The Insider's Club: February

The most complete GUIDE to the INSIDE

The Insider’s Club

February 2018

Hot Spot of the Month

Paris & Normandy

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Choose Your News Explore: Paris & Normandy 4-7 Where To Stay 8-11 Exclusive Virtuoso World Travel Experiences 12-23 Tech News: Travel Technology 24-25

Explore: Paris & Normandy Written by Damien Martin

As Audrey Hepburn famously said, Paris is always a good idea. As compact as the City of Light is, it may well be impossible to experience its totality. To come close, you need to journey down the Seine, the river that was the lifeblood for the fledgling city and still plays a major role today. The Seine is also the perfect way to see the sprawl that arose around such a prosperous and packed city.

As Paris became overcrowded and hot, especially before the engineering reforms of Georges-Eugène Haussmann in the latter half of the 19th century, well-heeled Parisians escaped to the countryside, building lavish country retreats.

These chateaux and gardens, combined with the charming towns and multi-layered history of Normandy, make a voyage down the Seine the ultimate way to dive into Paris and its surroundings.

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For a vessel to transport you through space and time, it’s hard to top Uniworld’s 128-passenger SS Joie de Vivre, inspired by Parisian styles of the 20th century. Start with Club L’Esprit, the “super yacht’s” spa and wellness center, which at night transforms into Claude’s supper club, a chic spot for hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails which on select nights moonlights as an intimate French cinema. Replete with Pierre Frey fabrics, it is the place for bon vivants to congregate and discuss the day’s events.

With fantastic excursions and themed sailings, there’s no shortage of things to talk about. Connoisseur Collection sailings (April 8, May 6, June 3, July 15 and Aug. 12) include available special excursions such as lunch at Château du Champ de Bataille, a terrace cafe experience in Giverny and oyster tasting in Honfleur. With the Generations program (June 24 and July 1 sailings), highlights include a bike ride from the docking location to Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny.

“It’s about 2 miles each way,” through picturesque country, said Elyse Reilly,

district sales manager for Uniworld. “Then you join the tour, seeing (Monet’s) collection of Japanese prints and workshop.” The path is flat, and you’ll quickly understand why Monet chose the area to work and make his home.

Other Generations program exclusives are venturing inside Rouen’s Great Clock — four floors high — and a treasure hunt at the Louvre.

For those itching to squeeze in a round of golf, Day 4 of the cruise itinerary offers the chance to play Étretat’s clifftop course with gorgeous sea views. If you have a group of golfers, you can also arrange to play at Champ de Bataille outside Rouen on Day 3.

“Just bring your shoes and your gloves,” Reilly said, and clubs will be available.

Delve deeper into history as the week continues. On Day 5, when docked in Rouen, there are three options for seeing the beaches of Normandy.

“You can do a quick tour of the beaches and see the Bayeux Tapestry, or visit the American cemetery at Arromanches or visit one of the first cities liberated” on D-Day, Sainte-Mère-Église, Reilly said. The monuments are

Arromanches are stunning and somber, she said, “There’s a whole moving ceremony at the American cemetery for our guests.”

The next day, as you make your way closer to Paris, there’s the opportunity to visit Versailles or the lesser frequented Château de Malmaison, once home to Napoleon Bonaparte and Josephine, now a well-preserved monument to their era.

Back in Paris, the beginning and end of all things France, there are again several ways to discover the city.

“You either get the full panoramic city tour on motorcoach or an intimate walking tour of two neighborhoods led by a local guide — we focus on Île de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. Or, you can choose to do a Let’s Go bicycle tour on the Left Bank.”

If you can’t get enough of Paris — and, let’s be honest, who can? — you can add a three-day, two-night extension including hotel stay and a tour of the Opera Garnier. While it could take a lifetime to get your fill of Paris and its surroundings, this immersive itinerary is definitely a good idea.

Paris & Normandy:

Where you should stay

Esprit Saint Germain

Designed to feel like a private residence, Hotel Esprit Saint Germain is ideally situated on the Left Bank in the heart of Paris. Behind its 18th-century facade, this urban hideaway exudes a refined yet unpretentious ambience. This is exactly what you imagine a French hotel should be like — very intimate and warm, stunningly designed with real loving care put into each of its 28 rooms and lounges. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed as a friend and feel at home with dedicated, personalized service throughout your stay. Be sure to stop by the living room regularly — a complimentary drink by the fireplace is always waiting.

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Four Seasons Hotel George V

The redecorated rooms and suites of this prestigious hotel create the unique atmosphere of luxurious Parisian apartments, including stunning views from numerous terraces. Take advantage of the magnificent marble courtyard and Artistic Director Jeff Leatham’s incredible floral arrangements throughout the hotel, and experience the exquisite cuisine of the three-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Cinq, by Christian Le Squer; the fashionable Mediterranean-style cuisine at Le George; or the intimate restaurant l’Orangerie. Do not miss the 6,000-square-foot Pop Up Spa by Jeff Leatham that is bathed in natural light and offers high-end treatments.

Château d’Audrieu

Château d’Audrieu, located between Caen and Bayeux, offers the opportunity to travel back in time. This 18th century edifice, listed as a historical monument, offers the warm welcome of a family home. The elegantly proportioned château is set in an extensive 25 hectares of wooded grounds and gardens. Hesitate not a minute longer, all the charms of Normandy await you at Audrieu! Turn the pages of history and discover not only the beaches of the D-Day landings, but also Bayeux and its famous Queen Matilda’s tapestry, Caen - the city of the Dukes of Normandy and Mont-Saint-Michel - a treasure of French heritage, not to mention the restaurant’s gourmet delights.

Ferme Saint Simeon

Sunlight playing off the grounds at Ferme Saint Simeon might well remind you of an Impressionist painting. And for good reason: Claude Monet and his fellow artists devised the Honfleur School while drinking cider under these very apple trees. Today this 17th-century Normand house offers 35 airy accommodations with oak parquet flooring, lush fabrics and fine furnishings; many overlook the Seine estuary. Chef Mickael Lelièvre features only the finest local ingredients at the acclaimed restaurant, while the spa uses many of the same ingredients in exclusive treatments. Catch live music in the wood-paneled lounge.

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Tech News:

Travel Tech

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