meadows@oldquimper.com

Our Brittany Shop 'n' Tours are definitely not like any other, so the first thing you have to do is forget all your preconceived notions about a tour. One big difference is that we limit each Brittany Shop 'n' Tour to just six people.

We eventually answer all
correspondence...please
be patient.

Another is that when you travel with us, you are not getting up at the crack of dawn only to sit in a bus all day as you travel from point A to point B! We base in one town and that way you spend more time actually experiencing the magic of Brittany.

We offer two different Brittany Shop 'n' Tours; one based in the town of Quimper from where we explore the western portion of Brittany known as Basse Bretagne and the another is based in Dinan. For the Dinan-based tour, we experience Haute Bretagne, or eastern Brittany...plus, as we'll be fairly close, we can also venture into Normandy for a visit to the incomparable Mont St. Michel and other parts of western Normandy.

This is Quimper...

...and this is Mont St. Michel

Here's an overview of what you can expect when you join us for a Brittany Shop 'n' Tour:

It all begins when we pick you up upon your arrival in Brittany.  Remember, it's not your typical tour...it's more like a group of five or six friends enjoying the adventure of a lifetime. And if the very word "tour" makes you cringe, we're with you. As you will see, ours are totally different...and with the weakening of the dollar, it truly makes sense to benefit from our years of experience.

One big difference...there is no "get your luggage packed and be on the bus at 7a.m."

After a leisurely breakfast, we shop, tour, and eat our way through the wonders of Brittany. 

Another difference...we have no vested interest in any of the
restaurants, the markets, the hotels, the airlines, etc.

We want you to savor the area and immerse yourself in the culture so there are no set menus or rigid itineraries. Your preferences help define the experience.

We’ve been enjoying this Celtic corner of France for years and pride ourselves on being able to tailor what Brittany has to offer to your particular interests.

We handle all the arrangements for the vehicle, do all the driving, translate the museum exhibits, provide insight into the Breton culture, and, if you want, we’ll even authenticate your antiques purchases!

It’s a very special way to experience a very special place.

We stay in one centrally-located town and day trip from there. We have found it to be much more restful to stay in one place and not have to pack and unpack.

Event conflicts, activities as yet unscheduled, and uncharted group dynamics make it impossible to provide a firm itinerary at this time, and actually that really is not the intent of a Brittany Shop ’n’ Tour. It’s much more on the order of organized spontaneity. But we do want to give you a better idea of what you can expect, and so, what follows are some of the highlights.

You’ll discover magical places...experience the Breton way of life...past and present...and walk in the footsteps of artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Sérusier, and, of course, Paul Gauguin.

We're not trapped in a huge awkward bus; we travel in a normal passenger van. Mark does all the driving and all vehicle fees, fuel, tolls, parking, etc. are included. Also included are any and all entrance fees to museums, châteaux, brocantes and antiques shows; all guide services are included as well as all fees associated with special events or exhibits, and on the first night, we get you started gastronomically with a "Welcome to Brittany" dinner at one of our favorite Breton restaurants!

Shopping in Brittany is fabulous; we’ve been able to satisfy the needs of everyone from those that simply want a few, small souvenirs to professional antiques dealers that want to ship back large pieces of furniture.

Our shopping forays can range from church bazaar-type affairs to shops stuffed to the ceiling with treasures. We are always available for packing tips and assistance...and we’ve even been known to negotiate a better deal.

In the past we’ve visited historic manor houses, explored the gorgeous
countryside, admired the view from the high points in Brittany, marveled at its large carved-granite calvalries, picnicked among the menhirs, and although Brittany technically does not have a "native" wine, we’ve savored regional products including cider, beer, and those wonderful, buttery Breton galettes.

We "walk and talk" throughout Brittany’s historic old towns and visit the sites that inspired artists as diverse as Renoir and Picasso. We also invite your input as to what we see and do. As soon as you sign on, we send a newsletter and invite your comments so we can get a better idea of your particular interests.

