L’Etape du Tour 2010- Pau Fixed Centre – 3 Nights --FULLY BOOKED--

16 Jul 2010 to 19 Jul 2010

Friday 16th to Monday 19th July 2010

—FULLY BOOKED—

3 Star Quality & 2 Star Standard Hotels

WE HAVE NOW SECURED ADDITIONAL ROOMS AT THE IBIS HOTEL, LESCAR, CLOSE TO THE START, PRICE AS PER 2 STAR B&B

IN PAU WE ALSO HAVE AVAILABILITY IN THE HOTEL PALMERAIE, OR THE HOTEL VILLA NAVARRE (see Supporters Package Page.) V.I.P Packages or accommodation in Tarbes is also available (see Tarbes Fixed Center pages for details)

This package is aimed at those people who have a limited amount of time to spend at the Etape du Tour, and is one of our more popular packages. You will arrange your own flights to Toulouse, Lourdes, Pau or Biarritz (whilst those choosing to drive through France have the option can leave vehicles at the hotel in Pau).

This is a FIXED CENTRE that will be based in the town of Pau within 3km to 6km riding distance of the start, and will mean no checking out of the hotel on the morning of the Etape as we return to the same hotel after the finish. There will be a choice of 3 different standards of accommodation (2 Star SELF CATERING, 2 Star STANDARD, 3 Star QUALITY) and either Dinner Bed & Breakfast or Bed & Breakfast.

3 Star Hotel Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
We have reserved accommodation on Dinner Bed & Breakfast at the following excellent hotels, 3 Star Hotel La Palmeraie NO SINGLE ROOMS www.paupalmeraie.com and the 3 Star Hotel Eden Park – SOLD OUT, www.hotel-edenpark-pau.com These hotels are located on the outskirts of Pau and within a very short ride to the start (approximately 4km).

3 Star Hotel Bed & Breakfast SOLD OUT
We have reserved accommodation on Bed & Breakfast at the following excellent hotels in Pau 3 Star Hotel Gramont SOLD OUT www.hotelgramont.com and the 3 Star Hotel Roncevaux SOLD OUT www.hotel-roncevaux.com These hotels are located in the centre of Pau and close to many restaurants. They are also a short 3km ride to the start.

2 Star Hotel Dinner B&B SOLD OUT
We have reserved accommodation on Dinner Bed & Breakfast at the 2 Star Hotel Luy de Bearn www.hotel-pau.com The hotel is located approx 7km from the start and 2km from Pau airport.

2 Star Hotel B&B SOLD OUT
We have reserved accommodation on Bed & Breakfast at the following 2 Star hotels in Pau www.hotel-bosquet.com – SOLD OUT , www.hotelcentralpau.com, plus Hotel Campenile These hotels are located in the centre of Pau and close to many restaurants. They are also a short 3km ride to the start.

WE HAVE NOW SECURED ADDITIONAL ROOMS AT THE IBIS HOTEL, LESCAR, CLOSE TO THE START, PRICE AS PER 2 STAR B&B

2 Star Apart Hotel, Self Catering SOLD OUT
We have reserved accommodation at the 2 Star Appart Hotel Victoria Garden www.victoriagarden.com on a self catering basis. Each apartment has a double bed, equipped kitchen, TV with satellite channels, WiFi. There is a supermarket Leclerc very close by. This would suit those wanting to self cater whilst being close to the start of the event.

Flights or SELF DRIVE
You will have the choice of flying to either Pau, Lourdes-Tarbes, Toulouse, Biarritz from where we shall arrange transport (at specific times) to your hotel.

Those choosing to drive, can make their own way to the hotel and meet the group.

GUARANTEED RETURN BIKE TRANSPORT TO THE ETAPE FROM THE UK
Those choosing to fly may want to take advantage of our guaranteed bike transport from the UK to the Etape. On Thursday 15th July we shall collect your bike at the collection points indicated below and take it to our secure bike store on the outskirts of Pau.
Cost for this service is £80, for the guaranteed safe delivery and return of your bike.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

ITINERARY:
Thursday 15th July:
Take your bike to one of our designated collection points (see above) for loading and transport to our secure bike store in Pau

Friday 16th July:
Arrange your own flights to the following airports, PAU, LOURDES-TARBES, TOULOUSE, BIARRITZ from where we shall provide regular coach transfers to your hotel in Tarbes.

The following budget airlines operate flights into….

Pau Airport, (Approx 35km to Pau) www.ryanair.com from Stansted & Bristol www.airfrance.com

Lourdes-Tarbes Airport, (Approx 15km to Pau) www.bmibay.com from Manchester www.ryanair.com from Stansted

Biarritz Airport, (Approx 160km to Pau) www.ryanair.com from Stansted & Birmingham www.easyjet.com from Bristol, Gatwick

Toulouse Airport, (Approx 160km to Pau) www.easyjet.com from Bristol, Gatwick www.bmibay.com from Manchester www.ba.com from Heathrow www.jet2.com from Edinburgh & Leeds Bradford (check dates) www.airfrance.com

The airlines will charge to carry your bike. Make sure that you book your bike onto the flight. There will be limited space for bikes on each flight, and airlines will not guarantee that your bike will arrive on your flight, even when booked and paid for. You may want to consider our guaranteed BIKE TRANSPORT.

