update 30 December 2011
To obtain the most advantageous price (hopefully) and secure the reservation, I am required to pay the ticket agent a (non refundable) deposit of £32.24 for the Eurostar tickets by the 10th of February 2012, and pay the balance plus the TGV tickets by the 22nd of March. Hence my request below for £50 which I would appreciate ASAP and which I will hold until 10th of February pending any penalty free changes. Shortly after the 22nd of February I will know the price of the TGV tickets and I will then request the balance from you as estimated below..

update 19 December 2011
We now have our complement of 40 and ready to proceed with the next stage - to reserve tickets on Eurostar/TGV from St Pancras to Strasbourg. The provisional times are depart Eurostar St Pancras 14:01, arrive Paris Nord 17:17, depart TGV Paris Est 18:55 arriving Strasbourg 21:14. On return we depart Strasbourg 08:46 and arrive St.Pancras at 14.36 in ample time to catch a train from Euston to Aberystwyth
I have 36 Eurostar tickets reserved and require a deposit of £50 from each person planning to take this route. I will book the TGV tickets on the 22nd of February when they are made available. I estimate the final cost to be no more than £120 which I am required to pay by 27th March 2012. Cheques payable to me please.

update 9 December 2011
It is clear to me that the spirit of the Cardy is alive and well - it is amazing what €300 will do! We all booked into hotels - see the hotel list for where your "freinds" are and please tell me if there are any errors.
You will note the list only contains 38 names. I am therefore sending an email to all Rotarians asking for 2 more people to take up the funded places - the first to contact me by telephone wins! 612956 or 07801353796.

update 7 December 2011
I appear to have run out of options to group book any accommodation through an agent in a convenient location in Strasbourg. I am also restricted in on-line booking a number of smaller groups (6 - 8) by needing to pay the full sum or the first night up front before the booking is accepted.
So folks, it's down to you to book your own accommodation (3 nights from 22nd May) either individually or in your own groups. As a suggestion Booking.com is a good website, with reviews, locations, facility details and booking conditions. When I looked earlier today you appeared to be able to book 4, 6 or 8 rooms in Comforte Montagne Verte (€79), Appart Hotel Victoria Gardens (€69), Quality Street Victoria Garden ( €132). Take your pick, or any where else you fancy. You may even choose to stay in a place nearby - Allen Carr recommends Colmar about 45 miles away with alledgedly a good rail link. Whatever your choice you need to act quickly as hotels are filling up fast. Please let me know your intentions asap, preferably by email, and then when you have made your booking.
I will as previously arranged, book the train tickets from St Pancras - the timtable is not yet available - I will be asking you for the money when it is published.
I willshortly need to compile a list of participants details - presumably after everyone has confirmed a hotel booking. Please note that "no subsidies will be paid if the number of particpants present falls below 10"

update 4 December 2011
Accommodation centrally at a sensible price (£100/night max) is proving very difficult to find. Over 30 hotels have been contacted! The only one offered that meets these criteria is Hotel Du Rhin opposite the railway station - £51/night for a double room. However the reviews in Booking.com are far from favourable. Please look up the details and the reviews. If I cannot find a suitable alternative then a possible way forward is to book this hotel for those that are prepared to take a chance and the remainder find their own accommodation. Action must be soon as the circumstances are not going to improve.

update 21 November 2011
We have now received approval from the EC for our visit next May. Click here for details of the terms and conditions. I have only copied 1 Euro MEP letter so don't panic - it is for 40 funded places!
Unfortunately the provisional booking on the hotel has expired and they can no longer accommodate us. The quest is now on for an alternative.

update 13 September 2011
A provisional booking has now been made for 20 double rooms in the Ibis Centre Ponts Courverts hotel for the 22, 23, and 24 May 2011. The price quoted is £74/night.
quote "The hotel is ideally located on the banks of the Ill River. The hotel is situated in a peaceful location just a short walk from the Modern Art and Petite France museums. There is tram stop right outside the hotel and the train station is a 10-minute walk away offering further possibilities for< places to explore. The hotel comprises 244 simple and comfortable rooms. The Courtepaille restaurant is open daily from 11am to 11pm. A terrace and bar are also available".

update 6 September 2011
A formal application for funding 40 places is now being processed in Brussels.
Eurostar reservations are not available until sometime in October, and TGV not until Febuary,but in the assumption that the timetables don't change the proposal is that, as on the visit to Brussels everyone makes their own way to London St Pancras.