrace, restaurant and comfortable bar. The restaurants offers a full buffet breakfast, tea and coffee all day and dinner served at your table. Free drinks between 6pm and 11pm each night including local brands of beer, wine and spirits. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, telephone, and satellite TV. 3-star Hotel Piccolo, Diano Marina departures: 13 April, 1 October and all 2016 departures.
DATES - PRICES - CODES 2015 17 September £899pp 23 September £899pp 1 October £849pp
RF9-3 RF9-4 RF10
2016 11 April 28 April 19 May 29 May 4 June 16 September* 22 September 28 September 14 October
RF4-2 RF4-3 RF5-5 RF5-4 RF6-2 RF9-5 RF9-6 RF9-7 RF10-2
£899pp £949pp £999pp £999pp £999pp £999pp £999pp £999pp £949pp
DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of Champagne or alternative non-alcoholic drink • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Nice (from Ebbsfleet on request) *Flights available from Edinburgh on 17th Sept 2015 departure - please contact us for further information • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille • 6 nights sharing a twin/double room at a 3-star hotel, Diano Marina or Alassio with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to 11pm every night - local brands of beer, wine & spirits • Excursions as stated
3-star Hotel Rosa, Alassio departure:
• All transfers abroad
17 September
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
3-star Hotel Villa Igea, Diano Marina departure: 23 September
Full details of the hotels can be found on our website.
• Single room supplement £130 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Eze
The Piccolo Hotel - inset roof terrace view
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
3
Rome, Amalfi, Capri & Pompeii
BY RAIL v02-09
Positano
Rome & The Vatican
10 Days £1199pp DATES - PRICES - CODES Come with us by rail to some of Italy’s most iconic locations including Rome, Amalfi, Sorrento, the island of Capri, Positano, Ravello and Pompeii. We stay in Rome and the Amalfi coast resort of Minori with unparalleled scenic vistas and epic cliff hugging towns nearby. Included excursions take-in all these wonderful places. The visit to Capri is a real highlight travelling by ferry from Minori.
Itinerary: Day 1: London to Milan or Turin Check-in at St Pancras for an early morning departure to Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). In Paris we transfer to the Gare de Lyon station and join our TGV train to Milan or Turin where we spend our first night. Day 2: Milan or Turin - Rome Morning transfer to the station where we join the fast train to Rome. After leaving our luggage at the hotel we have free time to obtain lunch before a sightseeing excursion of the city, including views of the Colosseum, Forum, Vatican city and Trevi Fountain. Late afternoon we check-in to our Rome hotel for a 2 night stay. Day 3: Rome Today is free for your own explorations in Rome, you may like to visit the Vatican Museums (entrance payable locally) which contain all the treasures of the Vatican and include a visit to the famous Sistine Chapel. Our tour manager will be on hand with help and ideas. Overnight in Rome. Day 4: Rome - Naples - Minori After breakfast we check-out of the hotel and return to the station to take the fast service to Naples. In just over one hour we arrive in Naples and board our coach for the drive to our hotel. On arrival we check in and have free time before dinner at the hotel. View of Capri from Monte Solaro
Day 5: Amalfi & Ravello
Day 8: Minori
Today we travel the short distance by coach to Amalfi - the view as you approach Amalfi is unforgettable, with its tightly tiered villas and palaces that seem to tumble down the rock face into the fishing port and shingle beach below. Amalfi was once a maritime power which is symbolised by its stunning cathedral: the Arab-Norman facade dominates the Piazza Duomo and the town centre always seems to have a vibrant personality. Afterwards we join our coach and travel to Ravello which sits like an ornate decoration on top of a fancy wedding cake in the hills above Amalfi. Here you will have the opportunity to visit Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone which are considered the finest in Italy, with perfectly laid-out flower beds, palm trees, sculptures and fountains. Rufolo has a vast terrazzo that seems to hang right over the sea far below. Admission to these villas is £13.50pp and must be pre-booked. Dinner at the hotel.
Today is at leisure to enjoy Minori or you may like to walk the coastal path to Amalfi (approx 4km). Our tour manager will be on hand with help and ideas. Dinner in the hotel. Day 9: Minori - Pompeii - Milan or Turin This morning we depart our hotel and travel to Pompeii for a visit: On August 24, 79 AD, Vesuvius erupted, burying the town in ash and soot, killing around 3,000 people and preserving the city in its state from that fateful day. Around midday we join the coach and travel to Naples to take the train to Milan or Turin arriving early evening. Here we check into our hotel and will have free time to obtain dinner. Day 10: Milan or Turin - Paris - London Morning train from Milan to Paris Gare de Lyon Station and transfer to Gare du Nord station to take the Eurostar to London St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request) where we expect to arrive mid-to-late afternoon.
Full day by hydrofoil from Minori to the Isle of Capri (appox. 1 hour). A mix of history, nature, culture and magical beauty blend together to make Capri an island without compare. Amazing views abound and a there’s a chairlift to the summit of Monte Solaro which has spectacular views over the whole island. We return to the hotel in time for dinner.
Note: Order of excursions subject to change depending on local conditions. Your hotels Turin/Milan hotels: 2/3-star Hotel California - 3-star - Rome The Hotel California is located a few steps from Termini Station in the heart of Rome within easy access of the major sites. All rooms are modernly furnished with en-suite facilities, air-conditioning, mini bar, TV, telephone & safe deposit box. Santa Lucia Hotel - 3-star - Minori A few metres from sea, this family---run hotel offers a comfortable stay, where the staff and owners go out of their way to make guests feel at home. All the en-suite rooms are nicely furnished and equipped with airconditioning and TV. The restaurant serves quality cuisine with flavours of the region.
Ravello
Sorrento
Day 6: Amalfi Coast, Positano & Sorrento Today we discover the Amalfi Coast, the coastal road is a true adventure where every turn brings you to another glamorous destination. We will visit Positano and Sorrento. We return to the hotel for dinner. Day 7: Isle of Capri
2015 10 September
£1199
AM9
DEPOSIT: £200pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return rail travel from London St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request) via Eurostar, TGV and EuroStar Italia trains • 1 night hotel B&B sharing a twin/double room in Turin or Milan outbound • 2 nights B&B sharing a twin/double room at the Hotel California, Rome • 5 nights half board sharing a twin/double room at the Santa Lucia Hotel, Minori • 1 night hotel B&B sharing a twin/double room in Turin or Milan en-route home • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad EXCURSION OPTIONS: • Villa Rufolo & Villa Cimbrone entry - £13.50pp Above must be pre-booked and paid for at least 8 weeks before travel ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supp’t £270 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Santa Lucia Hotel, Minori
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
5
Rapallo, Portofino & Cinque Terre
BY RAIL/ AIR v27-06
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks
8 Days from £899pp
Vernazza - Cinque Terre
DATES - PRICES - CODES
Liguria is certainly one of the most beautiful regions in Italy and quickly becoming the most popular. There are many things to see and lots to do across the region. We travel by Eurostar and TGV train to the capital of the Riviera – Nice, where we stay overnight either in the city or a near-by resort. We continue the next day by coach along the coastal route of the Italian Riviera to the Ligurian and Tuscan Rivieras. Our base for the next six nights is the renowned and popular town of Rapallo, known for its climate that has made it a preferred residence for more affluent Italians. Portofino is a short boat ride from Rapallo; the world heritage Cinque Terre (Five Lands) is a stunning coastal train journey away; and Pisa and Lucca are within easy driving distance, all of which we visit as well as having time to relax in the charming town. Itinerary: Day 1: UK to Nice Morning departure from St Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) by Eurostar to Lille or Paris, continuing by TGV train to Nice (flight options see lower right of page). Transfer to our overnight hotel in or near Nice. Day 2: Rapallo After breakfast we depart the hotel by coach and drive to the coastal town of Rapallo arriving early-tomid-afternoon. Check-in to our hotel for the next six nights. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner
and free drinks at the hotel. Day 3: Portofino After an early breakfast we walk to the jetty where we board the boat for the short cruise to Portofino. The approach to Portofino by boat is spectacular with coastal views not available by other transport. We return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 4: Cinque Terre Today we walk to Rapallo train station where we board the train for the picturesque coastal route to the higgledy piggledy towns that make up UNESCO and world famous Cinque Terre. We are free to visit the towns during the course of the day and in the mid-afternoon we board a boat for a view of the stunning coastline from the water. We return to the hotel by train during the afternoon. Dinner and free drinks included this evening. Day 5: Rapallo Today is free in Rapallo, you may like to take the vintage cable car up to the Santuario Basilica di Montallegro for stunning views over the area, visit the 16th Century castle or just enjoy a stroll along the seafront. Dinner and free drinks included this evening. Day 6: Lucca & Pisa Today we visit the two famous Tuscan cities of Pisa and Lucca. We return to the hotel in time for dinner and free drinks.
Day 7: Rapallo Today is free to enjoy the town of Rapallo you may want to visit the Central Piazza Cile where you will find the weekly market. Dinner and free drinks included this evening. Day 8: To London After an early breakfast we depart the hotel by coach and return to Nice. On arrival we take a late morning train to Paris or Lille, continuing by Eurostar to London St. Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request) or continue to Nice Airport for the return flight. We expect to arrive late evening. Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions. Your hotel Nice area: 2/3-star hotel Hotel Giulio Cesare - 3-star Rapallo The Hotel Giulio Cesare is located in the elegant and peaceful town of Rapallo, a short walk from the beach and the centre. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with wonderful views. The bedrooms are en-suite, with air conditioning, hair dryer, Satellite TV, and telephone. Breakfasts and dinners are served in the restaurant and there is a free bar each evening from 6pm to 10pm offering a selection of local brands of soft drinks, house wines, beer and spirits. Hotel Giulio Cesare
2015 11 September £949pp
RP9-1
28 September £899pp
RP9-3
DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Nice (from Ebbsfleet on request) Flight options below • 1 night hotel B&B in Nice • 6 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Hotel Giulio Cesare (or similar), Rapallo with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to 10pm every night - local brands of beer, wine & spirits • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £144 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS Edinburgh
Rapallo
6
Portofino
View from the terrace
Flights are possible from Edinburgh direct to Nice Airport. On arrival private transfer to the overnight hotel in Nice. Flights are subject to availability at time of booking and a supplement may apply. Includes 1 carry-on bag and 1 checked in bag per person. Transfer time from Nice Airport to the hotel is approximately 30 minutes . Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to discuss your flight requirements.
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
French Riviera & Monaco
BY RAIL v13-05
Port Grimaud
Champagne Check-in
7 Days from £799pp
Ile Sainte Marguerite
DATES - PRICES - CODES
Come with us to one of the most photographed coastlines in the world, home to the glitz and glamour of celebrities, Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. Many people think the cost of the French Riviera is out of their league but this holiday takes in all the sparkle and grandeur without the need of a film-star salary. We start the week with a glass of Champagne at St Pancras then travel by Eurostar to Paris or Lille where we spend our first night. The next day we travel by TGV to Cannes which will be our base for the next five-nights from where we will be visiting St Tropez, Port Grimaud, Monaco & Monte Carlo and travel by boat to Sainte Marguerite island. Itinerary
destination is Cannes, the region’s most chic resort with the beautiful Croisette on the doorstep of the hotel. On arrival we will walk the short distance to our hotel (our luggage will be transported), our home for the next five nights. Dinner at the hotel. Day 3: Cannes & Boat Trip to Ile Sainte Marguerite This morning we travel by boat to the island of Sainte Margurite a stunning island just 2 square miles in size, and a short boat ride from Cannes. This is where the man (or woman) in the Iron mask was imprisioned in the fort in the 17th century, the subject of the famous Alexandre Dumas novel. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 1: Eurostar to Paris or Lille
Day 4: St Tropez & Port Grimaud
Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Paris or Lille (from Ebbsfleet on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre.
We join our coach and travel to St Tropez, once a sleepy fishing village now a meeting place for the rich and famous, with its must see harbour filled with supersized yachts, the charming Place des Lices, and the famous beaches lined with cafes and bars. This afternoon we travel to Port Grimaud, known as the ‘Venice of Provence’ a picturesque small town with canals and painted houses. We return to our hotel for dinner.
Day 2: Cannes Depart the hotel and and join an earlymorning TGV train to the South of France. On board settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as we pass through serene landscapes before encountering the alluring scenery of the Cote d’Azur - yacht-filled harbours, beaches, rocky inlets and millionaires' villas. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain refreshments. Our TGV train on the Mediterranean coast
Day 5: Monaco & Monte Carlo Today we visit Monaco by train which includes a visit to Casino Square where you can see the famous casino and enjoy a drink at the Cafe de Paris - the perfect spot to see an almost constant Cannes
parade of glamorous cars (and people). For those who wish you may like to disembark the return train in Nice for a visit before returning to Cannes. Dinner at the hotel. Day 6: Cannes
2015 16 Sept - Tour CD9-2 22 Sept- Tour CD9-5
£799 £839*
2016 25 May - Tour CD5 7 June - Tour CD6-3 13 Sept - Tour CD9-3 20 Sept - Tour CD9-4
£849 £879 £879 £879
Today is at leisure in Cannes. Our Tour Manager will be on hand with help and ideas for further exploration. Dinner at the hotel.
INCLUDED:
Day 7: Cannes to London
• Escorted throughout
After breakfast we check out of the hotel and join the TGV train for the return journey to London (to Ebbsfleet on request) via Paris. We anticipate arriving at St Pancras International by mid-evening.
• Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of Champagne or alternative non-alcoholic drink
Note: Order/times of events/excursions may be subject to change. Your hotels
DEPOSIT: £150pp
• Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Cannes (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille • 5 nights half-board sharing a twin/double room at the 4-star Eden Hotel in Cannes
Paris/Lille hotel: 2-3 star hotel
• Excursions as stated
Eden Hotel - 4-star - Cannes
• Transfers in Paris
Located in the heart of Cannes, on the rue d’Antibes, 150m from the famous Croisette, the Eden Hotel has all the refinement, serenity and efficiency expected of a 4-star hotel. All rooms are en-suite with bath or shower, telephone, satellite TV, air conditioning, minibar, room safe, hair dryer and free Internet. The Akwaba restaurant serves a full breakfast buffet with a choice of hot and cold dishes and there is a cosy bar. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and a roof terrace with pool (open mid-April to October).
