Friday, January 30, 2009

Burgundy France Walking Tour Cruise Oct 2009

Book a cabin before 31st March 2009 on La Belle Epoque's Burgundy Walking Cruise which departs on 18th October 2009 and receive an $800 discount per cabin (double occupancy, of course). Discover the beauty of Bourgogne, France.

Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque - Burgundy Bourgogne France. Book with ParadiseConnections.com

Itinerary for Wayfarer Walking Cruise: CLICK HERE

View La Belle Epoque's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book your barging holiday: CLICK HERE

Visit the barge section of our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Friday, January 23, 2009

Hotel Barge Alouette - 2 Free B&B hotel nights

Confirm your new 2009 booking by 31st March 2009 and receive 2 complimentary nights, based on double occupancy of a room on a bed and breakfast basis, at the Hotel De La Cite in Carcassonne, subject to availability when you charter Alouette for 2-4 passengers on the Canal du Midi.

Contact Paradise Connections for details: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Hotel Barges Napoleon & Hirondelle Offers Free TGV

Book now for FREE TGV. Barge Napoleon and Barge Hirondelle. Contact Paradise Connections for detailsConfirm your new 2009 booking by 31st March 2009 for either Hotel Barge Napoleon in Provence, or Hotel Barge Hirondelle in Burgundy, and receive complimentary 1st class return tickets for the TGV high-speed train between Paris and local station.

View Napoleon's online brochure: CLICK HERE

View Hirondelle's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for details: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Cruise the River Thames in England with Hotel Barge Magna Carta

See updated special offer, posted February 14, 2009

The all-inclusive hotel barge MAGNA CARTA is offering a US$500 discount per cabin on all available 2009 departures. What a beautiful way to discover the English countryside with a cruise along the historic River Thames in England.

Cruise the Royal River Thames aboard the hotel barge Magna Carta. Contact ParadiseConnections.com

All inclusive hotel barge Magna Carta cruises the Royal River Thames. Contact Paradise Connections for booking detailsA slow meandering journey past Royal Palaces, quaint riverside towns, villages, a mixture of olde worlde England and the natural beauty of Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. From Henry VIII’s Hampton Court past Windsor Castle to Henley with frequent stops allowing plenty of time to wander and explore whilst Magna Carta follows this old Viking trading route deep into rural countryside. Gentle exploration are the keywords, with good cycling and walking opportunities as the elegant and spacious air-conditioned 8-passenger, Magna Carta finds her way inland.

View MAGNA CARTA's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for details: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Looking forward to your inquiries!

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

CORRECTION: Book hotel barge Emma by end March 2009


Book your cruise on the French hotel barge EMMA before the end of MARCH 2009 and receive a 10% discount.

Emma will be cruising in the south of France, mainly along the canal du midi between Carcassonne and Béziers. With sufficient notice they can change their routes to go from:
  • Béziers to Aigues Mortes,
  • From either Béziers or Carcassonne we can go down the Canal de La Robine through Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
  • From Carcassonne we can continue on down to Toulouse.
View Emma's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book your barge vacation: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our website: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Friday, January 16, 2009

Paris Marathon 2009 - Barge Renaissance Special Cruise - 10 nights for the price of 6


We all know that Paris in Springtime is THE most romantic place in the world and the perfect place for an early holiday. What some of you may not know, however, is that the famous Paris Marathon also takes place at this magical time of year.

So, with that in mind, the French hotel barge RENAISSANCE has constructed a unique itinerary that will allow passengers to spend 4 days aboard the barge in the centre of Paris on a bed and breakfast basis, followed by a fully inclusive, luxury 7-day cruise south from Paris on the River Seine to Sens, near Chablis, with haute cuisine and fine wines served aboard.

So, if you are going to Paris for the Marathon either as a participant or a spectator, this cruise is for YOU!

Or, perhaps you just like a good deal... Eleven days for the price of seven with FOUR DAYS IN PARIS! Wow

RENAISSANCE is a luxury, French hotel barge that accommodates up to 8 passengers in 4 suites that can either be configured with a double bed or two twins.

RATES:
  • $5,450 per person, based on two people sharing a suite

CLICK HERE for more details and to see the itinerary

View RENAISSANCE's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book your barging vacation: CLICK HERE

Visit the Barge section of our web site:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges/

Just noticed that they are having a fun run in Paris on Saturday... THE BREAKFAST RUN - "COURSE DE L'UNESCO".
Along this 5,2 km race, you will discover some of the most beautiful streets in Paris: avenue de Suffren, the Pont d'Iéna, the Place du Trocadero, the Bois de Boulogne. On crossing the finish line, you will experience the thrill of the 35,000 runners on the day of the Paris International Marathon.

After this early warm up session, we will provide you with breakfast.

The breakfast run is free for all participants in the Paris International Marathon but is also open to all running fans.

More info... CLICK HERE

À bientôt !

