Chartres Antique Shopping Trip

LAURA TO WRITE: Short intro blurb about the tour and how great the experience will be.

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ANTIQUE SHOPPING TRIPS
Chartres (Aug 2016)
Maison et Objet (Sep 2016)
Antique & Vintage Shopping (Nov 2016)
Maison et Object (Jan, 2016)
Chatou Fair (Mar 2017)

JOHN - Laura is going to come up with fancier names but if you could just create this for now that would be great. Hopefully we can just change them down the track. Please give her character limit to work with.

 

Sample Itinerary

JOHN: This could be a good page to design like the new 90 day email if possible. e.g. image on one side and then description on the right. Or maybe that's too many images on one page? Yes...maybe for now just make it text!

LAURA: EXAMPLE TEXT FROM ANN HUFF.

DAY 1: Meet in Paris at noon for a welcome glass of bubbly. We’ll stroll over to the Carre des Antiquaires, a charming neighborhood that is packed with some of the loveliest interior design and antique shops in the 7th Arrondissement. We’ll have dinner at a lovely neighborhood restaurant.

DAY 2: With your French-speaking buying guides leading the way, we’re up at the crack of dawn to spend all day at a marvelous bi-annual fair outside of Paris. We’ll have lunch at the fair (and rub elbows with dealers and buyers from all of Europe) and continue to shop and peruse all day. Ride back to Paris in time for a light dinner on your own in the neighborhood.

DAY 3: We will probably head back to the fair outside of town since it's usually a two-day process.  Alternatively, we'll spend the morning and lunch window shopping the Faubourg St. Honore, on the right bank.  Afternoon will be  free and dinner will be on your own that evening so that you can explore the neighborhood and feel more like a native.

DAY 4: Visit the Paris Vanves antiques market in the morning, which specializes in small, decorative objects. Spend the afternoon on your own or with the group, wandering around St. Germain des Pres in Paris, for other kinds of shopping and inspiration. We’ll have a delicious dinner with the group at a little jewel of a restaurant that we adore.

DAY 5: We'll head to our favorite flea market the whole day perusing the  Puces de Clignancourt for some serious looking and buying, stopping for lunch at one of our favorite bustling bistrots. We’ll be there most the day but we’ll hit a couple Paris landmarks on the way home. We’ll plan a fun little picnic at home tonight followed by an optional “Fat Tire” bike tour that evening. You won’t want to miss this one, we promise!

DAY 6: Armed with our little Black Book of favorite haunts, spend the day on your own (or with us) enjoying Paris and shopping like a native at all the best stores. Enjoy a festive dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in the neighborhood followed by an evening cruise on the Seine.

DAY 7: Depart for Charles de Gaulle airport or other European destinations.

Accommodation Options

JOHN: This is where I need you to put the apartments and the price for however many people can fit. Need a rate for 1 person (with additional cost on top I'm guessing?, 2 people, 3 people, etc.

FAQS

LAURA TO REWRITE. BELOW TAKEN FROM ANN HUFF.

Oooh la la… I’m ready to sign up! What’s my next step?
First step is to check availability with us and reserve your accommodations. We will hold your place for 48 hours. To confirm your reservation, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 per person. Final payment is due 90 days prior to the start date. For reservations made within 90 days of departure, the entire trip cost must be paid at the time of booking. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and personal check. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Cancellation Policy:
• Between time of registration and 90 days of scheduled departure: 75% refund.
• Between 61-90 days of scheduled departure: 50% refund.
• 60 days or less prior to scheduled tour departure: No refund.

Where will we stay in Paris?
We will be staying in our favorite Paris “hood” – the 7th Arrondissement, which is centrally located, beautiful and safe. It has a neighborhood feel and is packed with wonderful restaurants, cafes, bakeries, markets, pharmacies and all the goodies you’d want to find in Parisian neighborhood. And it’s very convenient to the nicest shopping districts in Paris.

What are the accommodations like?
Depending on availability, we have two options we like to use:  several apartments that we like to stay in that are rented by what we think is the premier rental company in Paris, called Paris Perfect. All of their apartments are beautifully equipped with comfortable beds, lush bedding, wonderful towels, hair dryers, TV’s, top of the line coffee machines and all the comforts of home. And, unlike home, they have killer views of the Eiffel Tower! The apartments are not large but they are all perfectly adequate for our groups. We also have a favorite little boutique hotel (hip and cool, bien sur) in the neighborhood that's recently been completely renovated.

How many guests stay in an apartment?
It depends on the size of the apartment, but we typically do two per bedroom, depending on occupancy. Hotel rooms are also based on double occupancy but we can certainly accommodate singles.

Do we need to bring hair dryers or converters? Is there internet access?
There is a hairdryer for every bathroom, so you should not need to bring one. It’s best to avoid bringing other electrical appliances if possible. We do have wifi and high speed internet access for those who need to bring a computer. Be sure to bring a converter that works in France.

What will the weather be like?
Well, you know you never go to Paris for the weather! And our buying trips are typically when the fairs are, so that’s March and October… so the weather can be quite cool.

