London & Paris with Rome (trip)
London & Paris with Rome
- France and Italy
- Culture & Nature
| from $2,543* per person | 11 Days | March-July, September, October |
| Boutique accommodations | Exertion level: 4 | |
| Operator: Story Land & Sea® | 16 people max | |
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Locations visited/nearby
France, Italy
0 testimonials about this trip.
1 testimonial about the provider, Story Land & Sea®:
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Reviewer: Laurie P
located in
Cortland,
NY
USA
There were absolutely no financial surprises on this trip! We booked the Deluxe package and added the Amalfi Extension. We came a day early, and stayed a day late…and are super glad that we made both of those decisions. Other additions that we added were transfers to/from the airports, the Uffizi in Florence, ferry to Capri, Pompei guided tour, and our flights. All breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 6 dinners were included in our cost. On the included dining nights appetizers were ordered for the table, and then we each ordered from the menu. The wine and limoncello flowed freely all night, and I never saw any attempt to slow it down. Most nights that we did not have an included dinner our tour captain invited us to join her for dinner at our own costs. Generally we went, as did many others in our group. Mark Story, the owner of Queenslander oversees a very organized/logically planned program. All of our hotels (details later) were in the center of the action and very lovely. All luggage was moved seamlessly from place to place.The earliest time we left in the morning was 8AM…very different from other tour companies that I had researched. A few times during our travels it rained, and Queenslander picked up the taxi cost. The tour had a great blend of included tour time, and free time to explore on our own. Generally hubby took a one hour nap every night before dinner to reenergize!!We had a slight problem when QLT booked our flights and a spelling error occurred. It was caught immediately by Queenslander, but Air Canada would not deal with it until 72 hours before travel. (We had booked last December). 72 hours prior Ron Gholston had to end up rebooking the entire flight for a change fee of almost $400. Queenslander paid that without a question, and Ron handled everything very professionally. This was the type of customer service that we encountered every time we contacted Queenslander.Jodie Hedrick was our Tour Captain. There were only 16 of us in the group. We all came from very diverse backgrounds and got along famously. Jodie was such a caring, knowledgeable person, and was gifted at working with many different personalities. Everyone felt very special on this trip. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to travel with such a travel enthusiast. Her enthusiasm was infectious.VENICE: This was our favorite city of the trip. Private water taxi was the transfer, with a greeter to meet us at the airport. We stayed at Hotel Saturnia & International. We had a huge room. The hotel is very close to Piazza San Marco. Included tours: Grand Canal, Piazza San Marco, Basillica San Marco, Gondola Ride, Doge’s Palace, Bridge of Sighs, and a water taxi to visit of the Island of Murano. In addition, we independently visited the Campanile, the Opera House, the amazing Rialto market, and walked miles and miles getting lost in Venice and loving every second of our experience!!FLORENCE: We arrived via the Silver Bullet fasttrain. Our hotel was Helvetia & Bristol which was a quick walk to the Duomo. Included tours: Duomo, Galleria dell’Accademia (David…the most impressive thing I have ever seen!!), and the Basillica di Santa Croce. Independently we went to the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi and the Market.CORTONA and the Tuscany Region: We traveled here by small bus and stopped at San Gimignano for a few hours. This is a very cute, medieval town, but it rained our entire stay. Independently we did the Church of Santa Maria. We had an included lunch at Castello della Paneretta; a winery that included wine tasting. The Cortona hotel was our favorite hotel of the trip. We stayed at the Villa Marsili. Stunningly gorgeous, and we had a very large room.ROME: We traveled to Rome by small bus, stopping in Assisi for a few hours along the way. We visited the St. Francis Basillica. Our hotel in Rome was Grand Hotel de la Minerve. It was located 10 yards from the Basilica of Maria Sopra Minerva, and 100 yards from the Pantheon (we visited both independently) Included tours: Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Campo di Fiore, Roman Forum, Colosseum, Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel. We