Flights are going to be in very high demand, so please book early to secure a seat and get the best rates.

On arrival at your chosen airport you will be met by our reps, and there will be regular coach transfers (at specific times) to your hotel in Trabes, where you will spend 3 nights.

Those choosing the self drive option, can make their own way to the hotel and meet the group.

Saturday 17th July:
Free day for making any last minute preparations before the event. In the morning you will be taken the short distance by coach to our secure bike store, (outskirts of Pau), where your bike will have been delivered by our bike transport lorry. At the bike store you will be able to assemble your bike, and leave your bike box/bag on the lorry.

After assembling your bike, you will be able to have a short ride from the bike store to the Etape du Tour start village where you will sign on and collect your event number. After collecting your number you will return to your hotel in Pau on the bike and keep the bike with you at the hotel.

Sunday 18th July:
This is it, the day of your dreams, your chance to ride a mountain stage of the 2010 Tour de France, 9000 participants, closed roads, feeding stations and Mavic assistance, just like the real thing……Start time is anticipated to be 07.00hrs, so after an early breakfast you will be able to ride the short distance into the start.

SPORTS TOURS INTERNATIONAL WILL PROVIDE 2 PRIVATE FEED STATIONS ALONG THE ROUTE

At the finish our reps will be waiting to meet you at both the top of the Col du Tourmalet (Finish) as well as the finish village in La Mongie (5km down from the summit).

After you have finished the event, JOIN THE PARTY……..SPORTS TOURS INTERNATIONAL WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A PRIVATE PASTA PARTY WITH DRINKS IN THEIR VERY OWN PRIVATE MARQUEE LOCATED AT OUR COACH RENDEZVOUS POINT. This pasta party will be your evening meal and we expect to leave at approx 10pm for transport back to Pau.

For those that don´t want to join the Sports Tours post race pasta party, drinks and presentations, there will be regular shuttle busses back to Pau, where you will be able to take an evening meal at your own expense.

Monday 19th July:
After breakfast we shall offer regular airport transfers PAU, LOURDES-TARBES, TOULOUSE, BIARRITZ

Tuesday 20th July:
Collection of your bike from our lorry at the same point that it was loaded. Times to be confirmed, but expected to start with London drop off at 07.00hrs.

Cost:

3 Star Hotel Dinner B&B (Palmeraie and Eden Park)
PALMERAIE NO SINGLE ROOMS AVAILABLE
EDEN PARK SOLD OUT
£729 tour price + £170 Etape du Tour entry fee
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: £220

3 Star Hotel B&B
RONCEVAUX SOLD OUT
HOTEL GRAMONT SOLD OUT

2 Star Hotel Dinner B&B (Luy de Bearn) SOLD OUT

2 Star Hotel B&B (Campenile and Central)
“SOLD OUT“:
IBIS £499 TWIN TO SHARE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT £190

2 Star Self Catering Apart Hotel (Victoria Garden)
“SOLD OUT“:

THIS SELF CATERING HOTEL IS ALSO SUITABLE FOR THOSE TRAVELLING WITH NON-RIDING PARTNERS
Your partners will be able to see you off from either the VICTORIA GARDEN HOTEL or a position close to the start area, and then they will be taken to an intermediate point between the Col de Marie Blanque and the Col du Soulor before heading off to the finish village in La Mongie to greet you on your arrival.

INCLUDES:
3 Nights Bed & Buffet Breakfast, (Dinner where advertised)
Sports Tours private drinks stations during the Etape
Post race party (Pasta & drinks)
Air conditioned coach transportation
Secure bike store in Pau
Detailed itinerary
Services of our reps

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Race Entry Fee (£170)
Flights to France
Drinks with meals
Hotel extras (telephone, drinks, laundry etc)
BIKE TRANSPORT TO PAU: £80

TRAVEL INSURANCE (Compulsory):
For travel in 2010, SPORTS TOURS INTERNATIONAL LTD (trading as Sports Tours International,
Club La Santa UK, Graham Baxter Sporting Tours, Wheel 2 Wheel or the Golf Travel Club) is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Global Travel Insurance Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. For more information on the insurance that is offered, please visit www.globaltravelinsurance.co.uk/quote/spo09 or phone us on 0161 703 8161 and we can post you an insurance application form. Please note, from January 1st 2009 we cannot give any advice on travel insurance under the current regulations.

Whilst we try very hard to deliver your tour itinerary as specified at the time of booking, sometimes circumstances beyond our control may prevent us from providing the exact tour itinerary that is advertised and in such circumstances we do not assume liability for any loss of the advertised elements of the itinerary.