Tour: Paris and the Heart of France

Hi:

I am planning my 6th RS tour this May. So far the most flights of stairs I have had to carry my luggage up is 4 If you take a 20" suitcase and pack lightly you probably won't have an issue. If you think you might, pack your suitcase now and try carrying up several flights of stairs. I did that and ended up leaving more home. You may also want to consider getting a very lightweight suitcase. Also on every tour there were several people over 70, even over 80 and they were ok.

The tours are wonderful. Try to see if you can carry a full suitcase now.

Barbara

I don't remember any significant stairs on that trip; two hotels even had lifts (though one was a one-person-and-one-bag-at-a-time lift). However, you may not get the same hotels I did. I think the guides do try to be thoughtful and send the younger contingent hiking up to the 5th floor, assigning rooms on lower floors to the over-70s.

The one thing you should be prepared for is the overnight at Mont St. Michel. Take along a small duffel or a backpack into which you can put everything you would need for one night. Everything is uphill on the Mont, and there may be stairs involved as well. You'll be happy not to be dragging all of your luggage around with you. (Our guide failed to mention this, and the few grumps who sneaked onto the tour were extremely cranky with her by dinnertime.)

It's a great tour; you'll love it!

I think it's a good idea to do a test run with your luggage. Packing light is very important and remember that in addition to your 21" suitcase, you may have a carryon and purse. I've been on 4 RS tours (including Paris and the Heart of France) and you do need to be prepared to carry your stuff. There will also be times when the bus has to park a couple of blocks from the hotel and you need to walk a distance with your suitcase. The last 2 tours I was on had a few grumps who apparently didn't read the literature or sheet they signed, they over-packed and were not happy. Regardless of age, you need to be fit to some extent, be able to walk and stand for periods of time, and carry your stuff. The RS tours are great and if you do decide to go, I'm sure you will enjoy it very much.

I have only taken one RS tour.. but it was a Family Tour,,. meaning loaded with children.. some as young as 8 or 10.. and they carried their own luggage most of the time. If you pack properly and are in reasonable health you can too. Do not over pack.. really don't . I can assure you no one on the tour will care if you show up for dinner in same outfit three times.. because they likely will too( with a different necklace or scarf perhaps) .
They will care if you are whiny and over packed though.. no grumps allowed..lol

Some one made an excellant suggestion about having a smaller bag for Mont St Michel.

On the Family tour we visited Venice. That meant leaving the bus on the mainland and taking a boat over and some walking to get to hotel. Over many little bridges ,, which btw are actually usually staired. Our guide made a good sugggestion . I left the bulk of our stuff in the bus storage.. and my daughter and I took her smaller suitcase only with both our stuff put in it.. it was only for two nights .. I crammed bulk of our stuff into the other case and left it on mainland ,,. and most people did similar. That was we just had the one smaller bag to handle. Suggest that with the Mont St Michels hilly streets you do similar .. or take a lightweight duffle or pack you can just carry enough for the one night on the mont.. its a great idea.

Thanks so much for all the good advice! I would not have thought to pack the bag and climb the stairs to see if we can manage. I do want to take this tour and now feel so much better about it. Thanks again...appreciate your time to answer. DD