Project Highlights:
Paris has almost exhausted the superlatives that can be reasonably applied to describe a city. Notre Dame, the Eiffel tower and the Champs-Elysées have been mentioned innumerable times. What writers rarely capture is the magic of strolling along the broad avenues, impressive public buildings the exceptional museums that lead to the parks, gardens and esplanades of Paris.
First-time visitors often arrive with certain expectations.. The main aim is to go beyond any preconceptions and explore the city’s avenues and back streets just to show you that the monuments like the Eiffel Tower are just the tip of the iceberg.
Paris is charming in every season, at any time of the day and like a good meal, it excites and satisfies, the memory lingers. In ‘A movable Feast’, the American author Ernest Hemingway wrote: “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life if stays with you, for Paris is a movable feast.”
Those of us who were able to take Mr Hemingway’s piece of advice in our salad days could not agree more. We’re still dining out on the memories and we trust so will you.
Our Strengths:
– Discover Paris with one of our French Milna team member, who is well acquainted with Paris since they live or have lived in Paris!
– A comfortable big apartment/house in Paris area, where the entire group will stay (If the size of the group allows it)
– Visit the famous monuments and also what is usually hidden or unknown to the tourists
– Two-days treasure hunt as a team, to explore the city in a different way
– Security and respect for the safety rules
Safety:
– We follow the security instructions strictly, especially when outdoors;
– We follow the French law protecting the youth while organizing a travel;
– A Milna French person is with the group during the entire Exchange, who’s reachable at all times.
Responsible traveler:
We use the public transportation and limit the group detritus to reduce the impact of the carbon footprint caused by this project.
This is the program itinerary based on a stay in Paris area
The order of the activities might change but all what is written will be covered and much more if the group has energy and time.
Day 1
Flight India-Paris, airport transfer and check-in at the hotel. Once ready, we will head to the Opera House, the Palais-Royal, the Madeleine, the grands boulevards… Paris and the Belle Epoque.
Day 2
Notre-Dame de Paris, the Ile de la Cité and the Ile Saint-Louis, the Latin Quarter … The historic heart of Paris.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 3
The Butte Montmartre, the Sacré-Coeur, Pigalle, the Batignolles district … On the picturesque trail of Paris.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 4
The quaysides, the islands, left bank, right bank … Travelling through Paris along the Seine by walk and Bateau mouche. We will have a “picnic dinner” on the Seine’s bank like thousands of Parisians.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 5
Trocadéro, Invalides, the Musée du Quai Branly, the Champ-de-Mars, the Pont, the Eiffel Tower (To the Top, by night) … A walk full of grandiose perspectives and sights.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 6
The Louvre, Concorde, avenue Montaigne, the Tuileries gardens, the Grand Palais, the Champs-Elysées … A tour of mythical, magical Paris.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 7
The Château de Versailles: Its gardens, the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Chapel, the Royal Opera, the fountains, the status… Followed by a time for shopping in the biggest mall of France.
(Meetings with French students can be organised)*
Day 8
Visit 32 attractions, 8 shows and 6 different worlds at the Park Astérix. (Otherwise it will be Disneyland if Park Astérix is closed or as per the group choice)
Day 9
As per the flight timing, last visits and return flight Paris-India.
* The interactions with the French students, highly advised, are optional, only if the group wishes it.
Your wish to meet French students has to be announced at the booking step.
It can be done, as per school availability in the mornings or the afternoons, week-ends and holidays excluded.
Rates:
You need to select the appropriate options to see the rate displaying
→ “Age“: Select the age you will have during the project. Let’s say that you are now 15 and before or during the project, you will be 16, then please select 16
→ “From“: Select the airport from where you want to start your project. If your desired airport is not displayed, please contact us
→ “Payment terms“: It needs to be coherent with the selected month in “When“. Let’s say that we are the 25th January and you’ve mentioned your wish to go in April. In such case, your departure is in more than 60 days but less than 90 days. You need to select the 60 days payment terms if you plan to make the payment at least 60 days before the departure
– Contact us, if you need clarifications
When can I go?
– A Discovery Experience to France is possible throughout the year
– The optional visits to a French School and eventual nights at a French Family might be possible when there is no school holidays
– In case of School Holidays, if opted for the involvement in the school, it will be replaced with involvement spent with local educational organisations having teenagers of similar age. Contact us if you are planning to go during a period where the French schools are closed
– Here is the calendar displaying the dates when the French schools are closed
For how long?
