This super holiday, taking in the French & Italian Rivieras, starts with a glass of Champagne (alternative non-alcoholic beverage available) at our St Pancras private check-in before an escorted afternoon departure by Eurostar (Ebbsfleet⁄Ashford departures on request).

On the Riviera enjoy Free Drinks every night, visits to Monaco & Eze, Portofino and Dolceacqua where you will find a 12th century castle and a picturesque 15th century single-arch bridge. You will also have the opportunity to visit Alassio or San Remo.

We stay in Diano Marina, situated on Italy’s Riviera of Flowers, a popular seaside town with stylish, chic shops and pavement cafés with a relaxed atmosphere as well as a long promenade. Our hotel is centrally located a short walk from the sea and the town centre. The location is ideal for visiting some of the best and most famous resorts along the glorious Riviera of Flowers coast.

By train to Nice via Lille or Paris

After our private Champagne check-in at St Pancras, our tour manager – with you throughout the holiday – will escort you to the Eurostar departure gates where we check-in and pass through customs and security, ready to board the early afternoon train to Lille or Paris – Journey time: around 90 minutes to Lille, 2hrs 10mins to Paris (Ebbsfleet⁄Ashford departures on request). On arrival we transfer to our hotel for an overnight stay. The evening is free to explore at leisure and obtain dinner.

The next morning we join the TGV for our journey to Nice. On board the TGV, settle in to your comfortable seat and relax as the French countryside rolls past the windows. The train has a buffet car where you can obtain drinks and refreshments as you speed towards Nice.

Making the most of the Riviera

On arrival in Nice, we board our coach for the short drive (around 90 mins) to our hotel in Diano Marina. You will have time to settle in before dinner at the hotel. There will be time to explore the resort at leisure and our included excursions will ensure you enjoy the best of the French and Italian Rivieras.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Champagne check-in at St Pancras before an afternoon departure by Eurostar to Lille or Paris (Ebbsfleet⁄Ashford departures on request). Transfer to our overnight hotel. This evening you are free to explore the city and savour one of the many good restaurants in the centre.

Day 2: Depart the hotel to join an early-morning TGV to Nice. On arrival we meet our coach and drive to Diano Marina and check-in at the Piccolo Hotel. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 3: Free day to enjoy Diano Marina. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 4: After breakfast join our included excursion to Monaco & Monte Carlo where you can enjoy the architecture, including the Casino and the Royal Palace and marvel at the prices in the designer shops and boutiques. We then continue to Eze, the medieval village and home to the famous Fragonard perfumery, perched like an eagles nest on a narrow rocky peak overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 5: Today is free to explore on your own or your tour manager will be able to assist with local travel by bus to Alassio or San Remo. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 6: After an early breakfast we will travel by coach to Santa Margherita, where we join the ferry to Portofino. The approach to Portofino by boat is spectacular with coastal views not available by other transport. We return to the hotel late afternoon. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 7: Today we have a half day excursion to Dolceacqua, a medieval village at the foot of the Rebuffao mountains. Here you can meander through the village streets and climb to the 12th century castle, or cross the single arched bridge with a span of 33 metres to the 15th century ‘new’ town. Dinner and free drinks at the hotel.

Day 8: Depart the hotel after breakfast for the drive to Nice Station. We board the TGV to Lille or Paris where we transfer to Eurostar for the return to St. Pancras (Ebbsfleet⁄Ashford on request). We expect to arrive mid-evening.

Note: Order and times of events/excursions may be subject to change.

Piccolo Hotel – 3 star – Diano Marina
Set in a quiet location within walking distance of the sea and centre of Diano Marina, the hotel has a panoramic terrace and restaurant and a comfortable bar. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities, telephone, and satellite TV. The restaurant offers a full buffet breakfast, tea and coffee all day and dinner served at your table.
There’s Free drinks between 6pm and 11pm each night including local brands of beer, wine and spirits.

Paris/Lille Hotel – 2⁄3 star
Modern 2/3-star hotel convenient for the TGV train Station.

Eurostar – London to Lille & Paris
From London St Pancras, Eurostar takes as little as 1 hour 40 minutes to Lille and around 2 hours 15 minutes to Paris. On board, you will have a reserved, semi-reclining aircraft-style seat. You’ll also find a buffer car serving tea, coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine, spirits, sandwiches, crisps and a few hot snacks. Sterling, Euros and cards accepted. You can eat and drink in the bar area (standing space only, there are no seats) or take your purchases back to your seat. You can also take your own food and drink on board.

TGV – Lille & Paris to Nice
Taking the train is easily the most civilised and stress-free way to travel through France. For Nice, on the French Riviera, we hop on the 186mph TGV at Lille Europe station, or Paris Gare de Lyon station. Sit back, relax and let scenic France pass by the train windows. The journey is around 5 to 6 hours. The train has a buffet car which sells drinks and snacks, but there’s nothing to stop you taking your own food and drink (including wine & beer) to enjoy at leisure.

Afternoon Departures
Departures from London are always after midday, but check-in can be mid-to-late morning depending on the exact train departure time, confirmed to us 8 weeks before travel. Please bear this in mind when planning your journey to St Pancras. An overnight stay at a nearby hotel prior to travel may be worth considering – call for information.

Travel & Luggage
There are no actual luggage weight restrictions imposed by the rail companies. However, for your comfort and convenience we recommend you limit your luggage to the following: ONE main suitcase⁄holdall with built in wheels weighing no more than 15 to 20kgs per person – Plus ONE small shoulder bag⁄holdall per person. Restricting the bulk of your luggage to manageable sizes will make the journey more enjoyable. You will need to move all your own bags on and off trains and between platforms and transfer vehicles. Our tour manager will be unable to provide physical assistance with luggage. On TGV trains, you may be allocated seats on the the upper floor, which means you would have to carry your bags upstairs. Many train stations and platforms are big and long, sometimes with stairs or escalators. Some stations have lifts, but using them can involve a longer walk, so be prepared for this when walking with your luggage.

Train travel is a relaxing and enjoyable feature of our holidays
However, at times it can be physically demanding as you will be required to walk and move your luggage on and off trains and between platforms and transfer vehicles. Many train stations and platforms are big and long, sometimes with stairs or escalators, so please be prepared for this when walking with your luggage. The Tour Manager⁄Escort will not be able to provide you and⁄or your luggage with physical assistance at anytime. Where overnight or main hotels are less than 150 metres (approx) from the station, no transportation or luggage assistance will be provided.

Please Help us to Help You
In our experience, clients who discuss with us their concerns over mobility limitations and⁄or health issues (including visibility, hearing etc) when booking, are far more satisfied with the level of service we provide and enjoy a more relaxed and fun holiday, compared to those who attempt to cope without the benefit of our expert advice.
We must stress that these holidays are not suitable for users of mobility scooters, wheelchairs or walking aids (frames, sticks, etc).