France - Study Tour 2020

Canceled due to COVID-19 concerns

March 6-15, 2020

Price: $2,995

HIST144 or HIST144H

Tour #6147

World War II shaped the course of the twentieth century, and France occupied a central place in the history of that war. After Germany’s victory in the Battle of France in 1940, the Nazis occupied over half of the country, including Paris. French citizens participated in the Resistance in growing numbers, conducting campaigns of sabotage and assisting the escape of downed Allied bomber crew members. The D-Day landings in June 1944, the largest military sea-borne invasion in history, marked the start of the Battle of Normandy and the beginning of the final chapter in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Students in this course will learn about World War II through the lens of the French experience and travel to France to see places where many of the pivotal events transpired. The class will tour the Normandy beaches where the D-Day landings occurred, explore the German battlements that formed Hitler’s Atlantic Wall, and walk in the footsteps of the American, British and Canadian soldiers who overcame those defenses. In the latter part of the week, students will visit sites in Paris connected to the history of the French Resistance. 

Course Registration

To register for course credit:

  1. Meet with your academic adviser to discuss how this course will impact your educational progress. Have your adviser sign a drop/add form to add this class. Forms are available at registrar website.
  2. Contact the travel agency (contact information on back panel) to make a deposit or pay the total cost of the trip and obtain a receipt.
  3. Take your signed drop/add form and travel agency receipt to the Office of the Registrar in the Swatara Building to complete enrollment in the course. Honors students, please see Stephanie Ponnett in C114R Olmsted Building to register for the course. 

Course Requirements

  • Mandatory pre/post-trip meetings, group reading, journal, etc., during spring 2020 semester.
  • Students must be free of any current conduct reviews or conduct sanctions. Eligibility will be verified, and each participant grants permission for verification by the Office of Student Conduct. Any violation of the PSU Student Code of Conduct while traveling will result in a class failure.

Travel Awards

Award funds are available to undergraduate honors students through the Penn State Harrisburg Honors programs. The University also has funds for students traveling internationally. For details, visit the Global Education Abroad site. A limited number of travel awards are available through the Penn State Harrisburg Office of International Programs. The application deadline is October 25, 2019. 

France Itinerary 

Itinerary and all visits are subject to change without notice.

  • Day 1 - Friday, March 6, 2020
    Departure from the Penn State Harrisburg campus for Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 11:30 a.m. Check-in at United Airlines no later than 3:40 p.m. Flight UA57 leaves for Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 6:40 p.m.

  • Day 2 - Saturday, March 7, 2020 - Bayeux
    Arrive at Charles de Gaulle airport at 7:35 a.m. Assistance and transfer to Bayeux, a small town in Normandy. Stop for lunch on your own en route. Check into the hotel for a four-night stay. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Bayeux where your local guide will discuss local customs, money exchange, and safety. You will have a guided stroll through historic Old Bayeux, the medieval town center and visit the Bayeux Cathedral. Also, enjoy a visit to the Museum of the Battle of Normandy.

  • Day 3 - Sunday, March 8, 2020
    After breakfast, depart for a full day excursion following the coast from Bayeux to Juno Beach, Port-en-Bessin, Arromanches, Colleville-sur-Mer, and Omaha Beach. You will visit Juno Beach Center and Park, D-Day Landing Museum, Arromanches 360 Circular Cinema, Germany Battery with guided tour, and American Cemetery of Normandy.

  • Day 4 - Monday, March 9, 2020
    Following breakfast, board the bus for a full day excursion focusing on D-Day and Utah Beach. Travel to Cricqueville-en-Bessin to visit the Pointe-du-Hoc Ranger Monument. Then drive to Sainte-Marie-du-Mont for an orientation tour and entrance to Utah Beach Landing Museum. After the museum, hike to the top of the adjoining bluff to spot where Americans first broke through Germany’s Atlantic Wall. Lunch on your own. After lunch, travel to Sainte-Mère-Église. Explore the small tour and visit the Airborne Museum and D-Day Experience Museum. On the way back to the hotel, stop at the German Military Cemetery at La Cambe.   

  • Day 5 - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
    After breakfast, travel to Mont St. Michel for a full day excursion. Mont St. Michel is one of France’s most historic and picturesque locales. The 1,200-year-old fortified abbey and medieval pilgrimage site is located on an island just off the coast of Normandy. During the day, you will walk through the tidal mudflats, visit St. Peter’s Church, ascend the Pilgrim’s Stairs to the abbey and enjoy a guided tour. Lunch and free time on your own before returning to Bayeux.

  • Day 6 - Wednesday, March 11, 2020 - Paris
    Following breakfast, check out of hotel and travel to Paris with a stop in Caen. In Caen, take a two-hour walking tour focusing on WWII events, including the Caen Memorial Museum. Lunch on your own. Travel to Paris and check into the hotel for four nights.  

  • Day 7 - Thursday, March 12, 2020
    After breakfast, receive your three-day Mobilis Metro Pass. Depart from the hotel with your guide for a morning walking tour. Visit the Catacombs of Paris, WWII headquarters for the French Resistance. Afternoon on your own to visit the Museum of the Liberation de Paris, including Musée du Général Leclerc de Hautecloque and Musée Jean Moulin. Continue to the Arc de Triomphe and stroll along Champs-Elysées. Return to hotel by subway.

  • Day 8 - Friday, March 13, 2020
    Following breakfast, depart for a morning walking tour. Arrive at the Invalides Army Museum in the Hotel des Invalides where you will visit the WWII Wing and the Charles de Gaulle exhibit. Then walk to the Museum of the Order of Liberation. Free time for lunch on your own. In the afternoon, go to the abbey of Saint Germain-des Prés and visit the church. Remainder of the day for academic studies.

