Travel designed by Lyn
Luxury Vacations for Women
5 Night Affordable Experience of Black Paris
Experience Paris this fall with a twist. That's right, it's Paris Noire with Lyn115Travel. Join Lyn as she takes you to the hang outs, haunts and places made famous by African American musicians, soldiers, writers, artists, historians, celebrities, and political exiles. From the 1900s to present day, these individuals came to Paris fleeing racism in America.
Don't worry, we're not going to leave out any of the famous landmarks in the city. Museums, monuments and strolls through Montmartre and other places of interest. You don't want to miss out. Please review the itinerary below and book this trip.
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Round trip Airfare Sunday, Sept 11 overnight flight from Baltimore, MD (BWI) USA to Paris Airport Charles de Gaulle, Fr (CDG). Other airports are available.
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Private Transfers to and from Airport.
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5 Nights Villa des Artistes
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Breakfast Included Daily
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All Tours included unless stated otherwise.
Special Features:
Transportation Passes Included
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The Paris Visite pass allows unlimited travel for 3 consecutive days on the entire Ile de France network: The pass becomes valid from the first use. Activate it when it is convenient for your schedule. The entire day is billed towards the duration time so it`s best to activate the pass early in the day (NOTE: the Il de France network operates from 5:30am to 1:00am). The pass for Zones 1-3 does not include travel to the following: Versailles, Charles de Gaulle Airport, Orly Airport, Chateau Fontainbleu, EuroDisney.
Museum Passess
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With the Paris Museum Pass you gain free entry, without having to wait in line, as many times as you wish, to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris. Please note that the pass does not include access to temporary exhibitions or conference visits. When you are ready to use the pass, just fill in the first date of use and your first and last name. Pass days are counted consecutively, so be sure to plan the most effective start time for your schedule.
Museum Passes Include
the pass is valid at the following museums and monuments:
Aquarium Tropical de la Porte Doree
Arc de Triomphe
Musee de l`Armee and Napoleon`s Tomb
Centre Pompidou and Museum of Modern Art
Musee National des Arts
Musee des Arts Decoratifs
Musee des Arts et Metiers
Musee de l`Assistance Publique
Hopitaux de Paris
Musee du quai Branly
Chapelle expiatoire
Musee du Cinema
Cite des Sciences et de l`Industrie
Conciergerie
Musee National Eugene Delacroix
Musee des Egouts de Paris
Musee de l`Institut du monde arabe
Musee du Louvre
Musee National de la Marine
Musee de la Monnaie
Cite de l`Architecture et du Patrimoine
Musee Gustave Moreau
Musee national du Moyen Age (Thermes et hotel de Cluny)
Cite de la Musique
Crypte archeologique du Parvis de Notre-Dame
Towers of Notre-Dame
Musee National de l`Orangerie
Musee de l`Ordre de la Liberation
Musee d`Orsay
Pantheon
Musee National Picasso
Musee des Plans-reliefs
Musee de la Poste
Musee Rodin
Sainte-Chapelle
Museums outside of Paris where the pass is valid include:
Musee national des Chateaux de Versailles et de Trianon
Chateau de Vincennes
Chateau de Fontainebleau
Chateau de Rambouillet
Basilique cathedrale de Saint-Denis
Maison d`Auguste Rodin a Meudon
Musee de l`Air et de l`Espace
Musee d`Archeologie nationale de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Chateau de Maisons-Laffitte
Please Note: The Louvre will now require Paris Museum Pass holders to make a reservation on their website for a specific entrance time.
Day 1 & 2
Day 1 Sunday, September 11th (Flying)
Day 2 Monday, September 12
Arrive in Paris
Private Transfers to and from Airport
7:00pm Dinner Reservation at La Fontaine de Mars (optional)
La Fontaine de Mars is one of the oldest bistros in Paris. Opened in 1908, it has been owned by just three families for the last 112 years. The restaurant has served many distinguished guests, including President and Mrs. Obama in 2009. In pleasant weather, you can dine al fresco, listening to the fountains a few steps away.
9:00 PM - 11:00 PM - 2 hr
Paris Night Lights - an Evening Drive through Historic Paris
Paris is called the City of Lights, and what better way to see it than at night. Your private guide will take you on a dazzling ride through the city to see all the iconic sights and views from the best vantage points. For example, at Trocadero, get the most striking view of the sparkling Eiffel Tower stopping for a photo op. Pass by the monumental Pantheon in the Latin Quarter, then on to the Ile de la Cité to see Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pont-Neuf, drive down the Champs-Elysees to view majestic Arc de Triomphe along the way to the highest point in Paris, Sacré-Coeur in Montmartre. We’ll see the beautiful Opera Garnier and the elegant Place Vendôme while passing by the Tuileries Garden and the Place de la Concorde. The historical Invalides and the stunning Pont Alexandre III are also on our route, along with the Grand Palais.
