Follow the waterways in France from the Norman beaches on the Atlantic coasts to the Loire river, its castles and wonderful gardens . . . ending along the Seine river banks in Paris.
We just returned from a 15 day trip to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy. Our trip was planned by Emilie with precise attention to detail, giving us our perfect itinerary. We …
We just returned from a 15 day trip to Paris, the Loire Valley and Normandy. Our trip was planned by Emilie with precise attention to detail, giving us our perfect itinerary.
We were independent in our travels but it was evident that Emilie and her staff were available throughout the trip. They appeared to always be mindful of our location and needs, some of which changed unexpectedly. All of our lodgings were comfortable and our tours and activities were perfect. There were even a few nice surprises along the way! There is clearly no one better to plan your trip to France than France Just for You.
#1 - A lovely house in NormandyStay downtown Bayeux, 1 minute walk to the Cathedral
#1 - A lovely house in Normandy...in a beautifully renovated house...
#1 - A lovely house in Normandy...with a a spacious room and lovely hosts
#2 - A gorgeous castle near Mont Saint MichelA unique B&B...
#2 - A gorgeous castle near Mont Saint Michel...with a very delicate 18th century decoration...
#2 - A gorgeous castle near Mont Saint Michel...and spacious bedrooms
#2 - A gorgeous castle near Mont Saint MichelAfter an amazing breakfast...
#2 - A gorgeous castle near Mont Saint Michel..what about a stroll in the gorgeous park?
#3 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townA historic home, in the center of a lively wine town
#3 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townrelax in a large room
#3 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively town...in the courtyard or the guests living room
#3 - A restored historic home in the center of a lively townShare breakfasts with other fellow travelers
#4 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtThe hotel in on one of Paris most famous squares
#4 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtEnjoy a lavishly decorated room with view...
#4 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin district...over one of Paris nicest square
#4 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtWhat about a drink "at home" to rest a bit ?
#4 - A 4* Boutique-Hotel in Quartier Latin districtyou can rely on the lovely reception team to make the most of your stay
Step by step
Normandy : Jump into the Real France
Your itinerary starts in Paris where we recommend you pick up the rental car at the airport. From here, drive about 3 hours and you’ll be quickly immersed in Norman history.
Your first B&B is a lovely house, located in downtown Bayeux, a few minutes walk to the Cathedral, the tapestry, the restaurants and shops. From here, you are within reach of all the D-Day sites and museums: from Sainte Mère Eglise to Ouistreham, Isigny, Pointe du Hoc, the artificial port of Arromanches or the Caen Memorial.
Deauville and Honfleur are within driving distance and the Normandy countryside might be less famous but is certainly worth a detour: the typical half-timbered villages, the Cider road, the beautiful English style gardens, the apple brandy traditional manufacturers . . . and of course the cheeses. A trip to Normandy would not be complete without tasting Camembert or Livarot cheese! To get familiar with Norman gastronomy, we have planned for you a cooking class with Brigitte. She will welcome you in her home where you’ll prepare a 3 course meal that you will savor for lunch. A fun experience!
Mont Saint Michel
A place you won't want to miss is the Mont Saint Michel: this sumptuous abbey stands on a tiny island in the middle of a bay and is truly the “8th Wonder of the Western world." It is well worth a visit. You'll spend 2 nights in a gorgeous castle surrounded by a magnificent park, 30 minute drive and across the bay from the famous village. This is a unique occasion to really feel what the "vie de château" trully is !
Discover the famous Mont Saint Michel with a local guide on a barefoot walk in the bay, around the site. A original and great way to experience this very touristy site.
We’ll also recommend some typical Britain towns in the area, for you to get a feel for the French Brittany.
The Loire Valley: Strolls & Discoveries
On your way from the Mont Saint Michel to the Loire Valley, we’ll provide you with all details to visit the old city of Le Mans, where French history is at every corner.
TheLoire Valley will welcome you with its renowned "sweet life", its Renaissance castles and gardens, and its famous gastronomy.You will stay for 4 nights in a lively town where Joan of Arc met her future King of France. Your cozy B&B is right at the foot of the medieval fortress and at night you can walk to all the restaurants and wine bars or have your own romantic picnic on the river banks.
