One would think driving in a different country where cars are on the wrong side of the road and you don’t speak the language for 11 day trip would not be a smart decision. France …
One would think driving in a different country where cars are on the wrong side of the road and you don’t speak the language for 11 day trip would not be a smart decision. France Just for You is definitely the travel consultant you go to. Emilie’s very quick replies to queries, personal knowledge of having been to places recommended and organisation skills for minute details, makes them truly reliable.
From getting us a French smartphone complete with the necessary apps to help us navigate and keep us connected , and also providing us with a personalised guidebook that dictates step-by step advice on what to look out for, GPS guide on where to go , where to park, how to use the parking machines/toll machines/even pumping gas (complete with images of where to slot in your cards) , made our travelling around and navigation practically stress-free!
Emilie crafted itineraries which allows my family of four , each with different interests ( from WWII millitary historical sites to a whole new world of Chateaus ,medieval villages ,flower gardens , immersive artworks, sunset and fantastic night sky , to cooking French cuisines) experiences to treasure and remember.
We had a half day guide in Paris, Raphaelle, who is truly knowledgeable about art , history and architecture. We visited Picasso Museum and because the artwork there were not laid out chronologically, Raphaelle made it easily understandable by showing us through her own folder of personal compilations of the Master’s progress of life encounters and artworks (which should be made into a book) that ties in to the art pieces on display, it provided us with so many aha moments.
#1 - A former wine estateStay right in the Medoc vineyards
#1 - A former wine estateRelax by the vineyards or at the pool or spa
#1 - A former wine estateMeet with your lovely hosts who used to live Sth America
#1 - A former wine estateYou room has a very relaxing decoration
#2 - A restored farmhouse nestled between the woods & the Dordogne riverA gorgeous house nestled between the woods and the Dordogne river
#2 - A restored farmhouse nestled between the woods & the Dordogne riverRelax in a countryside setting
#2 - A restored farmhouse nestled between the woods & the Dordogne riverStay in a very large room with unique decoration
#2 - A restored farmhouse nestled between the woods & the Dordogne riverEnjoy the old stone atmosphere
Step by step
The Bordeaux area
Start your journey in the Bordeaux area for 4 nights, in the Médoc wine region - in a house surrounded by the vineyards. Your lovely hosts are passionate about wine and will invite you to a delicious dinner . . . with some local wines of course !
Built along the banks of the Garonne river, the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to the city of Bordeaux. The rise of colonial trade together with the growth of the wine industry contributed to the amazing expansion of the Gironde region during the 18th century.
We plan for you to explore Bordeaux's old town following a local food guide who will take you to many different food & wine places - delicious !
You will find everything here: from villages nestled into the Medoc or St Emilion vineyards, to the bustling night life in Bordeaux. Also, bear in mind that Bordeaux's Sainte Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Europe!
Very near Saint Emilion, we have planned a private tour of a famous wine estate: after visiting the estate from the vineyards to the cellars, learning about the different grape varieties and wine-making process, you will enjoy a lunch together with a tasting of 3 different wines.
Dordogne
Continue your sightseeing expedition to the Dordogne . In Black Perigord,you will stay in a restored stone house for 5 nights, nestled between the woods and the Dordogne river, perfectly located to explore the area.
Your lovely hostess will open her home to you - which is filled with personal touches (artwork, books, photographies).
Dordogne is famous for prehistoric caves like Lascaux, but we have booked for you a much more intimate visit, to a 20,000 old cave. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, this is a must! Visit the old city of Sarlat and feel the buzz of activity on market days.
We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheese ever - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
We also plan for you to spend a memorable time looking for truffles with a passionate professional and his truffle hound.
This is a trip you will remember forever!
Activities included
Tour a St Emilion Winery
Visit a wine estate near St Emilion with a private English speaking guide. After the tour, you will enjoy a picnic lunch together with a tasting of different wines from the estate.
Bordeaux Food Tour
Stroll Bordeaux old town, stopping at many different food and wine shops to get a nice overview of the Bordeaux region gastronomy. A very pleasant walking tour !
Truffle Hunt
In Dordogne, spend a memorable time looking for truffles with a passionate professional and his truffle hound.
We began planning this trip over a year before our departure date. We have done a lot of traveling but this trip was for our 25th wedding anniversary! Once we decided upon France as our destination all that was left was to get all the details taken care of. Based on previous adventures, we knew that we wanted to drive ourselves on a self- directed …
We began planning this trip over a year before our departure date. We have done a lot of traveling but this trip was for our 25th wedding anniversary! Once we decided upon France as our destination all that was left was to get all the details taken care of. Based on previous adventures, we knew that we wanted to drive ourselves on a self- directed adventure. Extensive searching and research led us to France for You. Yes, Emilie and France for You had wonderful reviews but we needed/wanted to speak with her. Emilie is a great listener. My wife and I had each been France on our own, years before we had met and hadn’t been back since. We enjoyed a few conversations and exchanged many emails as the three of us discussed and planned our adventure. We thought we had arranged and thoroughly planned our 15 days. We never could have imagined how AMAZING this trip turned out to be, absolutely a trip of a lifetime!!! Emilie had come to know us well enough to understand exactly how to assist us in planning every detail of the trip. Emilie of France for You obviously does extensive research and stays current with every aspect of anything she suggests. Every aspect of our adventure was far above and beyond our expectations. I couldn’t more STRONGLY recommend working with Emilie and France for You!
Tony
The organisation and friendliness of the places we stayed was outstanding. We travel a lot and this was a delightful experience that we can't wait to do again. I could not recommend more highly the professionalism in the booklets which are a long term reminder of a most memorable time. We travelled from NZ a long way for just two weeks but it was …
The organisation and friendliness of the places we stayed was outstanding. We travel a lot and this was a delightful experience that we can't wait to do again. I could not recommend more highly the professionalism in the booklets which are a long term reminder of a most memorable time. We travelled from NZ a long way for just two weeks but it was worth it every step of the way
Joel
We highly recommend Emilie’s services. She put together an excellent itinerary. She made all the arrangements and the guides she retained for us where top notch. The B&B accommodations were very good, the hosts were terrific and we enjoyed the other travelers we met at breakfast. We did two table d'hote dinners which were excellent and her …
We highly recommend Emilie’s services. She put together an excellent itinerary.
She made all the arrangements and the guides she retained for us where top notch. The B&B accommodations were very good, the hosts were terrific and we enjoyed the other travelers we met at breakfast. We did two table d'hote dinners which were excellent and her restaurant recommendations were wonderful!
Everything is set forth in a book in which she provides a day by day itinerary with cultural descriptions, history, restaurant choices and of course directions.
She arranged for our rental car with Enterprise car rental; and, although her arrangements were perfect, through no fault of Emilie's we had a dispute with Enterprise. Emilie immediately became involved and eventually resolved the problem to our satisfaction. I am certain that without Emilie's assistance we would not have received any satisfaction from Enterprise.
In short we highly recommend Emilie. Most often we plan our trips ourselves arranging for hotels, transportation, guides etc. I was in the process of doing the same when we found Emilie.
Emilie added substantial value and enjoyment to our trip.
