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 quiet town house in the heart of Beaune, Burgundy100 meters from the Hospices of Beaune
#1 - A quiet town house in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyA charming B&B with comfortable, fully equipped rooms...
#1 - A quiet town house in the heart of Beaune, Burgundy...lovely hosts and delicious breakfasts !
#1 - A quiet town house in the heart of Beaune, BurgundyRelax in a cool garden, right in town
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyA charming house, nestled in a lovely hamlet
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyRelax in a cozy room, after a day sightseeing.
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire ValleyYour lovely hosts will take good care of you...
#2 - A 14th century house in the Loire Valley...and will take you to their vaulted cellar for the apéritif.
#3 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyA charming tuffeau stone house in a green valley
#3 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyRest in a quiet room, full of charm
#3 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyor in the garden
#3 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyEnjoy a savory home-made cuisine
Step by step
Burgundy, from Dijon to Beaune
From Paris, drive about 3 hours to Beaune, Burgundy where you will spend the first 4 nights of your trip. You will reside 2 minutes on foot from the famous Hospices, right next to Beaune's ramparts, in a old toll house dating from the Middle Ages when people had to pay to enter the city, which has been tastefully restored.
Enjoy being able to walk everywhere while staying in this quiet B&B nestled in a cool garden. We'll tell you where to go for the best wine tasting in Beaune. After that, you can savor a traditional Burgundy meal or buy a picnic at the market to enjoy in the nearby park.
Sébastien, a real wine enthusiast, will take you for half a day on a 4-wheel drive to tour around Burgundy vineyards, following itineraries that no other tour can do. You will taste wines directly at the winery and ride over dirt roads in Nuits Saint Georges and Vosne Romanée. Sébastien is very friendly and you will feel like a relative he wants to show his favorite places.
Apart from the vineyards, we will show you how to exit the beaten track and discover the authentic and charming Burgundy. Winding roads leading to tiny timeless villages - some of them "Most Beautiful Villages of France" - will give you a real feel for this region. Taste some local cheeses, the "Epoisse" at the cheese factory or uncover the mysteries of the famous Ducs de Bourgogne in Dijon.
The Loire Valley sweet life
On the 5th day, you will drive 4 hours to the Loire Valley – we will recommend a nice stop. In the Loire Valley, experiencethe "sweet life", stopping over in little villages to savor goat cheese or taste wines. Take the time to relax in rose gardens, or to enjoy the traditional cuisine inmany small restaurantsfrequented by the locals.
You will stay for the following 4 nights in the outbuildings of a disappeared monastery dating back to the 14th century. Your charming hosts know this region very well and will be happy to share some tips with you. One evening, you will share a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by Monsieur. Do not miss the aperitif in the underground vaulted cellar!
Located on the south banks of the Vienne River, this charming B&B is within short driving distance of Chinon and Saumur, beautiful historic towns. Touraine is also famous for its vineyards – Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray, Amboise and many more. You will visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers, then enjoy a commented tasting with some very local specialties.
For the last 4 nights of your trip, stay in the northeastern part of the Loire Valley near the most famous castles of the region. Located near Amboise and Chenonceau, you will be away from the crowds, in a green valley. At night, relax in the lovely garden or have dinner with your hosts and fellow travelers. We will tell you how to see the musts like Chambord castle while avoiding the crowds and also recommend some places and restaurants away from the beaten paths.
Included in this itinerary is an electric bike rental for a day. You will explore, at your own pace, the nature, villages and castles along the river. No worries, the path along the Loire river is totally flat!
One day, your hostess will teach you how to cook some regional dishes - which you will then savor around a big table at a convivial dinner.
On your last day, you can drive back to Paris (3hrs) or to CDG airport (3hr30). We will arrange for you to drop off the car at the most convenient location based on your next destination. For those who don't want to drive, we can also arrange for the TGV high speed train.