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Discount on Burgundy Hotel Barges - April & May 2009

The luxury, French hotel barges L'Impressionniste and La Belle Epoque are offering a US$1000 discount per cabin on all available April & May 2009 departures for their Burgundy France cruises. Enjoy the waterways of Bourgogne.

French Hotel Barge L'Impressionniste - Book through Paradise Connections . French Hotel Barge La Belle Epoque - Book through Paradise Connections

Cruises must be confirmed by 31st March 2009.

Normal Terms & Conditions apply
  • Some cruises may require a minimum of 4 passengers booked to guarantee the cruise.
  • $1,000 discount is based on two people sharing a twin/double cabin
  • A $500 discount applies for single occupancy of a cabin and single cabin
  • This special offer applies to US Dollar rates only
View L'Impressionniste's online brochure: CLICK HERE

View La Belle Epoque's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book your barging vacation: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Monday, January 12, 2009

Hotel Barge EMMA - Save 10%


Book your cruise on the French hotel barge EMMA before the end of January 2009 and receive a 10% discount.

Emma will be cruising in the south of France, mainly along the canal du midi between Carcassonne and Béziers. With sufficient notice they can change their routes to go from:
  • Béziers to Aigues Mortes,
  • From either Béziers or Carcassonne we can go down the Canal de La Robine through Narbonne to Port la Nouvelle.
  • From Carcassonne we can continue on down to Toulouse.
View Emma's online brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections to book your barge vacation: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our website: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Italy restoring canals for tourism

We read this interesting eTN article about Italy restoring canals to make them navigable again.

We have a barge that currently charters in Venice. Contact Paradise Connections for more info.


Italian canal cruises into past

BY EIN | JAN 12, 2009
Italy is to reopen medieval and Renaissance inland waterways so that tourists can travel more than 500 kilometres (300 miles) by boat from Lake Maggiore to Venice via Milan.
This summer engineers will start clearing eight kilometres of canals from the southern end of Lake Maggiore at Sesto Calende to Somma Lombardo. Alessandro Meinardi, of the Navigli Lombardi (Lombardy Canals) company, which is overseeing the project, said that the aim was to make navigable the whole of the 14th-century 140-kilometre stretch of waterways from Locarno in Switzerland to Milan.
The restored canal system would eventually link up with the River Po, winding its way to Venice by way of Pavia, Piacenza, Cremona and Ferrara. Whereas the waterways used to transport goods, they would now enable visitors to take “the slow route” to Venice, “drifting past the Italian Renaissance landscape”. The billion euros (£886 million) project aims to revive what was once a main transport artery... Read entire article...
Inquire: La Dolce Vita is CURRENTLY NOT CHARTERING - see LA BELLA VITA  
 
View LA DOLCE VITA's online brochure: CLICK HERE

View LA BELLA VITA  online brochure.


Contact PARADISE CONNECTIONS to book a barge: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site: http://www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Monday, January 05, 2009

FRENCH HOTEL BARGE CLAIR DE LUNE - Special offer - Canal du Midi France

FRENCH HOTEL BARGE CLAIR DE LUNE - Canal du Midi, South of France

French Hotel Barge Clair de Lune

Book the French hotel barge CLAIR DU LUNE before January 31, 2009 and receive a 15% discount off the normal price of their "Classic Midi Cruise" (example: $24,650 for 6-person main season charter rather than normal $29,000)

RATES (Main Season: May 16 to July 10 & August 29 to October 16)
  • Private charter, 6 guests: $29,000
  • Private charter, 5 guests: $28,400
  • Private charter, 4 guests: $27,750
  • Shared charter, 1 cabin for 2 people: $10,600 (i.e. $5,300 each)

RATES (Value Season: March to May 15 & July 11 to August 28 & October 17 to November)
  • Private charter, up to 6 guests: $27,500

MIDI CLASSIC CRUISE - What's included!
  • Seven days, six nights
  • Accommodation for up to 6 guests in 3 double staterooms, each with ensuite heads
  • Four crew
  • Champagne welcome aboard by captain and crew, all meals including morning coffee and afternoon tea, a fine selection of Languedoc-Roussillon wines, and drinks from open bar.
  • All proposed excursions with their guide in Clair de Lune's air conditioned minibus, including entrance fees.
  • Use of on-board bicycles and jacuzzi
  • Round trip transfers in minibus from pre-arranged meeting point to Clair de Lune and return after the barge cruise

CLAIR DE LUNE'S on-line brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections soon to take advantage of this special offer: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http:www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html

Saturday, January 03, 2009

CLAIR DE LUNE - NEW B&B SUMMER CRUISE

The French hotel barge CLAIR DE LUNE is offering a Bed & Breakfast cruise for Summer 2009 along the Canal du Midi between Beziers and Carcassonne.

