2024 St Mary’s Academy France Program
| Travel Dates: |
June 6, 2024 -
June 17, 2024
Dates are tentative until flights are secured
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| Group Organizer(s): |
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| WTT Contact: |
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| Program Tuition: |
$3,990 USD
Airfare not included in program tuition
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| Estimated Airfare: | $1,000 |
Tuition Calculator
There are two options for payment, including an interest-free installment plan. Follow whichever works best for your family.
Program Tuition: $3,990
Pay in Full
$3,990.00
due today
Payment Plan
Pay a $500 deposit at the time of enrollment and establish an interest-free monthly payment plan. If you enroll today, your estimated* monthly payments would be:
$349.00
per month
All prices in United States Dollars.
France Cultural Journey
From the City of Lights, to beautiful Mediterranean towns, to small villages tucked between picturesque vineyards, to campgrounds in the rugged Pyrenees, France is a country with an enriching adventure for every kind of traveler. With one of the most influential, distinct, and celebrated cultures in the world – combined with a history richer than its famous food – France is a magnificent destination to consider. Our programs will immerse travelers in the French language and introduce them to wonders of France!
Cultural Journeys
Cultural Journeys allow travelers to gain insights into the heritage, history and modern realities of their destination by offering a broad diversity of experience. We rely on the expertise of our local staff to plan itineraries which not only explore the prominent sites but also make time for the lesser-known local gems and are intentional about regular interaction with local people.
Program Highlights
Check out some of the featured experiences of your program!
Improve your French speaking with locals
Have the adventure of a lifetime with your friends
Marvel at the Palace of Versailles
Visit the Eiffel Tower and other iconic sites
Practice French with language classes led by native speakers
The Itinerary
We do everything possible to run safe, engaging, and immersive programs for our travelers, but given the unpredictable nature of international travel we must remain flexible in our planning. Changes to a schedule are uncommon but if inclement weather pushes us off course or an unexpected opportunity arises which travelers are excited about, we reserve the right to adjust programming in the best interest of the group.
| Day | Location | Description | Lodging |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6 | USA - Paris | Fly to France! | Airplane |
| June 7 | Paris | Once off the plane we'll drop our bags in our rooms, collect ourselves and get off on a walking tour of Montmartre to see the oldest remaining windmill in Paris, discover the hidden 19th century villas of the bourgeoisie as well as the quaint backstreets that inspired countless turn of the century artists and writers. We'll swing by the Moulin Rouge, appreciate the art nouveau flourishes of the Abbesses metro stop and admire the wall of je t'aime! Of course in the midst of all this we'll make time for an afternoon snack in a neighborhood bakery to refuel. Our last stop will be the hike up to Sacre Coeur where we'll walk through the church and have just enough time to catch the view of the city at sunset. We'll finish up the evening with a typical dinner in a bistrot nearby. | Hotel in Paris |
| June 8 | Paris | We'll get to the Musee d'orsay first thing today to beat the crowds and take in some of the best of what the European modernists had to offer. We'll wind our way through the medieval latin quarter towards lunch in the Marais neighborhood. We'll finish off the afternoon with a visit to the Centre Pompidou, the city's largest contemporary art museum. A quick afternoon snack to take in the crowds by the museum may just be in order before we make our way to the Eiffel Tower! | Hotel in Paris |
| June 9 | Paris - Bordeaux | After an early morning train ride we'll arrive in Bordeaux and drop our bags off at the language school. We'll then head straight to the Sunday market along the Garonne river and take lunch from there to eat in the jardin public. From there we'll go on a walking tour of the old center and hike up the tour pey berland for a view over the city. In the afternoon we'll meet our host families and have dinner with them tonight. | Bordeaux Host Families |
| June 10 | Bordeaux | Breakfast with host families and then off to our first day of French class! For lunch we'll head up to the Chartrons neighborhood to see the Cite du vi and les halles. We'll spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the neighborhood at our leisure before heading back to our host families for dinner. | Bordeaux Host Families |
