Save The Dates

I've posted the save the dates and you all should be getting them soon. The invitations are soon to follow and I'd like to get a clear idea of who would be coming and how and I can help you set up your travel plans. I'll be absent for a bit of time because the new baby will be coming soon. So, please send me an email if you need any additional information and I'll get back to you ASAP.

More info

You should be receiving your save the dates pretty soon. Can you let me know your addresses by email? I don't know if some of you have looked at the blog at all or not. So, I need some input to give to the travel agent. If I don't have input, i'll just assume that you aren't interested. I'm trying to make this trip as easy on most of you as possible. I'm also trying to make it the least expensive that we can. I've been made aware that many of you can't post for your vacation until January and don't know if you will come or not. I'm not asking for conformation at all. I want to know when you'd like to come. My suggestion would be to come the Thursday before the baptism and to rest up a bit and then Friday we'll have evening activities for you, Saturday a nice luncheon and dinner and Sunday a nice brunch and then off to Paris, Lyon or where ever you should choose to go. I've priced hotels and the one i've found is much cheaper and you'll get a group rate at the Hotel Bordeaux. Let me know what you want to do. I want this to be a great trip for you and for you to enjoy yourselves. Just let me know what you need and i'll direct it toward the trip travel agent Laura Bisig http://www.platinumtvl.com/. You may also call her at 502-425-4464. I suggest you tell me first what you want for your travel so we can make an effort to have everything uniform. Call Laura to find out the rates and how you can make a payment plan for the trip.

Princesse Flore Hotel

I got a rate for the Princesse Flore Hotel. I find it a bit extravagant but hey, it really is up to you. She gave me a rate for the following rooms. For those of your staying longer than a few days, I honestly don't see it being worth it. I really suggest that everyone stays at the Hotel Bordeaux. It is a place to sleep, clean and the owners are really nice. They said if we have enough people that we can have the whole hotel. The rates for the hotel is as follows:

Chambre Classique single - Tarif affiché : 160€ - Tarif avec remise commerciale : 120,00€

Classic Room- single- normal rate: 160€ -reduced rate 120€

Chambre Privilège double - Tarif affiché : 300€ - Tarif avec remise commerciale : 240,00€

Privilege double room- normal rate : 300€- reduced rate : €240

Junior Suite double (et famille) – tarif affiché : 430€ - Tarif avec remise commerciale : 340,00€

Junior Double Suite(family suite)- normal rate : €430 - reduced rate : €340

Now, this hotel is a four star hotel. For people want to have a stay with a spa attached that you can access everyday of your stay, that is fine. I'll make arrangements for you to stay there. However, for those on a budget such as my own, you'll find that the Hotel Bordeaux is much more affordable and will take care of your needs efficiently. So please contact me and let me know which of the hotels you are interested staying in.

Puy De Dome closed 2011

I just found out that the Puy de Dôme will be closed for all of 2011 to build a railway. However, I talked to the Tourism Office and they told me that you can walk up the Puy De Dôme. It takes a few hours but you can see all of the chain of volcanoes and different cities from the top. If you look for the Office Of Tourism for Clermont-Ferrand, you'll find many activities that are and will be available.

Travel agent for Louisville people

I have found a travel agent in Louisville who is now pricing tickets for the dates July 15th-29th to give me an idea of what the price would be. The travel agency is Platinum Travel. The contact that you will need to reach in the future would be Laurie Bisig. What I suggested is that people come to Clermont-Ferrand for three or four days. For the rest of your travel, you may stay in Paris. I thought a week to ten days would be sufficient time for most people to travel. Some of you will be traveling with small children and that will not be a problem because we will make sure we have some child care set up should you need some respite after such a long trip. For your travel to Clermont-Ferrand, we are thinking about you flying directly to us, doing the christening and activities we have planned, then after the weekend finishing up in Paris. You'll be able to attend the Fête de la musique on June 21st which takes place in every city in France. When I receive more information, i'll post it as it is available. For your travel to Paris, i thought it would be very nice to take a train being that it is cheaper and it is more picturesque. You'll be able to see the "real France". I'll post some ideas should you prefer to go elsewhere but Paris is the easiest place for most of you to go. It is the capital and there are a host of things to do with many chateaus and museums inside and outside of the city.

Hotel choices

I'm visiting lots of hotels as we speak. I've found a few and I'm waiting on an estimate for the number of rooms needed. Here is a list of the different types of hotels. I would like for all of you to be together to get a really good rate. I'm waiting on rates from three hotels. They are all of different qualities and centrally located. You have 2 star, 3 star and 4 star hotels. Here is a list of the hotels that i've found. I want you to keep in mind that this is Europe and the prices will be in Euros. However, the Euro is sinking and by next year, i'm positive that the prices will come down for you in dollars. Ignore the prices given on the site. If you book as a group, you'll be able to have a reduced rate. A friend of mine is in the hôtellerie/residence sector and may be able to get a greatly reduced rate for everyone. Leave a comment and tell me what you think.
http://www.hotel-radio.fr/hotelradio.html
http://www.princesse-flore-hotel.com/index-uk.htm
http://www.hotel-beaulieu-clermont.com/studio3ou4.php
http://www.sejours-affaires.com/photo-residence-hoteliere-aparthotel-clermontferrand-165.html
The last hotel is for those such as my sister who will have a long stay in our town. She'll be staying for two weeks. However, I do know that many of you would like to make this a stop off for the baptism and go to see friends, family and the sites in other parts of France. Please let me know what you think. There are many other hotels. However, there are some in the mountains that are far off. You may rent chalets also.
http://auvergne-resort.volcans-vacances.com/
Originally, I thought of having something up there but it is quite far from the city. The choice is yours really.

Clermont-Ferrand

Hello again! I'm sending out Save the dates that you'll most likely receive within the next few weeks. Right now, we are looking for hotels that are affordable but up to standards that everyone can appreciate or be happy with. My suggestion is to say for three days in beautiful region and to enjoy the best of what the Auvergne can offer and to stay in Paris for four days. It depends on what you like so please let me know what you would all like to do.

The christening will be at Christ Church Auvergne in Royat which is a suburb of Clermont-Ferrand.
Royat has many things to offer. It is a thermal city that has what we call "the cure". You can swim in the spring waters and also have some spa treatments. It is one of the famous spa cities in France. If you would like to know more about the city of Clermont-Ferrand, here is some information that may help you.

Keep checking for updates and hope to see some of you soon. :)

http://www.clermont-ferrand.fr/-English-.html
http://www.ot-royat.com/an/welcome_126.php

June 18th 2011, Saturday

We will be having a christening for our two girls and would be happy to have all of you. I'll be posting information regarding your travel, hotel and events available. Hope to see you all soon.
Jennifer