GoldenBeeTours

"…a walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, in beauty and in the point of life."
Thomas Jefferson

Paris is the city that epitomizes glamour and elegance, and Parisian women are known for their innate chic. It's not that they are more beautiful or spend more with clothes - it is the way they put themselves together, the small details that make us wonder 'how do they do it?'

To learn this savoir-faire we invite you to spend one week in Paris with a lady who is the embodiment of French elegance. Maguy Laurine has personally designed A Parisian Makeover for a small group of women who want to cultivate their own inner French chic. This exclusive fashion and beauty tour of Paris features a supervised hair and makeup session, and personalized advice on selecting clothes and accessories. Maguy will take you to the same 'secret' places favored by savvy Parisians, charming boutiques rarely frequented by tourists.

A Parisian Makeover is not just a shopping tour - it's week of beauty, glamour and fun in true French style. You will dine in authentic bistros, enjoy the finest entertainment, and refresh your style, your looks and spirit.

And what better way to learn Parisian chic than with a chic Parisian?

We offer A Parisian Makeover four times a year:
January - Winter Sales
July - Summer Sales
March - Summer New Collections
September - Winter New Collections

2008 dates:

January 20 - 27
March 9 - 16
July 6 - 3
September 2 - 28

Day 1

Sunday
Early morning arrival in Paris; airport greeting and transfer to hotel; lunch (I); free time to freshen-up after lunch

Group meeting in the hotel at 5 PM to become acquainted, present the week's schedule and discuss the 'Assessing your Style' form each group participant has filled when signing up for this tour.

Early dinner and bedtime. Tomorrow our full week's schedule begins...

Day 2

Monday
Monday is our first full day of activities; we leave at 10 AM for one of Paris most exclusive centers of beauty - in an elegant XIX century mansion - where the most sought-after experts in Paris will analyze your looks, and create hair and makeup styles easy for you to recreate at home. This is one of the best beauty salons in Paris, and we can assure you this kind of expertise is hard to find anywhere else.

Group dinner at selected bistro

Day 3

Tuesday
On Tuesday, we start building your new wardrobe and freshen what you have now. Maguy will help you select basic pieces and accessories, taking in consideration your lifestyle, and the look you want to achieve. She believes that we should wear works for us, not for teenage models on magazine covers - a core belief of French women.

Group dinner at selected restaurant (I)

Day 4

Wednesday
Wednesday is the day for shoes and handbags, to enhance your newly acquired clothes. Accessorizing well is one of Parisian women's best-kept secrets, and it's what makes the difference in the way they put together an outfit; Maguy will guide you through that special 'art'.

Dinner in exclusive restaurant/disco

Day 5

Thursday
Today we will explore two of the best vintage stores in Paris, where we get fabulous designer clothes for less. All elegant Parisians do that, and we could not leave town without visiting these paradises of savings and quality.

Five o'clock tea at prestigious teahouse (I)

Free time for dinner; back to the hotel for a 10:30 PM visit to a 'must see' elegant Parisian bar scene

Day 6

Friday
On Friday we will visit style-setting boutiques known for innovation and design. You will be introduced to fashionable Faubourg St. Honore, probably the most exclusive shopping street in the world. It's not where Parisians-in-the-know normally shop, but these places deserve a visit just for the beauty of their settings.

Lunch at Place du Faubourg St. Honore (I), the charming hangout of the fashion crowd in Paris.

In the afternoon we will shop for lingerie, a very important part of French femininity. We favor a small boutique where we find the most beautiful pieces, with great prices and service. We love to end our shopping with this glamorous and sexy touch, and this is the perfect place for it.

Group dinner

Day 7

Saturday
Free morning and afternoon. You may return to places you liked during the week, or venture onto new Parisian discoveries by yourself or with other ladies in the group.

Back to the hotel by 7 PM for special surprise dinner and late burlesque show (I).

Day 8

Sunday
Breakfast at the hotel; check-out by noon; transfer to Charles de Gaulle airport for departure to the US. Farewell and end of tour.

Food & Fun

• You will not 'shop 'till you drop' - that is not the Parisian way. This tour is about pleasure, not pressure, and it would not be Paris without that other French treasure - glorious food. With that in mind, we have personally selected cafes and bistros where locals meet to relax, socialize and savor the best food Paris offers. You will not be disappointed…

• The burlesque show we will take you to on Saturday night is something you will never forget. It will not only release your inner Frenchwoman, it will also encourage you to keep in shape for the rest of your life!

• During these seven days in Paris you will have free time to pursue your own special interests. We can advise you on where to go and provide you a list of addresses depending on what they are - museums, decoration, theater, movies, gardening, etc.

• (I) marks meals included in the price of tour.

Description of tour
Weeklong escorted tour of Paris designed by Parisian fashion consultant for 5 - 8 ladies. It features:

• Personalized hair/make-up counseling at a premier beauty salon
• One-on-one fashion advice shopping for clothes and accessories with Parisian consultant
• Dining in exclusive bistros and restaurants
• Top tier burlesque show
• Company of a tour director and Parisian consultant during the week

Joining Our Tour
When you sign up for this tour, you will be asked to fill an 'Assessing your Style' form, to help in selecting clothes and acessories fitting your lifestyle and your desired new look.

A Parisian Makeover starts on a Sunday morning, with pick up at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport and a private mini-van transfer to our hotel.
The tour ends on the following Sunday; transfer in private mini-van to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for departure to the US marks the end of the tour.

Prices
Please contact us

As s a non-resident of the European Union, you will benefit from a tax refund, when you leave France. Or you may choose to join one of our sale tours, when prices in stores can go down 70%.

Tour prices are based upon exchange rates as of March, 2008 and are subject to change. Changes due to cost of land arrangements or international currency fluctuations will be passed on to travelers, provided notice is given prior to commencement of the tour.