* 22nd September 2015 departure will be staying at the 4-star Best Western Hotel Cannes Riviera, full details can be found on our website.
Monaco Harbour
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement - £150 • Superior rooms with balconies and sea glimpses in Cannes available at a supp’t - on request basis only • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4- star options - call for availability and prices
St Tropez
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
7
Florence, Pisa & Cinque Terre
BY RAIL v18.06
Ponte Vecchio, Florence
Porto Venere
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks
8 Days £899pp
Pisa
DATES - PRICES - CODES
Unesco World Heritage Site and gateway to the stunning higgledy-piggledy towns of Cinque Terra, such as Vernazza, just 30 minutes up the coast. Santa Margherita and Portofino are just a little over one hour’s drive. It is an ideal location to seek out culture, see fascinating villages and towns yet return each day to a really pleasant and stunning location.
Tuscany is certainly one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. There are many things to see and lots to do across the region, from visiting hilltop villages and mountains to the beautiful landscapes of the Val d’Orcia and chic resorts such as Forte dei Marmi. For art lovers and those that enjoy historic small cities we include visits to Pisa, made famous for its leaning tower and Lucca one of the real treasures of Tuscany and not forgetting, the majesty of Florence. We travel by Eurostar and TGV train to the capital of the Riviera – Nice, where we stay overnight either in the city or a near-by resort. We continue the next day by coach along the coastal route of the Italian Riviera to the Ligurian and Tuscan Rivieras. Our base for the next 6 nights is the chic resort of Forte dei Marmi described as having a beach straight out of a Visconti film. Beach huts with ice-cream colours; perfect rows of blue, pink and aqua with white striped umbrellas so perfect they could be a mathematical grid all sat on raked silky sand along its safe beach. It has been said that it is the Beverly Hills of Italy with perfect spaghetti vongole. Henry Moore had a studio here, and Puccini's Torre del Lago – home now of an open-air opera. Lucca, Pisa and Florence are a short drive away and lovely Porto Venere -
Itinerary Day 1: London to Nice Morning departure from St Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) by Eurostar to Lille or Paris, continuing by TGV train to Nice. Transfer to our overnight hotel in or near Nice. Day 2: Forte dei Marmi
Day 5: Forte dei Marmi Free day in the resort. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.
Today we visit the two cities of Pisa and Lucca. We return to the hotel in time for dinner and free drinks. Day 7: Forte dei Marmi Free day in the resort or take the optional excursion to Santa Margherita including a visit to Portofino by ferry - £44pp. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 8: Nice to London After an early breakfast we depart the hotel by coach and return to Nice. On arrival we take a late morning train to Paris or Lille, continuing by Eurostar to London St. Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request). We expect to arrive late evening. Note: Order of excusions subject to change.
Day 3: Porto Venere & Cinque Terre
Your hotels
Today we drive to La Spezia where we take the ferry to Porto Venere. There will be an opportunity to take a ferry to the higgledy piggledy towns that make up Cinque Terre (payable locally), or just relax at the beautiful town of Porto Venere. We return to the hotel during the afternoon. Dinner and free drinks included this evening.
Nice area: 2-3 star hotel.
Day 4: Florence
20 September £899pp
Tour FP9
Day 6: Pisa & Lucca
After breakfast we depart the hotel by coach and drive to the resort of Forte dei Marmi on Tuscany’s coast, arriving early-tomid-afternoon. Check-in to our hotel for the next six nights. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.
Today we visit Florence where you will have a walking tour of the main sights of the city. You will then be free to explore the city on your own and visit some of the remarkable Museums and Palaces. We return to the hotel in time for dinner and free drinks.
2015
DEPOSIT: £150pp
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Nice (Ebbsfleet departures on request) • 1 night hotel B&B in or near Nice outbound • 6 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Hotel President with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to 10pm every night - local brands of
Hotel President - 4 star - Forte dei Marmi The President Hotel is located in an elegant and peaceful area of Forte dei Marmi, called Roma Imperiale, a short walk from the beach and 400 metres from the centre. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with wonderful views. The bedrooms are ensuite, with air conditioning, hair dryer, Satellite TV, and telephone. Breakfasts and dinners are served buffet style and there is a free bar each evening from 6pm to 10pm offering a selection of local brands of soft drinks, house wines, beer and spirits. Vernazza, Cinque Terra
beer, wine & spirits • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Portofino & Santa Margherita - £44pp ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement - £150 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4 star options - call for availability and prices
Lucca
TGV train on the Mediterranean coast
8
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Italian Lakes - Como & Maggiore
BY RAIL v18-06
Isolo Bella, Lake Maggiore
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks Champagne check-in
8 Days £1199pp
Bellagio, Lake Como
DATES - PRICES - CODES Your holiday starts with a glass of bubbly at St Pancras Champagne Bar, London. Our journey to Italy combines the swift Eurostar, London to Paris, then overnight in Paris before a train journey through France and into Northern Italy. Lake Como Italy’s Lake Como is the deepest lake in Europe. The area boasts impressive scenery, with mountains rolling down to the water’s edge and, while the summer months are hot, it is often still possible to see snow on the peaks of the mountains across the lake. There are many historic and beautiful villas lining the shores, such as the Villa Carlotta and the Villa Meltzi with their spectacular gardens as well as many larger villas that have in recent years been converted into luxury hotels. Every lakeside town has its charms, but some of the most spectacular views are to be found near the middle of the lake, between Tremezzo, Cadenabbia (our base) and Mennagio, Bellagio and Varenna where the sheer scale of the area, from the depth of the lake to the height of the mountains, can be seen. Lake Maggiore and the Borromeo Islands Here the mild climate in every season favours the growth of Mediterranean and exotic plants, which fill the gardens on the shores of the Lake. On the western side of the Lake, the three Borromeo Islands lie in a wide gulf surrounded by mountains. The islands take their name from the aristocratic Borromeo family who took ownership of the land in the 16th century. Only the best architects and gardeners were called on by the family themselves art lovers and botanists - to breathe life into their ambitious projects. The islands of Bella and Madre were transformed into grand, luxurious residences, while the third island, named “dei Pescatori” after its age-old fishing community, was left to continue its traditional way of life. Isola Bella was completely transformed by its occupants, and its palace and gardens are the epitome of opulence and luxury. In contrast, the Isola dei Pescatori, with its village unchanged by time, offers a fascinating simplicity. Finally, the
exotic atmosphere of the lush and tranquil Isola Madre can be ascribed to the gardens that almost totally cover it. Itinerary: Day 1: London to Paris or Lille Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar (from Ebbsfleet on request) to Lille or Paris. Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants. Day 2: Paris to Lake Como Depart the hotel and board an early-morning TGV train to Geneva with a change of platforms and on to Stresa where we join our coach and drive to Lake Como and check-in at the our hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 3: Lake Como Free day to relax at the hotel or explore on your own. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at the hotel.
and wild streams to see the snow and the glacier above the Bernina Pass. This is one of the most stunning rail journeys in the world (Bernina Express may operate from south to north depending on timing) - £60pp. We return to the hotel late afternoon in time for dinner.
2015 22 September £1199pp
Tour CM9
DEPOSIT: £200pp INCLUDED:
Day 7: Lake Como
• Escorted throughout
Free day to explore on your own or relax at the hotel. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner at the hotel.
• Return Eurostar, TGV & Eurocity rail travel London St Pancras to Stresa (Ebbsfleet departure on request)
Day 8: Lake Como to Stresa to London
Morning train from Stresa to Paris Gare de Lyon Station and transfer to Gare du Nord station to take the Eurostar to London St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request).
• 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille outbound • 6 nights in a deluxe room at the 3-Star Britannia Excelsior Hotel on an allinclusive basis All-inclusive package
Note: Order of excursions may be subject to change.
includes breakfast, lunch (or packed
Your hotel
lunch) and dinner, free house wine,
Day 4: Bellagio & Varenna
Hotel Britannia Excelsior -3 star-Lake Como
beers, spirits, tea/coffee from 10.00
Today we explore Lake Como by ferry, visiting the beautiful resorts of Bellagio and Varenna. There will also be an option to visit the Gardens of Vila Meltzi where there is one of the best Japanese gardens in Italy (entry payable locally). Dinner at the hotel.
The hotel is located in the centre of the small lakeside town of Cadenabbia with stunning views across the lake to Bellagio, Varenna and the mountains beyond. Popular with British visitors since the 18th century, Cadenabbia has excellent ferry links to all of Como’s attractions. Just a few metres from the hotel, directly on the lake, are the outdoor pool and lido area - a perfect spot to relax and take in the magnificent views.
until 23.45 every day. Soft drinks, wine,
Day 5: Lake Maggiore Full day excursion to Lake Maggiore including a visit to the Borromeo Islands and Isola Bella. Return to the hotel for dinner. Day 6: Lake Como Free day to explore on your own or join the optional excursion on the Bernina Express. This excursion offers an amazing train ride from the cool north of St Moritz to the temperate south. Along its route, the distinctive red train climbs to 2,253 metres above sea level, where glaciers lie. We take a seat in one of the modern panorama coaches, and relax as the train travels through incredible scenic beauty: romantic forests in the Albula valley and, traversing bridges and viaducts, it will take you high above gorges
The Bernina Express
The hotel offers excellent value with its ‘all inclusive’ facilities and quality accommodation. All deluxe bedrooms are ensuite with a shower (some have bath but this cannot be guaranteed), fully air-conditioned and have TV with English satellite channels, fridge and hairdryer. All meals are self-service and offer choices for starters, main courses and desserts. The inclusive bar includes beers, spirits, some liqueurs, and wine by the glass. The bar is open from 10.00 to 23.45hrs daily.
beer and coffee are free at the swimming pool from 09.30 until 17.30 • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Bernina Express - £60pp ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room at supp’t £140pp • Balcony room at Hotel Britannia Excelsior supp’t £98pp • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras- call for information
Garden of Villa Meltzi
Varenna
Hotel Britannia Excelsior
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
9
Spectacular Corsica
BY RAIL v06-05
Calvi
Bastia
Corsica is one of those undiscovered places that appears French but feels different from the mainland in everything from customs to cuisine, language and character, and this is where its appeal lies. Forget swanky resorts like Nice and Cannes, here you find unsurpassed natural beauty. Jutting out into the Mediterranean like an impregnable fortress, Corsica has astounding geographical diversity. Within half an hour, the landscape can change from glittering bays, glitzy coastal cities and fabulous beaches to jagged peaks with breathtaking valleys, dense forests and enigmatic hilltop villages. The scenery that unfurls along the island’s winding roads is spellbinding. And everything in Corsica moves at a relaxed pace. It definitely is a place waiting to be discovered. We travel by Eurostar direct to Marseille where we stay overnight. The next day we transfer to Toulon to board the ferry for our sailing to Corsica.
Itinerary: Day 1: London to Marseille Early morning departure from London St Pancras (from Ashford on request) direct to Marseille where we transfer to our overnight hotel. Free time in Marseille area. Day 2: Bastia, Corsica In the morning transfer to the Toulon ferry terminal to take an afternoon sailing to Bastia or Ile Rousse, Corsica. Transfer and check-in to your hotel in Calvi. Dinner at the hotel. Day 3: Bastia – Cap Corse After breakfast we depart for Bastia, this Genoese city clings to the mountain facing the Tuscan coast and is full of Mediterranean charm. We take a tour of the city by land-train
and see streets lined with tall houses, colourful facades, the Town Hall, St Nicolas square, the market place, the old port, the café terraces. After some free time we continue to Cap Corse, north of Bastia, a narrow peninsula full of small marinas, ancient wine terraces, golden beaches and sheer cliffs. We will see Pietranera Miomo with its Genoese tower on shale cliffs above a pebble beach; Erbalunga, a picturesque fishing village popular with painters; Santa Severa, Col St Lucia where the view of the Golf of Aliso is superb; Pino, a village built on the cliffs above the sea; Nonza and its slateroof houses, perched on a sheer rock. We also will stop at Patrimonio to taste the famous wines of Cap Corse. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 6: Scala di Santa Regina – Calacuccia – Corte
Day 4: Calvi
Day 7: Calvi
Full day at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.
At leisure in the resort – dinner at the hotel.
Day 5: St. Florent – Calvi – Balagne – Île Rousse
Day 8: Cargèse – Creeks of Piana – Porto – Spelunca Gorge – Évisa – Aïtone Forest
After breakfast we depart for St-Florent. This small fishing village is now a highly-rated resort with its marina, sidewalk cafés and Genoese citadel. Continue to the Agriates desert – an amazing sunburnt landscape of stony hills covered with scrub. We return to Calvi for free time to stroll through the streets of the Genoese citadel or to explore the marina and its huge bay with five miles of sandy beaches surrounded by mountains. We then continue to Balagne, the “garden of Corsica”, populated by old villages on rocky outcrops or hidden in narrow valleys. Surrounded by orchards and olive groves, these villages have kept their traditional style – Calenzana in its olive grove, Zilia and its Lunghignano water-source known throughout Corsica. We will visit an oil mill during the excursion, then Sant Antoninu, Aregno and Corbara to arrive at Île Rousse with free time in the town of Pasquale Paoli: see the Marinella market with 21 columns and a beautiful promenade by the sea and Paoli square lined with plane trees. Late afternoon we return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast we drive to the Golf of Porto, a Unesco World Heritage Site, with red granite cliffs, deep blue sea and the famous Creeks of Piana with their granite sculptures. In the afternoon we travel to the hinterland of the Golf of Porto and the Spelunca Gorge. See Évisa, a village surrounded by chestnut trees before passing through the forest of Aïtone with its pine, larch and beech trees. Return to hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
After breakfast we depart for the valley of Golo and Ponte Leccia, a famous rail and road junction in High-Corsica. We continue to Niolu, a land for mountaineers and shepherds, with rugged gorges of the Scala di Santa Regina, and make a stop at Calacuccia in the highest valley of the island to see the dam lake and the magnificent peaks of Niolu. We then drive to Corte, built on a rocky outcrop with its old houses, where we have a tour by land train followed by free time. Depart for Venaco Vivario, a village dominated by the ruins of Fort Pasciolo, after which we return to the hotel for dinner.
Day 9: Toulon After breakfast we check-out of the hotel and drive to the port of Basia or Ile Rousse and take the day ferry to Toulon, on arrival we transfer to our hotel in Marseille area. Day 10: Marseille to London After breakfast we transfer to Marseille Station to take the train to London via Paris or Lille. We expect to arrive mid to late evening. Note: Order of excursions may be subject to change. Direct train to Marseille is subject to Eurostar keeping the current timetable.
