Uncover every hideaway and detail of the Loire Valley and Bordeaux UNESCO heritage sites. Taste typical regional food at your hosts’ table and stay at Bed & Breakfasts with unique atmospheres.
We found France Just For You on Trip Advisor as we were beginning our plans to visit France. All of the TA reviews raved about quality of service and planning by Emilie so we …
We found France Just For You on Trip Advisor as we were beginning our plans to visit France. All of the TA reviews raved about quality of service and planning by Emilie so we decided to have Emilie plan our 3 week trip to France. Now we know why all the reviews of France Just For You are "excellent". We spent time in Paris, Dijon area, Loire Valley and Normandy. From the start, Emilie was extremely helpful in arranging our itinerary so that we got to do/see all that we wanted to. All of the B&Bs, Restaurants, Activities and Tour Guides Emilie recommended were excellent. The Tour Books were customized for our itinerary and were full of very useful information. The pre-trip information Emilie gives you makes sure you arrive in France well prepared to handle all of the unique differences when one visits France. Emilie responded promptly to any of our email enquiries before and during our trip. When we had to change the dates of our entire trip, she handled that quickly with no fuss. The entire trip was fantastic and much of the credit for that must go to Emilie and her careful planning etc.
#1 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyA charming tuffeau stone house in a green valley
#1 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyRest in a quiet room, full of charm
#1 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyor in the garden
#1 - A tuffeau stone house in a green valleyEnjoy a savory home-made cuisine
#2 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyStay in an 18th century house
#2 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyEnjoy having an aperitive drink the vaulted cellar before dinner
#2 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyRelax in a large suite room with a living room area
#2 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleySpend a night around your host table and taste delicious dishes
#3 - A nice B&B in Bordeaux historical districtA hidden place, in the very heart of Bordeaux historical district
#3 - A nice B&B in Bordeaux historical districtEnjoy a very quiet stay, while being in a very lively city
#3 - A nice B&B in Bordeaux historical districtYour lovely hostess knows Bordeaux inside out and is very happy to make recommendations
#3 - A nice B&B in Bordeaux historical districtAfter a delicious breakfast, explore Bordeaux walking
Step by step
The Loire Valley Castles & Gardens
From Paris, drive about 3 hours and spend the first 3 nights in a lovely B&B nestled in a green valley. You are located between Amboise and Chenonceau and will enjoy a warm welcome from your lovely hostess, who is also a great cook. For you to discover the local gastronomy, you will spend a late afternoon cooking with her some typical Loire Valley recipes - then you will enjoy a convivial dinner at your hosts' table.
From here, explore all the marvels of the Loire Valley: the castles of Chambord and Chenonceau, Chaumont or Villandry gardens and the old city of Amboise. Included in this itinerary is an Electric Bike rental for a day. You will explore, at your own pace, the nature, villages and castles along the river. No worries, the path along the Loire river is totally flat!
On the 4th day, you will follow the Loire River downstream to your second B&B where you will stay 4 nights in a restored 18th century stonehouse nestled in a lovely hamlet. Your charming host knows this region very well and will be happy to share some tips with you. One night, you will share a delicious home-cooked dinner, prepared by Monsieur. Do not miss the aperitif in the underground vaulted cellar - an out-of-time experience!
Travel through small villages nestled in rolling hills, stop over for wine tastings or to wander about outdoor markets and savor local specialties.
Bordeaux Wines & History
Your tour continues on to the Bordeaux region for 5 nights inside the gates of Bordeaux UNESCO city, a wonder of the 17th century. Stay in a typical reconverted and charming chai (wine cellar), in the heart of the lively up-and-coming district of Bordeaux Unesco city - walking distance to restaurants and nice quality shops. You will be welcomed by a lovely hostess, in a peaceful atmosphere.