Heritage, vineyards, delicious food and markets,
bienvenue en France !
Activities included
Burgundy Wine Tasting
Spend a half-day with Seb who will drive you in his 4WD in the back tracks and the dirt roads of Burgundy vineyards. He will take you like a friend would do to several wineries in some of the most famous vineyards in the world.
A Winery Visit & Tasting in Chinon
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Biking day in the castle's country
Spend a day on an Electric Bike at your own pace and discover many castles nestled in the nature. Enjoy a nice picnic with wine. We have tested several itineraries so you can chose depending on your mood and what you would like to see.
Loire Cooking Workshop
Spend a late afternoon with Valérie who trained in gastronomic restaurants. You will prepare a main course and a dessert, then you'll enjoy a savory dinner with your hosts.
If you want to experience France, but are hesitant because you don’t speak the language, this company is for you. Emilie will prepare an itinerary that is so detailed that even the most inexperienced, non-French speaking traveler will be able to navigate France. Her attention to detail is so incredible that almost everything sitiuation you …
If you want to experience France, but are hesitant because you don’t speak the language, this company is for you. Emilie will prepare an itinerary that is so detailed that even the most inexperienced, non-French speaking traveler will be able to navigate France. Her attention to detail is so incredible that almost everything sitiuation you encounter can be assisted with a page in your “book.” You let her know what you’re interested in experiencing and she will make it happen.
I would highly recommend everything that she planned for us. Raphaelle’s walking tour of Paris, Christophe’s D-Day tour, Brigitte’s cooking class, a bike tour through the Loire Valley, and Amelie’s tour of Mont Saint Michel were incredibly enjoyable. There was plenty of flexibility in our itinerary to make other plans as well.
All of our accommodations were beyond wonderful and the restaurant suggestions were all perfect! Although we didn’t have the time to experience everything suggested, we definitely wish we did!
We are already planning our next trip!
Valerie
Emilie deserves every 5 (actually I give her 10!) star review since we never dreamed our 2 week trip through the Loire, Normandy and Paris could be so perfect. One of the many steps above and beyond was arranging a full-day private tour in Normandy since my husband's uncle (who is still alive) was there on D-Day. Our guide, Noémie, knew in advance …
Emilie deserves every 5 (actually I give her 10!) star review since we never dreamed our 2 week trip through the Loire, Normandy and Paris could be so perfect. One of the many steps above and beyond was arranging a full-day private tour in Normandy since my husband's uncle (who is still alive) was there on D-Day. Our guide, Noémie, knew in advance about Uncle Gerald and geared our visit accordingly with her depth of knowledge.
Emilie arranged ways to beat the crowds at the touristy sites, but more importantly arrange charming B&Bs and recommend enchanting itineraries. The gourmet host dinners with other travelers at the B&Bs were a highlight. And the hosts were so welcoming and helpful during our stay.
The smartphone, the book with suggested restaurants and must-see places, and the envelope full of city maps and brochures make France Just for You a unique and top-notch choice for planning a vacation in France. We will use Emilie and Laura for a future trip to Burgundy? Dordogne? Provence? Who knows? They will help us figure it out.
Bev & Jeff from the US
Wow ! Wow ! Wow ! We had the best 23 day trip to France. I normally plan our vacations, but after finding the France Just For You website, I knew we had to let the experts plan our 30th Anniversary. Every Bed & Breakfast was excellent. They were so beautiful and the welcome was fantastic at every one. FJFY thinks of every detail. Directions, train …
Wow ! Wow ! Wow !
We had the best 23 day trip to France. I normally plan our vacations, but after finding the France Just For You website, I knew we had to let the experts plan our 30th Anniversary. Every Bed & Breakfast was excellent. They were so beautiful and the welcome was fantastic at every one. FJFY thinks of every detail. Directions, train tickets, dates marked on maps. It’s all organized. One of our highlights was meeting all the FJFY travel agents at their new offices in Langeais!