| June 11 | Bordeaux | Breakfast with host families and then off to French class! We'll have a quick lunch near the language school and then head out to see the famous Dune du pyla and the nearby seaside town of Arcachon. We'll head back to our host families for dinner. | Bordeaux Host Families |
| June 12 | Bordeaux | Breakfast with host families and then off to our first day of French class! We'll have a free period for lunch and then we're off for an afternoon visit to Toulouse. Back to our host families for dinner this evening. | Bordeaux Host Families |
| June 13 | Bordeaux | Breakfast with host families and then off to our first day of French class! Lunch will be on your own or with other students from the language school. We'll go and see more of Bordeaux's history at the Musee d'aquitaine and the Basilica of St. Michel. You'll have time to roam around the neighborhood of St. Michel after a guided walk. We'll be back early with enough time to spend time with our host families before dinner. | Bordeaux Host Families |
| June 14 | Bordeaux - Rouen | Last breakfast with our host families before our final French class of the trip! We'll have a quick lunch after class and then catch a train to Rouen. | Hotel in Paris |
| June 15 | Rouen | After breakfast at the hotel we'll spend the day visiting the city of Rouen. We'll check out the Musee des Beaux Arts Rouen as a first stop on our impressionists tour, we'll leisurely take a walkabout the city center, have lunch on a plaza to people-watch, go to see the gros horloge -or the old clock- and the rest of the St Maclou histoiric neighborhood, and we'll end with a hike up colline st. catherine to see the city in the evening at sunset. We'll spend the night in Rouen, getting a good night's rest to gear up for the Monet tour tomorrow! | Hotel Rouen |
| June 16 | Rouen/Paris | We'll get a fairly early morning start to beat the crowds at Giverny. There we'll see Monet's home and gardens and the Musee des impressionisms. We'll have lunch in a typical restaurant in Giverny and then head back to Paris in the afternoon. At our hotel this afternoon we'll have time for a final group activity in country including a cheese tasting, a walk to see some of Paris at night and a special farewell dinner to wrap up an unforgettable trip! | Hotel in Paris |
| June 17 | Paris - USA | Today we're headed back home to the U.S.! | Your own bed, eventually |
Accommodations
In order to provide a safe and memorable experience, we follow strict guidelines when choosing program accommodations. Walking Tree partners with locally-operated, three-star equivalent hotels and guest houses which are centrally located, clean and safe.
Meininger Hotel Paris Porte de Vincennes
Centrally located in Paris, this hotel features a shared lounge, terrace, and free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides a shared kitchen and a 24-hour front desk for guests. Guest rooms at the hotel are equipped with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with cable channels and a private bathroom with free toiletries and a shower. Each room includes bed linen and towels. Students will be grouped in their rooms according to gender.
Safety and Support
EASY FUNDRAISING & PAYMENT
24/7 GLOBAL EMERGENCY LINE
HIGHLY VETTED PARTNERS
EXPERT LEADERSHIP
PRIVATE GROUP GUARANTEE
COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM SUPPORT
DEDICATION TO CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT
ALL-INCLUSIVE PRICING
During our trip in Costa Rica I loved that our trip leader took the students’ ideas and incorporated side adventures just for them. This small piece made the trip more than we could have ever asked for.
Carri
Alumni Group Organizer to Belize and Costa Rica
Your Adventure Includes
Estimated Airfare
In order to give our travelers the best possible price, we break out airfare from the Program Tuition. We will still handle all booking and ticketing via our flight partner who has access to special fares not available to the general public. Once confirmed, you will be invoiced for the flight roughly 75 days prior to travel.
Program Tuition Excludes: Travel insurance, baggage fees, passport/visa fees, laundry, souvenirs, and activities not listed on itinerary.
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Resource Center
Why should high school students travel abroad? What happens if a participant gets sick? How quickly do we need to enroll? We’re sure you have plenty of questions and we’ve got you covered! Visit our Resource Center to discover the answers to your most pressing questions and contact us anytime with additional questions.