But whatever we do, we always eat great food and meet nice people because every day is intertwined with the various events of a holiday in Brittany...music, food, dancing, traditional crafts displays, and nights of good-spirited fun that can stretch into the wee hours.

Many of the photographs used as illustrations in each  monthly issue of oldquimper.com were taken during previous tours and can give you an idea of what’s in store.

We meet in Brittany, so you are free to fly into France on the airline of your choice...using the gateway city of your choice...and take advantage of your frequent flyer miles, etc. You might want to add a few days in Paris, London, or another part of Europe before or after your Brittany Shop ’n’ Tour. We are Square Trade Travel Certified tour guides and can assist you with all the necessary arrangements and as well, we would be happy to work with your regular travel agent. Should you choose to have us help you with your individual travel specifics, there is no additional fee. Travel insurance is additional, however, and is always recommended.

JULY/QUIMPER TOUR: This year, our Quimper-based tour begins when we pick you up  in Quimper on Tuesday July 22, 2008 and our adventure lasts for eight days and seven nights--until your departure from Quimper on the morning of July 29, 2008.

You are free to arrive in Quimper from wherever you may be; you are not locked-in to one particular method.

TGV (très grande vitesse meaning "very high speed") rail travel is available between  Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport in Paris and Quimper. Two levels of rail travel are available--Second Class and First Class (the time of travel is approximately six hours). If you will be in Paris before joining our tour, rail travel is also available from there and as well there are daily flights from Paris' Orly airport (ORY).

We take you to your hotel and then we day trip our way through the surrounding countryside--shopping, eating, sightseeing, and touring.

Subject to availability, there are two recommended levels of hotel accommodations available in Quimper--two star and three star.
The hotel rates for 2008 have not as yet been confirmed, but to give you a better idea of what to expect, last year, the hotels in Quimper ranged from 40 euros per person, per night to 80 euros per person, per night.

Once you have signed on, we will send you further information on available options within your hotel category...for example, upgrading to a larger room or suite.

Please note that the Quimper hotels have, in some cases, just twenty to thirty rooms, so the sooner you make your reservations the better.

SEPTEMBER/DINAN TOUR: This year, our tour of eastern Brittany will begin on September 10, 2008 when we pick you up at the rail station in Rennes (or the airport in Dinan if you so desire). The tour continues until the morning of the 16th of September, when we take you back to the rail station in Rennes (or the Dinan airport).

TGV rail travel is available between CDG airport and Rennes; the time of travel is approximately 2.5 hours. If you will be in Paris before joining our tour, rail travel is also available from there and, as well, there are flights into Dinan from Paris' Orly airport (ORY).

For this tour, we base out of
Dinan--one of Brittany's Villes d'Art et d'Histoire...city of art and history.

We day trip our way through Haute Bretagne...shopping, eating, and touring... with a venture into Normandy...perhaps a visit to Mont St. Michel or Bayeux.

Subject to availability, there are two and three star hotels in Dinan. Again, the hotels are small, 28 to 32 rooms, so the sooner we can confirm your choice of room, the better. The hotel rates for this year range from about 30 euros per person, per night, on up to around 75 euros per person, per night.

As always, nothing is written in stone; for example, if you have already visited Mont St. Michel and would rather do something else, that won't pose a problem.

Those are the specifics for each tour.

OK...how much? We know you want to know the cost, but that depends on you and whether you want to travel to our meeting point first class, or second class, stay in a two-star or three-star hotel, etc.

We charge $900 per person (or the equivalent in euros) for our guide services...services that include the van and all van-related fees, entrance fees to museums and antiques shows, etc. and dinner in one of our favorite local eateries.

We provide hotel information for a range of accommodations...you decide which hotel suits your needs and we are more than happy to make the reservations for you. You pay for the hotel directly.