10 Days from £1199pp DATES - PRICES - CODES 2015 Tour CR10 2 October - £1199 2016 £1349 7 May £1349 11 June 10 Sept £1349 £1299 1 Oct DEPOSIT: £200pp
Tour CR5 Tour CR6 Tour CR9-2 Tour CR10-2
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Eurostar rail travel London St Pancras to Marseille (from Ashford on request) and return TGV to Paris or Lille and Eurostar to London • 2 nights B&B in Marseille area on outbound & the return • Return daytime ferry between Toulon and Bastia or Ile Rousse • 7 nights half board at the St Christophe Hotel, Calvi • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS • Single room supp’t £280 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices Your hotel: Marseille hotel: 2/3-star Hotel Saint Christophe, Calvi Hotel Saint Christophe is a 3-star hotel ideally located in Northern Corsica’s magnificent port town of Calvi. Boasting breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, this modern and stylish hotel is conveniently set by the sea near a variety of attractions, restaurants and bars. Guestrooms have a balcony and are well equipped with en-suite bathroom, WiFi internet access, satellite TV, direct-dial telephone and minibar. Hotel amenities include an outdoor swimming pool and a lovely garden as well as a relaxing bar/lounge, a charming restaurant and dedicated staff ensuring that each and every guest enjoys a pleasant stay in Calvi.
Corsica’s unspoilt interior
St Florent
10
The Gulf of Porto
Hotel Sainte Christophe
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Puglia - ‘Trulli’ the Caribbean of Europe
BY RAIL v18-06
Lecce
Stay in a Trulli House
Alberobello - Trulli Houses
10 Days from £1299pp DATES - PRICES - CODES
Puglia, situated in the heel of Italy, has been described as the Caribbean of Europe due to its relaxed atmosphere, crystal clear blue sea and white sandy beaches. What separates this holiday from others is that we stay in traditional Trulli houses in Alberobello. With their distinctive conical roofs, white exterior and, of course, modern hotel comforts, this is a unique way to enjoy a true flavour of Puglia. From here we discover breath-taking scenery on included excursions taking-in Lecce, Matera, Martina France, Grotto di Castellano, Ostuni, Castel del Monte and Trani. Itinerary: Day 1: London to Milan or Turin Check-in at St Pancras for an early morning departure to Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). In Paris we transfer to the Gare de Lyon station and join our TGV train to Milan or Turin where we spend our first night. Day 2: Milan or Turin - Bari - Alberobello Morning transfer to the station where we join the fast train to Bari. On arrival we transfer by coach to Alberobello where we check into our traditional Trulli houses, our home for the next sevennights. Dinner in the Trulli Village. Day 3: Alberobello Free day in Alberobello, so unique it has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The famous peasant houses, constructed from the local limestone in a dry stone fashion with conical roofs, attract visitors eager to stroll around the narrow streets, visiting the myriad of shops, bars and restaurants Matera
looking for those wonderful photo opportunities. Dinner in the Trulli Village.
fishing town of Trani. Dinner in the Trulli Village.
Day 4: Matera & Martina Franca
Day 8: Alberobello
We join our coach and travel to Matera, a UNESCO protected town. Originally a slum, sat on a ridge with deep canyons on either side, the town is made up of caves which have been beautifully constructed into homes and hotels. This afternoon we visit the historic centre of Martina Franca, a maze of tiny streets and white buildings. Martina Franca is a must see stop for all visitors to the region. Dinner in the Trulli Village.
Today is free in Alberobello, your tour manager will be on hand with ideas for further exploration. Dinner in the Trulli Village.
Day 5: Lecce Today we visit Lecce, known as the ‘Florence of the South’. Originally a baroque town, sculpted out of the local sandstone, it is now a mixture of designer shops, quaint little bars & cafes and historic squares. Dinner in the Trulli Village Day 6: Grotto di Castellano & Ostuni This morning we visit Grotto di Castellano the largest network of underground caves in Italy. We see impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations formed in the limestone. This afternoon we visit the historic town of Ostuni, seen as the crown of Puglia, based high on a hill top overlooking the region. Dinner in the Trulli Village. Day 7: Castel del Monte and Trani We join our coach and travel to the medieval Castel del Monte (Castle of the Mountain). Known for being an amazing piece of architecture for the period and stands out due to its octagonal towers and shape. This afternoon we visit the Trani
Day 9: Alberobello – Bari – Milan or Turin This morning we join the coach and travel to Bari to take the train to Milan or Turin arriving early evening. Here we check into our hotel and will have free time to obtain dinner. Day 10: Milan or Turin - Paris - London Morning train from Milan to Paris Gare de Lyon Station and transfer to Gare du Nord station to take the Eurostar to London St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request). Note: Order of excursions subject to change depending on local conditions. Your hotels Turin/Milan hotels: 2/3-star Trulli Holiday Resort - 3-star Alberobello In the heart of Alberobello The Trulli Holiday Resort gives the chance to stay in these special historic houses, carefully refurbished and furnished according to the tradition of the small and unique town, lying on the Valle d’Itria hills. With attention to comfort and refinement, all the en-suite rooms are nicely furnished and equipped with air-conditioning, TV and mini bar. The restaurant serves quality cuisine with flavours of the region.
A Trulli House lounge
2015 21 October 2016 4 April 18 April 9 May 16 May 12 Sept 20 Sept 3 October 13 October
£1299
PG10 - 3
£1399 £1399 £1399 £1399 £1399 £1399 £1399 £1399
PG4-2 PG4-3 PG5-1 PG5-2 PG9-1 PG9-2 PG10-4 PG10 - 5
DEPOSIT: £200pp
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return rail travel from London St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request) via Eurostar, TGV and EuroStar Italia trains • 1 night hotel B&B sharing a twin/double room in Turin or Milan outbound • 7 nights half-board sharing a twin/double room at the Trulli Holiday Resort, Alberobello • 1 night hotel B&B sharing a twin/double room in Turin or Milan en-route home • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supp’t £180 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices A Trulli House bedroom
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
11
The Riviera Express, Monaco & Portofino
BY RAIL v08-06
Monaco
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks Champagne check-in
6 Days £699pp DATES - PRICES - CODES
Starting with a glass of bubbly at St Pancras’ famous champagne bar sets the tempo for the rest of this holiday. Travel by Eurostar to Paris or Lille where we spend our first night before travelling south by TGV – the French high speed train – to the French and Italian Riviera’s staying in the delightful Italian coastal town of Diano Marino. Enjoy free drinks every night at the hotel and included excursions to Monaco, Villefranche and Portofino. By train to Nice via Lille or Paris After our private Champagne check-in at St Pancras, our Tour Manager - with you throughout the holiday - will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Lille or Paris. The journey time is around 90 minutes to Lille, 2hrs 10mins to Paris. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free to explore at leisure and obtain dinner. The next morning we join the TGV for our journey to Nice. On board the TGV, settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as we speed south. Making the most of the Riviera On arrival in Nice, we board our coach for the short drive (around 90 mins) to our hotel in Diano Marina, on the Italian The Rock of Monaco
Riviera of Flowers. You will have time to settle in before dinner at the hotel. During your stay there will be time to explore the resort at your own pace and our included excursions will ensure you enjoy the best of the French and Italian Rivieras. Itinerary: Day 1: Eurostar to Lille or Paris Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Lille or Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre. Day 2: Diano Marina Depart the hotel to join an earlymorning TGV to Nice. On arrival we meet our coach and drive to Diano Marina and check-in at the Piccolo Hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 3: Villefranche & Monaco This morning we travel by coach to the picturesque town of Villefranche where we have a morning at leisure. We travel by coach to Monaco and Monte Carlo where you can enjoy the architecture, including the Casino and the Royal Palace and marvel at the prices in the designer shops and boutiques. There is an opportunity to take the picturesque coastal train from Villefranche to Monaco (fare payable at the time), and meet the group in Monaco. Return for dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Villefranche
Day 4: Portofino After an early breakfast we will travel by coach to Santa Margherita, where we join the ferry to Portofino. The approach to Portofino by boat is spectacular with coastal views not available by other transport. We return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 5: Diano Marina Today is free to explore on your own or your Tour Manager will be able to assist with local travel by bus to Alassio, San Remo or Ventimiglia. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 6: Diano Marina to London Depart the hotel after breakfast for the drive to Nice Station. We board the TGV to Lille or Paris where we transfer to Eurostar for the return to St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request). We expect to arrive mid-evening. Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions. Your hotel Paris/Lille: 2/3-star hotel Piccolo Hotel - 3-star - Diano Marina Set in a quiet location within walking distance of the sea and centre of Diano Marina, the hotel has a panoramic terrace, restaurant and a comfortable bar. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, telephone, and satellite TV. The restaurant offers a full buffet breakfast and dinner . There’s free drinks between 6pm and 11pm each night including local brands of beer, wine and spirits.
2015 17 October
£699pp
RE10
DEPOSIT: £150pp
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of Champagne or alternative non-alcoholic drink • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Nice (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille • 4 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Piccolo Hotel, Diano Marina with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to 11pm every night - local brands of beer, wine & spirits • Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £100 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Portofino
The Piccolo Hotel - inset roof terrace view
12
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Lake Bled Castle & Christmas Markets – Slovenia & Austria
BY AIR v 12.12
Ljubljana
Half Board Plus
Lake Bled
5 Days £599pp DATES - PRICES - CODES
Christmas time at Lake Bled, Slovenia,
DAY 3: Klagenfurt & Radovljica
home of the original Bled cream cake,
is just magical - framed by the snow-
This morning we travel to Klagenfurt in
the popular dessert that Bled is
capped peaks of the majestic Julian
Austria
traditional
renowned for far and wide. For
DEPOSIT: £150pp
Alps, Bled is a dream location. Our
Christkindlmarkt. On our return to Bled
relaxation, recreation and beauty,
INCLUDED:
hotel is on the Lakeside with a
we visit Radovljca a stunning small
guests can take advantage of the large
Christmas market situated outside - a
town
perfect setting for this build up to Christmas. Highlights include: lunch in Bled Castle, perched atop a cliff 130 metres above the glacial lake with
for
which
Gingerbread
the
is
famous
factory
for
and
its its
Christmassy feel. We have time to visit the gingerbread shop before returning to Bled. Dinner in the hotel.
in
Radovljica;
Ljubljana,
Day 4: Bled Castle This morning we visit the castle where
stunning
Christmas
medieval
town
Klagenfurt
market;
the
you will be enchanted not only by the
Kranj;
and
dramatic views of Lake Bled but also
in
the delightful restaurant that serves
Christmas
Market
Austria.
cuisine with modern flavours of the
Itinerary:
Slovenian region where we have lunch included. The afternoon is free to visit
DAY 1: UK to Bled
water.
The
pool
offers
then transfer by coach to the Hotel
from a choice of UK airports supplement may apply (see below)
sauna next to the swimming pool;
Park by Lake Bled. Dinner at the hotel.
Park in Bled
satellite TV, direct phone line, wireless,
• 4 breakfasts & 4 dinners
internet, safe and mini bar. The staff at this hotel go out of their way to ensure
Accommodation Options:
smile.
• Single room - £80pp
not
guaranteed
in
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS Stansted - Ljubljana Heathrow - Venice Gatwick - Venice Manchester - Venice
Slovenia.
After breakfast it’s time to check-out of your return flight to the UK.
explore the Christmas Market. We return to Bled via Kranj. Situated high between the Sava and Kokra rivers, the town is protected as a cultural
Note: Itinerary is subject to change
Your Hotel
• Flight time is around 2 hours each way. • Hold luggage can be added for a supplement.
Hotel Park - 4-star - Lake Bled The Hotel Park is located by the
linking trade from East to Western
lakeshore and in the heart of Bled. The
Europe. Dinner in the hotel.
hotel's Park Restaurant and Cafe is the
Bled Castle
• Flights are possible from these airports subject to availability at time of booking and some may have a supplement.
depending on local conditions.
monument due to its history and
• Lunch in Bled Castle
guests receive excellent service with a
Today we travel to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s charming capital with free time to
bedded room at the 4 star Hotel
(shower or bathtub) and hairdryer,
the hotel and transfer to the airport for
DAY 2: Ljubljana & Kranj
• Excursions as stated • 4 nights sharing a twin/double
Each room has a balcony, bathroom
Note: Snow Day 5: Bled to UK
• Return flights with cabin baggage
and island. There are a whirlpool and
Bled. Dinner in the hotel.
Join your flight to Ljubljana or Venice,
• Escorted throughout in Slovenia
breathtaking views of the Bled Castle
hotel's Thai Centre.
Slovenia’s charming capital with its of
thermal
wellness services are available in the
spellbinding views; the gingerbread factory
indoor swimming pool with heated
3 December, 2015 - Tour XB12
Hotel Park
• Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to discuss your flights
Klagenfurt
Radovljica
Bled island
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
13
Three Countries and Four Christmas Markets
By RAIL v09.12
Maastricht
4 Days £399pp DATE - CODE Join us for a festive break taking in three countries, each with their own unique character of Christmas market - four will be open during our visit. You’ll find them all festively decorated and loaded with goodies, treats, seasonal gifts and sumptuous delicacies. Valkenburg in Holland has its unique Christmas Market Caves - surely Europe’s most unique (and weather proof) Christmas shopping venue. Maastricht, capital of the Dutch province of Limburg, is easy for visitors to explore on foot, stalls are full to bursting with locally-made treats. For the more daring, you can skate on the temporary 100m square ice-rink installed for the duration of the market. There are some festive attractions unique to the city, such as the Festival of Lights which attracts visitors from near and far. In the German town of Aachen the squares and streets around the Town Hall are transformed into a paradise of lights and colours, festive sounds and seductive smells. Aachen is also home of the Lindt Chocolate Factory outlet - a chocolate lover’s paradise with a huge selection of festive and seasonal treats at factory prices. Brussels, the Belgian capital, has Christmas Markets at the Grand Place and the Place St Catherine’s area. 240 wooden Christmas line the streets of Bourse, Marché aux Poissons and
Place St Catherines. These stalls look like gingerbread houses, twinkling with fairy lights and covered with ‘snow-top’ roofs. Try and buy Belgian chocolates, beers and waffles, and lookout for the oyster and shellfish restaurants, a speciality in Brussels. Itinerary: Day 1: London to Lanaken Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) to Brussels Midi. Here we will board our coach for the short transfer to Brussels centre where you can visit the Grand Place and Christmas markets. Late afternoon we rejoin the coach and drive to our hotel at Lanaken, near Maastricht. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2: Maastricht & Valkenburg Today we travel into the centre of Maastricht where you can visit the Christmas market - known as Magical Maastricht, it will appeal to those who do not enjoy an overly large sprawling markets experience but want something spectacular and memorable. There is a cosy Christmas market feel to the town with some lovely sights and experiences. It is convenient for visitors to explore on foot, to eat locally-made treats and find an array of reasonably priced, good restaurants to enjoy the local cuisine. From here we continue to Valkenburg where you can explore the Christmas Markets in the caves or the delightful town itself. Mid-to-late evening we return to the hotel.