also walked to see the Castel Sant’Angelo at night from the bridge. Beautiful!SORRENTO and the Amalfi Coast: This gorgeous area of Italy was our favorite area of the trip. We loved the food in southern Italy the most, although all of the food was great throughout our vacation. We drove the Amalfi Coast Highway (the “Mama Mia” Highway-so named for its very winding curves.) Our stay here was at the beautiful Hotel BelAir which is literally cut into the cliffs, so the views are absolutely amazing. Free view of Mt. Vesuvius every morning from the balcony! We took the ferry to Capri for the day. Luckily while we were waiting for the ferry, a gentleman by the name of Salvatore Cioffi offered to guide us on the island for a fee. This was worth every penny, and without his help we would have spent a lot of time wandering aimlessly around. His private transportation took us to Anacapri so we could ride the chairlift to the top of Mount Solaro. Stunning, and one of those “Wow” experiences. I highly recommend his tour services if you want to see this island in its totality. We also spent the morning at Pompei.Overall, we had the time of our lives on this celebrating retirement vacation. No company is perfect, but Queenslander is very close. The only discussion I heard from anyone throughout the trip was the comparison of individual hotel rooms. I believe everyone was happy with the hotels themselves, but some guests had suites, and some had smaller rooms than others, and it actually was quite simply the luck of the draw. The hotels themselves are limited in types of rooms available for groups. This really is not a Queenslander problem, but worth mentioning that guests will all have individually different rooms, and some rooms will be better than others.Queenslander Tours are worth the money spent in my opinion. Generally you get what you pay for, and I am so happy we made the decision to book with Queenslander. I’ll be happy to answer any questions about our trip.
Itinerary
Day 1: Trans-Atlantic flight to England
Depart Your Home Airport on your Transatlantic flight to London, England.
Day 1 is the traditional flight date from North America. Airfare is not included but you can request a quotation from our air service department: Get an airfare quote by email here.
Please Note: "Day 1" is the published tour date and is the date you will arrange your air travel to depart your home airport.
Your Small Group Tour will commence on Itinerary Day 2 upon arrival into London, England.
Protect Your Vacation: We very much encourage trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
Day 2: London
Story® Way Included Dining: Join your Tour Captain for our included Welcome Dinner in London, England. Experience what can only be described as a tour of the best cuisine and wine from around the "British Empire."
Story® Exclusive: Tonight AT 7:20PM, join in our reception and Welcome from the Tour Captain. Excellent experience and opportunity to meet your fellow travelersWelcome: One of Story's most popular small-group European tour vacations commences at 3:00PM at the deluxe hotel. Our deluxe hotel lobby is where the tour begins and where our Tour Captain meets you for an included Orientation Walkabout of Merry Old London.
INCLUDED HOST ORIENTATION WALKABOUT: Join your Tour Captain Host for a Welcome Orientation Walk on your arrival day in London. Find out where the major landmarks are located in relation to our hotel, the best ATM machines for Sterling Pounds and exchange rates, and other helpful information.
Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Light
Your Small Group Tour Vacation to Europe is underway! After our reception, we'll walk to our Welcome Dinner in London, where you'll taste the finest cuisine and wine varietals from "the British Empire."
Included Welcome to London Dinner: About the Story® Way: Our approach to dining is unique: We've collected our favorites dishes from the incredible restaurants we visit for each included dinner. No buffets here! Your Tour Captain is there to make sure your dining experience goes smoothly and will help you interpret any menu item. For the 3 total included dinners (Deluxe), your Tour Captain will select a variety of appetizers featuring regional cuisine and will select your wine for the evening ~ a variety of red and white wine from the region you're traveling.
Deluxe Accommodation: Radisson Blu Edwardian Hampshire
Classic Accommodation: Hotel Strand or similar
Day 3: London, England
Optional Dinner Tonight: OPTIONAL DINNER IN LONDON, ANYONE?
You may opt to join your Tour Captain tonight for dinner (departs from lobby usually about 7:45pm) or opt to explore on your own throughout London.
