Custom Getaways

This trip is based on 2 people traveling together and sharing a room. It can be modified to accommodate singles, as well as three, four or more persons traveling together.

July 19th

The trip starts in Toulouse airport where you will pick-up your rental car. We can arrange for other pick-up locations (Pau, Biarritz, Bordeaux, etc...); simply let us know.

You will then head for your first hotel which is located in the heart of the Pyrenees in an ideal location for the stages through the Pyrenees.

This first hotel will be "home" for the first 4 nights of this trip!

Those who arrive in Toulouse early enough will be able to catch stage #15 of the Tour de France

- July 20th -

Tour Stage 16  /   Bagneres de Luchon  -  Pau  /  187km (116 miles)

Your first day visiting the Tour de France is also a mountain stage. We will suggest a couple of different locations including the finish in Pau as well as viewing from the final climb of the day; col d'Aubisque!

The Tour takes a day off today and we will offer a few suggestions on places to see and things to do.

Many of the teams will be staying in Pau, so a visit to the Castle could double as some Team sightings. Another popular place when in the region is Lourdes. The Italian and Spanish teams will tend to go by the grotto and that is a good place to see team Euskatel for example. Finally a visit to the Pic du Midi observatory is always a good option.

The final mountain stage in this year's Tour is epic to say the least. The 3 categorized climbs are all arduous, but the true celebration of the 100th anniversary of the crossing of the Pyrenees will take place with the finish atop the Col du Tourmalet!

The col du Tourmalet is the obvious location to view the race, however access won't be easy and viewing from the steep slopes of  the col de Marie Blanque is a very viable second choice!

- July 23rd -

This is a good time to see a stage start. We recommend you head to Salies de B. to catch the peloton before it leaves. Starts offer great opportunities for pictures and to mingle with the teams and racers warming up (autographs as well?)

If you do not feel like leaving the hotel too early, we'll also recommend an alternative which will intersect the road you will want to take to further North toward Bordeaux. The lovely towns of Bazas and World famous Sauternes (Chateau d'Yquem) are near your hotel for this evening, so you may also want to take a day off from Tour viewing to have more time sightseeing.

- July 24th -

Hotel location: Langon

Tour Stage 19  /   Bordeaux - Pauillac  /  Time Trial / 51km (31.5 miles)

This will be the last opportunity for the contenders to the Yellow jersey to make their mark on the 2010 Tour and you will want to be in the heart of the action.

The course will go through some of World most prestigious wine estates. And we will be offering a great viewing option as well.

- July 25th -

Hotel location: Paris, near Champs Elysees

Tour Stage 20  /   Longjumeau  -  Paris Champs-Elysees   /  105km (65 miles)

Who will be wearing yellow on the Champs Elysees tonight? Will Contador repeat? Could it be Lance Armstrong for an 8th title? You will find out today as you watch the arrival from the side of the "World's most beautiful Avenue".

First however; getting to Paris! You will return your rental vehicle early this morning to take a bullet train to Paris.

Once the Tour festivities are over, you will get ready for a great dining experience. This year again we will be renting an entire boat for our sunset dinner-cruise along the Seine river. Great food and unbelievable sight-seeing of Paris by night will end our “sensory overloaded day”!!!

The hotel is located within walking distance of the Champs Elysees, the Grand stands and the dinner cruise.

Our position as Official Tour Operators for the Tour de France, allows us to offer seating in the Official Grand Stands alongside the Champs-Elysees as an option. This is a great option to get the best possible view without lining the course from 7:00am (which won't be possible as you are taking a TGV train in this morning)

July 26th

Departure!

RATE

$1940 / PERSON

(based on double occupancy)

- Breakfast every morning

- 3 Dinners outside of Paris

- Dinner Cruise in Paris on the 25th

- Car rental with A/C from 07/19 to 07/25 with unlimited mileage

- TGV Bullet Train to Paris on the 25th

- Maps, Tips, directions for Tour viewing

- General interest and recommendations for restaurants, places to visit or drive through.

- Emergency local contact number to someone bilingual.

- a TDF gift

OPTIONAL

- Reserved Grand Stand seating at the arrival in Paris = $325

- Preferred viewing of the Time Trial in Bordeaux (07/24) = $115

- Preferred viewing on Col du Tourmalet (07/22) = tbd

- Luggage transfer from Saint Emilion to Paris on 25th = $50/person

(To avoid having to shuffle luggage on train and in Metro in Paris)

- Add vip access

- Trip Insurance