Likewise, we can assist you with the travel arrangements to our meeting point...whether it be by rail or by air, we can make the reservations for you. You pay for that travel directly. Because of its flexibility, the rail option has been the most popular with our fellow travelers. To give you an example of what that will cost, a single ticket (not including any senior or family travel discounts) for round trip rail travel from Paris to Quimper ranges from $182 to $403 if traveling from CDG airport or $121 to $361 if traveling from Paris.  For those interested in our September tour based in Dinan, the cost to take the train from Paris to Rennes ranges from $145 to $394 depending upon whether you travel first or second class. (Note that should you decide to extend your adventure, a pass good for three days of rail travel within France is $258 for second class  and $304 for first class. Those good in math will have immediately deduced that, in some cases, it's less expensive to purchase a pass).

There are lots of ways to put your package together to suit your specific desires.

How much you need for shopping and food is up to you...meals are not pre-set.

For lunch, we might go to the local markets for fresh picnic provisions and dinner menus are posted outside the restaurants so everyone gets to order exactly what they want, spend what they want, and eat what they want.  None of that "banquets for the bus load of people stuffed into a back room of the restaurant" type of food for us!

Brittany is an amazing experience, so if you are ready for the trip of a lifetime, a  $200. per person deposit (or euro equivalent) will assure your space; we accept payment by MasterCard, Visa, PayPal, and personal checks. We limit the size of each tour to a maximum of six.

Come join the fun...just let us know as soon as possible because Brittany is a very popular destination, the hotels are small,  and we cannot hold the rooms for an extended time.

Need further convincing? Just look at these photographs from previous adventures...

If it's gardens you like, then we go to magnificent gardens; if it's music, then we go to concerts, etc., etc.

And of course, we always take time to enjoy the view. 

It generally works out to be one-quarter nature, one-quarter culture, one-quarter good food and drink, and one-quarter shopping! And the shopping is not just for Quimper pottery...over the years, we've helped send back everything from a gorgeous chandelier to a beautiful sideboard, from rare collectors' watches to exquisite designer shoes! If you're not into shopping, not to worry. There is always plenty to do and see; why the merchants and the markets alone are enough to make you glad you brought your camera!

Brittany is surprisingly affordable and there's never been a better time than now to sign on for the trip of a lifetime!

We shop; this is an example of one of the antiques and brocante fairs.

We enjoy the music and the musicians of Brittany...

...we can usually assist with the packing and
shipping of your souvenirs, but in this particular
instance, more than one of our group wanted
to take these fellows home, but we just weren't
able to manage it, sorry! 

...and of course we eat:

mmmm...delicious crêpes and galettes
originated in Brittany.

Brittany abounds with art; for over a century, it has attracted artists hoping to break from the confines of rigid theories and technologies. Paul Gauguin, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, James Whistler, John Singer Sargent, J.M.W. Turner...a veritable who's who of art. Brittany...from Concarneau...to Pont-Aven and Le Pouldu...to Cap Frehel...to Saint Brieuc...too many places, too many artists  to mention. In order to paint what was "felt" rather than what was merely seen, Gauguin implored his disciples to enjoy the "wildness" of Brittany. And we do, too...even today, it remains a world apart!

Just look at this portion of the Breton coastline:

All of Brittany awaits you and you'll find that coming with us gives you a unique look at a corner of France that itself is quite unique.

It's an incredible opportunity to effortlessly experience the culture and heritage that makes Brittany such a delight! 

Brittany on your own is one thing; it's still fun, but coming with us on a Brittany Shop 'n' Tour is an experience that is positively extraordinaire!

Remember...this is just a smidgen of what's in store when you join us on a Brittany Shop 'n' Tour!

It's definitely a Bon Voyage!
 

Note: for tours to destinations other than Brittany and Normandy or travel that better fits your individual schedule, we invite you to please check out our France Shop 'n' Tours at www.France-Shop-n-Tour.com.