Day 3: Aachen This morning we drive to Aachen in Germany - less than 1 hour away. The Christmas markets are a 10-15 minute stroll from the coach park. Alternatively, there is a transfer bus to the town centre (approx 4 Euros, payable locally). One local speciality you really must try is the Aachen Printen, a kind of gingerbread. Also near the coach park is the Lindt chocolate factory outlet store and another large store specialising in Christmas decorations. We depart mid-to-late afternoon for the return to our hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Day 4: Lanaken to London After breakfast we depart the hotel and return to Brussels Midi station to join Eurostar for the return journey to London St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request).
2015 4 December - Tour XM12 DEPOSIT: £100pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return rail travel from London St Pancras to Brussels (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 3 nights sharing a twin/double standard comfort room at the Eurotel Hotel • 3 buffet breakfasts • 2 three-course dinners • Use of the hotel swimming pool and gym • Visits to Brussels, Maastricht, Valkenburg and Aachen • All transfers abroad
Your hotel
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
Hotel Eurotel - 4-star - Lanaken
Single room supplement £60
This hotel is located in Lanaken, close to Maastricht. Facilities include a restaurant, lounge bar and a small indoor pool and gym. All bedrooms are en-suite, and have free wireless internet access and cable TV channels. A pay minibar is supplied. The private bathroom has a bath or shower with a handheld showerhead, as well as complimentary toiletries and a hairdryer. A safe, iron and ironing board are available on request. The 4-star Eurotel, Lanaken
Valkenburg Christmas Market Caves
14
Aachen Christmas Market
Maastricht Christmas Market
Brussels Grand Place at Christmas time
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Bruges and Belgium Christmas Markets
By RAIL v07-07
Brussels Grand Place
Bruges
4 Days £399pp Bruges is a fascinating city at any time but it is given a festive facelift at Christmas which adds to the magic of this medieval masterpiece. Starting at St Pancras we travel by train to Bruges where our hotel is in the heart of the city and within walking distance of the train station. Whilst having a full day to enjoy Bruges and the markets we also have a day in Ghent to visit the spectacular market which takes over the historical centre and a visit to Brussels for the famous Winter Wonders Market. Itinerary: Day 1: London to Bruges Morning departure by Eurostar from London St Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) to Brussels Midi. Here we will board a local train for the onward journey to Bruges. On arrival our luggage will be transferred to the hotel, whilst we walk from the station to our centrally located hotel.
town selling a wealth of decorations and gifts, as well as plentiful shops selling famous Belgian chocolate and beer.
tour operators. Late afternoon we transfer to the station for our return Eurostar to London.
DATE - CODE 2015 10 December - Tour XX12
Your hotel Day 3: Ghent This morning we walk to the train station for the rail journey to Ghent. Once medieval Europe’s second largest city, we have the day to visit the historical centre of the town which is taken over with the Christmas markets set amongst the stunning buildings. Late afternoon we return to Bruges by train. Day 4: Bruges, Brussels to London We walk to our coach for the journey to Brussels where we visit the Grand Place and Christmas markets, which has been hailed as ‘Europes most original’ by British
Hotel Ibis Brugge Centrum Bruges The ibis Brugge Centrum hotel is located in an ancient medieval building in the centre of Bruges, a few minutes from the railway station. Close to the hotel, you can visit the Belfry Tower, the Church of Our Lady and the Lake of Love Minnewater. The hotel has a bar open 24 hours a day for drinks and snacks and a restaurant offering regional specialities. Guests have free Wifi Internet access. All rooms are en-suite with air-conditioning, satellite TV, telephone and hairdryer.
DEPOSIT: £100pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return rail travel from London St Pancras to Bruges (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 3 nights sharing a twin/double standard comfort room at the Hotel Ibis Brugge Centrum • 3 buffet breakfasts • Visit to Ghent by train. Visit to Brussels by coach. • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £105
Day 2: Bruges Full day to experience Bruges and its Christmas markets at your leisure. Along with the markets located in different squares you will also find Christmas shops in the
Bruges Christmas Market
• Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for Brussels Christmas Market
Hotel Ibis Brugge Centrum
availability and prices
Ghent
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
Bruges
15
Lake Bled & Castle Christmas – Slovenia
BY AIR v09-12
Half Board Plus
Bled Castle Christmas in Bled, Slovenia is just magical - framed by the snow-capped peaks of the majestic Julian Alps, Bled is a dream location where a unique Legend of the Sunken Bell performance is played out every year. The highlight will be Christmas Day Lunch in Bled Castle, perched atop a cliff 130 metres above the glacial lake with spellbinding views. We will also visit a gingerbread factory, Ljubljana - Slovenia’s charming capital, tranquil Lake Bohinj & the Mount Vogel cablecar, plus have the opportunity to visit the epic Postojna Caves, Europe’s most visited. Bled Castle - Christmas Day Lunch Inside the medieval walls of Bled Castle you will be enchanted not only by the dramatic views of Lake Bled but also the delightful restaurant that serves cuisine with modern flavours of the Slovenian region. Our Christmas lunch will be served here which also allows you free entry into the Castle and museum. Postojna Caves: The most visited show caves in Europe. In 1872 railway lines were laid to take visitors to the heart of the caves. Floodlighting allows you to admire the size and splendour of the underground world where stalactites and stalagmites abound. A guided visit lasts an hour and a half. Ljubljana: While being a dynamic capital city, Ljubljana has retained a relaxed small-town atmosphere. This picturesque and very vibrant city is full of surprises. Along the banks of the Ljubljanica River you will find traditional markets as well as the Christmas market selling an array of local delicacies to tempt your palette. The Legend of the Sunken Bell: This is a unique theatre spectacle where the stage is set on the water, or rather in the water. Performed by divers, the legend of the sunken bell tells us how the wishing bell in the island’s church came to the island and became so famous. According to the legend whatever you wish for while ringing the bell will ‘certainly come true’. Lake Bohinj: Slovenia's largest lake is a picture of peace and serenity. It's brooding and mystical feel are
8 Days £899pp
Lake Bled - view from castle encouraged by the steep mountain faces that rise out of the lake on the northern side, with mountain peaks also dominating the background to the west and south. On clear days you can even see the peak of the mighty Triglav. Itinerary: DAY 1: UK to Lake Bled Join at your chosen airport for the flight to Ljubljana or Venice – flight duration around 2 hours. Transfer to the Hotel Park in Bled. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 2: Ljubljana Visit to Ljubljana. Return to Bled for free time before dinner at the hotel. DAY 3: Lake Bohinj Visit to Lake Bohinj where it may be possible to take the cable car up to the summit of Mount Vogel (payable locally, weather and conditions permitting). Dinner at the hotel. DAY 4: Kranj and Radovljica This morning we travel to Kranj, situated high between the Sava and Kokra rivers the town is protected as a cultural monument due to its history and linking trade from East to Western Europe. On our return to Bled we visit Radovljca a stunning small town which is famous for its Gingerbread factory and its Christmassy feel. We have time to visit the gingerbread shop. Dinner in the hotel. DAY 5: Christmas Eve at Lake Bled After breakfast the day is at leisure to explore Bled. 10:00–19:00: Christmas Arts and Crafts Market - Hotel Park Coffee Shop – Terrace. 16:00: Greeting of Santa Claus with carol singers - Hotel Park Coffee Shop – Terrace. 17:00: Torch-lit walk around the lake – Hotel Park Coffee Shop– Terrace. 19:00: Dinner at the hotel. 24:00: Midnight Christmas Mass - St Martin’s church. DAY 6: Christmas Day at Lake Bled 10:00–19:00: Christmas Arts and Crafts Market - Hotel Park Coffee Shop – Terrace. Kranj
12:00: Transfer to Bled Castle for Christmas Day Lunch. 16:00 – 18:00: Santa Claus goes around Bled in a horse-drawn carriage. 17:00: The Legend of the Sunken Bell. This is the highlight of Christmas in Bled - the action takes place at Bled’s Public Lido, just a short walk from the hotel. 19:00: Dinner in the Hotel. DAY 7: Boxing Day at Lake Bled or Postojna Caves Optional visit to Postojna Caves by coach (£39pp) or free time in Bled. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 8: Lake Bled to UK Check-out of the hotel after breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the flight home. Note: Snow not guaranteed in Bled. Events subject to change by the organisers. Your hotel Hotel Park - 4-star - Lake Bled The Hotel Park is located by the lakeshore and in the heart of Bled. The hotel's Park Restaurant and Cafe is the home of the original Bled cream cake, the popular dessert that Bled is renowned for. For relaxation, recreation and beauty, guests can take advantage of the large indoor swimming pool with heated thermal water. The pool offers breathtaking views of Bled Castle and island. There is a whirlpool and sauna next to the swimming pool; wellness services are available in the hotel's Thai Centre. Each room has a balcony, bathroom (shower or bathtub) and hairdryer, satellite TV, direct phone line, wireless, internet, safe and mini bar. The staff at this hotel go out of their way to ensure guests receive excellent service with a smile. Ljubljana
DATE - CODE 2015 20 December - Tour XS12 DEPOSIT: £200pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return flights to Ljubljana or Venice from a choice of UK airports including luggage - see below • 7 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Hotel Park • Christmas day lunch in Bled Castle • 7 breakfasts • 7 dinners • Excursions as stated • Airport to hotel transfer on arrival and departure ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £140 OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Postojna Caves - £39 per person
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS To Venice from Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Southend & Manchester. To Ljubljana from Stansted. • Flights are possible from these airports. All are subject to availability at time of booking and some may have a supplement. • Flight time around 2 hrs each way • Flights include 1 checked in bag (usually no more than 20kgs) and 1 carry on bag per person - weight & size of each subject to airline restrictions. • Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to discuss your flight requirements.
Hotel Park
The legend of the Sunken Bell
16
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Christmas on the Italian Riviera
BY RAIL v11-08
Monaco
Alassio
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks Champagne check-in
8 Days £949pp DATES - PRICES - CODES Bordighera is a charming seaside resort with stunning views on all sides, on a clear day you can see Monte Carlo an ideal
location for this festive holiday. We start with a glass of Bubbly at St Pancras’ famous champagne bar before boarding our Eurostar to Paris or Lille. After an overnight stay we travel by fast TGV train to Nice and Alassio. On the Riviera enjoy free drinks every night and visits to Monaco, Dolceacqua and the medieval town of Finalborgo, we also enjoy the Christmas Market at Genoa, Wine tasting in San Remo, dinner by Candlelight on Christmas Eve and live music in the hotel on Christmas day. By train to Nice via Lille or Paris After our private Champagne check-in at St Pancras, our Tour Manager - with you throughout the holiday - will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Lille or Paris. The journey time is around 90 minutes to Lille, 2hrs 10mins to Paris. On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free to explore at leisure and obtain dinner. Paris and Lille are home to many fine restaurants - not all of them prohibitively expensive. Your Tour Manager has a good knowledge of reasonably-priced, high quality restaurants and you are free to benefit from that insight. The next morning we join the TGV for our journey to Nice. On board the TGV, settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as we speed south. Making the most of the Riviera The Rock of Monaco
On arrival in Nice, we board our coach for the short drive (around 90 mins) to our hotel, on the Italian Riviera. You will have time to settle in before dinner at the hotel. During your stay there will be time to explore the resort at your own pace and our included excursions will ensure you enjoy the best of the region. Itinerary: Day 1: Eurostar to Lille or Paris Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Lille or Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre. Day 2: Bordighera Depart the hotel to join an earlymorning TGV to Nice. On arrival we meet our coach and drive to Bordighera and check-in at the hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 3: Christmas Market in Genoa We travel by coach to Genoa where we visit the Christmas Market in front of the Ducal Palace. The markets is filled with artisans and craftsmen selling items made with wood, iron and glass as well as numerous sellers offering wines, cheeses, chocolates and many local foods. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 4: Finale Ligure and Finalborgo We travel by coach to Finale Ligure, once a busy Roman port now a popular destination for holidays makers due to the stunning coastline and historic, medieval centre. Candlelit dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 5: Christmas day in Monaco After breakfast join our included excursion to Monaco and Monte Carlo where you can enjoy the architecture, including the Casino and the Royal Palace and marvel at the prices in the windows of the designer shops and boutiques. Lunch will be included in
Monaco. Festive dinner and free drinks at the hotel with live music. Day 6: Bordighera Free day to enjoy the area around the hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 7: Dolceacqua and San Remo Today we have a half day excursion to Dolceacqua, a medieval village at the foot of the Rebuffao mountains. Here you can meander through the village streets and climb to the 12th century castle, or cross the single arched bridge with a span of 33 metres to the 15th century ‘new’ town. Afterwards we travel to Isolbona for a wine tasting followed by a visits to San Remo. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 8: To London Depart the hotel after breakfast for the drive to Nice Station. We board the TGV to Lille or Paris where we transfer to Eurostar for the return to St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request). We expect to arrive mid-evening.
2015 21 December
XR12
DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of Champagne or alternative nonalcoholic drink • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel London St Pancras to Nice (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris or Lille • 6 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Hotel Parigi, Bordighera with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to
Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions.
11pm every night - local brands of
Your hotel
beer, wine & spirits
Paris/Lille: 2/3-star hotel 4-star - Hotel Parigi, Bordighera Run by the Sattanino family, the Hotel Parigi, famous since the early 1900s as the choice of royalty, offers a rich variety of services introduced over the years to satisfy evolving holiday styles. Bordighera is a charming seaside resort with stunning views on all sides, on a clear day you can see Monte Carlo. Less commercial than other resorts along the coast and a large selection of bars, cafes and shops. The hotel is situated on the seafront and offers a wellness centre, private beach, bar and restaurant. All rooms are en-suite and have private balconies, air-conditioning, satellite TV and hairdryers.
