I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both …
I can echo everything that has been said in the previous three reviews. The personalization of this entire trip was incredible and Emilie communicated quickly and completely, both in the planning of the trip and after we were in France. My husband and I were spending four weeks in France in celebration of our 50th anniversary. We were a little reluctant to take a trip this long and do this much driving but Emilie's planning and suggestions were so great that we never had any problems. And she arranged the best bed and breakfasts possible. All of the hosts were wonderful and we had some very good dinners around a table with many people from other countries, which was one of the reasons why we wanted to stay at bed and breakfasts. Our tour guides were amazing and at two different places Emilie had left personal notes and gifts. That is just the type of person she is. We asked Emilie if we could meet her and we were fortunate enough to be able to do that in her hometown of Langeais. She is just was delightful as you would expect her to be and she spent over an hour with us. It was one of the highlights of our trips. Every day we had to pinch ourselves that we were doing all of these fabulous things from Paris, to Normandy, to Brittany, to the Loire Valley, to Burgundy, to Provence and to the French Riviera. As you can see, we covered a lot of territory because of Emilie's willingness to customize our trip so that we could see a lot of France. We agree with the suggestion to go with your own GPS. It certainly helps to know how to use it before you arrive. We also suggest that you book your trip well in advance so that Emilie has time to arrange the best bed and breakfasts and the best tour guides. We certainly felt like we had that and we booked our trip seven months ahead. And read your tour book(s) before you go. You will still refer to them each and every day but there is so much general information in the books that we found very helpful. We have NEVER had a better trip and it's because of Emilie. Thank you, Emilie, for truly giving us the trip of a lifetime. We have memories that will last forever because of you.
La Belle Provence
tour
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Your accommodations
Pictures of the specially selected accommodations
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonEnjoy a peaceful park away from the crowds
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonRest in a very spacious suite-room
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonMeet with fellow travelers in cozy communal areas
#1 - A Peaceful mansion on the island of AvignonYour lovely hosts will be happy to help
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAt night, relax in the garden or by the swimming pool in the olive trees
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAfter a great dinner cook by your host - enjoy a great night sleep
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceReady for a swim ?
#2 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceA Table d Hôtes dinner is always a very convivial experience
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townFrom the street you will never believe what's behind the door
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townenjoy a comfortable room opening on to the garden
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townShare a glass of wine...
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal town...with your lovely hosts
#3 - A typical house nestled in a lively Provençal townEnjoy very typical views from the terraces garden
Step by step
Central Provence from Avignon
This itinerary starts in a comfortable Bed & Breakfast on Avignon's island for 4 nights. This very quiet place is nestled in a park where you will enjoy relaxing by the swimming pool or in your large suite-room. The lovely hosts speak excellent English and will be happy to help and make recommendations.
Avignon, also referred to as “the City of Popes”, is a must see. Explore the Palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”. We'll explain how to visit them while avoiding the crowds.
From here, you can easily tour the salt marshes of the Camargue and visit the Alpilles region, where you will find beautiful Saint Remy de Provence. We will tell you where to buy the best olive oil!
If you are interested in history, don’t miss the Roman ruins at Arles, Orange and the Pont du Gard.
Spend a day in the Luberon gorgeous landscapes riding an electric bike. Several itinerary options are available for you to enjoy biking at your own pace.
Northern Wilder Provence
Your second Bed & Breakfast for 5 nights lies just outside a lovely village on the slopes of Mont Ventoux. This former "mas" house has belonged to your hostess’s family for 4 generations and is surrounded by olive and cherry trees. One night, your host Chris will cook a delicious table d’hôtes dinner, which you will enjoy on the terrace.
Mont Ventoux remains the most authentic part of Provence, with little villages such as Vaison la Romaine, Malaucène and Bedoin and dramatic landscapes like les Dentelles de Montmirail.
In such a scenery, 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.
Southern Provence from Aix en Provence
The last B&B for 3 nights is a lively town between Aix en Provence and the Luberon hills. You will be comfortably settled in the former school which was entirely renovated by your hosts. Walk to restaurants and enjoy a terraced garden with gorgeous views to the town's roofs. Very Provençal !
