Frequently Asked Questions

No, Blue Mantle is a receptive agency. We do not plan international flights. Hava will meet you at the airport and guide you once you are on-site in France. For information: most flights to France can be purchased for 500€ to 900€ per person.

No, most people don't bother with travel insurance when they come to France.

Yes, Hava can help you organize, at your own cost, to stay with the religious communities in Paris for a few extra days before and/or after your pilgrimage. Please note that this must be handled well before you arrive.

Most groups are between 10 and 20 people. However, if you want to arrange a private group of friends, family, or parishioners, it is possible to arrange for a group that is smaller or bigger depending on your needs.

In Paris and most of the pilgrimage sites you will be staying in very simple lodging with Catholic religious communities. There will be a crucifix, a bed, and a wooden desk in your room. There will not always be private restrooms or WIFI. Also, you will not be seeing a TV or chocolates on your pillow. Remember a Pilgrimage is not a Vacation.

There are two destinations where you might be staying in a 3-star hotel:

• Lourdes is certain as there are no religious housing arrangements available for able-bodied persons.
• Chartres has very limited availability with the Sisters of Saint Paul so you might stay in a hotel there as well, if the sisters are fully booked.

For Breakfast: All breakfasts will be provided by the religious communities you sleep with. Usually, they are very continental. Think: bread, butter, jam, a piece of fruit, and some coffee or tea.

For Lunch: We will be picnicking most days. You’ll be enjoying baguette sandwiches with different fillings daily, as well as bottled water, bags of chips, apples, and baby carrots.

For Dinner: We will once again, mostly, be eating with the religious communities where we will be staying. They serve filling food that is good for you. They do not take into account dietary preferences. If you have an allergy, they will do their best to accommodate you.

In Lourdes and Paris, a few dinners will be in restaurants with authentic French menus. Think: snails, fois gras, and French wine.

The best time to go on a pilgrimage is when you are reasonably sure God is calling you to one. You can’t join Blue Mantle in August or December as those months are filled with family obligations for Hava. All other months of the year are wonderful for pilgrimages. A personal favorite of Hava is May as the spring flowers are in bloom and the temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold. October is also a fantastic month.

There are a million things to do in Paris. Hava was a secular guide in Paris for more than a decade, so if you want some pointers on what you should see and do during your free time, just ask her!

She can point you towards Versailles or the Champagne Region, etc. In fact, Hava founded a successful tourism company before she felt the terrifying call to dedicate a substantial portion of her time, energy, and resources to fully Catholic endeavors.

The secular touring company she founded is called Blue Fox Travel. Her husband runs it today. Look it up. It has, pretty much, everything a tourist in France would want to experience: From the Beaches of Normandy to The Hidden Secrets of Paris to Monet’s Garden in Giverny and much more.

Pray. Don’t think of it as a vacation. Prepare yourself mentally, spiritually, and physically: there will be long walks, uncomfortable moments of spiritual growth, and odd meals prepared by religious sisters.

Because God is inviting you to grow closer to Him through sacrifice. You will be offering up your time, your freedom to choose what you are doing when, and some of your meal preferences. One doesn’t go on a pilgrimage for a luxury experience. Rather, one embarks on a pilgrimage for personal spiritual growth and to become the person that God calls them to be.

That is a trick question, right? The Holiest site in France is a tabernacle where Jesus is present with His body, blood, soul, and divinity. Luckily for us, He is quite present in France and we will be able to spend lots of time with Him at all of the pilgrimage sites we visit.

Lourdes. It has to be Lourdes. Millions of pilgrims go there every year. All Catholics have at least an inkling of a desire to go there and no one is left indifferent after visiting Lourdes.

This is extremely subjective! Most people would say Notre Dame of Paris. That is probably because most people have been there and not to as many other cathedrals. Hava’s personal favorite is the Cathedral of Chartres, which also happens to be named Notre Dame. Notre Dame means Our Lady in French.