Dolceacqua
• Lunch on Christmas Day • Excursions as stated • Wine tasting in Isolbona • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £140 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Finalborgo
Genoa
Venice & Opatija Carnivals - Italy & Croatia
BY AIR v08-05
Opatija
6 Days £699pp
Venice Carnival
DATES - PRICES - CODES
This holiday takes in the most famous carnival in Europe, Venice and also one of the best kept secrets of the European Carnival circuit in Opatija, Croatia. In Venice we have time to soak up the celebratory atmosphere and to explore this magical city. In Opatija we enjoy the Masked Marathon, the Balinjerada Carnival Race and the Carnival Parade. With free time to enjoy this coastal town, walk the picturesque Lungo Mare, visit the stunning villa Angiolina or enjoy the many bars, cafes and shops, we also have a visit to the historic centre of Loggia in Labin. Opatija Opatija, on Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast found fame as the former playground of the Austro-Hungarian elite. Well-maintained public gardens, the illuminated 12-km-long coastal promenade known as the "Lungomare", well-kept beaches and fountains provide a stunning backdrop for the villas, hotels and shops. The contrasts of sea and mountains, green parks and blue ocean, old buildings and modern comforts all combine to make Opatija and its surroundings a very attractive resort at any time of the year. The Carnival is a colourful gala of traditional Croatian costumes and events throughout the Kvarner region, lasting several days.
Day 2: Venice - Opatija
Your hotels
This morning is free in Venice to enjoy the city. Your tour manager will escort you to the Piazza San Marco where you can visit the main square used for many of the Carnival events and colourfully decorated to reflect the atmosphere at the time. In the mid-afternoon we join our coach for the transfer to Opatija and check into our hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Hotel Venezia - 3-star - Venice:
Day 3: Opatija
27 January 2016 - Tour OP1 DEPOSIT: £150pp
Hotel Venezia, run by the Rossetto family since 1955, is situated in the heart of Venice Mestre and is the ideal
• Escorted throughout
location for visits to Venice. It is very
• Return flights with hold luggage
easy to reach the historical centre of
from Gatwick or Heathrow -
Venice using the local transport that
supplement may apply (see below)
frequently shuttles back and forth both during the day and at night. The hotel also has a welcoming restaurant, called
Today is free in Opatija to enjoy the carnival celebrations which today include the ‘Masked Marathon’ and ‘Kalpe’ a collection of Capella singing groups performing. Dinner in the hotel.
bedrooms are en suite and have
Day 4: Labin & Rabac
satellite
Today we travel along the coast to Labin an old mining town situated 320m above sea level with amazing views and a stunning historical centre. Afterwards we travel down to Rabac, known as the ‘Pearl of Kvarner’ a major tourist destination due to its stunning coastline. Dinner in the hotel.
Garden), where you can savour a delightful
buffet TV,
breakfast.
telephone,
safe,
All air
twin/double room at the 3-star Hotel Venezia • 4 nights half-board sharing a twin/double room at the 4-star Grand Hotel 4 Opatijska Cvijeta • Excursions as stated
conditioning and a free wifi internet
• Transfers abroad
connection.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
Grand Hotel 4 Opatijska Cvijeta - 4-
• Single room supplement - £75
star - Opatija Located in the heart of Opatija, this
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS
hotel offers all the refinement, serenity
Heathrow / Gatwick
and efficiency expected of a 4-star
• Flights are possible from these airports Other airports may be available but may require an extra night (un-escorted) in Venice. All are subject to availability at time of booking and some may have a supplement. • All flights include 1 carry on bag per person and one piece of hold luggage exact weight and size subject to airline restrictions. Hold luggage may also be included with some airlines, or can be added for a supplement. • Flight time around 2 hours each way departure and return times will vary depending on the route. • Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to
hotel. All rooms are en-suite with bath
Today the carnival continues with the carnival race through the main streets and the main carnival parade. Dinner in the hotel.
conditioning, minibar, room safe and
or shower, telephone, satellite TV, air hair dryer. The restaurant serves a full breakfast buffet and dinners with a choice of hot and cold dishes and there
Itinerary Day 1: Uk to Venice
After breakfast we travel by coach to Venice for our return flight to the UK.
is a cosy bar. The hotel has an indoor
Join your flight to Venice, then transfer the hotel in Venice Mestre.
Note: Order/times of events / excursions may be subject to change.
studio, jacuzzi and sauna.
Opatija
• 1 night b& b in Venice sharing a
the "Giardino Veneziano" (Venetian
Day 5: Opatija
Day 6: Opatija
INCLUDED:
and outdoor swimming pool, fitness
Labin
Gran Hotel 4 Opatijska Cvijeta
Venice Carnival
BY RAIL v12-05
7 Days £999pp
Venice Carnival figures
Venice is a city that needs no
departure to Paris (from Ebbsfleet on
DATES - PRICES - CODES
DAY 6: Venice to Turin
introduction, probably one of the
request). On arrival we transfer to the
After breakfast we take the morning
largest jewels in Italy’s crown. With this
Gare de Lyon to join the TGV train to
high speed train to Turin where we have
holiday we see it at it best with the
Turin, where we stay overnight.
an afternoon free to explore this
canals and squares covered in colour, street artists around every corner and people in walking around in traditional costumes. Added to this we spend two nights
in
Turin
and
have
the
opportunity to visit the historic town of Padua. Venice Carnival In 1980 the carnival was renewed after a
DAY 2: Venice After breakfast we return to the station
by
costume
parades,
Gondola sailing, games and parties in the ancient palaces. During this period the streets fill with artists, acrobats and musicians and the whole city is filled
3 February - Tour VC2 DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout
overnight.
• Return rail travel from London St
for the fast rail service to Venice Mestre
DAY 7: Turin to London
station. We then transfer to our hotel
After breakfast we take the TGV from
where we can leave our luggage before
Turin to Paris to connect with Eurostar
taking the waterbus into Venice for our
to London St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on
guided tour of the main sights. We
request) arriving early to mid-evening.
return to the hotel to check-in before
Your hotels
dinner at a local restaurant.
Hotel Venezia - 3-star - Venice:
at the Hotel Venezia in Venice
DAY 3: Venice
Hotel Venezia, run by the Rossetto
Mestre
After breakfast our Tour Manager will
family since 1955, is situated in the
take you by waterbus to some of the
heart of Venice Mestre and is the ideal
twin/double room in Turin en-route
location for visits to Venice. It is very
home
period of inactivity. The Carnival is celebrated
famous city and where we stay
2015
more unusual areas of the city as well as the Murano Glass works. There will also
Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) to Venice • 1 night hotel B&B sharing a twin/double room in Turin or Milan outbound • 4 nights sharing a twin/double room
• 1 night hotel B&B sharing a
easy to reach the historical centre of
• 7 breakfasts
Venice using the local transport that
• 3 dinners
frequently shuttles back and forth both
• Excursions as stated, including
during the day and at night. The hotel
guided tour of Venice on foot -
with very lively people parading in
be ample time to explore on your own
masks and costumes that symbolize
and join in the carnival activities. Dinner
characters from mythology. Costumes
at a local restaurant.
relating to nature, to legend, to styles
DAY 4: Venice
the "Giardino Veneziano" (Venetian
• 4-day waterbus ticket in Venice;
and historic eras, to church characters,
Free day to explore at leisure.
Garden), where you can savour a
• Transfers abroad
and to characters from the Comedia del
DAY 5: Optional Excursion to Padua
delightful
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Today is free to explore Venice or you
bedrooms are en suite and have
• Single room supplement £180
can join the tour manager and travel by
satellite
air
• Pre/post departure overnight hotel
train (fares payable at the time) to the
conditioning and a free wifi internet
near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star
DAY 1: London to Turin
historic university town of Padua.
connection.
options - call for availability and
Check-in at St Pancras before a morning
Dinner at a local restaurant.
Turin: 3-star hotel.
Padua
Turin
Arte are all on parade for all to see. The atmosphere is truly electric! Itinerary:
Venice
also has a welcoming restaurant, called
buffet
TV,
breakfast.
telephone,
safe,
All
around 2 hours
prices
Rialto Bridge, Venice
Madeira Carnival
BY AIR v16-06
Semi All-Inclusive
Madeira - The island of Madeira is lapped by the waters of the Gulf Stream. Blessed with warm summers and mild winters it makes it an enchanting holiday destination all year round. When you arrive in Madeira, take a good look around. The pleasant soothing colours invade the senses with the different shades of green set against an azure sea – the hallmark of the subtropics. Funchal – Europe’s most picturesque and cleanest capital. It is a modern, cosmopolitan city, well known for its many top class restaurants, stunning new 4 & 5 star hotels and of course its most famous export, world class footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. In short, it is now known for its style as well as its substance. The city itself is nestled in a great natural amphitheatre, facing the blue Atlantic with a backdrop of dramatic mountains. Located in the stunning south of Madeira, on its sunniest coast amidst banana plantations and wonderful gardens where flowers bloom all year round in the shelter of the verdant mountains, it is an extremely lush, green and relaxed city by day but scratch Funchal’s surface and you will find it to have a vibrant and varied nightlife scene with multiple personalities. Carnival The Carnival of Madeira is an annual festival held forty days before Easter ending on Shrove Tuesday (known locally as Fat Tuesday or Terca-feira Gorda in Portugese) the day before Ash Wednesday or first day of Lent. One of the first major festivals of the year on the island, The Madeira carnival is known as one of the best in Europe. Traditionally there are two main parades which are very different from each other. The allegoric parade, which always takes place on Saturday, is the more sophisticated of the two. Numerous Samba groups with thousands of particpants in magnificent and colourful costumes dance to electrifying Samba music through the streets of the capital Funchal, spreading an ambiance evoking that of the Rio Carnival. The second parade, called trapalhao, is older and used to occur all over the island, now it floods the streets of the city centre with thrilling joy on Terca-feira Gorda, ending the
8 Days £799pp
Funchal
The Madeira Carnival carnival period. Anybody can take part in this parade and the - sometimes quite daring costumes and depicted caricatures are left to the particapants own imagination. ITINERARY: Day 1: Check in at your selected airport for the flight to Funchal. Transfer to the hotel Raga included. Day 2: Morning free. Half-day afternoon tour including the Quinta das Cruzes museum of ancient buildings, orchids, porcelain, furniture and silverware or the Frederico de Freitas museum created by a lawyer and art collector. Visit the Santa Clara Convent and finish the tour at the church of the Colegio. Day 3: Morning half-day tour to the centre of the island. Travel to Pico dos Barcelos, west of the capital for amazing views then stop at Eira do Serrado, a look out point on a crater in the `village of the nuns’ Curral des Freiras. Continue to Monte to see the grave of Charles I of Austria. If you fancy you can descend a 1.5 km track by toboggan. Day 4: Allegoric carnival day Day 5: Free day Day 6: Full day excursion with lunch. Visit Camara da Lobos where Winston Churchill painted, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar, Loreto and the plateau of Paul da Serra protected by UNESCO. Travel to Porto Moniz with it’s lava pools and enjoy lunch by the sea at Sao Vicente. Retun via the Encumeada Pass and the Serra d’Agua valley, a World Heritage Site. Day 7: It’s Trapalhao carnival day. Day 8: Transfer to Funchal airport and check in for your flight back to your selected airport. Hotel Raga – 4 Star Idyllically situated on the hillside in the heart of Funchal’s renowned Lido area and commanding spectacular views of the surroundings from its high vantage point, the 4-star Hotel Raga is the perfect destination for a comfortable and relaxing holiday in the magical island of Madeira. Lying a short distance away from the city centre, the hotel has easy access to the
popular Lido swimming pools and sea and is surrounded by the selection of shops, restaurants, cafés and bars that abound in this lively area. The nearby coastal Lido promenade, lined with a colourful array of typical Madeira flowers, also provides plenty of opportunity for picturesque strolls along the sea front. The hotel provides all the comfort and wellbeing of a newly refurbished hotel that has earned a solid reputation for welcoming visitors to the island. All of its rooms have balconies, some offering breathtaking views of the sea, while its broad range of facilities promises to make your stay a pleasant one. A dip in the swimming pool, a refreshing drink by the pool or a quick work-out in the fitness centre before heading out to explore the rest of Madeira are just some of the enticements on offer. A new outdoor swimming pool that is heated in winter overlooks the sea and the surrounding Lido attractions and offers a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the views and sun without having to venture out too far. Drinks, light meals and snacks are available from the swimming pool bar.
DATES - CODES
2016 February 3
Tour MA2
DEPOSIT: £200pp INCLUDED:
• Return flights to Funchal • Return airport to hotel transfers • 7 night’s sharing a land view room • 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners from the buffet, plus afternoon coffee and cake • Drinks included with lunch and dinner - aperitifs, local wine, beer,
Sea View Room The hotel’s enviable hillside location ensures that its sea view rooms offer fabulous views of the Atlantic ocean and the Lido promenade. All the rooms have balconies furnished with two chairs and a table. To add to your comfort, all these rooms are equipped with a flat screen satellite TV, air conditioning, a direct dial telephone, a mini bar, a safe, a sofa and a desk and chair. The bathroom includes a bath, shower and hair dryer.
soft drinks and local spirits • Live entertainment 3 times per week (subject to change) • Use of the hotel gym and outdoor heated pool
Land View Room The land view rooms look out over the landscape on the hill behind the hotel and have balconies equipped with a table and two chairs. The comfortable, modern decoration is complemented by a flat screen satellite TV, air conditioning, a direct dial telephone, a mini bar, a safe, a sofa and a desk and chair. All the land view rooms have double-glazed balcony doors and a bathroom with a bath, shower and hair dryer.