French hotel Barge CLAIR DE LUNE

Cruises starts: Saturday afternoon 4.pm ending the following Friday morning after breakfast at about 10.am

RATES : $19,000 for up to 6 guests, private charter

What is included:
  • 7 days, 6 night cruise
  • Two crew of captain and hostess
  • Accommodation for up to 6 guests in 3 double staterooms, each with ensuite heads
  • Champagne welcome
  • French-style breakfast
  • Transfers to and from the barge to pre-arranged meeting point.
  • Escorted excursions to Carcassonne and Narbonne in Clair de Lune's air conditioned mini van.
  • Use of the on-board bicycles and jacuzzi.
  • Provisioning: You will be able to buy local products to enable you to have a light lunch on board. A refrigerator will be made available to you for this purpose
Not included:
  • Dinners and fine wines and beverages from the bar and cellar.
  • The luncheons in Carcassonne and Narbonne are at guests' expense.

BED & BREAKFAST CRUISE ITINERARY : Canal du Midi, Beziers to Carcassonne

Saturday – Guests are met at 4:00 PM in Béziers and transferred to Clair de Lune, moored
nearby. Welcome aboard champagne reception with canapés, meet the Captain and crew. Settle in and enjoy the Jacuzzi while you cruise to your first overnight mooring in Villeneuve-les-Beziers. Dinner in or near Villeneuve at your expense. There is a choice of restaurants, some need a reservation that can be made by your hostess upon boarding.

Sunday – During the morning cruise we cross the aqueduct over the river Orb up the canal and ascend the seven-locks of Foncerannes in Beziers. Lunch in or near Colombier. Afternoon cruise involves picturesque views of the tree-lined canal. You can enjoy the Jacuzzi and sundeck or perhaps cycle or walk at your leisure. There is enough time to visit the Oppidum d’Enserune, a 2500-year old hilltop archeological city-site located near the canal’s only tunnel at Malpas. Evening mooring and dinner in Pouilles. Jane Martin (ex-barge chef) has opened a restaurant and there is an other restaurant in the port.

Monday –Morning cruise to Capestang where you can enjoy lunch. Time to visit Capestang
and stroll through the tree-covered square. The afternoon cruise takes us along the meandering canal to our evening mooring near the village of Argeliers. Perhaps an active guest may desire an invigorating cycle along little vineyard tracks up to the village of Quarante to view its thousand-year old Romanesque church, a true gem of the Languedoc region. Overnight stop in the country side near village of Argelliers, with a few restaurants to choose from.

Tuesday – After breakfast an escorted visit in our air-conditioned van to Narbonne,
founded in 118 B.C. by the Romans as their Capital in Gaul, the towering 13th century Gothic Cathedral and the 100-year-old covered market with its wonderful selection of fresh seafood, fruit, vegetables, cheese and many other delicious delicacies. There are also the chariot-rutted paving stones of the Roman road the “Via Domitia” in the central square where one can enjoy an espresso or cappuccino or visit the impressive Archaeological museum, the Fine Arts museum or shop and browse the boutiques along the quaint pedestrian streets. Enjoy Lunch with the locals at the market’s restaurant. They only serve the produce from the market. After lunch return to Clair de Lune for some more cruising to the evening’s mooring. A short stop-over in the picturesque hamlet of Le Somail and browse the collection of its famous ‘used & rare bookshop’. Overnight mooring in Paraza or Vantenac We moor near the chateau of Ventenac and can sample some of the local wine of the region. with a tapas bar on the port in Paraza or nice farmhouse-style cooking in the village.

Wednesday – Morning cruise and lunch stop in the countryside near the wine-cellars of
Bassanel. The new owners welcome you in the old barn decorated with the old time tools for wine making. Wines variety like Vionier Chardonnay Grenache and of course some of the oak aged Minnervois wines. Afternoon cruise to Homps or if you like a bike ride to Olanzac just a mile and a half from the canal and visit its lovely town square. Homps has a large choice of restaurants, bakeries, bistros, snack-bars. Return to the barge for more cruising up through the locks to a village of where we will moor for the night.

Thursday – An escorted morning visit in our air-conditioned van to the fortified medieval town of Carcassonne, another World Heritage site. 1700 years of history await you with its impressive double walls and 52 towers, the Romanesque and Gothic Cathedral with its gorgeous 13th century rose windows and the winding cobbled streets lined with boutiques. Lunch in Carcassonne will provide an excellent opportunity to try a Cassoulet, the regional stew of beans, duck or goose along with sausage from Toulouse. Afterwards you return to Clair de Lune to continue cruising, to the old town of Trebe built as a Roman observation post on the confluence of two rivers l’Aude,giving its name to the region, and l’Orbiel. A wide choice of restaurants in our overnight stop in Trebe.

Friday – After breakfast, disembark Clair de Lune to be transferred to a pre-arranged departure point for the next leg of your travels.

CLAIR DE LUNE'S on-line brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections soon to take advantage of this special offer: CLICK HERE

Visit the barging section of our web site:
http:www.paradiseconnections.com/barges.html