Luxury, Fun and Value finally come together in FRANCE !

Escapades, the specialist of individual travel to France, has announced 3 new vacation packages which combine unique accommodations with exciting, active programs AND exceptional value. After the glamour of Paris, travelers will head to Loire Valley, Bordeaux or Burgundy for 4 to 8 days of biking, walking, wine tasting or canal cruising!

La Vie de Chateau
Those who have an adventurous palate and would like to learn more about Frances finest wines, will be tempted by this 6-day program. Hosted by Bordeaux expert Jean-Marc Perrin, this custom-designed tour is a serious introduction of the viticulture of the region combined with the fine art of sniffing and sipping. Through tastings and vineyards visits -- Chateaux Margaux, Palmer, Beycherelles, Montcaillou -- guests will come to understand the process of creation and master the pairing of food and wines. Highlights of the package include a visit to the historical village of Saint-Emilion, the Bassin dArcachon, and the tallest sand dune in Europe, the Dune du Pyla. Bacchanal indulgences will be capped off with a superb cuisine paying tribute to southwestern France. The $1,976 ppdbl price covers 2 night accommodations in a centrally located 3-star hotel in Paris, 3 nights in Chateau Camiac near St Emilion, airport transfers, round trip TGV, in the Bordeaux region, transportation in a minibus with an English-speaking driver, 3 dinners and 3 lunches and a boat trip.

Float and Dine in Burgundy.
From October 2 to October 29, 2002, the hotel barge La Luciole will cruise the Burgundy region for 7 nights on the Canal du Nivernais. The elegant vessel will delight the most discriminating traveler who yearns to experience France peacefully, but definitely in style. The barge will be a home away from home. Passengers can choose between a broad palette of excursions in an air-conditioned minibus including the medieval city of Auxerre, the vineyards of Chablis, the spectacular Basilica of Vezelay, and the Chateau of Villemolin, or biking on the towpath along the canal, or simply unwind in a deckchair watching the landscape gently gliding by. Every day a certified Cordon Bleu chef will treat guests to a hearty breakfast, regional dishes for lunch and a 4-course gourmet dinner enhanced with local wines. The Luciole can accommodate in comfort up to 14 guests with a spacious salon, 6 double and single-bedded cabines with private bathrooms and air-conditioning. The rate of $2,284 per person include 7 nights barge accommodations, all meals with wines, open bar, use of facilities, all tours and excursions, escorted transfers between Paris and the barge by coach or TGV, plus 2 nights in a centrally located 4-star hotel in Paris upon arrival.

Bike the Loire
The land of royal chateaux and lush forests is the backdrop for this Loire Valley cycling vacation. Participants spend 6 nights in a 14th century millhouse nestled on the banks of the tiny canal Berry. Le Vieux Moulin features 12 bedrooms with private baths, 2 salons with wood burning fireplaces and an intimate dining room with bar. Recreational cyclists set off on daily tours to over twenty destinations, covering 20 to 40 miles of gently hilly territory, with plenty of stops for picture-taking, tastings of local produces,and sightseeing. The program includes visits to fortresses, the 15th-century Abbaye of Fontmorigny, the medieval village of Apremont-sur-Allier known for its fabulous display of flowers, the protestant stronghold of Sancerre, site of many religious wars, and the old capital of Bourges. The excursions are organized by experienced English-speaking guides who will introduce participants to places and things that only the local people know. Since fresh air and exercise are bound to increase appetite, guests will be rewarded with sumptuous dinners complemented with regional wines. Lunches are taken on the roads in small local restaurants. The $1,548 package include 2 night accommodations in a centrally located hotel de charme in Paris, round trip TGV, 6 nights at the Vieux Moulin, breakfasts, lunches and dinners, fully escorted bicycling and walking excursions, vehicle support, bikes and helmets, and round trip transfer for one evening out. The Garden of France" can also be discovered by walking 8 to 12 miles per day, on mild rolling terrain. (to get more information: www.webscapades.com/france/bicycle-tours.htm)

For additional information, Please contact
Celine
Escapades
http://www.webscapades.com
858 551 8418
1 800 725 7557
sales@webscapades.com