We are delighted to open the bookings for a special FAM trip for CTA operators and wholesalers to Kent, Arras and Lens on 11- 13 December 2022 with the support of Visit Kent, DFDS and Hauts de France, plus RB Travel, The Qhotels Collection and Ashford Designer Outlet. 

The fam will visit Arras Christmas Market and stay at the four-star Louvre Lens Hotel, opposite the Louvre Lens museum. On the return journey we will be joined by an expert guide who will accompany the group on a visit to the Ring of Remembrance, before returning to Dunkirk. Before boarding the DFDS ship in Dunkirk, we will have time to visit the new DFDS Duty Free Shop. 

The Fam trip includes:

  • Travel by coach from UK to France and return. 
  • Return DFDS crossing via Dover-Dunkirk. 
  • Two nights’ accommodation on a DBB basis with ½ bottle of wine per person at dinner
  • Two welcome drinks – one at Ashford  and one in Lens, France
  • Breakfast and one light lunch on board DFDS ferry. 
  • Visit to Arras Christmas Market with refreshments. 
  • Visit to the Louvre Lens 
  • Local mini showcase pre-dinner at the Lens Louvre Hotel with Hauts de France suppliers. 
  • Visit to a Remembrance site visit accompanied by a specialist guide. 

Spaces are limited – maximum two people per company – CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO BOOK NOW.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the full Itinerary below:

Itinerary 

Day 1 – Sun 11 December

12.00 noon The coach departs from RB Travel, Isham Road, Pytchley, Kettering NN14 1EW. However, the parking spaces are now full and there is no safe local parking – so you can only join the coach here if you are arriving by public transport or can be dropped off there. 

(Please tick the box for Kettering pick-up and parking when registering.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.00  Pickup at Thurrock Services, (M25 between junction 30 and 31) pick up. Parking by own arrangement. 

(Please tick box for Thurrock services pick-up when registering. Allow plenty of time to pay for your car parking before the pickup time of 14.00.)

15.30 Pickup at Ashford International Hotel (parking available – see note below)

16.00 Visit to Ashford Designer Outlet, Kimberley Way, Ashford TN24 0SD Brief show-round of the welcome area and shops

18.00 Return to our hotel – Ashford International Hotel Kent, Simone Weil Avenue, Ashford, TN24 8UX. Tel: 01233 219 988.

CTA fam trip members who arrive independently can park their car from 11 December to  Tuesday 13 December 17.00 (subject to availability). Guests  should enter the car registration details on the iPads at reception.

(If you are joining the fam trip at Ashford International Hotel, please tick the box “Hotel arrival  under own arrangements.” Please state if you are arriving by car, train/taxi.)

19.00 Welcome by QHotels Collection and a short presentation by Ashford Designer Outlet. followed by a Welcome drink (sponsored by Ashford Designer Outlet) 

20.00 Dinner in the main restaurant, sponsored by Ashford International hotel with wine sponsored by DFDS. Overnight at Ashford International hotel (Sponsored by QHotel Collection.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 2 – Mon 12 December

Breakfast from 6.30 -7.15 for overnight guests.

(If you wish to join the fam trip on Monday 12 Dec at the Ashford International hotel, please tick the box “no accommodation needed on the 11 Dec and arrive in time to meet in the lobby of Ashfield International hotel at 7.30 am to board the RB Travel coach. If arriving by train take a taxi from Ashford International station to the hotel.)

7.45 am Depart the hotel and drive by coach to Dover. 

8.30 am Check-in for the DFDS 10.00 ferry to Dunkirk.  Sponsored by DFDS

10.00 DFDS am crossing to Dunkirk with full English breakfast on board. Sponsored by DFDS.

13.00 (European time) arrival in Dunkirk and disembark. 

13.30/14.00 Meet Benoît Guilleux at the exit of Dunkirk Port 

Drive from Dunkirk to Arras – approximately 2 hours drive 

15:30-17:00 Visit to Arras Christmas market. Light snack arrival sponsored by Visit Arras.

17:00 Drive from Arras to Lens (approximately 30 minutes)

17:30 Visit the Louvre Lens Museum with local partners including Lens Tourist Office, Calais Tourist Office, Arras Tourist office

18.45 Check in to Louvre Lens Hotel

19.20- 20.30 Networking cocktail with local partners. Sponsored by Hauts de France. 

20:30 Introduction from the hotel manager and dinner at the Galibot restaurant. Sponsored by the Louvre Lens hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 3 – Tue 13 December 

7.15 am Breakfast 

8.30 am depart by coach with a tour guide specialist in Remembrance accompanying the group.

9:00 am: Visit to the Ring of Remembrance or Vimy ridge (or Cabaret-Rouge British cemetery Souchez ) – max 20 minutes from the hotel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9:30 am Drive to Dunkirk 

12.00  Arrival in Dunkirk for check-in at DFDS terminal followed by visit to the DFDS Duty Free shop and board the ship. 

14.00 Sailing from Dunkirk to Dover. Light lunch on board the DFDS ferry. Sponsored by DFDS.

15.00 GMT arrival in Dover. Disembark and drive to the Ashford International Hotel to drop off members who have parked their car. 

16.00/16.30  Depart Ashford International hotel and driver back to Kettering, with drop off at Thurrock Services (TBA) Three Star Coaches, Luton at approximately 19.00, and arriving in Kettering at ca 20.30.