• Porterage • Excursions as stated OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £150pp • Sea view supplement £70pp
Flight Information ■ Easyjet RETURN OUTBOUND 3RD FEBRUARY 11:40 07:10 Gatwick Luggage • 1 piece of hold luggage up to 20kg is included per person • 1 piece of carry on luggage is included per person up to 50 x 40 x 20cm incl wheels Hotel Pool
20
Hotel Bedroom
Hotel Terrace
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Nice Flower Parade, Lemons & Monaco
BY RAIL v08-05
SEMI-ALL-INCLUSIVE
Free Drinks Champagne check-in A Lemon Festival display
8 Days £989pp
Nice Carnival
DATES - PRICES - CODES This super holiday, taking in the French and Italian Rivieras, starts with a glass of Bubbly at St Pancras’ famous Champagne Bar (from Ebbsfleet on request) before boarding the Eurostar to Paris. After an overnight stay, we continue by TGV train to Nice and Diano Marina. On the Riviera enjoy free drinks every night and visits to Monaco, Nice Carnival, and Menton Lemon Festival. By train to the Côte D’Azur After our private Champagne check-in, our Tour Manager - with you throughout the holiday - will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Paris Gare du Nord station (around 2hrs 30mins journey time). In Paris, we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The next morning we join the TGV at Paris Gare de Lyon station for our journey to Nice. On board the TGV settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as we continue south towards Nice. On arrival in Nice, we board our coach for the drive (around 90 minutes) to our hotel in Diano Marina. No need to rush You will have reserved seats on all trains and all stations are at the start or end of the line, allowing plenty of time for boarding and alighting. Nice Carnival Flower Parade Nice Carnival is the most popular winter event on the French Riviera. The city comes alive during a fortnight of festivities. Spectacular flower processions, take place along the seafront Promenade des Anglais and include the Bataille des Fleurs, a huge parade of flowers accompanied by marching bands and twirling majorettes.
Menton Lemon Festival Sleepy Menton bursts into a riot of colour for this huge citrus-scented celebration. It’s a multi-coloured festival under the sun - during the day the whole of Menton is an endless farandole of people swaying down the alleyways to the sea. We have entry into the gardens to view some of the magnificent displays made entirely of oranges and lemons. For this limited time only, people open their private courtyards and gardens for us to visit. Itinerary: DAY 1: Eurostar to Paris Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore on your own. DAY 2: Paris to Diano Marina Morning TGV train to Nice arriving during the afternoon. On arrival we continue by coach (around 90 minutes journey time) to Diano Marina and check-in at the Piccolo Hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. DAY 3: Diano Marina Today is free to explore on your own or your Tour Manager will be able to assist with local travel by bus to Alassio or San Remo. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. Day 4: Menton Lemon Festival Depart the hotel after breakfast and drive to Menton which celebrates the Lemon Festival at this time of year and we hope to gain entrance to some of the private courtyards as well as the Menton gardens followed by the Sunday carnival Parade. Return to the hotel for dinner and free drinks. DAY 5: Diano Marina Today is free to relax in the resort or explore the area on your own. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. DAY 6: Monaco & Monte Carlo Today we travel by coach to Monaco
where our tour manager will take us on foot to visit Casino Square to see the famous casino and Cafe de Paris - the perfect spot to see an almost constant parade of glamorous cars (and people). Dinner and free drinks at the hotel. DAY 7: Nice Flower Parade Depart the hotel after breakfast (not too early) and drive to Nice. You will have some free time before entry into the Parade Circuit (standing entry included). Optional seated viewing can be prebooked for a supplement of £20pp (must be booked at least 4 weeks before the holiday). Return to the hotel for dinner and free drinks. DAY 8: Diano Marina to London Depart the hotel after an early breakfast and return to Nice to join the TGV train to Paris Gare de Lyon station. We have a short transfer to Paris Gare du Nord station where we board the Eurostar to London St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request) arriving early-to-mid-evening.
2016 11 February - Tour NP2-2 DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of champagne or alternative non-alcoholic drink • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel
London St Pancras to Nice (from Ebbsfleet on request) • 1 night hotel B&B in Paris • 6 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Piccolo Hotel, Diano Marina with buffet breakfasts & dinners and free drinks 6pm to 11pm every night local brands of beer, wine & spirits
Note: Order of events/excursions may be subject to change.
• Excursions as stated
Your hotels
• All transfers abroad
Paris hotel - 2/3 star.
NOT INCLUDED:
Piccolo Hotel - 3-star - Diano Marina Set in a quiet location within walking distance of the sea and centre of Diano Marina, the hotel has a panoramic terrace and restaurant and a comfortable bar. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, telephone, and satellite TV. The restaurant offers a full buffet breakfast and dinner served at your table. There’s free drinks between 6pm and 11pm each night including local brands of beer, wine and spirits.
• Optional seating at Nice Carnival Flower parade £20pp ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £135 • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Monaco’s famous Port Hercule harbour
Menton Lemon Festival display
Monaco Casino
The Piccolo Hotel - inset roof terrace view
4-Star Nice Carnival, Menton Lemon Festival & Monaco
BY AIR v07-07
A Lemon Festival display
4 Days £499pp
The Nice Carnival parade continues into the evening
DATES - PRICES - CODES
This super holiday takes in the French
Itinerary:
atmosphere of the city where, as this is
Riviera’s
Day 1: UK to Nice
they will burn the ‘King of the Carnival’
Monaco. Nice Carnival is the most
Check-in at your selected airport for the
and have a firework finale.
popular winter event on the French
flight to Nice. Transfer to your hotel on
premiere
Carnivals
and
Riviera. Sleepy Menton bursts into a riot of colour with its huge citrus display garden. We stay at the 4-star Mercure Promenade des Anglais, ideally located
2016 26 February - Tour NC2 -2 DEPOSIT: £150pp
arrival. Free time in the resort to explore
Day 4: Nice to UK
at leisure. Your Tour Manager will be on
After breakfast we check-out of the
hand at the hotel during the evening
hotel and, depending on your flight
with local information and suggestions
departure time, transfer to Nice airport
to help you make the most of your stay.
for the flight home.
from a choice of UK airports to Nice
Day 2: Monaco & Menton
Note: Order of events/excursions may
- see below (supplement may
This morning, with the tour manager,
be subject to change.
apply)
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout in Nice • Return flights with hand luggage
on the legendary Promenade des Anglais and just a few minutes from the airport and town centre - the Grand
we take the coastal train to Monaco Flower Parade passes directly in front of
• 3 nights B&B sharing a twin/double
where we have a short sight-seeing tour
Your hotel
by foot. We will then continue to
Mercure Nice Promenade des Anglais
Menton by train where you can visit the
- 4-star - Nice
citrus display gardens with giant,
The 4-star Mercure Nice Promenade des
artistic displays made from citrus fruits.
Anglais is situated at the top of the
Return to Nice by train, and enjoy the
Promenade des Anglais overlooking the
Parade of Lights.
sea in the heart of Nice and just 750
Day 3: Nice Carnival
metres from the old town. The hotel has
Today is free to explore Nice. During
stunning contemporary rooms all with
the afternoon there will be a Grand
en-suite facilities, air conditioning,
Flower Parade along the Promenade
satellite tv, wifi, and tea and coffee
des Anglais, you will be able to view this
making facilities. The hotel also has a
principality is warm and welcoming to
parade from the hotel as it is directly on
peaceful courtyard, with views of the
visitors with both affordable eateries
the parade circuit. In the evening we
city, garden or sea. There are plenty of
and glamourous hotspots to choose
join the closing festivities in Nice,
restaurants, cafes, shops and bars in the
from.
during which we enjoy the carnival
vicinity.
the hotel. A visit to Monaco is entertainment in itself! Constantly simmering in artistic excitement, this never-never-land set lives in continual motion and ooses wealth and oppulence with many extraordinarily rich people who like to flaunt their wealth with super-cars and yachts which barely venture out of the harbour.
Despite
this,
the
tiny
Monaco’s famous harbour
room at the 4-star Mercure Nice Promenade des Anglais • Return rail travel to Monaco & Menton • Entrance to Menton’s citrus display garden • Transfers from airport to hotel on arrival and departure ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £190
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS Heathrow / Gatwick / Luton / Liverpool • Flights are possible from these airports with a choice of airline and several outbound and inbound time combinations to suit your preference. All are subject to availability at time of booking and some may have a supplement. • All flights include 1 carry on bag per person - exact weight and size subject to airline restrictions. Hold luggage may also be included with some airlines, or can be added for a supplement. • Flight time around 2 hours each way departure and return times will vary depending on the route. • Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to discuss your flight requirements.
Mercure Nice, Promenade des Anglais
22
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Barcelona & The Wild Coast
BY RAIL v07-07
Tossa de Mar
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona
Champagne check-in
8 Days from £999pp DATES - PRICES - CODES
Barcelona has so much to offer - unique Guadi architecture, including the famous Sagrada de Familia basilica; lovely parks, squares, boulevards, shops, art, beaches, and delicious cuisine. Spain’s legendary Costa Brava, or Wild Coast is dotted with fishing villages, pine forested coves, sheer cliffs and pristine beaches. We stay in the quaint fishing village of Tossa de Mar, a hidden gem of the area, and include a boat trip along the stunning coastline. We also visit Figueres and Barcelona. Travel is by Eurostar from London with an overnight in Paris and a swift train to the Mediterranean. By train to Girona via Paris After our private Champagne check-in at St Pancras, our Tour Manager - with you throughout the holiday - will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Paris. The journey time is around 2hrs to Paris.
Making the most of The Wild Coast On our early afternoon arrival in Girona, we board our coach for the short drive (around 50 mins) to our hotel, on the Spanish Wild Coast. You will have time to settle in before dinner at the hotel. During your stay there will be time to explore the resort at your own pace and our included excursions will ensure you enjoy the best of the area Itinerary: Day 1: Eurostar to Paris Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Paris (from Ebbsfleet on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre.
jetty where we board our boat for a coastal cruise with the opportunity to disembark at various bays and towns or just relax and enjoy the dramatic coastline rolling by. Dinner at the hotel.
2016 17 May
£999pp
IB5
20 June
£999pp
IB6
18 Sept
£999pp
IB9-2
Day 6: Figueres Today we travel by coach to Figueres one of the gems of Catalonia, birthplace of Salvador Dali and home to the impressive museum celebrating his works. Also worth visiting is the fortress and the theatre which is built into the city walls. Dinner at the hotel. Day 7: Tossa de Mar
DEPOSIT: £150pp
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Champagne Check-in at London St Pancras - 1 glass of Champagne or
Today is free to enjoy the resort. Dinner in the hotel. Day 8: Barcelona to London
alternative non-alcoholic drink • Return Eurostar & TGV rail travel
Early morning transfer to join an earlymorning TGV train to Girona. On arrival we meet our coach and drive to Tossa de Mar where we check-in at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel.
This morning we travel by coach to Girona to join our morning train to Paris, arriving mid-afternoon, where we transfer to Eurostar for the return to St Pancras (Ebbsfleet on request).
• 1 night hotel B&B in Paris
Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions.
• 6 nights half-board stay at a 4 star Gran
Day 3: Tossa de Mar
Your hotels
Today is free to enjoy the resort. Dinner in the hotel.
Paris/Lille: 2/3-star hotel
Day 2: Paris to Tossa de Mar
On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free to explore at leisure and obtain dinner. The next morning we join the TGV direct train to Girona. On board the TGV, settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French and Spanish countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as we speed south.
Today we walk the short distance to the
Tossa de Mar
Barcelona
Day 4: Barcelona This morning we board our coach and drive to Barcelona, Capital of Catalonia and one of the most popular cities in the world. Highlights of the city include the Ramblas, the impressive Sagrada Familia and the Camp Nou Stadium. We have a full day to explore. Dinner at the hotel. Day 5: Coastal Cruise
London St Pancras to Girona (from Ebbsfleet on request)
Hotel Reymar in Tossa de Mar
4-star Gran Hotel Reymar & Spa The hotel is situated on the more private Mar Menuda beach, separated from the main beach by a rocky outcrop, and minutes walk from the town centre. The hotel has free Wi-Fi and all the amenities you need, a swimming pool with pool bar a beachside bar, several restaurants and Spa. The extensive sun decks, thé salon and restaurants have direct views onto the Mar Menuda beach. All bedrooms have ensuite facilities, telephone, and satellite TV.
• Excursions as stated • All transfers abroad ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS: • Single room supplement £231pp • Pre/post departure overnight hotel near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star options - call for availability and prices
Figueres
The 4-star Gran Hotel Reymar & Spa
Rivers, Boats & Trains of the Dordogne
BY RAIL v11-08 La Roque Gageac
6 Days from £699pp
Truffadou Railway In the heart of France, the Dordogne
amongst the houses. Also close to the
region has so much to offer with a
church you will find a tropical style
stunning scenic railway, picturesque
garden which has been made possible
castles, beautiful rivers, and medieval
due to its sheltered situation below the
hilltop towns. We stay in the centre of
cliffs. Here we board a traditional flat
the famous town of Perigueux, and
bottomed sailing boat for a cruise along
include
taking-in:
the Dordogne. In this 55 minute cruise
Rocamadour, perched on a hilltop
you will see stunning scenery, villages
overlooking the Dordogne river; the
and castles. This afternoon we travel to
picturesque Truffadour railway; the
Lascaux
beautiful village of La Roque Gageac
underground caves which we travel
with a cruise on the Dordogne on a
through by boat and on foot. Dinner at
pilgrimage site for medieval pilgrims and is still visited by thousands of people every year. Here we will have time to visit the delight’s of the town as well as soak up the views over the region before travelling to Martel for our journey on Le Truffadou railway. The railway is named after its original cargo of truffles, which the region is famous for. This round trip takes you through tunnels cut into the cliffs eighty metres above the Dordogne river giving breath taking views around every corner. Dinner at the hotel
traditional flat bottomed boat; and Le
the hotel.
Day 5: Free day in Perigueux
Gouffre de Padirac to visit the stunning
Day 3: Perigueux
underground caves.
Today is free to explore the town of
Itinerary:
Perigueux. This old Roman town is a
Today is free to relax in Perigueux. There will also be the option to visit a local vineyard at extra cost.
