First night hotel

As best as I remember, you get a packet of materials including your guidebook and also the information/directions to the hotel at least 3-4 months before the tour.

When I went on the Florence city tour last year, I got an email with the hotel information the day after I registered and paid the deposit, which was in January (tour was in November).

It depends on when your tour begins. From my experiences in the past (for tours that were in June), I have received hotel information as early as December and as late as February.

I signed up for a Paris and 15 days in the South of France a couple of weeks ago, which begins in Sep 2010 and have already received the first bunch of info with "what to pack", medical waiver forms, etc. but I am one of those people who wants to know "just one more thing" and in this case it is where am I headed after I get off the plane at CDG in Paris?? They may not even know yet, but I thought it was worth asking the question. And besides, if I know then I can play with Google Earth!!

I'm guessing they don't know yet, probably won't have it set until the beginning of 2010.

You can narrow down your options by getting ahold of the RS Paris guidebook and checking what hotels are reviewed in there. Eliminate any that are too small (under 20 rooms) and focus on the ones that are a bit more upscale and you'll have your most likely contenders.

Thanks very much Liz. Great idea.

Bob