Champagne Tour Questions
Tour Dates & Price • Summary • Price Includes • Itinerary • Hotel
RATED EXCELLENT WITH 500+ REVIEWS
2019 WINNER!! 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR!
RECOMMENDED BY FROMMER’S FRANCE!
Frequently Asked Questions about our Champagne Tours
Additional Information – Champagne Tasting & Gourmet Tour – Look below for answers to our most frequently asked Champagne Tour questions. Still need help? Contact us »
Your OTBP Guides will meet you at the scheduled group pick-up time at 2 PM at Champagne-Ardenne TGV Rail Station Reims, France from where you will transfer to your hotel. Specific location details about where to meet at the rail station will be included in the tour information package we send you 30 days before tour departure.
We depart the hotel in the morning on day 4 to arrive at 10 AM arrival to the Champagne-Ardenne TGV Rail Station Reims, France.
Yes. Our Pricing offers Travelers Peace of Mind Flexibility! You may transfer from one trip to another before trip departure's balance payment due date without any penalty (excludes custom designed-private tours), as long as there is space available on the new date of choice.
Off the Beaten Path is a full service tour operator and it is our pleasure to assist you with all aspects of upcoming travel plans. Whether you are looking for a suggestion for a hotel in Paris or assistance with your rail tickets, simply contact us at christy@traveloffthebeatenpath.com or call us at 1.717.683.2827 for assistance.
In September, day time temperatures in Champagne and surrounding areas can range in the low to mid-70’s – low 80’s. October will be cooler and more humid with the feeling that fall has truly arrived. December and March will be cold. Typically it is sunny, but be prepared with the proper rain gear.
Yes. All tours are conducted in English and designed for English speaking travelers. The majority of OTBP Guests come from the U.S.A., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and England. Guests have also come from the Caribbean, Singapore, the Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Hong Kong, UAE and Israel.
Airfare Airfare to and from France, train fare to and from Reims, 1 dinner, hotel extras, incidentals along the way, gratuities to guides and professional driver.
OTBP’s Champagne Tours are designed for discerning travelers of all ages and backgrounds, from the seasoned traveler and independent traveler to the first time traveler to France. Join any one of the our tours as a solo traveler, a couple, a small group of friends or family, or bring your entire travel club, affinity group, women’s organization or wine society. No culinary, history or other type of experience is necessary. Join us for the vacation of a lifetime to discover the Champagne region, as an insider, and make new friends along the way.
Not at all. The idea is to learn about French culture, traditions, wine, daily life, artisan lives and culinary practices in a fun and relaxing environment. Our tours offer great learning opportunities for everyone. Off the Beaten Path guides are very skilled at adapting their discussions to the general level of knowledge of the group, providing good introductory information for novices, and more advanced discussions for those who have more experience or a specialty interest. It’s vacation and our tours are all about having fun, enjoying new experiences and being active!
No. However France is a country of walkers, and this tour does involve a considerable amount of walking during our visits at the Champagne Houses, climbing up and down cellar steps, walking in the cellars on gravel and dirt terrain and between visits on unpaved walkways and cobblestone sidewalks. This tour also requires travelers be able to climb up and down many steps and stand for extended periods of time during the Champagne house tours, as seating is not available in the underground galleries. While our tours are structured to appeal to those who enjoy walking, as much as to those who prefer to be shuttled by vehicle daily, our Champagne Tours are not recommended for travelers who have walking difficulties and or knee or back problems that would result in limited participation in the tour. We do use the rail system one day, and do a considerable amount of leisure walking in Reims and Epernay. No elevators are available.
A typical French breakfast is very simple and comprised of all or any combination of the following — traditional home-made French bread called “baguette”, “viennoiserie” known in English as pastries, such as croissants, pain au chocolate (a croissant with chocolate in it — yum!) or pain au raisins (croissant type pastry with custard and raisins in it), cereal and/or yoghurt or a fresh white cheese of the same consistency as yoghurt called “fromage blanc”, fresh fruits and jams, fruit juices and coffee, tea or hot chocolate. When in the heart of “farm” country, one might be offered a small selection of local cheese and French charcuterie which would be a selection of cold cuts. The breakfast description provided here is exactly the type of breakfast offered on all of our tours. If a hotel in Paris, another major city or the occasional country hotel offers omelettes, pancakes, hot sausages and/or bacon, this is not part of the typical French breakfast and has been added to the morning menu to attract non-French tourists. France does not have breakfast specific restaurants like what you would find in your home country.
Yes, champagne and wine are included at all scheduled meals together. We expertly match premium champagnes/wines from the region with each dish. Meals offer an excellent opportunity to try champagne and wines from appellations not available to guests at home, and to introduce guests to some select wines worth a favorable mention or that are exceptionally appreciated by the locals.
With 31 years experience in the France tour travel industry, specifically with small group touring, we have found that our guests are generally more interested in active experiences, culture, people to people experiences and guided tours of museums and sites. Our guests like to visit private homes, and pursue their hobbies when they travel. Our guests enjoy being able to shop locally for items, such as, collectibles, art and local products. Our guests tend to do more homework and want a meatier trip, but also want to enjoy down time or leisure time to explore independently. All of our trips are designed based on these factors. Each trip offers organized activities and excursions daily combined with periods of leisure time each day. Our tours encourage individual approach and pursuit of your interests, as well as introducing you to new experiences and people during each trip.
All travelers to France are required to have a valid passport. Please make 2 copies of your passport and personal identification before you depart. Keep one set of copies with you in a separate location from your travel documents, and leave the other set of copies with a contact at home before you depart. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please check with your consulate general for entry requirements.
Please limit your luggage to one medium-sized suitcase and one carry-on. Try not to over pack; you will not wear all your clothing! A suggested packing list will be enclosed in your tour information package. Pack comfortable light weight, casual clothing. It’s vacation and we want our guests to feel and be as comfortable as possible during our daily activities and excursions. Our dinners together include a mix of Michelin star and casual bistro style restaurants. For men we suggest a business casual ensemble (no tie or jacket necessary unless it’s your personal preference) and for women we recommend a casual dress for dinners.
RATED 5 STARS BY HUNDREDS OF HAPPY TOUR GUESTS