Day 1: London to Perigueux
delight to visit and every Saturday and
Check-in at St Pancras for a morning
Wednesday it is taken over by the
departure by Eurostar to Lille where we
farmers market which offers tables full
transfer platforms our onward train to
of the gastronomical delights of the
Angouleme. On arrival we transfer by
region. You may also like to visit the
coach to our hotel the Ibis Styles
cathedral with domes compared to that
Perigueux Trelissac in the picturesque
of St Mark’s in Venice, or the Roman
excursions
town of Perigueux. Dinner at the hotel. Day 2: La Roque Gageac to Lascaux What better way to start a holiday on the Dordogne than with a visit to one of France’s most beautiful villages situated on the banks of the Dordogne, La Roque Gageac. Here you can see the traditional yellow houses with the Perigord roofs, you will also find a number of larger mansions hidden
to
visit
the
stunning
remains. Alternatively you could join the small road train which will take you
Day 6: Perigueux to London Depart the hotel after breakfast and travel by coach to Angouleme where we take the train to Lille. We continue by Eurostar to St Pancras arriving early evening. Note: Order of excursions are subject to change depending on local conditions.
DATES - PRICES - CODES 2016 6 April
£699
DG4-1
11 May
£699
DG5-2
13 July
£699
DG7-2
14 Sept
£699
DG9-2
DEPOSIT: £150pp INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout • Return rail travel from London St Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on request) to Angouleme • 5 nights sharing a twin/double room at the Ibis Perigueux Centre Hotel • 5 breakfasts • 5 dinners • Excursions as stated including the boat trip , the caves and a trip on the Truffadou railway
Your hotels
• Transfers abroad
(payable locally). We return to our hotel
Ibis Perigueux Centre Hotel - 3-star Perigueux: Situated on the banks of the River Isle,
for dinner.
and a short walk from the Cathedral
• Single room supplement £130
Day 4: Rocamadour & Truffadou
and the centre, the bedrooms have
Railway
modern furnishings and are en-suite
• Pre/post departure overnight hotel
This morning we travel to one of the most famous villages of the region, Rocamadour. Situated high above the Dordogne this town was a major
with a bath or shower, hair dryer, LCD
near London St Pancras - 2 to 4-star
around all the highlights of the town
TV, air-conditioning, and telephone. The
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
options - call for availability and
hotel has free wifi and a restaurant with prices
terrace. Perigueux Market
Truffadou Truffadou Railway Railway
Rocamadour
Gabares a voile boat
Lake Bled’s Lights on the Lake – Slovenia
BY AIR v12-06
Bohinj Railway’s Solkan Bridge
Half Board
6 Days £749pp
Lake Bled Bled is one of the best kept secrets in Europe with a soaring vista of Alpine Peaks, surrounding the emerald green waters of the lake and the cliff side castle. The ‘Bled Days and Bled Night’ festival includes craft fairs, concerts and light shows, with the highlight being Bled Night when the lake glows with floating candles and the sky with fireworks. We also have a journey on the stunning Bohinj railway, visits to the medieval towns of Kamnik and Kranj and an afternoon in Ljubljana. Flying from a choice of UK airports to Ljubljana or Venice and staying in a four star hotel situated on the lakeside this is a holiday not to be missed. The Bohinj Railway - one of the great European railway journeys – winds its way from Lake Bled through the Julian Alps mountain region passing through gorges and ravines, alongside the Sava Bohinjka River, before entering the 6,339 metre Bohinj tunnel. The train emerges in the Soca Valley alongside the stunning turquoise blue water of the Soca River and crosses the world’s longest all masonry Solkan Bridge en route to Nova Gorica on the border with Italy. Built by the Austro-Hungarian empire to connect Vienna with the Adriatic Sea, the railway’s construction was likened to the feat of building the Suez Canal when it opened in 1906. Itinerary: DAY 1: UK to Lake Bled Join at your chosen airport for the flight to Ljubljana or Venice – flight duration around 2 hours. Transfer to the Hotel
Park in Bled. Dinner at the hotel. DAY 2: Bohinj Railway and Ljubljana This morning we transfer to Bled Station for our morning train journey along the famous and picturesque Bohinj Railway to Nova Gorica, stunning scenery around every corner. We disembark at Nova Gorica, known as the ‘Town of Roses’, situated on the border with Italy. We continue by coach to Ljubljana Slovenia’s dynamic capital city, which has retained a relaxed smalltown atmosphere. This picturesque and very vibrant city is full of surprises. We return to Bled. Dinner in the hotel. This evening you may like to go to the Castle Rock to watch the laser show. DAY 3: Bled This morning we visit famous Bled castle where you will be enchanted by the dramatic views of the Lake and the history of the building. This afternoon is free in Bled, you may like to visit the arts and crafts fair taking place on the promenade. Dinner at the hotel. Afterwards we stroll to the lakeside for the Candles on the Lake and the firework display for the Lights on the Lake Festival. DAY 4: Kamnik & Kranj This morning we travel to the small town of Kamnik, located on the banks of the Bistrica River, a medieval town once a favourite haunt for Bavarian Counts. Later in the day we travel to Kranj, situated high between the Sava and Kokra rivers the town is protected as a cultural monument due to its history and linking trade from east to Kranj
western Europe. Dinner in the hotel.
DATE - CODE 2015
DAY 5: Bled Today is at leisure in Bled. Dinner in the
21 July - Tour LB7-2 DEPOSIT: £150pp
hotel. DAY 6: Return to UK
INCLUDED:
Check-out of the hotel after breakfast.
• Escorted throughout
Transfer to the airport for the flight
• Return flights with luggage to
home.
Ljubljana or Venice from a choice
Note: Events subject to change by the
of UK airports including luggage -
organisers.
supp’t may apply -see below
Your hotel
• 5 nights stay at the 4 star Hotel
Hotel Park - 4-star - Lake Bled
Park
The Hotel Park is located by the
• 5 breakfasts & 5 dinners
lakeshore and in the heart of Bled. The
• Excursions as stated
hotel's Park Restaurant and Cafe is the home of the original Bled cream cake, the popular dessert that Bled is renowned for far and wide. For relaxation, recreation and beauty,
• Train ticket from Bled to Nova Gorica • Airport to hotel transfer on arrival and departure
guests can take advantage of the large
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
indoor swimming pool with heated
• Single room supplement £100
thermal water. The top floor pool offers breathtaking views of the Bled Castle
FLIGHT INFORMATION & OPTIONS
and island. There is a whirlpool and
To Venice from Gatwick & Manchester. To Ljubljana from Stansted & Luton.
sauna next to the swimming pool; wellness services are available in the hotel's Thai Centre. Each room has a balcony, bathroom (shower or bathtub) and hairdryer, satellite TV, direct phone line, wireless, internet, safe and mini bar. The staff at this hotel go out of their way to ensure guests receive excellent service with a smile. Ljubljana
• Flights are possible from these airports. All are subject to availability at time of booking and some may have a supplement. • Flight time around 2 hrs each way • Flights include 1 checked in bag (usually no more than 20kgs) and 1 carry on bag per person - weight & size of each subject to airline restrictions. • Please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to discuss your flight requirements.
Hotel Park
Ljubljana
24
www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Brussels 20th Anniversary Carpet of Flowers & Bruges
BY RAIL v 21/05/15
The Carpet of Flowers
Belgium’s Carpet of Flowers Come with us to see Belgium’s Carpet of Flowers - set in the unique, ancient surroundings of the Grand-Place in Brussels. The beauty and diversity of the displays is truly magical. Our holiday starts with a glass of Bubbly at St Pancras’ famous Champagne bar before taking an early afternoon Eurostar direct to Brussels. We stay for 3 nights in a 4-star city-centre hotel and also visit the delightful city of Bruges. “Nowhere is the carpet more beautiful and distinguished than in the unique, ancient surroundings of the GrandPlace in Brussels”. The beauty and diversity of all these Carpets is largely due to their main component, the famous begonia. Chosen above other flowers for its qualities of robustness, resistance to bad weather and strong sunshine, the begonia guarantees the long life and freshness of the carpet. It also gives it a rich range of colours – from vivid primary hues to delicate pastel shades, interspersed with white flowers which reflect the light so well. Each carpet is an amazing work of art.
4 Days £439pp
Bruges
museums, beautiful parks, fascinating walks, trendy restaurants and bars. Bruges is one of Europe’s must-see medieval cities. Picturesque market squares, dreamy canals and boat trips and old period alms-houses all recall a world long since gone. To enjoy Bruges at its best we will stay late when the day trippers have mostly gone and when the many chimes of the abundant churches seep through the cobbled streets, and local boys cast fishing rods into willow-lined canals. Itinerary: Day 1: Eurostar to Brussels Join our champagne check-in at St Pancras’ famous Champagne Bar before departing on a mid-to-late morning Eurostar train to Brussels (from Ebbsfleet on request). On arrival we transfer to our hotel. Evening at leisure. Day 2: Brussels
DATES - PRICES - CODES
centre there is a mini-bus service (payable locally) that runs from the station to the centre.
2016
Day 4: Brussels to London
12 August - Tour CF8
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and take a late morning/early afternoon train to London St Pancras (to Ebbsfleet on request). We expect to arrive mid-tolate afternoon.
DEPOSIT: £100pp
Your hotel
• Champagne check-in at St
Husa President Park - 4-star -Brussels
Pancras International - 1 glass of
This hotel is centrally located in Brussels
Champagne or alternative non-
and is ideal for our tour. It is situated in
alcoholic drink
the
city’s
newest
business
and
administrative area and close to the all
INCLUDED: • Escorted throughout
• Return Eurostar from London St
the tourist attractions and major
Pancras (from Ebbsfleet on
shopping streets.
request) to Brussels Midi station
Brussels North station is only 5 minutes’
• 3 nights sharing a double/twin
walk giving direct access to the local
standard room at the 4-star Husa
services as well as international trains.
President Park Hotel
Full day in Brussels to visit the Carpet of Flowers and take in some of the traditional markets throughout the city centre that sell everything from arts & crafts to the famous mussels & oyster market in the Place Sainte-Catherine. Our Tour Manager will be on hand to help you make the most of the city.
Smoking/Non-smoking
Day 3: Bruges
available.
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS:
Each morning there is a full American
• Single room supp’t £75
Brussels: Belgium’s capital is quickly becoming a trendy spot for weekend getaways and holidays. Apart from its famous chocolates and beers there are many attractions that most visitors cannot begin to imagine. It is a centre of European culture, officially nicknamed ‘the European Village’, with almost 90
Today we walk or take local transport to the station and travel to Bruges by train for our visit returning early evening. On arrival we will walk into the centre through the old cobbled streets, for those who want to be taken to the
Brussels’ famous Atomium
A Bruges carriage
Standard Rooms have a queen-size bed or twin beds, flat-screen TV, free wifi access, en-suite facilities with rain shower,
hairdryer,
wooden
floor
working
desk,
laptop
safe.
and
rooms
are
buffet breakfast served in the restaurant “les jardins de St-Roch”, with a view of the private garden. The hotel also offers a free shuttle service to the city centre.