Welcome to London, England ~ Heart of the British Empire
Start your morning sightseeing in style as your Tour Captain and our local Guide escorts you throughout London. On select itineraries, you may be greeted by our Cith Host®/Local Guide for your included sightseeing immersion tour of London.
Historic London Sightseeing Immersion Tour
The romance of the historical city of London is apparent every step of the way. Our experience in London with our official Blue Badge Guide will include views of Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Hyde Park, the Houses of Parliament, St. James Palace and Buckingham Palace. We will enjoy certain perspectives by walking with our local guide, the best way to explore London!
We will have time for lunch independently near the Tower of London.
Guided Tour: Tower of London
We enjoy a visit and admission to the Tower of London. Upon arrival to the Tower of London, the Beefeaters guide us through this special venue. A completely included experience that takes us back in time to the early 1080s. William the Conqueror began to build a massive stone tower at the center of his London fortress and nothing like it had ever been tried or seen before. Through the centuries that followed, successive monarchs added to the fortifications.
The balance of the day is yours at leisure to explore London perhaps like the locals via the Tube. There are several venues and sites located around the Tower of London that you may want to optionally visit including St. Pauls' Cathedral (free admission) or take a ride on the London Eye. The Tower Bridge is also nearby.
Maybe a Full Afternoon Tea or the now famous, Harry Potter Walking Tour. You may also consider the Royal Mews (carriage house) at Buckingham. Or consider a shopping trip to world famous Herrod's or simply stroll Hyde Park.
Return to the hotel at your leisure using your new knowledge of the London Tube (this routing is very easy!).
INCLUDED GUIDED TOUR WITH OUR LOCAL EXPERT GUIDE ~ Today ENJOY our SIGHTSEEING IMMERSION:
Panoramic Sightseeing Experience throughout London to enjoy views and commentary by our Local Guide:
- Piccadilly Circus
- Trafalgar Square
- Westminster Abbey
- Big Ben
- Hyde Park
- London Bridge
- Houses of Parliament
- St. James Palace
- Buckingham Palace
- Tower of London Tour
Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace: Volume: Moderate
Optional dining with the Tour Captain tonight or explore at leisure.
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Day 4: Enjoy Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey
OPTIONAL Dinner in London, anyone? You may opt to join your Tour Captain tonight for dinner (departs from lobby) before the play or opt to explore on your own throughout London. Story® Exclusive Access: Westminster Abbey or Buckingham Palace ~ entrance is based on seasonal openings. You will enjoy an exclusive access tour with admission of Westminster Abbey or of Buckingham Palace, the Queen's home, where she has the world's finest private art collection.Your Tour Captain continues with our immersion tour of London this morning with a special Story Tours' Exclusive with special admission to either Buckingham Palace or Westminster Abbey (entrance is based on season: Buckingham Palace is not open year round and when closed due to season or ceremony, we will include a tour of Westminster Abbey with guided admission).
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING IMMERSION TOUR WITH OUR LOCAL EXPERT GUIDE:
The balance of the day is yours at leisure.
Perhaps enjoy the London Eye, or inquire with reservations for the Harry Potter Walking Tour. You may also consider the Royal Mews (carriage house) at Buckingham. Or consider a shopping trip to world famous Herrod's or simply stroll Hyde Park.
TONIGHT: OPTIONAL PLAY IN WEST END: Inquire with Reservations.
Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace. Volume: Moderate.
Optional dining with the Tour Captain tonight or explore at leisure.
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Day 5: London to Paris | English Channel | "The Chunnel"
Included Dining: Tonight we dine at a delightful restaurant we're trying to keep a secret! It's fully authentic Parisian cuisine. Paris welcomes us with a variety of regional culinary tastes, beverages and ample portions of fine local wines from around the city and the provinces. Free-choice dining means you select what you'd like from the menu ~ the Tour Captain is available to help you interpret the menu. Your Tour Captain Host will provide the appetizers featuring regional cuisine and will select your wine for the evening ~ a variety of red and white wine from the region! Exclusives: INCLUDED REGIONAL WINES WITH DINNER TONIGHT
The Chunnel to Paris
We embark on the train via the English Channel (the Chunnel) with reserved seats in economy class to the city of Paris. After about 2 hours on the fast train under the English Channel we will welcome you to Paris!