You can also wander off the beaten path into tiny villages dotted along the Vienne and Loire rivers and get a taste of French gastronomy in restaurants and local markets that we have tested for you. Touraine is also famous for its vineyards – Chinon, Bourgueil, Vouvray and many more – and we have planned for you to discover some local wines with a wine maker. She will take you to her vineyards and explain about vine growing, then you will go to her cellar so you can taste some wines (sparkling and still), together with some local food products.
Ah . . . Paris!
End your French journey living the Parisian life! For 3 nights, you will be comfortably accommodated in avery cosy 4* boutique-hotel in one of Paris most famous squares, 10 minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral.
You will discover the French capital city’s must sees and hidden beauties. One day, you’ll explore the city with a local Parisian guide, biking around its most famous buildings.
We have also prepared for you different itineraries to explore Paris by foot, by boat or using public transportation.
A great overview of Northern France !
Activities included
Norman cooking Class
Spend a morning with Brigitte who will teach you how to make a real norman meal. Then you'll enjoy the lunch in her welcoming dining room or in the terrace.
A Guided Walk in Mont St Michel Bay
Let a local guide take you on a walk barefoot around Mount Saint Michel Bay to understand better the nature around this unique site. This is an opportunity to discover the bay as very few can see it.
Wine estate visit & tasting
Visit a wine estate with its owner in the Loire Valley. She will take you to the vineyards to explain about terroir, soils and vine. Then you will enjoy a wine tasting together with some local food products.
Paris Bike Tour
Spend about 4hrs with a Parisian who will have you discover his city on a bike, with a group of max.10 travelers. For those who don't like biking, you can also take a walking tour.
France Just For You, made going to France a seamless experience. They took care of all the arrangements: train, and car travel, tours and stays. The bed and breakfasts were hosted by delightful people who took an interest in you and had met and praised Emilie. Emilie tailored the trip to our specifications. Her organizational skills are unmatched …
France Just For You, made going to France a seamless experience. They took care of all the arrangements: train, and car travel, tours and stays. The bed and breakfasts were hosted by delightful people who took an interest in you and had met and praised Emilie. Emilie tailored the trip to our specifications. Her organizational skills are unmatched. We received a book and individual maps, tailored to our trip with all the information we needed, as well as suggested itineraries, places to eat ,wineries hikes and much more. I can't praise this company enough.
Shanna
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!
Cathy
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts …
France Just For You planned the trip of a lifetime for my husband and me. We traveled to Normandy, St. Saint Michele, the Loire Valley and Provence. We are typically not road trip travelers, but this adventure brought us closer to the wonderful people of France than any group tour or "drop and plop" vacation could ever do. The bed and breakfasts were charming, and the time we spend talking with our interesting hosts lent so much warmth to the trip. The guides Emilie provided were knowledgeable and personable. One of the best experiences of our lives was hiking in St. Saint Michel Bay at night, in the water, with our guide Roman. Each day was outlined with many suggestions and background information to allow you to make choices based on our interests and energy level. She set up experiences, such a wine tastings or cooking classes based on our feedback to her questions before we went. The book Emilie provided and the maps couldn't have been more detailed or better organized for easy use. I will say that it's important to read EVERYTHING before you go, as there's so much great information that you need time to become familiar with the guide before you go. Also, take Emilie's advice about the gps. She suggested you download maps either on your own device or your phone before you go. We used an internet app on our phone, which worked great, until your internet service dropped. (not often) The gps in the rental car was not in English in one of the cars, but it was in the other. Also, she gives you great tips about how to use the toll road systems, and even how to learn where to stand to get the TGV spot to wait for your car. One more tip: "drop a pin" on the maps app on your phone whenever you leave your car. We "misplaced" our car twice...makes a great story but is not very fun in the moment! We had a simply wonderful trip. Even though we never met Emilie, we felt like she was a friend because of all of the quick and thorough communication. We definitely recommend France Just For You, and we hope to have the opportunity to return to see the rest of France very soon!