What should I wear?
We always tell people to wear layers, comfy shoes, a warm jacket, and carry an umbrella and rain hat. But most importantly, wear comfy shoes (and socks). We will be traipsing through some warehouses that can be quite drafty, as well as outdoor markets. We also suggest that you leave your nice jewelry at home, for many reasons including the fact that you are at a negotiating disadvantage if you look “too good.” Our evenings are spent in excellent but casual restaurants so all you need is a lot of black and a nice scarf, and you’ll fit right in with the most elegant Parisiennes.

What will we be shopping for?
This trip is primarily geared to antiques and unique “objets” that you find in antiques fairs and flea markets. Your guides are very familiar with many of the vendors you will be meeting and can steer you to the reputable ones. Although we don’t profess to be antique experts, we do know our Louis’ and know what to look for – as well as what to avoid, like tables where the apron is too low or chairs that may look nice but aren’t functional. Typically, people like to buy a few good antiques, such as 18th century buffets or 19th century mirrors. More importantly, it’s fun to see what reaches out and grabs you, like one client who found an 18th century terre cuite statue, or another, who had to have a huge antique key (and she carried it home on the plane!).

Will you help us negotiate?
Yes, some of us are native speakers and also know which vendors are more negotiable about prices. Also, if several people buy from the same vendor, there is always a much better price for quantity, and you can expect to save up to 20 or 25% percent.

How do we ship home?
We work with a shipper who will pick up the goods in Paris, wrap them and ship them directly to our warehouse in Atlanta by freight. This usually takes at least two months, but we find that it’s well worth the wait!

How much will the shipping cost?
It’s hard to determine exactly the cost, but typically it’s about 30% of the merchandise’s cost. Because you are shipping with us, and we will be also shipping our goods, you will benefit from our economies of scale. If you were to ship one item on your own, it could easily double the price of the merchandise. We also take care of all the customs clearance, which is an integral part of the process.

Will I be able to know the exact cost of shipping when I buy something?
That’s a little tough, because if you are buying a very large and bulky piece which costs very little, the shipping will be a lot more expensive. But we are there to guide you along the way and will help you determine roughly what the shipping will cost.

What happens if the piece is damaged when we receive it?
We’re happy to say that for as long as we have worked with our shipper, that has rarely happened. You will be covered by insurance and we have some excellent resources for restoring furniture that you can use, if you need to.

Can I ship back some wine with my container?
No!

Do we have time to do explore Paris on our own?
Yes, we have built in several blocks of time that will enable you to explore on your own. As a group, we will mostly travel by metro or bus (and by foot), so you will be experienced with the very efficient and safe public transportation system. But if you don’t want to venture far out on your own, there are plenty of things to do within a short walking distance of your apartment, and certainly all the restaurants that you need.

Will you provide information for our time alone?
Yes, we have spent a few years culling our favorite shops, streets and museums in Paris and have put together our very own Huff Harrington Black Book – with our “secret” favorite addresses, grouped by location around the city. You’ll get a copy before you go so that you can map out and plan how to spend your free time most efficiently!

How many people can go on the trip?
The trip is available on a first-come/first-serve basis. We need to have seven guests in order to do the trip.

Terms & Conditions

SONJA TO FINALISE TERMS & CONDITIONS AND THEN LAURA TO REWRITE.

COSTS: 2016 costs: $3,950 per person for double occupancy. There is a $1,000 supplement for a single room. Costs include all breakfasts, most lunches and dinners, an evening cruise on the Seine, local transportation, and admission fees to any cultural events we do as a group. Not included: airfare, local transfers to and from the airport and any personal transportation outside of group activities.

BOOKING: A $1,000 non-refundable deposit is due per person at registration. No reservation will be confirmed until the deposit is received. Final payment is due 90 days prior to the trip start date. For reservations made within 90 days of departure, the entire trip cost must be paid at the time of booking. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and personal check. Trip prices are in US dollars.

CANCELLATION: We reserve the right to cancel the trip if less than 7 participants have signed up 16 weeks prior to departure. If Huff Harrington initiates the cancellation, we will refund all deposits and payments due to guests. If you initiate the cancellation, refunds of final payment will be honored as follows:
• Between time of registration and 90 days of scheduled departure: 75% refund.
• Between 61-90 days of scheduled departure: 50% refund.
• 60 days or less prior to scheduled tour departure: No refund.

Deposits are non-refundable (sorry, but we can't apply deposits to art or merchandise). Huff Harrington does not take responsibility for trips due to events beyond our control, but will follow the above schedule for refunding payment.

(And sorry Messieurs, but this trip is only for women due to the rooming situations.)

INSURANCE: Just because even the very best laid plans can go awry at the last minute, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance. We recommend Travelex.

ACCOMMODATIONS: We're pretty picky travelers ourselves, so we can assure you your accommodations will be elegant, efficient, and comfortable. We offer a mix of single, double, and even triple accommodations available on a first-come/first-serve basis. For more information about our favorite home away from home, please visit Les Murets. We are also tickled and thrilled to have one of our favorite blogs, Cote de Texas, write a recent blog about Les Murets' coming of age.
SHIPPING TREASURES HOME: Since we ship several containers a year to our home furnishings store in Atlanta, we can help you get your treasures back to the U.S. via our trusted transporters. We go over all these details when you sign up for the trip.