– 8 nights in a big apartment/house, else in a hotel (Depends the size of the group and availability)
– Optional: 1, 2 or 3 additional nights stay with a French Family. Subject to feasibility and availability
– Want a different duration? Contact us
Rate including:
– The accommodation
– Health & Travel insurance
– The meals (Breakfast, lunch and diner)
– All the transportation from the selected airport of departure
– The visits and activities as per the program
– The management of the group by at least one Milna person during the entire project
– Preparation meetings before the departure (Online or on site as per your location)
– Assistance for the eventual Visa application
– One adult from your group for every 10 participants (It can be a teacher, parent… willing to be a positive contribution to the project)
– Certificate for each participant
The rate does not include:
– Personal expenditure
– Eventual Visa fee to the country/ies of the project
– Transfer to/from the starting concerned airport
– What is not mentioned in “Rate including”
Eventual options:
– French Sim card
– Extra days in Paris
– Excursion in a neighboring country
– A TGV tour to experience the legend
– Stopover in another country (As per the airline stopover)
– Departure from another airport, upon request
About the “150 and 120 days payment terms”:
For the 150 and 120 days payment terms, we will do our maximum to respect your preferred date of departure, however, the dates of the project must be flexible /- 7 days.
The flight:
– Possible from the displayed city/ies above, in the “From” dropdown. For other airport, please contact us.
– Dates are changeable /- 72 hours.
Formalities:
Valid passport Eventual Visa (As per your citizenship).
Health:
– Our team has a pharmacy adapted to the destination.
– Anywhere you go in Europe, no vaccination is mandatory.
– A member of Milna is present with the traveling group during the entire length of the stay. He/ She will ensure the security and safety of the group.
– In case of an emergency, the traveler will be taken into care by the nearest hospital. If needed, he will be repatriated in the best conditions.
Reachable:
– The parents of the participant will have the full details of the French school and hotel before the departure (address, phone, email…)
– Milna will share the contact of the Milna person who is going to be with the participant
– Milna will update the parents by daily messages/photos/videos on a specially created Whatsapp group.
– Milna will provide the participant and his parents with a 24h number to reach someone from Milna at any time.
Where will the Accompanying adult stay? (41A)
The Accompanying adult(s) of the group will be staying in the same hotel, flat or house, in a room separated from the Participants.
How, we parents, can have updates about our daughter or son? (35A)
1- A Whatsapp group will be created and the participant and his family are invited to join it to get updates. The Milna person sends a lot of pictures, videos and information about the group.
2- Milna maintains a project’ blog in which we mention among other information, the itinerary and the calendar of the participants. So the family of the participant can know what he/she going.
3- Each participant is requested to have a local sim card to be easily reachable. The parents can get update directly.
4- The Milna person and the Accompanying adult will also be reachable in case the participant is “too busy” to update his family.
How much pocket money should the participant carry? (33A)
For sake of the participant private expenditure (shopping etc.), you can give some pocket money, it all depends on what the participant would like to buy from France. In general, we believe that 15 Euros per day is largely enough to fulfill the normal shopping desires.
During the project, how, we parents, can stay in touch with the participant? (28A)
Before the start of the project, Milna will invite the participant and his relatives to join a special Whatsapp group, in which, we send daily update with photos, videos… to keep everyone updated.
Each participant is advised to have a local sim card to be reachable at anytime.
The Accompanying adult(s) and the Milna person(s) will be reachable and will facilitate the communication in case a participant is “too busy” to give news to his parents…
What about Travel and Health insurance? (24A)
A travel and health insurance is included in the given rate. It is protecting you as per the insurance coverage. The insurance is in compliance with the Embassy criteria. Milna will provide you a copy of your insurance policy before applying for your visa.
How do I get my visa? (23A)
If you need a visa, Milna will facilitate your visa formalities. Our team will provide you the special list of required documents for the visa and the steps to follow. We also remain available to have a look at your documents and reply to your questions, doubts or special cases.
Who will take care of me? (12A)
In most cases the Accompanying adult (usually a teacher) from your school shall accompany you to France. During the entire project, a Milna person, who knows France and its culture very well, stays with the group. You can contact the Accompanying adult and the Milna person for any assistance at any time.
What will I eat? (11A)
How the payment deadlines work? (10A)
Where I will stay? (4A)
All the participants will stay together in a private flat/house or a hotel in Paris area, depending on the group’s size and time of the year.