Day 3
Tuesday September 13th - Ricki Stevens Black Paris Tour
Our tour begins at 10:00 am at a chic cafe near the Arc de Triomphe a Black Paris Orientation. From there we stroll over to the Arc de Triomphe, where our guide tells of the first great wave of African Americans coming to Paris in the 1800s. We describe the exploits of Black soldiers who distinguished themselves on French battle fields during WW I and WW II.
From the Arc de Triomphe we take a bus to beautiful Parc Monceau to follow in the footsteps of Frederick Douglass, Dr. W.E.B. Dubois, Henry O. Tanner, Mary Church Terrell, Ida B. Wells, Carter G. Woodson, Countee Cullen, Bessie Coleman, Langston Hughes, and Mary McCloud Bethune.
From there we’ll stroll two blocks to stand before monuments dedicated to the three Dumas: Napoleon's famous Black general Alex Dumas. Steps away, a statue dedicated to the general’s son, Alexandre Dumas (père), the most famous French writer in history. And across the street, a third statue, honoring the literary achievements of his grandson, dramatist Alexandre Dumas (fils).
With the Haitian Embassy overlooking this square, we tell the story of Toussaint L’Ouverture, who led the successful 1791 revolt, making Haiti the first free Black Republic in the new world.
Another bus ride takes us past the building where author Dumas lived, then past the church dedicated to the African Saint Augustine -- a founder of the Catholic Church. Next we’ll see the Church where Josephine Baker was given a hero’s funeral on April 15th, 1975.
We’ll pause at Place de la Concorde, where the guillotine took the heads of thousands during the French Revolution, and where the oldest monument in Paris stands: the African Obelisk, in the center of the most prestigious square in Paris.
Next we’ll hop a bus to ride to Place Blanche, the Moulin Rouge and the area once called “the Harlem of Paris’ where famous Black musicians, singers and dancers gained fame and fortune between the 1920s and the start of WWII in 1940.
After a stop for photos at Pigalle, we continue north to Little Africa in the 18th arrondissement to hang out with locals from Mali, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire. Following a quick snack, we’ll stroll through the Marché in Little Africa… like a quick trip to the bustling markets in Dakar, Accra or Abidjan. For the very hearty, your tour ends with mint tea and beignets in La Goutte d'Or or a funicular ride to the top of Montmartre looking out over the city.
Lunch & Dinner own your own
Jazz Night (optional)
Day 4
Wednesday, September 14
Morning: Free
2:30 PM
Saint Germain des Prés - Private Tasting Tour
Make your own way for this private tasting tour.
Share an epicurean journey through the neighborhood of Saint Germain des Prés in the chic Latin Quarter of Paris with your friends and/or family. Visit local boutiques, artisanal shops, markets, and cafes where you will sample some of the best French fare from flaky croissants to heavenly chocolate, and of course, the classic combination of superb cheeses and wine.
These private tastings will vary in keeping with seasonal specialties.
*Includes Tastings
Dinner on Your Own
9:00 PM - 2 hr Moulin Rouge
The fabulous Moulin Rouge, home of the French Can-Can, will delight you with its shimmering feathery costumes, unique music and dance from international musicians as well as a world famous revue. This is Paris at its finest, and the amazing high-energy show will leave you breathless and entertained.
Day 5
Thursday, September 15
You can select between these tours:
Half Day in Giverny
About an hour’s journey from Paris through the gentle Vexin countryside will transport you to Giverny for this private tour, where Impressionist master Claude Monet lived and worked for more than forty years. You’ll learn the story of his life and times during the journey. Upon arrival, visit his charming home with its quaint bedrooms, sunny yellow dining room and blue-tiled kitchen, while admiring his extensive collection of Japanese woodblocks lining the walls. The legendary gardens, with a contrast between a glorious variety of flowers and the shadowy zen-like water garden were an inspiration to Monet’s palette and oeuvre. If time allows, you can enjoy lunch in a lovely village or in the country side en route.
8:30 AM - Versailles – Small Group Biking Tour
Make your own way to meet your guide for this small group tour.
Biking is the best way to discover the grandeur of this 2,000-acre Royal Domain! You’ll start your tour by exploring the local market and pick up the best supplies for a picnic lunch along the lake, after a bike through the forest of Versailles. Then spend the day discovering the royal grounds, the inside of Marie Antoinette’s private domain, the Grand & Petit Trianons, culminating with your Skip-the-Line tickets into the Palace itself with its famous Hall of Mirrors. [Includes tickets and transportation via Train to Versailles with guide. Group may include up to 14 persons.]
Extend Your Trip!
VISIT AMSTERDAM
September 17th -20th
Private Transfer to Rail Station
Thalys Train to Amsterdam
Private Transfer
3 Nights Park Plaza Vondelpark
Welcome to a place to reconnect to nature and a home away from home at this city's favorite open space,
Vondelpark. The Park Plaza Vondelpark hotel invites you into one of the serene 102 guest rooms that offer
upscale design with luxurious Egyptian cotton bedding and are included with a work area, walk-in rainfall
shower, complimentary bottle of water, Nespresso coffee machine and Chromecast Samsung Smart-TV.
