The organisation and friendliness of the places we stayed was outstanding. We travel a lot and this was a delightful experience that we can't wait to do again. I could not …
The organisation and friendliness of the places we stayed was outstanding. We travel a lot and this was a delightful experience that we can't wait to do again. I could not recommend more highly the professionalism in the booklets which are a long term reminder of a most memorable time. We travelled from NZ a long way for just two weeks but it was worth it every step of the way
#1 - 5 minute drive to Mont Saint MichelA 17th century farm
#1 - 5 minute drive to Mont Saint Michelwith a nice old-stone ambiance
#1 - 5 minute drive to Mont Saint Michel...and very comfortable rooms
#2 - A beautiful countryside house near Bayeuxstay in a very quiet setting between Bayeux and the Landing Beaches
#2 - A beautiful countryside house near Bayeuxenjoy a comfortable room
#2 - A beautiful countryside house near BayeuxShare a delicious table dhôtes dinner with your hosts
#2 - A beautiful countryside house near BayeuxRelax in the guests living room or in the garden
#3 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townStay away from the crowds only 2 miles to Monet's house and gardens
#3 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny townRest in a spacious room, lavishly decorated...
#3 - A Gorgeous Mansion on the hill above Giverny town...or in the welcoming living room
Step by step
Mont Saint Michel
On your first day you can pick up the rental car in Paris, CDG Airport (with about a 4hr drive) or in Rennes city which is closer (1hr drive).
You'll spend the first 3 nights of your journey in a charming Bed & Breakfast, just a 5 minute drive to Mont Saint Michel ! Your welcoming Hosts will be happy to answer your questions or explain your about their region. They have a typical Norman stone house, surrounded by a nice garden.
A place you won't want to miss is obviously THE Mont Saint Michel: this sumptuous abbey standing on a tiny island in the middle of a bay is truly the “8th wonder of the Western world” and is well worth a visit. For you to avoid the "up and down walk" on the crowded street on Mont Saint Michel, you'll follow a local English speaking private guide who will help you discover this amazing village and abbey off the beaten path.
You will also spend a day in the very near & typical Brittany: Saint Malo, Dinan will give you a great taste of this special region of France.
Normandy: the Bayeux area
The second leg of your journey takes you to a peaceful countryside house, locatedbetween Bayeux's old town and the Landing Beaches. Your hosts travel a lot and will be happy to share stories with you around breakfast.
Spend 3 nights near Bayeux and jump into the local history: from William the Conqueror in the 11th century whose adventures are illustrated in the Bayeux tapestry, to the Battle of Normandy in 1944.
Many remains of the WWII landings are still visible and you can quickly access Gold and Juno landing beaches as well as the artificial port of Arromanches or the Caen Memorial. To help you better understand the events of the Battle of Normandy and bring them to life, we have planned for a private guided tour with a specialist in WWII history. You will be shown all the main landing sites and learn in detail about what happened here on D-Day.
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!
Giverny : Monet's town
Your journey ends in Giverny, for an overnight stay in a gorgeous mansion, 2 miles from Monet house, in the orchards. This tiny unchanged village takes you back to the 19th century when the great painter Claude Monet created a new art movement: impressionism.
Monet's gardens are beautifully maintained, exactly as they were when Monet painted them. We include in this itinerary a cut-the-line ticket that enables you to avoid the wait at Monet’s house and gardens.
You are only a 1hr drive to Paris car return or to CDG Airport, very convenient to end your trip or for a next step.
What a week !
Activities included
Mont Saint Michel Private Tour
Discover this unique village and its Abbey with a local guide who will explain you about its history and traditions. She will take you to many small streets to see places that tourist usually don't see.
Private Guide on the WWII sites
Spend a half day with a private guide who will customize the itinerary to your wishes and interests. A must do to better understand what happened on D-Day.
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.
Monet's House & Garden
Avoid wasting time standing in line, use the by-pass line to visit the house of Monet and its famous gardens. Follow in the footsteps of this painter and the American Impressionists in the small town of Giverny.
A great team of Professional, Friendly people who really know France ! The team at France Just For you are Fantastic. From the first introductory email to the last farewell, they listened, planned, helped and crafted a brilliant trip around Bordeaux, Medoc and Dordogne. They responded immediately to questions as if we were the only people they had …
A great team of Professional, Friendly people who really know France !
The team at France Just For you are Fantastic. From the first introductory email to the last farewell, they listened, planned, helped and crafted a brilliant trip around Bordeaux, Medoc and Dordogne. They responded immediately to questions as if we were the only people they had to deal with.
Their choice of places to stay and things to do were perfect.
Faultless. Thank you All so much.
Sheena
My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book. Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We …
My friend and I decided to do a trip to Paris and then drive down to Nice. I was initially going to plan it however I got busy with work and did not have the time. This is when I found, France Just for You, and read the amazing reviews on Trip Advisor and decided to book.
Emilie was great! She was thoughtful and paid great attention to detail. We thought everything was well organized, and easy to follow. This was from making the initial payment, to working together to make our itinerary and budget work. The guidebook was great for a little history lesson, and great attractions.
Overall the trip was well planned and all we literally had to do was pack our bags and follow our guidebook. Emilie had our tour maps dated and it was beyond easy to follow. We also knew that Emilie was available had we any questions. There was a personal touch to every place we visited. Emilie's warm and friendly personality seemed to be felt even in the hotels/BnB's we stayed at.
There was a lot of thought, consideration and attentiveness that was put into the planning that made the trip extremely special. We truly enjoyed our time in France, and we want to thank you again for such a great trip!
Kelly
My husband and I just returned from a 9 day trip to Burgundy and Provence. We had fairly high expectations based on all the reviews we had read about France Just For You. I must say, the trip far exceeded those expectations and was such a memorable experience. The B&Bs recommended were right in line with what we were hoping and the hosts were …
My husband and I just returned from a 9 day trip to Burgundy and Provence. We had fairly high expectations based on all the reviews we had read about France Just For You. I must say, the trip far exceeded those expectations and was such a memorable experience. The B&Bs recommended were right in line with what we were hoping and the hosts were incredibly friendly and always available to assist. We hardly made a dent in all the restaurants and activities recommended because they were so many well thought-out choices, but every option we did select we were completely happy with. I recommend Emilie to all our friends and family, and she will be the first one we call next time we plan a trip back to France!