Brussels’ ‘magic’ carpet
• 3 buffet-style breakfasts • Excursion by train to Bruges • Transfers from station to hotel on arrival and departure
• Pre/Post departure overnight hotel near St Pancras - call for information
Enjoy fresh seafood at one of Brussels popular oyster bars
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk
25
GN Voyages & GN Holidays Booking Conditions & Important Information YOUR CONTRACT IS WITH GOOD NEWS HOLIDAYS LTD (TRADING AS GN HOLIDAYS & GN VOYAGES) ABTA NUMBER Y0291. ATOL NUMBER 9362 1. YOUR HOLIDAY CONTRACT: When you make a booking you guarantee that you have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of your party the terms of these booking conditions. A contract will exist as soon as we issue our confirmation invoice. This contract is made on the terms of these booking conditions, which are governed by English Law, and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. If you had not seen these terms and conditions when you made your booking and you are not happy to proceed with the booking now that you have seen them please return all documentation to us, within 7 days of the date of original invoice. Your booking will be cancelled and your monies will be returned in full, provided you have not commenced your travel. This clause does not apply if your booking was made after the usual final balance due date – 8 weeks or more depending on the holiday booked. 2. YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION: The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 require us to provide security for the monies that you pay for the package holidays booked with us and for your repatriation in the event of our insolvency. We have a bond lodged with ABTA, which provides you with financial security for our coach, rail and self-drive holidays. Your Financial Protection When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable). If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the nonprovision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme. 3. ABTA: We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y0291. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you an arbitration scheme for the resolution of disputes arising out of, or in connection with this contract. Further information on the Code and arbitration can be found on ABTA’s website www.abta.com. The arbitration scheme is arranged by ABTA and administered independently by IDRS, part of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. It provides for a simple and inexpensive method of arbitration on documents alone with restricted liability on you in respect of costs. Full details will be provided on request or can be obtained from the ABTA website. The scheme does not apply to claims for an amount greater than £5,000 per person. There is also a limit of £25,000 per booking form. Neither does it apply to claims, which are solely in respect of physical injury or illness or their consequences. The scheme can however deal with compensation claims which include an element of minor injury or illness subject to a limit of £1,000 on the amount the arbitrator can award per person in respect of this element. The application for arbitration and Statement of Claim must be received by IDRS within nine months of the date of return from the holiday. Outside this time limit arbitration under the Scheme may still be available if the company agrees, but the ABTA Code does not require such agreement. For injury and illness claims, you may like to use the ABTA/Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Mediation Procedure. This is a voluntary scheme and requires us to agree for mediation to go ahead. The aim is to help you resolve your dispute in a quick and cost effective way. Details on request or from www.abta.com. 4. YOUR HOLIDAY PRICE: (a) We reserve the right to alter the prices of any of the holidays shown in our brochure. You will be advised of the current price of the holiday that you wish to book before your contract is confirmed. (b) When you book you must pay the deposit amount stated in the brochure or as advised. The remainder/balance of the holiday cost must be paid at least 8 weeks before commencement of the holiday OR sooner for some cruise/premium holidays as stated in this brochure. (c) The price of your travel arrangements may include an element paid in Euros. Unless otherwise stated in the tour details, the rate of exchange applicable to the holiday(s) in this brochure was based on 1.1 Euro to 1GBP. (d) Changes in transportation costs, including the cost of fuel, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports and exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked. However there will be no change within 30 days of your departure. We will absorb and you will not be charged for any increase equivalent to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. You will be charged for the amount over and above that, plus an administration charge of £1.00 per person together with an amount to cover sellers’ commission. If this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel arrangements, you will have the option of accepting a change to another holiday if we are able to offer one (if this is of equivalent or higher quality you will not have to pay more but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price), or cancelling and receiving a full refund of all monies paid, except for any amendment charges. We will consider an appropriate refund of insurance premiums paid if you can show that you are unable to transfer or reuse your policy. Should you decide to cancel for this reason, you must exercise your right to do so within 14 days from the issue date printed on your final invoice. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, please note that travel arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to contractual and other protection in place. 5. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR BOOKING: If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the person who made the booking. You will be asked to pay an administration charge (amounts vary dependent upon at what stage the
Period before departure Amount retained Amount retained shown as % of within which cancellation shown as % of letter is received HOLIDAY price DAY TRIP price 100% Deposit More than 56 days 100% 30% 56 - 49 days 100% 50% 48 - 22 days 100% 75% 21 - 8 days 100% 100% 7-1 days 100% 100% Departure day change is made and the type of holiday – ask for details), and any further cost we incur in making this alteration. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements. 6. IF YOU CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY: You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the person who made the booking must be received at our offices by letter or e-mail. (telephone cancellations are not accepted) Since we incur costs in cancelling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay the applicable cancellation charges up to the total holiday price. Note: If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges. A transfer of holiday arrangements to a later departure date, or to a holiday costing less will normally be treated as a cancellation and re-booking (see table below). Please note different cancellation charges to those shown above may apply to some cruise bookings – please refer to the Cruise Line’s own terms & conditions, when shown, for the scale of charges. 7. IF WE CHANGE OR CANCEL YOUR HOLIDAY: It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your travel arrangements, but we do plan the arrangements many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most of these changes will be minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. We also reserve the right in any circumstances to cancel your travel arrangements. For example, if the minimum number of clients required for a particular travel arrangement is not reached, we may have to cancel it. However, we will not cancel your travel arrangements less than 8 weeks, or as stated in this brochure, before your departure date except for reasons of force majeure or failure by you to pay the final balance. If we are unable to provide the booked travel arrangements, you can either have a refund of all monies paid or accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us, if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). In accordance with EU Regulation 2111/2005 we are required to advise you of the actual carrier operating your flight/connecting flight/transfer. We do this by listing carriers to be used or likely to be used in the brochure/ on the confirmation. Any changes to the actual airline after you have received your tickets will be notified to you as soon as possible and in all cases at check-in or at the boarding gate. Such a change is deemed to be a minor change. Other examples of minor changes include alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same standard. If we make a major change to your holiday, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure. You will have the choice of either accepting the change of arrangements, accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value), or cancelling your booked holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid. In all cases, except where the major change arises due to reasons of force majeure, The compensation that we offer does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so. Force Majeure: We will not pay you compensation if we have to cancel or change your travel arrangements in any way because of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control. These can include, for example, war, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, epidemics and pandemics, unavoidable technical problems with transport. 8. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT: If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) immediately. When your holiday is escorted you should also inform your Tour Manager/Coach Driver who will endeavour to put things right. In the event they are unable to resolve the matter you should contact our office on 01895 83 33 33 or on the out-of-hours emergency number which you will find on your itinerary. If your complaint is not resolved locally, please follow this up within 28 days of your return home by writing to our Customer Services Department at GN Holidays, 3 Station Approach, Higher Denham, Uxbridge, Middx, UB9 5EL giving your booking reference and all other relevant information. Please keep your letter concise and to the point. This will assist us to quickly identify your concerns and speed up our response to you. It is strongly recommended that you communicate any complaint to the supplier of the services in question as well as to our representative without delay and complete a report form whilst in resort. If you fail to follow this simple procedure we will have been deprived of the opportunity to investigate and rectify your complaint whilst you were in resort and this may affect your rights under this contract. 9. OUR LIABILITY TO YOU: If the contract we have with you is not performed or is improperly performed by us or our suppliers we will pay you appropriate compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of your travel arrangements. However we will not be liable where any failure in the performance of the contract is due to: you; or a third party unconnected with the provision of the travel arrangements and where the failure is unforeseeable or unavoidable; or unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall. Our liability, except in cases involving death, injury or illness, shall be limited to a maximum of two times the cost of your travel arrangements. Our liability will also be limited in accordance with and/or in an identical manner to: (a) The contractual terms of the companies that provide the transportation for your travel arrangements. These terms are incorporated into this contract; and (b) Any relevant international convention, for example the Montreal Convention in respect of travel by air, the Athens Convention in respect of travel by sea, the Berne Convention in respect of travel by rail and the Paris Convention in respect of the provision of accommodation, which limit the amount of compensation that you can claim for death, injury, delay to passengers and loss, damage and delay to luggage. We are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitation of compensation contained in these or any conventions. You can ask for copies of the transport companies' contractual terms, or the international conventions, from our offices GN Holidays, 3 Station Approach, Higher Denham, Uxbridge, Middx, UB9 5EL. Under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However reimbursement in such cases will
24-06-14
not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. Your right to a refund and/or compensation from us is set out in clause 6. If any payments to you are due from us, any payment made to you by the airline will be deducted from this amount. If your airline does not comply with these rules you should complain to the Air Transport Users' Council on 020 7240 6061 www.auc.org.uk 10. PROMPT ASSISTANCE IN RESORT: if the contract we have with you is not performed or is improperly performed as a result of failures attributable to a third party unconnected with the provision of the services, or as a result of failures due to unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised, or an event which we or our suppliers, even with all due care, could not foresee or forestall, and you suffer an injury or other material loss, we will offer you such prompt assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances. 11. PASSPORT, VISA AND IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS: Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. We do not accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. 12. HOLIDAYS BY COACH: Coaches used are modern and comfortable, usually with WC. In the event of operational difficulties, on day tours and on short journeys we reserve the right to use coaches without this facility. All coach departure points are offered subject to a minimum of 8 passengers joining at each. However, we will do our utmost to meet all pick-up requests regardless of this minimum subject to operational constraints such as driver hours regulations. Your actual departure point and time will be confirmed with your travel documents. COACH SEAT NUMBERS will be printed on your travel documents please notify us of any special requests at the time of booking. Smoking and/or alcohol consumption are not permitted on the coaches. No-one will be allowed to board the coach if they are considered to be at our sole discretion unfit to travel through excessive alcohol consumption. 13. HOLIDAYS BY TRAIN: Where possible we will reserve seats for your journeys, but we cannot always guarantee that seats will be together or in the direction of travel. Please be aware that trains in Europe are often double-deck, and, we have no control over which deck we are allocated. Where we travel by overnight sleeper train beds are upper and lower unless stated otherwise. 14. EXCURSIONS: Excursions or other tours that you may choose to book or pay for whilst you are on holiday are not part of your package holiday provided by us. 15. FITNESS TO TRAVEL/ REFUSED TRAVEL: At check-in we reserve the right to refuse travel to anyone who has failed to declare to us in advance any mobility limitations/ and or health issues, and who in our opinion, is not fit to travel because they are a danger to themselves or other travellers. In this instance no refund or compensation will be paid. 16. ACCOMMODATION ONLY: Where accommodation only is provided, transportation to and from the accommodation is your sole responsibility. 17. TICKETS: Travel documents/ tickets with timings and final itineraries will normally be sent to you around 7 days before departure. 18. JOINING OUR HOLIDAYS: Your arrangements with us begin and end at the point you join our holiday. We cannot accept any responsibility for travel arrangements you make to or from this point. (For those who need to make independent travel arrangements to get to a station/airport or who need to arrange an overnight hotel prior to/after a tour - we recommend you check with us, and wait until we are in a position to confirm exact timings before you book or make any reservations.) 19. TRAVEL INSURANCE: It is a condition of travel that everyone travelling outside mainland UK must have adequate insurance cover – details of the insurance for everyone in your party must be notified to GN Holidays no later than at the time of paying your balance. As a result of recent changes in legislation GN Holidays have chosen not to sell travel insurance. Regrettably our staff are not able to offer help or advice on this subject nor able to recommend insurers. 20. TRAVEL DELAYS: Occasionally delays will occur. In the event we will work closely with all carriers to ensure the delay is as short as possible. We will try to make sure that arrangements are made for refreshments, when appropriate, but these arrangements will usually be the responsibility of the carrier. Any claim for delays should be directed to your travel insurer. In the unlikely event your flight is delayed more than 4 hours or cancelled, you should contact GN Holidays for guidance. It is your responsibility to obtain written confirmation of the delay/ cancellation from the airline/ rail operator before you leave the airport/ station – this will be required should it be necessary to claim on your travel insurance. 21. PORTERAGE: Porterage is not included unless indicated in the holiday description. Our Tour Managers are not able to offer any luggage assistance. When packing your luggage, please remember that it is you that will have to carry it. 22. BROCHURE INFORMATION & TIMINGS: All information in our brochures is correct at the time of going to print. All timings given are approximate (often firm schedules are not available when a tour is first put on sale). Precise timings and a full itinerary will be sent to you with your travel documents. You are asked to remember that very occasionally resort or other facilities may be withdrawn for maintenance or other reasons beyond our control, such as the sudden onset of adverse weather conditions. In these unusual circumstances we shall bear no resulting liability. Any photographs/ illustrations shown in this brochure are representative of the type of holiday/ country/ area(s) visited and do not necessarily depict your exact accommodation/ destination unless stated. 23. ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR: Anti-social behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated on our holidays. We reserve the right to terminate your holiday at any time if in our opinion, or the opinion of any person in authority your behaviour causes offence, danger, damage or distress to other people. In this event our responsibility for your holiday will cease. You will be liable for any additional costs incurred and NO refund will be given for any part of the tour not undertaken. If your actions cause damage, or result in your transportation being delayed or diverted, you agree to fully indemnify us against any claim (including legal costs) made against us by, or on behalf of, the recipient/ owner. 24. DATA PROTECTION POLICY: Please be assured we take every step to protect your personal information. Data is not used for any other purpose, or passed to any third party, other than in conjunction with travel arrangements booked or as required by law i.e to security services/immigration or when the the holiday was advertised as a ‘Reader Offer’ to the publisher of the offer. GN Holidays (or the publisher) may contact you from time to time by telephone, mail or e-mail with offers of goods and services. If you prefer us (or the publisher) not to contact you, for this purpose please write to us at GN Holidays, 3 Station Approach, Higher Denham, Uxbridge, Middx, UB9 5EL. This brochure is our responsibility, as your tour operator. It is not issued on behalf of, and does not commit any airline or rail company mentioned herein whose services are used in the course of your travel arrangements.
GN Voyages BOOKING FORM Must be completed and returned to us even if you have booked by phone.
Email:
LEAD GUEST/BOOKER’S DETAILS
TOUR CODE
Name
Title
BROCHURE/NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE? Where did you see the holiday advertised? See front of brochure.
HOLIDAY NAME
Postcode:
First name Surname Please write your name exactly as it appears on your passport Date of birth
£ ........................x ...............= ............................
PLEASE SIGN
Signed
Y0291
MOBILE TELEPHONE
DEPARTURE DATE
ISSUE DATE
TELEPHONE BOOKING REF
EXPIRY DATE
PASSPORT DETAILS
*Text
Post
NATIONALITY
DATA PR OTE CT ION : We do not pass your details on to any third party, other than some suppliers of services directly relating to this booking. From time to time we (or the ‘Reader Offer’ publisher) may contact you with details of other offers. If you do not wish to receive such information via any of the methods below, please tick the appropriate box below:
H
V06/01/14 send to: G N H o l i d a y s 3 St a t i o n A p p r o a ch , H i g h er D en h am U x b r i d g e, Mi d d l e se x U B9 5 EL Te l : 0 1 8 9 5 8 3 3 3 3 3
TOTAL PASSENGERS
PASSPORT NUMBER
EMERGENCY CONTACT - NOT TRAVELLING WITH YOU Name
Tel-Mobile:
CRUISE SHIP
Tel-Home:
HOTEL
Cabin type (twin/double/single) & code
We recommend that you take a mobile telephone with you and have it switched on while travelling so that we can contact you if necessary. We will not contact you on this number for any other purpose. *We do not pass mobile numbers to any third party.
Room required Single, Twin or Double bedded
DECLARATION OF HEALTH
Special Requests and Important Information we should know about you and/or your booking EG: Dietary requirements, mobility issues & equipment. If you do not advise us of such needs/issues, we cannot cater for them and cannot advise suitability of the holiday. In this event, no liability shall be accepted by GN Holidays for any costs/losses, inconvenience and/or discomfort incurred.
YES
NO
(tick below)
If NO, please provide details on a separate sheet of paper.
Are all guests listed on the booking form in sound health, both physically and mentally and suffering from no illness, complaint or infirmity of any description including pregnancy?
(tick below)
On behalf of the passengers named, I confirm and accept the booking conditions, the holiday information in this brochure and Date......................................... have disclosed all information requested. I am over 18 years of age.
Insurer’s emergency service tel: ..................................................................................
Cover from:..........................................................to: .................................................
Insurer:.................................................................Policy No: ......................................
We will not take uninsured clients abroad. You must have comprehensive insurance cover in line with ABTA’s recommendations (you can view via our website). Please provide the information below for everyone in your party by no later than your final balance due date.
IMPORTANT INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
Travel may be refused if the information you provide does not exactly match your passport/ID details. In this event, no liability shall be accepted by GN Holidays for any costs/losses incurred.
Railway Station Airport or Port
PASSENGER DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS PRICES & OPTIONS IN PART B ALS DEPARTURE POINT PASSENGER DETAILS AND- SEE REQUIREMENTS
Address
Tel:
1 2 3 4 5 6 OPTIONS: Travel, Accommodation, Excursions. Please call us to discuss additional options.
PAYMENT: Please make cheques payable to GN Holidays
• Deposit:
£........................x ...............= ............................
When you book you must pay the deposit amount stated in the brochure or as advised. The remainder/balance of the holiday cost must be paid at least 8 weeks before commencement of the holiday OR sooner for some cruise/premium holidays as stated in this brochure.
• Full payment - Total holiday price:
TOTAL PAYMENT WITH BOOKING FORM £ You may also pay by Debit or Credit card - please call us on 01895 83 33 33 to do this. Payments by Debit card incur no charges. Payments by Credit card incur a surcharge of 2% of the amount paid, for example a £100 payment would incur a charge of £2. We are unable to accept payment by Solo or Electron cards.
GN Voyages www.gnvoyages.co.uk
Published 12/08/2015
Call 01895 83 33 33 09.00 to 17.30hrs Monday to Friday - 09.30 to 12.30hrs Saturdays • Email: info@gnvoyages.co.uk