Enjoy a meal at the award-winning Italian restaurant concept TOZI after a relaxing afternoon strolling through
the park and visiting museums.
Lunch and Dinner on your Own
Red Light District Exploration (optional)
The traditional Amsterdam Red Light District Tour which can be enjoyed despite the current Coronavirus
restrictions, our Self-Guided App-led tour may well be the perfect option for you. As well as following the
stories of the city as you weave through narrow streets, this Amsterdam red light tour shows you a wide selection
of hidden gems. In addition to these secret city spots, the App provides a whole range of inside info, recommendations and discounts for a variety of bars, restaurants, high-end shops and fun activities!
Sunday, September 18
Breakfast Daily
Canal Cruise
Cruise down the famous canals of Amsterdam during a 75-minute boat tour.
Hop aboard the classic wooden saloon boat and sit back.
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum is the largest and most visited art museum in the
Netherlands. Its collection, which ranks among the world’s finest, includes
nearly 8,000 pieces spread over 80 galleries. Some of the Rijksmuseum’s
most revered works are 15th- to 19th-century paintings by Flemish and
Dutch masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Frans Hals. In addition
to the astounding eight centuries of Dutch art and history, the museum has extensive outdoor gardens and a Michelin-starred restaurant.
Monday, September 19
Ann Frank Museum (optional)
The bestselling book “Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl” brought to life one of the greatest horrors of the 20th century in a compelling, personal way. In the true story, a young Jewish girl, her family, and some friends are forced into hiding in Amsterdam to escape the Nazis during World War II. The house that served as the Frank family’s hiding place for two years survived the war and is now a moving museum, with the primary site being the achterhuis (rear house), also known as the secret annex. Here the Franks sat in silence during the day and ate food that was secretly brought to them before being mysteriously betrayed and sent to Nazi concentration camps. Otto Frank, the only Frank who survived the war, published Anne’s now-famous diary in 1947.
Bike Tour (optional)
During your stay in Amsterdam, you can not miss a bike tour through the city’s canals.
The city bike tour of Amsterdam is the best way to get to know those parts of the city
that are harder to reach by walking. Walking you can do 80% of the city and with the
bike tour, we take you to travel 20% that you lack. Always safely, through independent
bike lanes and away from the large crowds of downtown! For 2.5 hours on wheels, we
will take you to the most memorable places in the city: parks, museums, windmills …
In this tour, we will not only see the most important thing about the Dutch capital and
its best landscapes but also tell you the stories that make these sites special. Do not
hesitate! Get on the bike and discover Amsterdam with us on two wheels. It will be a
memorable adventure! The tour includes the bicycle rental during the tour.
Lunch & Dinner on Your Own
Jazz Night (optional)
September 20 - Tuesday
Private Transfers to Airport
AMS-Amsterdam , Netherland to PHL-Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
ONLY
$800
more
Day 6 & 7
Friday, September 16
Free Morning
Private Black Heritage Tour: Africa in Paris
Your private guide will meet you at a designated meeting spot for this tour.
Accompanied by a guide who is deeply involved in the social and political life of this north-end district, you stroll through the colorful open air market of Chateau Rouge, then visit small businesses such fabric & tailor shops, and small grocers that double as music producers. You experience the diversity of this neighborhood when visiting places of worship (Islam and Catholic), art galleries, and end your visit at a major cultural center.
8:00 PM - Le Calife, VIP Dinner Cruise
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Dine on Le Calife, a 5-star cruising restaurant, through the heart of Paris. In a warm and unique setting, view some of the most famous monuments of Paris from the Seine: Notre Dame, le Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Grand Palais, les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. The cruise (which lasts 2 hours) starts at the sound of the “Kromhout,” the original twin engine from 1939. The welcoming crew offers a glass of champagne to start the party. Additionally, you will receive a complimentary glass of champagne with dessert. Then, enjoy either a traditional French menu worthy of the gastronomic reputation of the capital or menus inspired by India, South Africa, Greece and the Middle East.
Saturday, September 17
Transfers to Airport
CDG- Charles de Gaulle to PHL -Philadelphia
Know Before You Go
Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.
Passports and Visas
It is each traveler's responsibility to have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of travel and a visa if required. Passengers who enter, leave and then re-enter the same country on their itinerary should check if they require a double-entry visa. Passport applications are available at most U.S. Post Offices, as well as at regional Passport Agencies. Passengers requiring visas, whether obtained in advance or locally upon arrival, should ensure that their passport has blank pages.
Traveling with Friends or Family?
If you are traveling with friends or family who are booked on another reservation, please make sure that we are aware. On occasion, the tour may operate more than one vehicle on your tour departure in which case we will ensure that guests will be assigned together. This is achieved by connecting your reservations before your departure. Once you arrive in your destination, it may not be possible to make assignment changes.
Due to international incidents, the cost of jet fuel will more than likely increase dramatically. To reduce increased costs, please place your deposits asap.