One night, enjoy a convivial dinner at your B&B, by the fountain.
Go shopping in Aix-en-Provence or sunbathe in the creeks of Cassis. Arles is famous for its arena dating back to the Roman Empire, which will take you 2,000 years back in time.
We also plan for you to spend about 2 hours looking for truffles in the Luberon hills with a lovely couple, followed by several appetizers made of truffles accompanied by a glass (or two . . . who's counting?) of Champagne.
Two magical weeks you will always remember.
Activities included
Gourmet Experience in Provence
Let a passionate who was born and raised in Provence, take you to his best addresses in the old city to discover Provence food specialties.
E-Biking Day in Provence
Spend a day in the Luberon gorgeous landscapes driving an electric bike. Several itinerary options for you to enjoy biking at your own pace.
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.
When planning my 60th birthday celebration, my sister and I stumbled upon France Just For You, which saved us from the potential nightmare of traveling with 40 strangers on a bus. As a result, my sister and I, along with our husbands, experienced a trip of a lifetime! From the beginning, Emilie was extraordinarily responsive, informative, and more …
When planning my 60th birthday celebration, my sister and I stumbled upon France Just For You, which saved us from the potential nightmare of traveling with 40 strangers on a bus. As a result, my sister and I, along with our husbands, experienced a trip of a lifetime! From the beginning, Emilie was extraordinarily responsive, informative, and more than accommodating to our wishes, both before and during the trip. For example, my sister and her husband experienced travel delays, and Emilie immediately offered to arrange alternative travel from Paris to our first destination in the Loire Valley. Before our travels began, Emilie sent us keepsake book, detailing our daily itineraries, replete with scheduled activities, restaurant suggestions, and optional excursions.Traveling through the Loire Valley, Normandy, and Paris for 12 days, each day was more spectacular than the previous one. The B&B near Chenonceau was a fantastic introduction to quintessentially French hospitality, charm, food, wine, and culture. From there we experienced true luxury in a serene setting in a chateau, where unexpectedly dinner was served (complete with vegetables from the castle's organic gardens). The B&B in Normandy was most memorable for the genteel hospitality of our host, Comte, who shared tales of his family through the centuries, including the arrest of his father in the foyer of the chateau due to his resistance activities against the Gestapo during WWII. The Count's son and his girlfriend served us a lovely meal around a stone fireplace in their charming apartment on the gorgeous chateau grounds. Thinking we had already experienced the best that France had to offer, we were blown away when we arrived at the B&B near Bayeux, warmly and creatively appointed. Finally, while less extravagant, the Hotel in Paris was equally as charming as our previous accommodations, located in a neighborhood teaming with cafes and shops in close proximity to all of the amazing sites that Paris has to offer! All of our hosts were extraordinarily gracious, serving us homemade French delicacies each morning and offering us helpful suggestions for making the most of each day. All in all, due to Emilie's fastidious planning, the trip was beyond perfect and exceeded our wildest dreams of a French vacation.
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.
Ed
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her …
This is the third year in a row that we have traveled to France, as part of a two country vacation. Because of our positive experiences with Emilie's help in the past, and our desire to be relatively independent, we chose to have her craft our French trip again this year. In a word, she is incredible! We have such a high level of confidence in her that we will not consider any other agency. She creates an itinerary for you that is faithfully based on your interests. The personalized book she prepares for each traveler is legendary, and presents an easy, chronological, and thoughtful guide and resource for the relevant history, points of interest, lodging and restaurants. The B & B's she uses are personally screened for you, and truly delightful. We know from our hosts, that Emilie is very highly regarded by them, because the clientele she attracts are curious, respectful, independent, and desirable. Emilie personally has inspected the lodging she has arranged to be sure it is first rate, and maintaining it's excellence, over time. Although all of our prior communications have been by internet, the highlight of our trip this year was meeting Emilie in Tours. We wish her continued, well deserved success!