Paris is the city of Light and Love. She holds much to discover. After we transfer from the Train Station, the Tour Captain checks you in to our hotel. We arrive Paris early afternoon, and rooms will be ready by 2PM on average.
You will join the Tour Captain for the included Paris Orientation Walkabout through the cobblestones streets to become familiar with the location around our hotel. We will visit Champs-Elysees, Trocadero and enjoy views of the Eiffel Tower.
INCLUDED HOST ORIENTATION WALKABOUT: Join your Tour Captain Host for a Welcome Orientation Walk on your arrival day in Paris. Find out where the major landmarks are located, ATM machines and other helpful sites.
Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace: Volume: Light
INCLUDED DINNER: Enjoy Story Way® Dining in Paris tonight - Featuring regional culinary tastes, beverages, and ample portions of fine local French wine, of course.
Deluxe Accommodation: Hotel Sofitel Paris La Faubourg, Regina Hotel, Hotel St. James Albany, Hotel Belami
Classic Accommodation: Hotel Louvré Saint-Anne or similiar
Day 6: Discovering Paris ~ The Louvré, Notre Dame & Eiffel Tower
Optional Dinner Tonight: Join the Tour Captain or explore Paris at leisure. Exclusive: Enjoy special access admission to the famous Eiffel Tower with Story to at least the second level.Note: This entrance may occur on Day 7 of the itinerary.Today join your Tour Captain and our local guide on a guided tour of the city of Paris. The Musée du Louvre along with the icons of Paris greet us today with our noble French guide leading the way. It's an immersion into the authentic Paris.
Our walking tour includes a guided tour of the Louvre, Notre Dame, and the Jardin de Tuileries. You may alternatively add the Musee d' Orsay with its impressionist paintings as an option. Inquire with reservations.
INCLUDED GUIDED TOUR WITH OUR LOCAL EXPERT GUIDE ~ Today ENJOY ADMISSION & SIGHTSEEING to:
~ Notre Dame Cathedral
~ Walk through Jardin de Tuileries
~ Admission and tour of Louvré
~ Option: Musee d'Orsay
Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Moderate to Ample
Optional dining with the Tour Captain tonight or explore at leisure.
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Day 7: The Palace of Versailles & Montmartre
Story® Way Dining: Enjoy a farewell to Paris included dinner tonight with your Tour Captain. Exclusive Access: Enjoy our special access with Skip-the-Line included admission to the Palace of Versailles.
King Louis XIV's opulent 17th century palace, Chateau de Versailles, welcomes us for an in depth tour. We enjoy the marble, gold and formal gardens.
The balance of the day is at leisure. Consider an optional excursion on the Seine River Cruise. Inquire with Reservations.
Walking Level: Light to Moderate, Leisurely Pace, Volume: Moderate
This evening, accompany your Tour Captain to Montmartre to witness sunset at Le Sacre Coeure. Orientation walkabout of Montmartre and passby tour of the Moulin Rouge. You may optionalize dinner and a show at Moulin Rouge if you wish to return on your own with your Metro Pass.
INCLUDED DINNER: Enjoy Story Way® Dining for your Farewell to Paris experience tonight.
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Day 8: Welcome to Rome | Where All Roads Lead
Included Dining: Today, enjoy our included Hot Breakfast. Tonight, join your City Host® for an optional welcome dinner in Roma.
City: Rome
Province: Roma
Region: Lazio
Upon arrival Rome, we drive to the very center of Old Rome and check in to our hotel. The locations of our hotels in Rome are within seconds of the Pantheon.
Time to freshen up and then meet our City Host® in the lobby for a short walk to our Roman Welcome Dinner.
