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 …
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!
#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.
My wife and I are fairly seasoned travelers so when we decided to include a trip to France in our year long 50th Anniversary Celebration we wanted to do something different. We looked at group travel companies including those who specialize in "small" groups. None of them had the flavor we were looking for. In my search for somethin new I happened …
My wife and I are fairly seasoned travelers so when we decided to include a trip to France in our year long 50th Anniversary Celebration we wanted to do something different. We looked at group travel companies including those who specialize in "small" groups. None of them had the flavor we were looking for. In my search for somethin new I happened upon the website of France Just For You and was intrigued by the idea of having a custom-designed French experience. One or two emails later we discovered just how great our experience was going to be. Emilie Thyebaut takes your wishes and likes and turns them into realities. Her extensive planning made our two week trip a memory of a life time. Nothing was omitted--dining recommendations, excellent B&B reservations, rental car reservation, pre-booked guides for such locations as Mont-Saint-Michel--nothing was left to chance.
Loke at the France Just For You website and you should be able to make your vacation dreams come true.
Robert
From Bordeaux, Medoc wineries, Basque country of France and Spain, Carcassone, Dordogne, pre-historic caves, beautiful medieval towns and villages, switch-back mountain roads, sunshine, truffles, food & wine and gracious b&b hosts to final flight home, this was the trip of a lifetime! We drove over 3,200 kms with the help of our included gps and …
From Bordeaux, Medoc wineries, Basque country of France and Spain, Carcassone, Dordogne, pre-historic caves, beautiful medieval towns and villages, switch-back mountain roads, sunshine, truffles, food & wine and gracious b&b hosts to final flight home, this was the trip of a lifetime!
We drove over 3,200 kms with the help of our included gps and cell phone package. Emilie provided all of the details, maps, recommendations that you could ever want and never hope to experience all of them -- but, what excellent choices!
We have travelled in France on our own before and on tours. This was number One! We are in our mid 70's and were able to mange this trip with ease. Thanks for everything, Emilie!
Paul
My wife and I had our travel plans created by Emilie at "France Just For You," a personal travel planner, Our trip was seamless as everything was prepared by FJFY: car rental pickup, B&B #1, detailed maps and activities, B&B 2, train to Paris, hotel, tours . . . . it was simply amazing! FJFY creates a customized tour book for your entire trip, it …
My wife and I had our travel plans created by Emilie at "France Just For You," a personal travel planner, Our trip was seamless as everything was prepared by FJFY: car rental pickup, B&B #1, detailed maps and activities, B&B 2, train to Paris, hotel, tours . . . . it was simply amazing!
FJFY creates a customized tour book for your entire trip, it comes with maps, activity suggestions, restaurants. Our B&B's were beautiful and the hosts were kind and helpful. It was fun to meet others at the B&B's, people who have come back to the same place year after year because of the hospitality.
Paris accommodations were located in a nice area and within walking distance of many locales and train stops. We had a guided tour of the city and tickets to the Louvre all taken care of by FJFY.
The only bad part about FJFY is the challenge of deciding on the many itineraries, all are enticing so I MUST go back to France. When we return I will be seeking Emilie's expert advice once again.
