Emilie was a great help in planning our trip and the accommodations and recommendations were excellent and well thought out. Unless you speak French and know the countryside, this …
Emilie was a great help in planning our trip and the accommodations and recommendations were excellent and well thought out. Unless you speak French and know the countryside, this is the best company for you to use to have a superb vacation and I would use them again anytime. They give you options so you can do what you like, but help with the logistics which would be the most frustrating if you had to make arrangements yourself.
#5 - A Wine Estate in Saint EmilionThe winery team will make sure that you have a great stay
#5 - A Wine Estate in Saint EmilionTaste the wine...directly where it is made !
#6 - A quiet house in Carcassonne bastide cityStay in a 19th century home in Carcassonne new city, a short walk to the medieval town
#6 - A quiet house in Carcassonne bastide cityRest in a quiet room, full of charm
#6 - A quiet house in Carcassonne bastide cityexperience the sweet life, in the south of France
#7 - Your B&B house in AvignonStay on the island of Avignon, away from the crowds
#7 - Your B&B house in Avignon...tastefully decorated and equipped with AC
#7 - Your B&B house in AvignonAfter a day sightseeing, relax by the pool
#8 - A quiet house nestled in a garden in the heart of Niceyour BandB home in Nice
#8 - A quiet house nestled in a garden in the heart of Nicerefresh at night in a very quiet garden
#8 - A quiet house nestled in a garden in the heart of Niceenjoy a relaxing room, decorated with a lot of care...
#8 - A quiet house nestled in a garden in the heart of Nice...and a warm welcome
Step by step
Ah . . . Paris!
Experience the Parisian life comfortably accommodated for 3 nights in a charming boutique-hotel in the Latin Quarter. Nearby you have the Luxembourg Gardens and the Sorbonne University, and you will discover the French capital's must-sees and hidden beauties.
Ideally based a 10-minute walk from Notre Dame Cathedral, you will explore Paris on foot, by boat or using public transportation with different and unique itineraries we have prepared for you. We also recommend our favorite restaurants and boulangeries in different districts of the city, so you’ll know where to take a break.
On the 4th day, you will pick up your rental car in Paris by the ring road and drive to the Bayeux area in Normandy, with some nice stops along the way.
The Bayeux area in Normandy
For 4 nights you will experience the Norman tranquility in an 11th-century manor. Immerse yourself in a medieval environment while enjoying all the modern amenities, as well as amazing breakfasts cooked by your lovely hostess.
Perfectly located between Bayeux and the WWII beaches, you will get a real feel for Norman history, from William the Conqueror to the Second World War.
We also plan for you to spend a morning with a private guide who will customize the itinerary to your wishes and interests as you visit the WWII beaches and memorial sites.
Across the bay from Mont Saint Michel
You'll stay in a lovely Bed & Breakfast for 2 nights in a former presbytery from the 18th century, located half-way between the famous village of Mont Saint Michel and the lovely port of Saint Malo. One night, enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by your host, who is also a chef.
We will provide tips on when/how to enjoy this UNESCO site after most of the crowds have left.
The Loire Valley near Chenonceaux
Spend the next 4 nights of your French journey in a welcoming Bed & Breakfast between Amboise and Chenonceau castle, in the heart of the Loire Valley.
Your hostess is an excellent cook and one afternoon, she will teach you how to cook some local dishes, which you will savor around a big table at night in a convivial ambiance.
Discover the marvels of the Loire Valley - we will recommend how to visit famous must-see castles such as Chenonceau or Chambord away from the crowds. We will also suggest smaller castles and hidden places, which are less famous but that have a lot of history and beautiful settings.
If you like gardens, don’t miss Chaumont or Villandry. We will also provide information on wineries so that you may taste the local wines.
The Bordeaux area, at a Saint Emilion Wine Estate
Your next stop for 3 nights is a Grands Crus Classés wine chateau. Experience Saint Emilion staying at one of the places where everything happens, right in Saint Emilion's vineyards. Away from the crowds, you will enjoy what Saint Emilion wines have to offer.
Built along the banks of the Garonne river, the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to the city of Bordeaux. You will find everything in this region, from villages nestled in the Medoc or St Emilion vineyards, to the bustling night life in Bordeaux. Also, bear in mind that Bordeaux's Sainte Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Europe!
Very near Saint Emilion, we have planned a private tour to a famous wine estate: after visiting the estate from the vineyards to the cellars and learning about the different grape varieties and wine-making process, you will enjoy a picnic lunch together with a tasting of 3 different wines.
Carcassonne & Cathar country
The medieval town of Carcassonne will amaze you by its size and conservation. You will reside in a cozy B&B for 2 nights in the lively Bastide neighborhood, and will be within walking distance of all sightseeing and restaurants. We'll make sure you're away from the tourist crowds.
In the Cathar country, walkers/hikers will be rewarded with breath-taking landscapes and fortresses such as Quéribus. History lovers will be fascinated 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.
On the 19th day of your French trip, you will drive about 3 hours to Provence in the South East of France.
