An Autumn Itinerary Across Four French Destinations, Curated by Travelcall
September and October might just be one of France’s most underrated gems: the crowds have thinned (especially along the coast) and warm days meet cool nights. Experience France through Barrière Hotels’ exquisite hotels on a journey from Paris to the West coast.
Your Itinerary At A Glance:
To travel with Barrière Hotels is to move through France in a particular way, not as a tourist but as a guest. This twelve-night journey traces a northward arc from Paris through the tidal drama of the Emerald Coast, into the equestrian world and home of Barrière in Deauville, and along the Opal Coast to Le Touquet. Your Travelcall advisor can assist you with every detail of the journey, from upgraded reservations and luxe amenities to private transfers and bespoke guided experiences. These are moments that transform a holiday into something more extraordinary.
Paris | 4 Nights | Fouquet’s Paris
There is hardly a more storied address on the Champs-Élysées than Le Fouquet’s. A figurehead of Parisian elegance since 1899, Fouquet’s became synonymous with movie stars and writers with the hotel above the original brasserie opened by Barrière in 2006, following a meticulous renovation. Fouquets is home to 101 spacious rooms and suites, beautifully appointed with tones of beige and gold, its legendary brasserie, and the Decorté spa, 750m2 dedicated to wellness.
Day 1 – Touch Down in Paris
Relax in comfort on your private transfer from Charles de Gaulle airport directly to Fouquet’s, a complimentary inclusion by Travelcall for stays longer than two nights. On arrival, enjoy early check-in and a local amenity to welcome you officially to Paris. There is no agenda for the first evening, take time to soak in the atmosphere along the Champs-Élysées or unwind after a long flight with a spa treatment at the hotel’s wonderfully appointed Spa Decorté. Dinner tonight should be enjoyed at Fouquet’s Brasserie, one of Paris’ great institutions and the perfect way to settle in.
Day 2 – Classic Paris
Take your time to ease into the morning with complimentary breakfast at your leisure in the restaurant or served directly in your room before setting out for the rest of the day. Today is for exploration: we recommend a guided tour of Musée d’Orsay, the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art, or the Orangerie, both of which offer a more intimate experience than the Louvre. With the guidance of your Travelcall advisor, this could mean skipping the lines and discovering the iconic and lesser-known masterpieces with a curator or art historian.
Afternoons belong to your new neighbourhood, and shopping. Discover Avenue Montaigne for haute couture houses, the Saint-Honoré district for jewellers and more fashion. We recommend Charvat, in Place Vendôme, for bespoke men’s clothing, Repetto for ballet flats and loafers (you’ll look just like a Parisian!), and Moynat for customisable leather goods. Drop off your purchases back at Fouquet’s and freshen up for a delectable dinner at Les 110 de Taillevent, one of the finest dining rooms in the 8th, with a wine list built around 110 selections by the glass and precise, seasonal French cooking.
Day 3 – Versailles After Hours
Spend today as you wish, because this evening is all about Versailles: wander Paris’ gardens, explore the Opera House or Pantheon, or picnic on the grounds of the Eiffel Tour – it’s up to you! However, we do recommend a stop at Laduree at the doorstep of Fouquet’s for upmarket pastries and macarons and a late lunch to keep you full during your trip out to Versailles.
In the evening, discover the Palace of Versailles without the crowds with a VIP guided tour, arranged by your Travelcall advisor. Move through the opulent Hall of Mirrors, step into the glitz and glamour of the King and Queen’s private rooms, walk the royal gardens, and discover the charming fantasy of Marie-Antoinette’s private retreat, The Hameau de la Reine. Enjoy seamless, comfortable transfers on your return to Paris, and stop in at a neighbourhood restaurant for a late-night bite before bed.
Day 4 – Paris Your Way
For your last day in Paris, explore your interests with special arrangements by your Travelcall advisor. History enthusiasts might spend the morning at the Mémorial de la Shoah or the Musée de l’Armée at Les Invalides, which houses Napoleon’s tomb and one of the finest military collections in Europe, before an afternoon walking the sites of the French Revolution. Those drawn to the performing arts can arrange a backstage tour of the Palais Garnier, the original Paris Opéra with one of the most spectacular interiors in the city, and delight in an evening performance. For food-focused travellers, a morning at the Marché d’Aligre followed by a private cooking lesson or a chef-led market tour makes for one of the most delicious days Paris offers. Whatever your interest, your advisor can build the day accordingly with private guides and experiences, giving you a deeper experience than independent exploration alone.
Your final dinner is at Frida Restaurant and Bar at Maison Barrière Vendôme, the brand’s more intimate second Paris address near the Tuileries.
Dinard | 3 Nights | Le Grand Hôtel Dinard
The TGV from Paris Montparnasse reaches Saint-Malo in approximately two and a half hours, and a short private transfer delivers you across the Rance estuary to Dinard. Le Grand Hôtel Dinard is perched above the Plage de l’Écluse, commanding the finest position in town, with views directly across to the walled city of Saint-Malo.
Day 5 – Arrival on the Emerald Coast
Take your time to settle in and take in the fresh sea air after the hustle and bustle of Paris, wandering the waterfront and Belle Époque streetscape on foot. Enjoy an unhurried dinner at Le George V, the hotel’s bay-view restaurant where local Breton seafood like Cancale oysters and lobsters star with produce drawn directly from the region. Retire to your sea-facing suite to soak in the coastal serenity.
Day 6 – Saint Malo and the Coast
Cross to Saint-Malo by ferry (10 minutes) to walk the ramparts, explore the old town and lunch at Le Bistrot du Rocher, a farm-to-table address serving honest, elevated food well away from the tourist circuit. Return to the hotel for a Japanese inspired afternoon spa session at Shiseido Ginza Tokyo Spa or brave the cooler waters with a dip in the ocean (or warmer pool waters). Enjoy sunset cocktails on the terrace overlooking Saint-Malo Bay before wandering out for local eats.
