Vampires!
The Legends. The Stories. The Reality.
London and Paris, January 6 - 16, 2023

Are you ready for a spine-tingling journey?

​Come explore the history of vampires in England and France! From the ruins of Whitby Abbey (where Dracula claimed his first English victim) to historic cemeteries teeming with creepy legends, we'll learn about the myths--and realities!--of vampires in European culture and literature.

Some Trip Highlights:

• Visit a French museum of vampire history, replete with objects such as a 19th-century vampire hunter's kit
• Follow an expert guide through Père Lachaise cemetery and learn its dark secrets
• Travel to Whitby, the site of Dracula's arrival in England (and learn why Bram Stoker chose Whitby as a setting in the novel!)
• Dine at a vampire-themed London pizza joint
• Prowl through an English heath thick with vampire legends
• Enjoy a meal at a spooky restaurant where patrons dine in complete darkness
• Explore the extensive catacombs beneath the streets of Paris
• Sample French wines (some blood red...) and cheeses (okay, not particularly spooky...) at a private tasting
• See the sites of a real-life vampire's horrifying crimes
• Drink a piña colada at Trader Vic's
• Plus, visit the most famous sites in London and Paris, from Westminster Abbey to the Eiffel Tower!

Vampires 2023 Itinerary
(subject to change or rearrangement based on site availability)
​
Click below to see our plans for each day!

Day 0: Depart Your Home Airport and Head to London!

Reach out any time if you have any questions about booking flights.

Day 1: Arrival and Welcome Reception

Arrive in London and check in at our hotel. Come to our casual welcome reception in the early evening, where we can begin getting to know one another. Will Liz have cute gift bags waiting for you? Oh yes she will.

Day 2: Westminster Abbey and More

A guided tour (with a guide we adore!) will lead us through the awe-inspiring Westminster Abbey. Find out the Abbey's connection to vampire literary history! After a free afternoon, we'll have drinks at famous tiki bar Trader Vic's, just like Warren Zevon's werewolves of London. ​

Day 3: North to Whitby!

We'll keep our hotel rooms in London, but pack an overnight bag for our one-night stay in Whitby, the iconic seaside village where key scenes of Dracula were set. After lunch, we'll visit the ruins of Whitby Abbey, where Dracula claimed his first English victim.

Day 4: Exploring Whitby

Today you'll have free time to explore the darling shopping streets of Whitby (check out the local black jet jewelry!), and we'll also see more Dracula-related highlights, including the vacation home where Bram Stoker stayed while working on the novel. In the afternoon, we'll depart Whitby and head back to London.

Day 5: Highgate and Hampstead

We'll begin our day with a tour of the magnificent Highgate Cemetery (the site of an alleged vampire's crimes), stop for lunch at a haunted pub perfect for vampire hunting, then walk the beautiful and spooky Hampstead Heath (watch out for Lucy Westenra!). Then we'll make our way to quirky, charming Camden Market, where you can relax with a snack or shop your heart out.

Day 6: Walking Tour, or Relax More?

Ready to see more of London? Join us for a walk to see a few more sights, or relax and do your own thing. In the evening, we'll have dinner at the world's only vampire pizzeria.

Day 7: Bonjour, Paris!

We'll take the Eurostar train through the Chunnel and arrive in Paris in the early afternoon. Then, before the requisite group photo in front of the Eiffel Tower, we'll stop to enjoy the best perch from which to view the City of Lights. 

Day 8: The Catacombs

We'll explore Paris's labyrinthine catacombs, which also have their own connection to vampire literature. Later, we'll spend a tranquil afternoon at a tasting of delicious French wines and cheeses.

Day 9: Vampire Museum

The name says it all. This place has everything from first editions of Dracula to a 19th-century vampire hunter's kit. ​

Day 10: Paris's Dark Secrets

An expert on Paris's most macabre and spooky secrets will guide us through the historic Père Lachaise cemetery. Afterward, we'll have a group lunch at an unforgettable restaurant where we'll dine in complete darkness! That evening, we'll have a celebratory end-of-vacation drink together.

Day 11: Au Revoir! Heading Home (or elsewhere)

All good things must come to an end. Liz and Adam will be on hand to help you as you check out from the hotel and get ready for your flight or train to your next destination!

Vampires 2023 Trip Package

Registration for this trip is now closed.

Includes: 

• Lodging for ten nights (double occupancy) in four-star hotels in London, Whitby, and Paris (for single room supplement, add $850)
• All entrance fees and tours at museums and other sites toured as a group
• All ground transportation between cities
• All public transportation within London and Paris
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches,  and 1 fangtastic dinner
• A drink at two different quirky, famous London pubs​
• ​A wine-and-cheese tasting in Paris
• Liz and Adam's guidance, advice, and support both before and during the trip

Not Included: 

• Airfare to/from Europe (but we're happy to arrange it for you--just let us know!)​
• Transportation between airport and hotel upon arrival and departure
• Remaining meals not otherwise mentioned
• Incidental expenses
• Travel insurance (but we're happy to arrange it for you!)

Trip Cost: $4185 (per person, double occupancy)
Standard Payment Schedule:
$495 deposit due at time of registration to hold your spot
$1495 due by October 1, 2022 (+$850 if choosing single-occupancy lodging)
Remaining balance due by November 15, 2022

Questions about payment? Interested in setting up monthly payments?

CONTACT US

Vegan? Gluten free? Halal? Kosher? If you have any special dietary needs, just let us know--we will make sure the group meals accommodate your needs, and we'll be happy to help you research your options for your independent, individual meals, too.

Questions about accessibility? Though our group trips are designed for the moderately active, with a fair amount of walking, we are happy to work with you in advance and discuss the possibility of alternate arrangements if you need them. (And of course, we are also happy to work with you to create custom individual vacations for any level of mobility.)

Need more time in Europe? Want to extend your stay?  If you are interested in adding days to your trip on either end, we would be happy to arrange and book things for you, for no additional service fee.