Gorgeous Provence
Stay for 4 nights in a very comfortable B&B on Avignon's island. This very quiet house, only a 15 minute walk to the heart of Avignon's historic center, is nestled in a nice garden where you will enjoy relaxing by the pool. Your hosts will be happy to give you some advice about visiting the area if you'd like. Beautiful Avignon, is also referred to as “the City of Popes”, is where you can visit the Palace of the Popes, the well-preserved ramparts and the famous “Avignon Bridge”.
You will 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 gems - off the beaten track villages where you will stroll around charming streets or have a drink at a provencal café with locals. We can also recommend a farmer’s market for each day of the week!
Explore a family-owned olive oil mill, with one of the daughters. She will explain olive oil farming from the tree to the bottle. Then you will enjoy a crash course on cooking some olive oil dishes. A very Provençal experience !
La Côte d’Azur – the French Riviera
About 3 hours' drive away is the French Riviera. You will stay for 3 nights in a lovely Bed & Breakfast located right in the beating heart of Nice, in a impressive home which was restored very recently with a lot of taste and art by your lovely hosts. Your room opens onto the garden and you will walk everywhere in Nice. The famous Promenade des Anglais and the beach are less than 10 min walk away and you are very central to drive along the French Riviera to Menton, Monaco and Cannes.
In the Riviera hinterland, you will discover some of the most beautiful handicrafts in France, particularly ceramics, sculptures and paintings. For art lovers, the many art museums of Nice and its surroundings will amaze you with masterpieces by Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
But the Riviera is even more than all this. The “Cote d’Azur” is a marvel of fabulous 19th century villas and sapphire-colored water coves. Wander about the narrow alleyways of the old city of Nice or go shopping and enjoy views of the Mediterranean in seaside restaurants from Monte Carlo to Antibes.
This itinerary is a great way to experience the diversity of France, focusing on very authentic regions, allowing time to enjoy yourselves and relax.
Activities included
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.
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.
Tour a St Emilion Winery
Visit a wine estate near St Emilion with a private English speaking guide. After the tour, you will enjoy a picnic lunch together with a tasting of different wines from the estate.
Olive Oil Experience in the Alpilles
Explore a family owned olive oil mill, with one of the daughters. She will explain the olive oil farming from the tree to the bottle. Then you will enjoy a crash course on cooking some olive oil dishes. A very Provençal experience !
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.
Ricki & Craig
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We …
There are not enough superlatives, or kind words, to describe the level of service Emilie, with France Just for You, provided us from the moment we contacted her, throughout our trip, and even her thoughtful emails upon our return. We contacted Emilie with a list of all the places we wished to go, the things we hoped to do, and our budget. We exchanged several emails (Emilie’s response time was always immediate) and, within a couple of days, Emilie created an amazing itinerary for our 2 week stay in France that allowed us to do everything we hoped for and several things we would not have thought about on our own. Emilie is an incredible listener which was very evident when we received our itinerary. She had arranged for everything including a French Smartphone with Google Maps, a rental car, skip-the-line tickets, a stay in a castle, wine tastings, etc. All of our accommodations were superb with hosts that spoke fluent English, were very knowledgeable about their area, and had great suggestions from restaurants to local “must do’s” and everything in-between. When Emilie says she has visited all of the accommodations in person, she means it. Each host talked very highly of Emilie and reminisced about her visits. From the moment we stepped off the plane in Paris, we knew we were in for a great experience. Emilie’s detailed notes (all in a spiral bound, 400+ page book with our itinerary, addresses, suggestions,etc.) on where to pick up our French Smart Phone (an absolute must and one of our best friends during our visit - loaded with our tailored book and several other great programs) and then our rental car, made the start to our journey very easy - relatively important to us since neither one of us spoke more than 10 words of French. We had the privilege of meeting up with Emilie in her hometown and she was just as delightful in person as we experienced with our email exchanges over the last few months. While the trains were sporadically on strike, depending on the day, Emilie was there to follow the schedule and be ready to make an alternative plan for us if needed. When we hit a small snag turning in our rental car, Emilie was right there to figure things out and get us on our way. We’ve traveled quite a bit, yet we both thought this to be our Best Trip Ever. Thank you Emilie and France Just for You!
Wendy
Celebrating my daughter Kelsey's Doctorate - Emilie planned the PERFECT / made to order itinerary for us! Serendipity led us to France Just for You - and has spoiled us for any other way to travel abroad. Perfect trip start to finish....there was no detail overlooked. The personal guidebook is to be treasured - a fabulous reference material and …
Celebrating my daughter Kelsey's Doctorate - Emilie planned the PERFECT / made to order itinerary for us! Serendipity led us to France Just for You - and has spoiled us for any other way to travel abroad. Perfect trip start to finish....there was no detail overlooked. The personal guidebook is to be treasured - a fabulous reference material and cherished keepsake! What a wonderful way to truly experience a foreign country....and Emilie is the perfect ambassador for the country she so obviously loves! (As much as we enjoyed each and every B&B on our itinerary - her parents / Les Bournais is not to be missed! Salt of the earth people....Phillipe and Florence are national treasures!) We will be singing the praises of Emilie / Guillaume and their labor of love for the foreseeable future....heartily recommend to one and all! Truly a Bon Voyage!