Day 7 – Mont-Saint-Michel
Today is for exploring the famous 10th century abbey Mont-Saint-Michel, about an hour’s drive from Dinard. The island abbey, which has been a place of pilgrimage since the eighth century, sits on a tidal rock completely surrounded by water at high tide and accessible across the sands at low tide. The timing of your visit shapes the experience entirely and is worth planning around the tide tables. A private guide helps bring the history of the abbey, the medieval village and the extraordinary engineering of the site to life. Wander the bustling La Grande Rue, visit village shops and churches and enjoy lunch at one of the island’s traditional restaurants before the return journey.
Deauville | 3 Nights | Le Normandy
Hire a car or secure a private transfer via your Travelcall advisor for the 2-and-a-half-hour journey east along the Normandy coast to Deauville, where the Barrière story began. Built in 1912 to accompany the Casino Barrière Deauville opened by founder François André the same year, Le Normandy sits in prime position above Deauville Beach. Boasting a fairytale-like Norman façade, the resort boasts the hosting rights of the American Film Festival each year.
Day 8 – Arrival to the Home of Barrière
Check in to your upgraded sea-view room or suite at Le Normandy in the afternoon and take a stroll along Les Planches, the famous boardwalk lined with colourful parasols and Pompeian Baths bearing the names of Hollywood stars who have attended the Deauville American Film Festival over the decades, from Clint Eastwood to Natalie Portman. A trip in early September (when the festival takes place) can even have you catching a glimpse of the stars in person! Enjoy a casual dinner at Barrière’s beachside venues Bar de la Mer or La Villa sur la Plage for local Norman seafood or wood-fired barbeque dishes, respectively.
Day 9 – Horses, Boutique Shopping and Casino Night
Deauville and horses are like Deauville and the sea: inseparable. Spend the morning at the Hippodrome de Deauville to catch a race or La Touques for a polo game if scheduled (premier seats can be arranged in advance with your Travelcall advisor). The afternoon is for exploring local boutiques as well as familiar names, like Hermès, on Rue Eugène Colas plus local Norman food producers and the covered market. Enjoy a dip in the pool back at the hotel or treat yourself to a facial at the newly opened Guerlain Spa. Enjoy Michelin star dining at L’Essential, a one-star Michelin restaurant combining French produce with Asian influences in imaginative fine-dining dishes. Spend a late night at the roulette tables of the Casino Barrière.
Day 10 – Normandy by Private Guide
Embark on a full-day journey through the heart of Normandy to revisit the pivotal moments of the largest amphibious assault in history, which helped to turn the tide against Nazi occupation. With the expertise of your specialist private guide, delve into the historical sites, including the iconic D-Day landing beaches and Pointe du Hoc, immersive cultural museums and poignant commemorative monuments the American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer. This is a genuinely moving experience and one of the most memorable days of the whole itinerary. Return to Deauville for dinner in the village, or Le Normandy’s Belle Époque for elegant French brasserie dishes.
Le Touquet | 2 Nights | Le Westminster
Driving north from Deauville, Le Touquet is approximately two-and-a-half hours away along the Opal Coast. The quaint Channel resort town possesses a distinctly Anglo-Norman character, where the Art Deco architecture of the town centre speaks to its early twentieth-century heyday as a retreat for the British and Parisian elite. Le Westminster, the Barrière property at the heart of this coastal town has been the address here since 1924, with thoughtful renovations in recent years and the Guerlain Spa is one of the preferred hotel spa programmes in Northern France.
Day 11 – Arrival and Exploration
Upon arrival, walk to the beach through the pine forest trail, the combination of resin and salt air is one of the privileged sensory experiences in the region. Spend the afternoon exploring the town’s streetscape, local shops and even climb the lighthouse and see if you can spot England and the white cliffs of Dover approximately 70km away. Unwind with dinner at Le Paris, a Le Touquet icon full of creative, flavourful dishes.
Day 12 – Nature and the Opal Coast
Le Touquet offers more active programming than anywhere else on this itinerary. Take your pick of three golf courses, an equestrian centre with guided forest trails, 27 tennis courts and water sports on the beach. For a nature encounter, the Baie de Canche is a natural sanctuary for seals in a beautiful estuary landscape a short hike from the hotel. Nearby, Nausicaa in Boulonge-sur-Mer is Europe’s largest aquarium and an unexpectedly absorbing indoor alternative. Close out your journey with dinner at Le Pavillion, Le Westminster’s Michelin-starred restaurant.
Tomorrow, you’ll farewell the coastline and transfer to Lille-Europe station to return to Paris or board the Eurostar to London.
Extend the Journey | Fouquet’s New York
For those building a longer journey around this itinerary, Barrière’s Fouquet’s New York on West 46th Street offers a natural extension for clients travelling via the United States. Positioned in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and carrying the same design sensibility and service philosophy as its Paris counterpart, it makes a compelling bookend to a trip that began on the Champs-Élysées. Speak to your Travelcall advisor about incorporating New York into a round-the-world routing.
Plan Your Journey with Travelcall
This French Barrière Hotels itinerary is your starting point. Your Travelcall advisor can help you to personalise every element from hotel and dining selections to excursion timing. As one of Australia’s leading Virtuoso agencies, Travelcall holds relationships with Barrière Hotels and French destination partners that translate directly into the experiences and benefits our clients receive on the ground.
Contact your Travelcall advisor to begin.
Speak with a Travelcall advisor.
MELBOURNE 03 9252 3800 | SYDNEY 02 8333 7700 | BRISBANE 07 3368 2113
or email travel@travelcall.com.au
