Our family of 5 adults spent 17 days touring France on a trip built around the Women's World Cup Semi-finals and Final in Lyon. France Just For You did a marvelous job setting up …
Our family of 5 adults spent 17 days touring France on a trip built around the Women's World Cup Semi-finals and Final in Lyon. France Just For You did a marvelous job setting up beautiful, well managed B&B's in 5 different regions as we explored both the history and gastronomy of France. Guided tours from personable and informative guides during the first day in each region set a base of historical and geographic knowledge that allowed for quality, individual exploration the remaining time in the region. As diverse as our family members' interests are, all 5 of us got to experience a piece of France and its culture that was special to us. Emilie and Laura did a wonderful job from initial planning to shepherding us through the trip. Merci!
#1 - A gorgeous B&B between Biarritz & St Jean de LuzThe house is nestled in a landscaped garden all made by your host
#1 - A gorgeous B&B between Biarritz & St Jean de LuzThe rooms are very comfortable and all open on to the garden
#1 - A gorgeous B&B between Biarritz & St Jean de LuzShare a glass of wine in one of the many terraces
#1 - A gorgeous B&B between Biarritz & St Jean de LuzRelax at the pool house
#1 - A gorgeous B&B between Biarritz & St Jean de LuzOr stroll around the pound...or to the sea which is 3 miles away
#2 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonneenjoy an island of quietness in busy Carcassonne
#2 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of CarcassonneYour hosts have a very special taste for decoration
#2 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonne...which makes the B&B home very welcoming
#2 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of CarcassonneYour hosts speak perfect English
#2 - A B&B in Bastide Saint Louis lively district of Carcassonneeverything is planned for you to have a very enjoyable stay
#3 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonEnjoy a peaceful park away from the crowds
#3 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonRest in a very spacious suite-room
#3 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonMeet with fellow travelers in cozy communal areas
#3 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonYour lovely hosts will be happy to help
#4 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-ProvenceEnjoy a very large garden with a nice swimming pool
#4 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-ProvenceA comfortable independent cottage...
#4 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-Provence...a lovely hostess happy to share tips with you
#4 - A very hidden B&B on the hills above Aix-en-Provenceand this view !
Step by step
In the heart of the Basque Country
Start your trip with 5 nights in a gorgeous Basque Country villa. The B&B is located 3 miles from the beach but in a very quiet landscaped garden.
From here, you will discover the seaside from Saint Jean de Luz to Biarritz and also go to the Spanish Basque area, which is about a 1hr drive.
As an introduction to the region, you will enjoy following a local guide in Biarritz. He will give you the keys to his city and to the Basque culture, so you will understand more about the Basque language and the traditions and festivals such as Pelote or Basque Force. This tour ends at the covered market, where you will taste some Basque specialties: cheese, ham, wines, jams and much more.
We will craft your days so you get a feel of everything the Basque culture has to offer, and there is a lot: taste the local Bayonne ham after strolling a valley and discovering the traditional and still alive mountain pig farming, get acquainted with the Basque weaving tradition, try to make your own Basque cake or stroll one of the many farmers markets.
Several “most beautiful villages of France” will be on your scenic drives – and you may see some locals playing the Basque Pelote game at the town’s fronton. Nature and outdoors lovers will enjoy endless walks and hikes in the Pyrenees foothills, occasional walkers will relax on the walks along the beaches and enjoy a coffee on a terrace watching surfers.
The Cathar country
Carcassonne and the Cathar country are the perfect stop on the way to Provence. Carcassonne's medieval “Cité” will amaze you by its size and conservation.
Stay for 3 nights downtown Carcassonne lively “Bastide St Louis”, a short walk to the UNESCO Medieval city. Your lovely and international hosts are happy to share many stories and tips with their guests.
In the Cathar country, walkers/hikers will be rewarded with breathtaking landscapes and fortresses such as Quéribus or Perpeytuse. History lovers will be intrigued by the Cathar history. Wine lovers may be surprised by the quality of the “Minervois” wines which have improved a lot in the past 10 years. They are now on the wine lists of some of the most famous restaurants in the world.
On the 9th day, you will drive about 2hr30 along the Mediterranean Sea to get to Provence.
Magnificent Provence
You will reside in a comfortable and quiet B&B for 5 nights on Avignon's island. This place is nestled in a nice garden where you will enjoy relaxing by the pool, and it is only a 15 minute walk to the heart of Avignon's old city. Your hosts know the region very well and they will be happy to give you some advice if you'd like.
So many things to see in less than an hour's drive from your B&B: beautiful Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, where you can visit the Palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”.