Walking Level: Light, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Light
Welcome to Rome!
Optional dining with the City Host® tonight or explore at leisure.
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Day 9: The Empire of Rome Comes to Life
Story® Exclusive: Enjoy our special access with no waiting in line.
"There was a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish, it was so fragile."
After breakfast, we begin our walking tour of Rome with stops along the way to admire history and modernity in Rome. See ancient elements intertwined perfectly with present-day apartment buildings, and discover how the modern Romans have intertwined their vast history into present-day experience. We're making our way to the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the town center of the Roman Empire, for our special access, in-depth touring experience, complete with admissions.
We venture back in time with our walk through the archaeological dig that is the Roman Forum.
We enjoy admission to the Colosseum with our Local Guide, who provides expert commentary. This landmark is one of the most impressive sights in all of Europe and the world. And did you know, all of Rome is a live archaeological dig? Literally, new discoveries are happening all of the time!
After our world-class touring experience of Imperial Rome, the balance of the day is free. We recommend a visit to the Galleria Borghese (Borghese Gallery) - an impressive collection of sculptures, paintings and antiquities housed in the former Villa Borghese Pinciana.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING AND ADMISSION WITH LOCAL GUIDE, CYNTHIA ~ Today ENJOY ADMISSION & SIGHTSEEING to:
- Admission and Guided Tour of Heart of The Empire: Roman Forum walk through archaeological dig, Capitoline Hill
- SPECIAL ACCESS: Enjoy our special access with no waiting in line: Admission and Guided Tour of Colosseum ~ There once was a dream that was Rome
Throughout our stay in Rome, we will visit Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain), Piazza di Spagna (Spanish Steps), Campo di Fiore, and Piazza Navona, where mock nautical battles took place in the venue.
Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Ample
Optional dining with the City Host® tonight or explore at leisure.
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Day 10: Today we have in-depth touring of St. Peter's and the Square, Bernini and Vatican City
Included Farewell Dinner: Enjoy your last dinner in Rome tonight. Story® Exclusive: Enjoy Skip-the-Line special access with Admission.
City: Vatican City
Region: Sovereign City State
After a great breakfast, we begin our second day of exploring Rome.
Meet our local professional Private Guide in the lobby of the hotel, and board our quick transfer vehicle to Vatican City.
The majestic Vatican City comes to life as we explore up close. We Skip-the-Line with our special access tour today. Enjoy a visit of the Vatican museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica and Square. It's an opportunity to appreciate the vast array of art, while learning of some of the history of the Vatican, all in the context of our intimate, small group of travelers.
We finish our tour of the Vatican at St. Peter's Square and then board our vehicle back to the hotel. Enjoy the balance of your day at leisure.We recommend a visit to the Castel Sant'Angelo (Castle of the Angels). The Mausoleum of Hadrian has served a variety of uses throughout history. It was initially commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for he and his family.
INCLUDED SIGHTSEEING AND ADMISSION WITH OUR LOCAL GUIDE ~ Today ENJOY ADMISSION & SIGHTSEEING to:
- Admission and Guided Tour to St. Peter's Basilica
- Admission and Guided Tour of Sistine Chapel
- SPECIAL ACCESS: Enjoy Skip-the-Line special access with Admission Included and our Guided Tour of the Vatican City Museums
Walking Level: Moderate, Leisurely Pace; Volume: Ample
INCLUDED Story Way® Dining tonight. Enjoy Story Way® Dining for your Farewell to Rome experience tonight.
Day 11: Check Out or Extend Your Adventure through Italy
Included Dining: Story® Dining Hot Breakfast
Catch flights for the USA from Rome. Until we meet again, may your days be full of discovery and your nights full of good friends. Or are you extending to the Enchanted Amalfi Coast? Or some other exotic destination ...inquire with reservations for details.
BREAKFAST INCLUDED
DEPARTURE TRANSFER $69 PER PERSON, minimum two passengers.
Today, enjoy our included Hot Breakfast..
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