HPB provides holidays for life. As it is an investment product, however, it is subject to charges, your capital is at risk and you may not be able to cash in during your first two years. Please read "How HPB works" for a summary of the principal risks and benefits.
Rail-side view of the Grand Morin valley

Rail-side view of the Grand Morin valley

Looking for something a little different when in St. Siméon?

La Ferté-Gaucher is a small commune close by and if you're up for a stroll, the walk there takes between an hour and a half to two hours from St. Siméon. If you take the valley road there are bound to be some cars, but it's a pretty walk.

The main attraction in La Ferté-Gaucher is the vélorail. This novel tourist activity is unique to the Île de France and uses an old abandoned railway line that has been given a new purpose. The track once connected Paris to Sézanne, cutting through the beautiful Grand Morin valley. The Val du Haut Morin is a protected natural area and now you can take pedal-powered bike-like vehicles along the tracks on a 13km adventure through the countryside.

The rail bikes have four wheels and are powered by the strength of the passengers. Each can accommodate five people, which includes the two on either side doing the peddling. The area is reasonably flat, so you won't find it too hard going, and you can take it in turns to pedal!

The vélorail provides a great opportunity for you to explore this beautiful, green area at your own pace and admire the flora and fauna of the surrounding fields as you pass. You'll travel through picturesque scenery and will pass an array of buildings pointing to the railway's history. You'll begin your adventure from the tourist office in the town; here a land train will take you to the vélorail station and starting point. Your ride will probably take you around three hours in total. Pack some food and drink and make a day of it. The return journey is along the same track but thanks to the fixed departure times, you won't run the risk of encountering fellow travellers en route.

Click here to find out how HPB can offer you and your family a lifetime of wonderful holidays at over 30 exclusive holiday locations Return to Activities and Fun for the Whole Family

Continue reading this article

If you would like to continue reading this article login with your login details

Not registered? Sign up now for your personal experience

  • Private Tours close to you
  • Personal Presentations near you
  • Your local representative information
  • More great stories from the world of HPB

It's simple and easy to sign up, simply register with an email address

Log in / register

Find out more about how HPB can offer you and your family a lifetime of wonderful holidays at over 30 exclusive holiday locations

More from Activities and fun for the whole family

A healthy bit of competition at the Highland Games
Activities and fun for the whole family

A healthy bit of competition at the Highland Games

The Highland Games have been a part of Scottish culture for centuries, combining competition, celebration and history with some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK.

Enjoy a Royal day out at Balmoral Castle
Activities and fun for the whole family

Enjoy a Royal day out at Balmoral Castle

Balmoral Estate is a favourite of the Royals, while its rich history fascinates visitors. But if that doesn’t grab your attention, the castle’s breathtaking gardens are sure to do the trick.

5 easy mountain walks in the Lake District
Activities and fun for the whole family

5 easy mountain walks in the Lake District

Walkers from all over the world visit the Lake District with the aim of tackling its many peaks, from the lofty heights of Scafell Pike to the gentle slopes of Grasmere.

5 activities to enjoy around Viehhofen in the summer
Activities and fun for the whole family

5 activities to enjoy around Viehhofen in the summer

Not far from Viehhofen, you’ll find Saalbach-Hinterglemm, with its dramatic slopes and snowbanks famous for skiing. However, don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a winter holiday.

Before you leave...

Have you thought about having an Private Tour at one of our HPB holiday locations in the UK?

Book a Private Tour

Why not request our Tell Me More pack including our full portfolio?

Request our portfolio

Take out a Holiday Property Bond before 31st October 2024, and not only will you be giving yourself, your friends and your family a lifetime of top-quality holidays. You, and the family, could also be spending a day in a winter wonderland; and meeting Father Christmas himself

For a party of up to six (a mix of adults and children), this day-trip to Lapland includes snowmobiling, husky sledding, and a reindeer sleigh ride – plus the highlight: a private family meeting with Father Christmas, where you can tell him of your Christmas wish list!

After an overnight stay at Birmingham airport’s Novotel (parking included), your flight to Finland’s northernmost region departs early in the morning of 16th December – to give you and the family as much time as possible enjoying Lapland’s Christmas magic. And after your day playing in the snow you’ll return tired but happy, to another night in a comfortable hotel bed before heading home with a boot-full of happy memories (and perhaps a gift or two).

Meals are provided on the outbound and inbound flights, plus a hearty lunch in Lapland, thermal snow suits, winter boots – everything you need to keep warm and get the most out of your day.

Invest before the end of October for your chance to win this fantastic prize. And don’t forget to keep 16th December free. Good luck!

Prize Draw rules
1. Invest by 31st October 2024 and you will be entered into the draw. 2. The winner will be drawn by a solicitor. 3. The winner will receive the prize of a day trip to Lapland for a party of six (mix of adults and children) on 16th December 2024 from Birmingham Airport. Return flights with hot meals, a range of activities and overnight accommodation and parking at Birmingham Airport at the start and end of the break is included. The trip is not suitable for infants under 2 years old. 4. The winner will be drawn from those who invest by 31st October 2024 and existing Bondholders who top up their Bond or refer friends. 5. The prize can only be claimed by those who are 18 or over and is not available to HPB employees, associates or those in their households. 6. No cash alternative available. 7. The winners will be notified by 22nd November 2024.

