TDF for next year

Quoted message said:

If we book now how do we get the best price? Tips of Tricks.

Are you talking about booking a complete tour, or just a flight? Right now, flights for July are
about as expensive as they'll be a month prior, at $1300 or so round trip from the west coast. I
seem to recall them being cheapest around March last year. You might also look at some of the
packages offered by places like gotoday.com.

Also, if you're doing this on your own, you might look into the combo car rental/train packages
offered by SNCF. They're a great way to save a ton of money, unless you want to drive the entire
time. Car rental in general is something you want to set up well before you get there, or it's going
to cost you a fortune, if you can get a car at all.

If you're looking for the various tour groups, you can check out the page we've set up at
www.ChainReaction.com/france04tdftourcompanies.htm.

Keep in mind that half the US is going to be in France next year, so the best reason for booking
early is simply to get a reservation, period. Things could get very tight shortly after they
announce the route for next year.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

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Quoted message said:

If we book now how do we get the best price? Tips of Tricks.

Starting around November check out the prices on Expedia.com for when you want to go. Chances are
the fares will be high. Starting around Feburary and into March they will drop. And there will be
bargain fares then too. My gf and I booked our flight to Paris from NYC using a bargain fare for
$500 each round trip. You won't know the carrier or layovers until you book it. We ended up on
Iberia making 2 stops on the way over and 1 on the way back. Wasn't bad and the best fares I saw
advertised were $200 more than what we paid.

Rental car: Booked Europa Car in Paris a week or so before we arrived. Paid around $500 for a VW
Golf 10 day rental. Word to the wise get a diesel. We paid an average of 75 Euro cents per liter vs.
1.50 for a liter of gas. Diesel stations are plentiful (called gaziol) and buy at the supermarket
gas stations it is cheaper. In 10 days we filled up 4 times. Each fill cost $35 - $40. Tolls are
just about everywhere. Some are 12 Euros but most are 2.50 Euros and they are frequent. Strousbourg
to Paris cost in the area of 30 Euros in tolls (2.50 here,
2.50 there...). Go to Mappy.com for excellent routing services.

Stage start is good for getting autographs, better than the finish. The publicity caravan comes
through 1 hour before the tour and the road closes 2 hours before.

Hostels are an excellent lodging choice. For 8 Euros you'll get a bed. Just don't order the dinner.
Unless you like pasta and ketchup.

When cheering and yelling "Allez! Armstrong!" don't pronounce the "z" in allez.

And the absolute best phrase in the entire French language. Learn it now!

"Un baguette s'il vous plait."

Enjoy the trip!

Andy