ETAPE DU TOUR - 3 NIGHTS (2 Nights Montelimar, 1 Night Avignon)

18 Jul 2009 to 21 Jul 2009

MONTELIMAR & AVIGNON

(Budget Hotels)

Saturday 18th to Tuesday 21st July 2009

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.

This tour spends 2 nights prior to the Etape du Tour in the start town of Montelimar, which means you will be able to ride to the start from the hotel. After the Etape you will spend 1 night in Avignon (approx 40mins from the finish village in Mont Serein).

Budget Hotel

We have reserved accommodation at the Budget Hotel Formula 1 in Montelimar www.hotelformula1.com. Rooms consist of 1 double bed and single bunk bed and toilet and showers are outside of the rooms.

We have also reserved rooms at the Etap Hotel www.etaphotel.com & Premiere Classe www.premiere-classe-montelimar-les-tourettes.fr.

These rooms are a little on the small side for 2 people and 2 bikes, so you might be better off taking advantage of our special offer single room supplement, and have a room to yourself.

These budget hotels is located approx 13km north of Montelimar.

Flights or Eurostar / TGV

You will have the choice of flying to either Nimes, Marseille, or Avignon from where we shall arrange transport (at specific times) to your hotel. Alternatively take the Eurostar from Central London to Paris and the fast TGV train to Montelimar and taxi to your hotel or to Avignon and a taxi to Avignon airport to meet our hotel transfer.

GUARANTEED RETURN BIKE TRANSPORT TO THE ETAPE FROM THE UK

Those choosing to fly or take the Eurostar / TGV fast train may want to take advantage of our guaranteed bike transport from the UK to the Etape. On Friday 17th July we shall collect your bike at the collection points indicated below and take it to either your hotel in Montelimar or our secure bike store on the outskirts of Montelimar.

Cost for this service is £75, for the guaranteed safe delivery and return of your bike.

Collection points:

The vehicle will travel from Glasgow, through Edinburgh, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham and London, calling at service stations in between on the M8, A1, M60, M6, M40, M25 and M20.

ITINERARY:

Friday 17th July:

Take your bike to one of our designated collection points (see above) for loading and transport to our secure bike store in Montelimar

Saturday 18th July:

Arrange your own flights to the following airports, NIMES, AVIGNON, MARSEILLE

The following budget airlines operate flights into Nimes, (Approx 100km to Montelimar)

www.ryanair.com from Liverpool, East Mids, Luton

Coach transfers to your hotel in Montelimar to meet the arrival of these flights only (anticipated 1 morning and 1 afternoon transfer, to be confirmed on the announcement of Ryan Air flight schedules)

The following budget airlines operate flights into Avignon; (Approx 75km to Montelimar)

www.flybe.com from Exeter & Southampton

www.jet2.com from Edinburgh & Leeds Bradford

Coach transfers to your hotel in Montelimar to meet the arrival of these flights only.

The following budget airlines operate flights into Marseille; (Approx 150km to Montelimar)

www.ryanair.com from Birmingham, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Glasgow Prestwick, Stansted, Manchester

www.easyjet.com from Bristol, Gatwick

www.bmibay.com from Birmingham

British Airways www.ba.com operate direct flights from Gatwick and connecting flights from Manchester. Air France www.airfrance.com operate connecting flights.

We will operate 3 coach transfer times from Marseille to your hotel in Montelimar. These will be approx 11.00hrs 15.00hrs 19.00hrs and are subject to change.

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 coach transfers (at specific times)

you to your hotel in Montelimar, where you will spend 2 nights.

Sunday 19th July:

Free day for making any last minute preparations before the event. In the morning you will be able to assemble your bike and have a short ride into Montelimar and Etape du Tour start village where you will sign on and collect your event number.

Monday 20th July:

This is it, the day of your dreams, your chance to ride a mountain stage of the 2009 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 taken to the secure bike store on the outskirts of Montelimar from where you will be able to ride the short distance into the start.

Our reps will be waiting for you at the finish village in Mont Serein to meet you.

After the event has finished (18.00hrs) we shall leave Mont Ventoux and travel the short distance (approx 40mins) to Avignon where you will spend the night at a similar standard hotel that you stayed at in Montelimar.

Tuesday 21st July:

After breakfast we shall offer the following airport transfers:

Nimes airport transfers departs from hotels in the Avignon area to meet the Ryan Air departures to Liverpool, East Mids & Luton.

Marseille airport transfers departs from hotels in the Avignon area at 09.00hrs & 12.00hrs. These times are subject to change, depending upon the flight schedules.

Avignon airport transfers departs from hotels in the Avignon area at 09.00hrs & 12.00hrs. These times are subject to change, depending upon the flight schedules.

Wednesday 22nd 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.

Budget Hotel

£620 (£480 tour price + £140 Etape du Tour entry fee)

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: ONLY £60

DEPOSIT REQUIRED TO SECURE THIS TOUR: £360 (£210 + £140 ENTRY FEE = £360)

INCLUDES:

3 Nights Dinner Bed & Buffet Breakfast

£140 entry fee to Etape du Tour

Air conditioned coach transportation

Secure bike store in Montelimar

Detailed itinerary

Services of our reps

DOES NOT INCLUDE:

Flights to France

Drinks with meals

Hotel extras (telephone, drinks, laundry etc)

EXTRA SUPPLEMENTS:

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT:

Budget Hotel: £70

BIKE TRANSPORT TO MONTELIMAR: £75

BOOK NOW ON LINE

If you have a suitable printer, you may print out a booking form which you may then post or fax to us:
Click here to Download an Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version. (23kb)

Travel Insurance
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