Enjoy hilltop villages on market day, walking in the footsteps of famous painters such as Cézanne or Picasso. We will also tell you about some hidden jewels - off the beaten track villages where you will stroll around charming streets or have a drink at a provençal café with locals. We can also recommend a farmer’s market and wine cellar for each day of the week!
One day, we will take you to a place you could not find on your own, lost in Provence mountains, to a very private wine estate. Here, you will take a tour of the winery, then enjoy a wine tasting followed by a nice picnic in the vineyards. A very romantic time.
Southern Provence
End your trip with 3 nights half-way between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon hills, in a very hidden B&B lost in the "garrigue" shrubland and pine forest.
From the B&B, you explore the landscapes which inspired so many painters including Cezanne.
Spend about 2hrs looking for truffles in the Luberon hills with a lovely couple, then taste several appetizers made of truffles with a glass of Champagne (or more, whose counting?).
The perfect trip to enjoy the sweet life in Southern France!
Activities included
A Private Guide to introduce you to the Basque culture
Follow a local guide in Biarritz, by the Ocean. He will give you the keys to his city and to the Basque culture. You will end this tour at the covered market, tasting some Basque produces: cheese, hams and wines.
Wine Tasting & Picnic in a very private Estate
Explore a very private wine estate, lost in the hills of Provence. You will enjoy a tour of the estate followed by a wine tasting, then have a picnic lunch in the vineyards. A very special place you would not find on your own.
Truffle Hunt & Tasting
Spend about 2hrs looking for truffles in the Luberon hills with a lovely couple, then taste several appetizers made of truffle with a glass of Champagne.
Emilie's services are amazing!! I contacted her after my one year anniversary trip planning fell through with another agency. She quickly picked up the reins from where they left off, listened to our budget requests and organized an absolutely fantastic trip for us! From Paris to Provence to the French Riviera, everywhere we stayed was wonderful …
Emilie's services are amazing!! I contacted her after my one year anniversary trip planning fell through with another agency. She quickly picked up the reins from where they left off, listened to our budget requests and organized an absolutely fantastic trip for us! From Paris to Provence to the French Riviera, everywhere we stayed was wonderful and in the perfect location. The activities were ones we will remember for the rest of our lives and we would have never thought to do them ourselves...learning how to play pentanque was a blast and making our own perfume was really interesting and fun! We told her exactly the type of trip we were looking for and she really delivered - we couldn't have done this without her! Our trip had some structure but we were also free to explore as we wanted. I even got to stay at a horse farm B&B in the french countryside bc I told her I love horses. This is the type of service you will get with Emilie. Also, the personalized guide book she provides is incredible - we used it throughout the duration of our trip and it was super informative beforehand as well. All of our hosts knew Emilie and spoke very highly of her too. We didn't have any issues with all of the reservations she made which was great. You absolutely can't go wrong working with Emilie; each trip is tailored to your individual likings and she knows all of the best spots. Thank you, Emilie, for planning the perfect 1 year wedding anniversary for us!! Highly Recommend France Just For You!
Naomi
Our trip was arranged and detailed well in advance, with reservations for activities and places of special interest, and free days with suggestions for things to see and do. We fell in love with Dordogne and the Paleolithic caves for which we had reserved tours, and were able to take in another cave the next day at the suggestion of our B&B hostess …
Our trip was arranged and detailed well in advance, with reservations for activities and places of special interest, and free days with suggestions for things to see and do. We fell in love with Dordogne and the Paleolithic caves for which we had reserved tours, and were able to take in another cave the next day at the suggestion of our B&B hostess. We would have missed many beautiful places, and certainly missed the fine lodgings and conversation with fellow travelers, had we not had the help of France Just for You. Emilie stayed in touch and resolved issues before we even knew about them, so we wasted no time and experienced no frustration at all.
Becky & John
Travelers wanting to experience France need look no further than France Just for You. Emilie works very hard to make sure travelers have a care-free, positive, unique experience that they could have never found on their own or with a bus tour group. If you dislike prefabricated group tours, and/or feel unconfident about traveling in a foreign …
Travelers wanting to experience France need look no further than France Just for You. Emilie works very hard to make sure travelers have a care-free, positive, unique experience that they could have never found on their own or with a bus tour group. If you dislike prefabricated group tours, and/or feel unconfident about traveling in a foreign country, Emilie will do all the work for you and you can just enjoy the experience. I wish I could find a similar website for other countries I wish to visit. The guidebook is invaluable, user-friendly, and thorough. All the "off the beaten path" recommendations are great, and the B & Bs that Emilie works with are truly wonderful - which adds so much to a trip. Do NOT HESITATE to use the services of France Just For You.
