-
About
Casterbridge -
Educational
Travel - Concert
Tours - Church
Tours - Casterbridge
Connoisseur - Sports
Tours - Planet Earth Programs
- Worldwide Destinations
More Information
- Portfolio of France Itineraries
- Custom-Design a Tour to France
- Programs for Credit
- Recent Trips to France
Specialists in Group Tours to France
France! This is the answer we often get when we ask first time travelers where they would most like to go. Not surprising, because France is an enchanting country that evokes thoughts of elegance, opulence, and richness. The many and varied opportunities available to Casterbridge groups in France are almost mind-boggling. After all, France is right in our back yard! When you think about it, there really is no better way to see France than with Casterbridge. Keep on reading to see what we mean.
The Best Flights to France on Guaranteed Dates
We have exceptionally close relationships with many European national carriers, including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and one of our closest alliances is with Air France. This means we are able to offer the very best routings, and in France, this includes flights into lesser-known gateway cities like Nice or as in at least one case, L’Orient. These options significantly reduce your journey time on land in Europe. Imagine flying directly into Bordeaux instead of enduring a lengthy transfer on the windy road from Paris? Similarly consider the advantage of a flight directly into Marseilles so that your tour of Roman Provence can begin a few minutes away in Arles? Our groups can minimize unnecessary travel and make their journey much easier and more efficient without the unnecessary stress and increased cost of time consuming land transfers.
Casterbridge always guarantee your tour dates, and you will know your proposed flight schedule and routing as much as 11 months in advance of your tour!
Making the Most of Your Arrival Day in France
Casterbridge strives whenever possible to make arrival days a useful part of your tour. By doing things like taking an afternoon cruise along the Seine in Paris, or stopping at Giverny en route to the D-Day Beaches, we are able to ensure that the afternoon of your arrival days are not simply lost time. This standard practice serves to increase the value of your time spent in country, and simultaneously reduces “jet lag.” Arrival Days count in your overall tour time, you should not allow that time to be wasted!
Thematic and Chronological Travel in France
In a genuine attempt not to confuse participants with mixed, haphazard and unrelated materials, we aim whenever possible to provide thematic, and chronological content to each day of the tour. In France for example, thematic days are dedicated to such topics as ‘The Rise and Fall of Napoleon,’ ‘The Impressionists,’ and ‘The French Revolution.’ We carefully track the course of momentous events or the lives of historical figures to create learning that is both engaging and easier to follow.
All Casterbridge tours are highly customizable to fit your educational themes and priorities, ensuring you get the very best out of your travel experience.
Our Casterbridge Tour Manager/Guides in France
As we all know, there can be a few bumps in even the smoothest of roads While we strive to ensure none pop up on your tour, you can relax knowing that your exclusive Casterbridge tour manager/guide is there if they do. Usually, your tour manager/guide will live locally and be fluent in both French and English. He or she will be with you 24 hours a day, from airport arrival to departure, in order to confirm reservations, help you get from place to place, and suggest free-time and evening activities that meet your group’s needs and budget.
The role of a Casterbridge tour manager/guide is so important that we hand-pick each one to make certain they meet our exacting standards. Every guide must go through a specially designed Casterbridge training program and only the top few percent of each class are selected to act as our representatives in Italy. They are continuously evaluated and only those with the highest recommendations from our groups are permitted to stay with us.
The Expertise and Perspective of Local Guides in France
Never underestimate the value of expertise, especially when it is shared willingly with eager learners of any age. For this reason, Casterbridge strives to provide you with specialist local guides at the most important sites on your itinerary, such as the Louvre, the D-Day Beaches, and Aigues Mortes.
These local specialists are in addition to the 24-hour presence of your exclusive tour manager/guide. Each if them is trained to impart even the tiniest detail of their particular area of expertise. In France, we generally plan for you to have a local guide with you at some point every other day, excluding arrival and departure days.
You can designate those sites where you would like to have a specialist guide, and whether you would prefer them to present an academic or a cultural emphasis that focuses on the specific theme of your tour.
A Balance of Educational Visits, Cultural Experiences, and Recreational Activities
Balance is essential, not only in life, but also on a great tour. Casterbridge Tours makes every effort to achieve that balance by offering a variety of recreational and cultural activities to complement the educational opportunities along your tour. It may be shopping in the local market in Provence, attending a fashion show in Paris, riding a bicycle around a chateau in the Loire, or tasting wine, cider, or cheese somewhere in the French countryside. Whatever your preference, we have many different options for fun, exciting experiences while in France.
Click here for our Cross-Cultural Connections, where you will find a comprehensive list of the recreational and cultural opportunities available in France.
Our Accommodations and Meals in France
Casterbridge Tours chooses 3 star (and occasionally 4 star or superior 2 star) hotels as a standard, but you are always free to request alternate accommodation for your group. Each hotel is evaluated following each stay, and we continue to use only those who are consistently rated highly by our groups. When possible, we prefer to use smaller, family owned hotels as opposed to giant concrete monoliths. Please feel free to ask for a list of sample hotels in the area your group will be traveling.
As part of our educational travel philosophy, we always strive to give our groups the greatest exposure to the local people and culture. Part of the experience of course, is sampling the local cuisine. Therefore, unless you request it, your Casterbridge tour will not include a lot of American chain restaurants.
As a standard in Paris, we will have dinner in local restaurants away from the hotels for an authentic dining experience.
All Admissions Are Included on Group Tours to France
Casterbridge Tours is one of very few operators who will pre-book your group into as many major attractions as we can. In Paris for example, we can pre-book visits to the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay. In the Loire, most Chateau admissions are pre-booked, we can also pre-book Versailles.
Pre-booking ensures that we always receive group admission rates, we can pay them in advance, and your group can bypass the long general admission lines. This unparalleled level of service and value has come to be expected by Group Leaders choosing Casterbridge as their Tour Operator.
Getting Around in Paris
A practice unique to Casterbridge is, unless a bus has been specifically requested, most of our groups will receive passes for the metro system for sightseeing in Paris. Not only will this provide a great cultural experience for your group, but it is also the most efficient and convenient way to navigate Paris. Remember that your exclusive tour manager/guide will be with your group at all times to help you with directions, the language, and interactions with local people as you journey to your next visit.
Undiscovered Jewels and Hidden Treasures in France
Because Casterbridge Tours is a custom tour operator, we can offer you tremendous flexibility in your tour itinerary. We can mold your schedule to your specific, detailed needs. So we would be delighted to take you to any of the “hidden treasures” around Italy not always found on a standard itinerary.
Some recent jewels our Group Leaders have chosen to include are Toulouse, Lisieux, and Perigeux. Many of our groups touring Northern France also choose the option to overnight on Mont St. Michel.
Your tour is truly your tour with Casterbridge!
Register to plan an educational tour to France, either online or by calling 1-800-522-2398. Start planning your group travel program today!