Built along the banks of the Garonne river, the opulent merchants' homes are very specific to Bordeaux. The rise of colonial trade together with the growth of the wine industry contributed to the amazing expansion of the Gironde region during the 18th century. You will find everything: from the museums to the bustling night life in Bordeaux. Also, bear in mind that Bordeaux's Sainte Catherine Street is the longest shopping street in Europe
From here, you are perfectly located to tour the whole region: Saint Emilion, the Medoc vineyards and the Arcachon basin.
In a famous wine estate, we have planned a special private tour for you: after visiting the estate from the vineyards to the cellars, learning about the different grape varieties and wine-making process, you will enjoy a picnic lunch and tasting in a gorgeous setting.
On your last day, you have several options: you can return the rental car in Bordeaux and take a TGV train or a flight to your next destination, or you can also return the car in another location/city if you wish.
This trip promises to be a memorable one!
Activities included
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.
Biking day in the castle's country
Spend a day on an Electric Bike at your own pace and discover many castles nestled in the nature. Enjoy a nice picnic with wine. We have tested several itineraries so you can chose depending on your mood and what you would like to see.
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.
An experience OF France, not just a trip TO France. For over 30 years my wife has dreamed of visiting the Loire region of France. Emilie and Laura not only made this a reality, they made it truly a dream trip. The multi-hundred page guidebook not only guided our daily itinerary, it prepared us for what we needed to know for a successful self-guided …
An experience OF France, not just a trip TO France.
For over 30 years my wife has dreamed of visiting the Loire region of France. Emilie and Laura not only made this a reality, they made it truly a dream trip.
The multi-hundred page guidebook not only guided our daily itinerary, it prepared us for what we needed to know for a successful self-guided tour throughout the region. This was invaluable, as we learned many of the cultural things we needed to know to most fully participate in the experience of French life.
And to speak of the itinerary... WOW! The choices and details, from how to see Chenonceau from every angle, to the private vineyard tour and wine tasting, to the little-known liqueur distillery, to the personal touches based on our wishes. Even now, as we look back at our pictures and think on our memories, it seems a dream. Friends, some of whom had visited France, marveled at our pictures and stories.
We can't wait for our next experience of France. And we look forward to Emilie and Laura being our guides.
Ellen & Ray
This was the best trip to France we have ever been on! It was the second trip that Emilie and Laura at France Just for You set up for us. The first was a trip around Provence, which we loved so much that we asked them to set up our second trip to the Loire Valley, Normandy, and Paris. Both trips were tailored to our interests - food, wine, art …
This was the best trip to France we have ever been on! It was the second trip that Emilie and Laura at France Just for You set up for us. The first was a trip around Provence, which we loved so much that we asked them to set up our second trip to the Loire Valley, Normandy, and Paris. Both trips were tailored to our interests - food, wine, art, history, castles, cathedrals - with many special restaurants and sights that we never would have found in conventional guide books. Every B and B that we stayed in was clean, elegant, and comfortable. All of our hosts were kind and eager to help us find whatever we were looking for. I can't recommend France Just for You highly enough. I don't care where we go next time - as long as Emilie and Laura arrange it for us
Clemmer & David
France Just for You - Emile and Laura - accomplished the task with skill and knowledge. Accommodations were excellent with lots of local color, suggestions for parking a large SUV were helpful, solving on the spot problems was handled with expertise and courtesy, sites were overwhelmingly beautiful. The guide book is the best. All the guides were …
France Just for You - Emile and Laura - accomplished the task with skill and knowledge. Accommodations were excellent with lots of local color, suggestions for parking a large SUV were helpful, solving on the spot problems was handled with expertise and courtesy, sites were overwhelmingly beautiful. The guide book is the best. All the guides were excellent, well informed, professional to a high extent, knowledgeable about subjects not in their area of expertise. They made a most enjoyable trip excellent. The cooking class with Oliver Laboute in his high tech kitchen and professional knowledge was the highlight of the trip, as he planned and executed a wonderful 80th birthday dinner. Best day was in Beauvais and visits to the WWI sites near Verdun. This was the second time we have booked with France just for you and will do so again in the future.