Payment schedule
A deposit of 30% of total tour cost is required at the time of booking. Final payment is due 30 days prior to departure date. If reservation is made within 30 days of tour date, the entire cost of the trip must be paid at time of booking. Payment may be made by check to:

Golden Bee Tours, LLC
523 Fifth Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803
We also accept American Express cards.

Cancellation policy
All cancellations made prior to 30 days of departure will be subject to a fee of $500 per person; all cancellation requests have to be made in writing. No refunds will be given for cancellations made within 30 days of departure.

After final payment is received, you will be mailed a receipt and a confirmation, as well as an 'Assessing your wardrobe and style' form to be completed, in order to help you determine your wardrobe needs.

Price includes:
• Pick-up at Charles de Gaulle airport to in Paris and transfer to hotel
• Hotel room/breakfast for 7 nights in a 3 star hotel on Sale Season tours or
• Hotel room/breakfast for 7 nights in a 4 star de luxe hotel on New Collection tours
• Meals marked by the sign (I) in the Schedule page
• Fashion, shopping and beauty one-on-one counseling by Parisian expert
• Transportation during scheduled activities
• List of restaurants/shopping/sightseeing and activities for free time
• Company of tour director and fashion counselor during entire week's activities
• Transfer to Charles de Gaulle airport for departure on last day of tour
• Help with VAT refund at aiport prior to your boarding

Price does not include:
• Airfare. We may help you with your plane reservations; see General Information page.
• Discretionary purchases
• Gratuities (tips)
• Transportation during free time
• Meals not marked by (I) on our Schedule page
• Beauty treatments on day 2 (haircut, color, makeup lessons)
• No features or benefits beyond those specifically mentioned in the Price Include section above

Travel insurance
We recommend that you purchase individual trip, air, health, accident, baggage and cancellation insurance from your insurance company, to prevent hardship and to recover charges in the event of unexpected cancellation. This coverage is also available through your airline or travel agent, and is based on the total cost of your trip and on your age.

Age
We ask that our guests be at least 21 years of age.

Dietary restrictions
Due to the nature of our tour, and the fact that it includes regional food and meals at local restaurants, we are not able to accommodate restricted diets such as salt-free or kosher, nor are we able to accommodate people with food allergies. Vegetarian meals are available most of the time. For obvious reasons we cannot provide American food on this tour.

Disclaimer
Golden Bee Tours, LLC cannot be held responsible for any disruption of travel and/or related services due to monetary crisis, political or social unrest, labor problems, mechanical or construction difficulties, climatic changes, local laws, diseases or other conditions. Our tours are sold as complete packages, and must be purchased in their entirety. No deviation is permissible from our scheduled activities, and we are not responsible for assisting travelers in such alterations. Refunds or credits for any unused part of our tours will not be issued. We act as intermediary of agents in selling services which are not directly supplied by us, and shall not be responsible for breach of contract or any intentional or careless actions or omissions on the part of such suppliers which may result in any loss, damage, delay or injury to travelers or group members.

Golden Bee Tours, LLC reserves the right to cancel any trip or portion of it at any time and/or to change our program, if the services included in the tour cannot be supplied for any reason, or if there are changes in the program which are beyond our control. In such cases we will arrange for the substitution of alternate comparable services. In case of cancellation, a refund for the appropriate amount will be paid without any liability to any of our guests.

Release
Each participant on this tour declares that she is of good general health, and hereby releases and agrees to hold Golden Bee Tours, LLC and its agents harmless against any and all disabilities, costs and expenses (including attorney's fees and costs of litigation) which she may incur as a result of her participation on this tour.

Climate/Clothing
When you sign up for this tour, we will provide specific information on average temperatures at different times of the year in Paris. As a rule, make sure you bring comfortable clothes and shoes for daytime activities. We don't recommend sneakers or Bermudas in the summer, as some places will not let you in. It's advisable to bring a dressier outfit, for special dinners and an evening show.

Currency conversion
The currency in France - and in the European Community - is the Euro, which fluctuates against the dollar, and is presently 1 Euro = $1.50. For up to the minute exchange rates, check www.xe.com/ucc. All banks charge a fee every time you use an ATM machine abroad, so check with the bank before you travel; Visa and Master Card are accepted in most establishments, Amex and Diner's Club less often. Most credit cards charge you an additional 3 to 4% fee as 'currency conversion', it's advisable to ask your credit card company how much you will be charged.

VAT
VAT, or Valued Added Tax, is the French equivalent of sales tax. If you don't live in the European Community, you will get a refund from 12 to 18% on any purchase over 175 Euros. We will provide information and help you get this refund at the airport, when you leave France.

Cash
We advise you to bring some Euros for personal expenses on your first day, and to ask your bank the location of their ATM machines in Paris. We don't recommend bringing travel checks, as they are not as widely used anymore, given the convenience of ATM machines everywhere.

Luggage
It's better to travel light, as you will be shopping for new clothes during this week. There are luggage restrictions in some airlines, so pack only what you cannot do without, as well as clothes/shoes for the first 3 days of tour.

Electricity
The French electrical system runs on 220 volts. You may need adapters to convert the voltage and fit sockets, and it's better to buy them in the US, where they are cheaper. Hairdryers are provided at the hotel.

Cell phones
Most American cell phones don't work in France. If yours does not, you have the option of buying an international cell phone before leaving home, or buying one in Paris for the duration of the trip. We will provide more information on cell phones when you register for this tour.

Gratuities
We are only responsible for gratuities (tips) on meals included in the tour price, marked by the sign (I) on the Schedule page.

Language and People
In the tourist areas of Paris, English is widely understood, but an effort to try to speak French is appreciated. It's a good idea to carry a pocket-sized phrase book, just in case.