  • Day 9 - Saturday, March 14, 2020
    After breakfast, depart from the hotel for a half-day guided walking tour. Visit the historic Marais district of Paris, which includes the historic Jewish Quarter. Visit the Memorial de la Shoah, including the Memorial of the Unknown Jewish Martyr and the Shoah memorial to learn about the fate of French Jews during the German occupation. Visit Musée Carnavalet, which focuses on the rich history of Paris. Remainder of the day for academic studies.

  • Day 10 - Sunday, March 15, 2020
    Depart hotel for Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) at 5:30 a.m. Check-in at United Airlines counter no later than 6:25 a.m. Flight UA56 departs CDG at 9:25 a.m. and arrives at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) at 12:50 p.m. Upon arrival, meet your driver and coach to return to the Penn State Harrisburg campus.

Hotel Accommodations

Hotel d’Argoues

Ibis Styles Paris Bercy

Airline Schedule

The exact time of these flights is subject to change and will be reconfirmed. Check-in at the airport is three hours prior to departure time.

  • Friday, March 6, 2020 – United Airlines UA 57 Newark, NJ 6:40 p.m. to Paris, FR 9:35 a.m. (+1)

  • Sunday, March 15, 2020 – United Airlines UA 56 Paris, FR 9:25 a.m. to Newark, NJ 12:50 p.m.

Contacts

Stephanie Ponnett
Administrative Support Coordinator for International Programs,
717-948-6062
[email protected]   

Dr. David Witwer
Professor of American Studies
717-948-6052
[email protected]

Price Includes

  • Round-trip airfare between Newark, NJ and Paris, France

  • Round-trip transfers between the Penn State Harrisburg campus and Newark Liberty International Airport

  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharge - subject to increase before ticketing

  • Eight nights’ accommodations per itinerary (double or triple occupancy)

  • Buffet breakfast daily

  • English speaking guides

  • Mobilis Metro Pass to travel in Paris

  • All tours, visits and entrance fees as per itinerary

Price Does not Include

  • Tuition

  • Single room supplement +$435

  • Excess baggage fees at the airport

  • Optional travel insurance in case of trip cancellation

  • Additional excursions or activities not mentioned in the itinerary or reserved in advance

  • Transportation, except where noted in the itinerary

  • Tips for tour guides and drivers

  • Personal expenses

  • Any services not listed above as “included”

  • Passport and visa fees - Passport should be valid until September 15, 2020

Visas are not required for United States citizens traveling to France. All international students are responsible for determining if a visa is required and should immediately apply for the visa.  Please check the website at schengenvisainfo.com/how-to-apply-schengen-visa/ if a visa is not issued. Also, alert the International Programs office if you are applying for a visa.

Terms and Conditions

Celestial Voyagers' terms are based on contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The terms and stipulations mentioned below are bound by these contracts and will be strictly enforced. A passport valid until September 15, 2020 is required.

Contacts

Travel arrangements

Celestial Voyagers, Inc.
27-28 Thomson Avenue, Suite WS 11 
Long Island City, NY 11101
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 516-829-1525 Fax: 718-729-0306

Program information

Stephanie Ponnett 
Administrative Support Coordinator
International Programs
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike
C114R Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
E-mail: [email protected] 
Phone: 717-948-6062

Trip Registration

Deposit: $500

$150 of this is a non-refundable processing fee to Celestial Voyagers. Your deposit will assure your reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. The deposit must be sent with a copy of your passport as soon as you register online.

Send your deposit as soon as possible prior to December 5, 2019. After this date, space may not be available and a supplement may apply.

Balance due no later than January 20, 2020.

All payments by check must be made to Celestial Voyagers.

Payment Methods to Celestial Voyagers:

  • Online: During your registration, you can submit your payment by e-check (at no extra cost) or by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). There is a three percent merchant fee for all online payments.

  • Phone: Celestial Voyagers accepts credit card and e-check payments by phone. Credit card payments incur a three percent merchant fee but there is no service fee for e-checks.

  • Post Mail: Your third payment option is to mail in a paper check or money order. Checks should be made payable to “Celestial Voyagers,” and mailed to the address in the contact Celestial Voyagers section. When mailing a check, do not forget to indicate the tour reference number.

Cancellation/Penalties: In case of cancellation, penalties will apply. All cancellations must be received in writing. Written cancellation received between December 6 – January 10, 2020 will incur a penalty of $350 plus a processing fee of $150 – a total of $500. Written cancellation received after January 10, 2020 or no-shows incur a penalty of 100 percent of the total trip cost – $2,995.

Course registration is separate from trip registration.

Upon receipt of your deposit, Celestial Voyagers will send you a receipt that you must present at the Penn State Harrisburg Registrar’s office to register for the course. Honors students must register with the Honors Program.

Passports

If you intend to travel internationally, apply for your passport immediately. Failure to provide passport information may delay airline ticketing for our group.

Registration

Register for the trip online at Celestial Voyagers > Academic Voyagers > Register 

After registering, you must mail your deposit within 48 hours with a copy of your passport, if available (photos or scans of passports are acceptable).

• Tour # 6147

• Tour name: Penn State Harrisburg World War II - 2020

Mail your deposit and copy of your passport (if available) immediately to:

Celestial Voyagers, Inc. 
27-28 Thomson Avenue
Suite WS11
Long Island City, NY 11101