User Charge

The no-profit user charge is all you pay when you book your holiday. It covers the actual costs of servicing the properties, including housekeeping, laundry and maintenance of the many free-to-use-onsite facilities. It is charged per property - NOT per person. And it does not vary with the season: instead, the user-charge remains constant all year round.

For example:
A week for two in the Scottish Highlands could cost around £324 user charge, including VAT*, even at the height of the season.

A week for a party of eight in a four bedroom villa at Physkos, Turkey in August could cost around £577 in user charge

We're so confident you'll be delighted with HPB that we offer you a 'Money Back Promise'!

In regular surveys, Bondholders tell us how happy they are with HPB holidays. That's why we feel confident in giving you the extra reassurance of our unprecedented 'Money Back Promise':

If you take your first HPB holiday within three years of investing and are not, for any reason, entirely happy, you can cash in your HPB investment within 14 days of your return.

Whatever the encashment value, the parent company of the issuer of HPB will make up any difference so that you get back the full amount of your original payment, including charges.

This offer applies to a holiday at any HPB owned property which is taken by at least one of the Bondholders themselves.

Full details of the offer will be provided before you invest.

Restrictions

If you do not use our "Money Back Promise" offer explained in "How HPB works", you may cash in after two years at a value linked to that of the properties and securities but you should not expect to get back the full amount you paid because of charges and changes in the value of HPB’s properties and securities. In exceptional circumstances cashing in may be deferred for up to twelve months.

Your inflation-protected Holiday Points

HPB's holiday benefits are provided through a Holiday Points system. Each £1 you invest (including any adviser charge) adds one Holiday Point to the allocation of Holiday Points that you receive every year for as long as you hold your bond. Each time you book a holiday, you exchange Holiday Points for the accommodation you want, with the number of Holiday Points required depending on the location, size of property and season.

Here are some examples of how it works in practice (2022 rates):

For two people, holidaying out of season:
A week in Stigliano, Tuscany from 1,530 points
A week in The Trossachs, Scotland from 2,430 points
A week in St Brides Castle, Pembrokeshire from 2,260 points

And in the height of summer:
A week in Rocha Brava, Portgual from 8,190 points
A week in the Lake District from 9,760 points
A week in Le Mont de St Siméon, France from 14,180 points

If you have a minimum qualifying investment you can also book Short Notice Points Free holidays, subject to availability. Bookings can be made up to 28 days in advance for UK holidays and up to 56 days in advance for overseas. Even if you do not have a qualifying investment, you can still book Short Notice Points Free holidays up to 21 days ahead in the UK and up to 42 days ahead overseas.

Inflation protection: Your Holiday Points allocation is re-valued every year in line with the cost of providing additional holiday accommodation for new investors. This means your holiday accommodation booking power is fixed and protected against inflation. So you can look forward to top quality holidays for life.

A unique way to enjoy exclusive holidays year after year

Q. How does it work?

A. The way the Bond works is simple. Families like yours invest from £5,000 for exclusive access to a portfolio of over 1,500 top quality villas, cottages and apartments in 32 locations across 13 European countries, including over 600 properties in 19 locations in the UK. For each £1 invested you will receive one Holiday Point each year which you can use to book the properties. And when staying in them you do not pay a commercial rent, just a no-profit user charge covering actual running, maintenance and refurbishment costs. This charge is level throughout the year so there are no high season premiums. The average charge for a studio is around £360 and around £540 for a two bedroom property, for a week. Larger properties are also available. This no-profit user charge is only payable when you want to go on holiday. Your only ongoing commitment is a quarterly fee under £38 (that is around £150 a year), linked to RPIX.

Q. Will there be more properties in the future?

A. As we attract more investors the more properties we will add to the portfolio – increasing your holiday choice still further.

Q. How long can I holiday with HPB?

A. For life if you wish – the holiday benefits last as long as you hold the Bond. In due course you can pass it and the holiday benefits to your children and grandchildren, as many of our earlier investors have already done. If, however, at some point you and your family no longer wish to holiday with us you can surrender your Bond back to the company after two years or more (subject to deferral in exceptional circumstances). You will not get back the full amount you invested, although we would hope that you will have had some wonderful holidays. What you do get back will reflect initial charges (25%) taken before your money is invested in the HPB fund of holiday properties and securities. The fund itself also pays annual charges of around 2.5% of its net assets at cost, calculated monthly, as well as overheads. The value of the fund’s properties and securities can also go up or down and so, like most investments, your capital is at risk.

Q. Is the Bond available anywhere else?

A. No. HPB is available exclusively through HPB Management Limited.

Request Our Portfolio Book a private tour Book a personal presentation Chat to one of our representatives Take the next step