Flying from Chicago, Illinois to London, train to Paris, then flying to Madrid, Spain and Istanbul, Turkey!
October 4, 2016
Arrive in London
Upon our arrival at London's Heathrow Airport, we will be met and transferred via coach bus to our hotel. Lunch is on your own.
That evening we will dine together at a local London restaurant. After dinner, take the opportunity to explore this fascinating city.
London Accommodations
Hotel Le Merdien Piccadilly
With a superb central location between Piccadilly and Regent Street, this luxury 5-star hotel boasts a stunning indoor swimming pool. Its spacious, elegant rooms offer 32-inch TVs and bathrobes.
October 5, 2016 - London
Day of Sightseeing
We start off the day with a full English breakfast at the hotel. Bring your appetite!
We will spend the day seeing the sights in London by coach bus. Our stops include the Tower of London [left, below] and then the British Museum [middle, below] in Bloomsbury in the morning. In the British Museum we will see the Reading Room immortalized by Virginia Wolfe in her 1929 novel A Room of One's Own. Another location that we will visit in Bloomsbury is Gordon Square, where she and others in her group - Lytton Strachey and Vanessa and Clive Bell - lived at various times.
We will stop at a local restaurant for lunch, and on to St. Paul's [right, above].
October 6, 2016 - London
Day of Sightseeing
Full English breakfast served at the hotel.
We have another full day of sightseeing! We will visit the iconic Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey before we see Buckingham Palace [at right] and witness the Changing of the Guard.
Lunch is on your own.
After lunch we will enjoy admission to the London Eye offering views of the London skyline. Then it is on to William Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre for a guided tour.
In the evening we will dine at a local restaurant.
October 7, 2016
Depart London for Paris
Full English breakfast at hotel and checkout.
We will take the train to Paris, leaving London at 9:17 a.m. and arriving in Paris at 12:47 p.m.
Dinner is at a local restaurant. After dinner, enjoy time on your own.
Paris Accommodations - Hotel Scribe
This 5-star hotel is situated 200 metres from the famous Opera Garnier and 500 metres from luxury shopping in Place Vendome. It offers guests free access to a fitness centre and a spa with hammam and hot tub.
October 8, 2016
Paris - Full Day of Sightseeing
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
We will see the Pantheon before going on to the Ile de Citie island where we will visit the Notre Dame Cathedral that inspired the famous Victor Hugo novel ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’. The famous Shakespeare and Company literary bookstore is also located nearby. This store was frequented by James Joyce, Scott Fitzgerald and Hemmingway. Continue into the Louvre Museum with entrance included. Lunch is on your own. After the Louvre there will be time allowed for shopping on the famous Champs Elysees.
Dinner and the evening are on your own. Enjoy!
October 9, 2016
Paris - Half Day of Sightseeing
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the Eiffel Tower this morning with admission to the top of the tower. Afterwards transfer to the Arc de Triomphe (outside only). After the sightseeing tour there will be a group lunch at local restaurant.
Take the afternoon and relax, shop, or continue to explore this beautiful city.
October 10, 2016
Depart Paris for Madrid
Buffet breakfast at the hotel and checkout.
We will fly to Madrid (airfare not included) and will be taken by coach bus to our hotel.
Dinner is at “El Botin,” a famous restaurant with an old tradition and literary links to countless writers including Hemingway.
Madrid Accommodation - Hotel Villa Real
Villa Real is a 5-star hotel located in the heart of Madrid, in the Plaza de las Cortes, only a few minutes from the Puerta del Sol.
October 11, 2016
Madrid - Full Day Sightseeing
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Full day coach sightseeing trip for a cultural tour and shopping. Entrance to the Prado Museum [at left] included. Group lunch at a local restaurant.
In the evening we will take in a Flamenco show with dinner at a local restaurant.
October 12, 2016
Madrid - Full Day Sightseeing
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Full day of sightseeing as we head to Toledo and visit sights along the way, including Sao Tome and El Greco's house. A group lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
After lunch we will enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting at a local winery.
Dinner is on your own.
October 13, 2016
Depart Madrid for Istanbul
Buffet breakfast at the hotel, checkout, and then we fly to Istanbul.
In the evening we will have a Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus.
Istanbul Accommodation - Doubletree by Hilton Istanbul Old Town
A 5-minute walk from the Grand Bazaar, this hotel offers modern, air-conditioned guest rooms in the centre of Sultanahmet district. The Terrace Restaurant offers Turkish and international cuisine. Oldtown Restaurant serves a buffet-style breakfast. Guests can order room service 24/7.
October 14, 2016
Istanbul - Half Day Sightseeing
Our sightseeing will include a visit to the Museum of Innocence, in the Çukurcuma neighbourhood of the Beyoğlu district in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkish Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk created the museum in conjunction with his eponymous novel. The museum and the novel were created in tandem, centered on the stories of two Istanbul families. On 17 May 2014, the museum was announced as the Winner of the 2014 European Museum of the Year Award. The narrative and the museum offers a glimpse into upper-class Istanbul life from the 1970s to the early 2000s. The novel details the story of Kemal, a wealthy Istanbulite who falls in love with his poorer cousin, and the museum displays the artifacts of their love story.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
October 15, 2016 - Depart Istanbul for the U.S.
Buffet breakfast at the hotel, checkout, and our flight back to the U.S.
Pricing and Registration
Land tour cost is $5,999.00. Includes hotels, sightseeing, most meals, transfers and admissions according to tour program.
Single supplement is $2,250.
Deposit: $1,500 per person/Double
$2,500 for a single
Deposit due June 16, 2015
Land Tour Cost DOES NOT include train London to Paris ($135), airfare, or cancellation insurance. Airfare cost is not yet available.
Balance Due must be paid by August 6, 2016.
Deposits are refundable until August 6, 2016, except $100 Administrative Fee.
To Register:
Olease click on blue Print Registration button at top right column, download form, complete, and send with your deposit to:
Ruth Bridges
Aviva Travel Group
2314 S Route 59
#146
Plainfield IL 60586
Please make checks payable to Aviva Travel Group.
We also accept debit cards, credit cards, and PayPal. Please click PayPal icon below to go directly to PayPal and send funds to avivatravel@aol.com.
