Day 1:  Paris for 1 night

Meet & greet private transfer from airport to hotel

1 double room, with terrace, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel Duc de St Simon Saint Germain****

This 18th-century hotel is set in the centre of Paris, a few walking minutes from Saint-Germain-des-Prés district and 2,461 feet from Musuem D’Orsay and the Seine River.

The Hôtel Duc de Saint-Simon offers rooms and suites, some of which have a private terrace or a view over the inner garden. Free Wi-Fi is available in all of the rooms.

After a day of sightseeing, enjoy a relaxing moment in the hotel bar and lounges and during nicer weather, on the terrace of the Duc de Saint-Simon Hôtel.

The Louvre is less than a 20-minute walk away and the Eiffel Tower is easily accessible via public transportation. Rue du Bac Metro stop is 558 feet from the Duc de Saint-Simon.

http://hotelducdesaintsimon.com/

Day at leisure in Paris to relax, do some shopping and have a nice meal

 

Day 2:  Cognac for 2 nights

1^st class train from Paris to Angouleme with seat reservations

Departure at 8:27 am, arrival at 10:26 am

Pick up car rental in Angouleme

Take a panoramic drive and discover Roman ruins and beautiful Romanesque churches.

Stop in Saintes.  Explore on own this charming city with white facades and colorful tiled roofs.  The city is considered one of the architectural jewels of France.

Head off to Cognac.

1 double room, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel L’Yeuse***

The Château de L’Yeuse is located 1.6 miles from Cognac, near the banks of the River Charente. It offers classic accommodation and a sauna, spa, Turkish bath and outdoor swimming pool. Breakfast includes homemade and organic produce.

All guest rooms offer views of the countryside and have satellite TV and Wi-Fi access.

The hotel has a large terrace with panoramic views of the Charente countryside, where guests can eat and relax with a drink from the bar. The Yeuse’s restaurant serves gourmet cuisine and offers a variety of wines, served in one of the Château’s large dining rooms or on the terrace.

The hotel’s spa has a hot tub, sauna and offers massage therapy. Guests of the Yeuse can enjoy hiking and cycling nearby and travel the 4.3 miles to Cognac Golf Club.

http://www.yeuse.fr/hotel_respectueux.html

 

Day 3:

Day at leisure to explore Cognac and have some tastings.

A city with an intriguing history. Because wine traveled poorly by sea, European merchants decided to try to distill it. In so doing they discovered “burnt wine,” now called Cognac. You will enjoy the gentle rolling countryside and the medieval part of town, with its narrow cobblestone streets.

Visit the historic homes and brandy warehouses.

After crossing the Charente River on one of Hennessy boats, you are introduced to some sophisticated techniques and a range of contemporary settings revealing the characteristics of cognac. During the tour they explain the elaboration of the cognac and the blending techniques.
Returning to the left bank of the Charente River, discovery of the History of the house. Documents, films and old objects which are part of the company’s heritage tell the story of the Founder, Richard Hennessy, an Irishman who came to France during the reign of Louis XV.

 

Day 4:  Ile de Re for 3 nights

Head to Ile de Re and on your way stop in

Stop in Rochefort, the town itself developed around the harbour and the associated naval buildings as a carefully planned ‘new town’, with a grid of straight streets and a large central square.

Place Colbert, a large open square with the Town Hall, a stone archway, and several shops and restaurants. Place Colbert is the main center of Rochefort and a pleasant place to pause for a coffee…

1 double room, breakfast & taxes included at Hotel de Toiras*****

Hotel de Toiras provides accommodation on the Île de Ré, next to the Saint-Martin-de-Ré harbour. Some rooms offer a view of the harbour. Toiras has a restaurant and free internet access.

The hotel combines details of the original 17th-century residence with modern amenities. Each Hotel de Toiras room is air-conditioned and decorated with antique furnishings. The rooms have a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom.

Hotel de Toiras’s restaurant, La Table d’Olivia, serves seasonal dishes made from local produce. For guests who wish to take part in creating their meal, the hotel will lend a wicker basket to visit the local market. The chef will cook the ingredients according to the guests’ wishes.

Guests are invited to dine in their room, in the aromatic garden, or on the terrace facing the harbour of Saint-Martin-de-Ré. There is also a bar and lounge where guests can enjoy an aperitif.

Guests have free access to the swimming pool and garden at the Hotel de Toiras, just a 3-minute walk from the harbour.Toiras is 1.2 miles from La Flotte and 1.9 miles from Le Bois-Plage-en-Ré.

http://hotel-de-toiras.com/

 

Day 5:

Day at leisure to relax

Bike rental and biking tour on own

With multiple bike paths (almost entirely traffic free), you will enjoy riding your bike and passing by beautiful pine-shaded beaches beaches, forts and lighthouses, but also stylish shops and galleries.  It is as bike-friendly as you can get.  Stop for lunch and taste succulent oysters and mussels.

 

Day 6:

Explore La Rochelle

One of the most handsome of France’s ports, La Rochelle is careful to preserve its quiet charm and dignity.

Discover the old port, with its fishing boats, and its entrance guarded by two 14th-century towers.  Have a café in the nearby lively cafés.

Head to the Marais Poitevin that extend across the southern reaches of the Vendée were tamed by 12th-century monks, who created 1,450km (900 miles) of waterways.

Traditional flat-bottomed boat tour

Take a boat on the docks of Coulon and opposite the house of the Marais Poitevin.

Explore the marshland known as ‘Green Venice’ .  Discover its vibrant colour – there are fields of scarlet poppies, swathes of white blooms along the verges and the sparkling waters are fringed with yellow irises.

The experienced skippers will introduce you to the charming and romantic landscape as well to the rich fauna and flora. You will enjoy a relaxing ride along a labyrinth of canals under a green canopy.

Open daily from April to November.

 

Day 7:

Drop off car in La Rochelle

1^st class train from La Rochelle to Paris CDG airport via Poitiers

Departure at 7:46 am, arrival at 11:42 am