Let yourself be carried away by three of the most iconic regions of France. From the Vallée de la Loire's "sweet life" to Dordogne's castles and Provence's colorful landscapes, you'll have a most enjoyable and memorable journey!
We wanted my spouse's birthday trip to France to be special and we could not have expected such a perfect time. From initial communication with Emilie by email right up to having a …
We wanted my spouse's birthday trip to France to be special and we could not have expected such a perfect time. From initial communication with Emilie by email right up to having a driver meet us in Paris CDG airport, it was a stress-free vacation. Emilie provided first class service throughout and tailored our desire to see Paris, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Dordogne and finally Provence. Her recommendations and arrangements for accommodation, transportation, dining, wine estates, tours, guides and special out of the way places was perfect. She based our vacation on our desires and specific wishes - and she matched them perfectly.
We can't say enough how her trip planning, itinerary, choice of what to do was exactly what we were looking for. In addition she provided several out of the way spots away from touristy sites that made this special Birthday vacation amazing.
The intriguing part was receiving our custom tailored Guide Books which were indispensable and allowed us to travel worry free. This was a great source of practical, useful information that made our trip even more relaxed.
The diversity of the trip allowed us to experience many aspects of French culture - history, art, wine tasting and appreciation, dining, truffle hunting and running through Lavender fields in bloom. Biking through quaint villages and following in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Hemingway, amoung others. Thanks to her we were able to see several regions of France and we came to understand that we could not do everything she suggested - and that was a good thing.
Throughout it all Emilie communicated on a regular basis and was always available if we had a question.
We would definitely recommend France Just For You to anyone desiring a unique, tailored way of experiencing France.
The diversity of French Landscapes
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#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyStay in an 18th century house
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyEnjoy having an aperitive drink the vaulted cellar before dinner
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleyRelax in a large suite room with a living room area
#1 - An old stone house in a lovely hamlet of the Loire ValleySpend a night around your host table and taste delicious dishes
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townStay in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and enjoy a warm welcome from your hostesses.
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne townRelax in a large and well equipped room...
#2 - A comfortable B&B in the heart of a typical Dordogne town...and taste delicious homemade breakfasts.
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAt night, relax in the garden or by the swimming pool in the olive trees
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceAfter a great dinner cook by your host - enjoy a great night sleep
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceReady for a swim ?
#3 - A Typical Mas House, in the vineyards in wilder ProvenceA Table d Hôtes dinner is always a very convivial experience
Step by step
The Loire Valley
Start your itinerary, staying for 4 nights in a delightfully restored house from the 18th century, 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!
Included in this itinerary is a guided tour to a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers. You will enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some very local specialties.
Located on the south banks of the Vienne River, this charming B&B is within short driving distance of Chinon and Saumur, beautiful historic cities. You will explore, at your own pace, several villages and castles such as Langeais and Villandry.
In Touraine, experience the "sweet life", stopping over in little villages to savor goat cheese or taste amazing wines. Take the time to relax in rose gardens and to enjoy traditional cuisine in many small restaurants frequented by the locals.
Dordogne, the Sleeping Beauty
Then, jump back in time in Dordogne, where history is around every corner. In Black Perigord, you will stay in an old stone Perigord style house for 4 nights, nestled in a lovely and typical Dordogne town. From here, you have several dining options within walking distance, and you can also relax by the very cute Chapel, along the river.
We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise. Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves in Lascaux and we will recommend to you much more intimate visits, in 20,000 year old caves. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, these are a must!
Spend a special day with Bea: a private guide in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times . . . away from the beaten paths.
La Belle Provence
Your Bed & Breakfast for the last 4 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. 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".
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 tell you 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.
Let a passionate who was born and raised in Provence take you to his best addresses in the historic center of Avignon to discover provençal food specialties.
Mont Ventoux and its dramatic landscapes also deserve a visit, and we have planned a special activity for you in this part of Provence: 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.
La vie est belle, isn't it?
Activities included
A Winery Visit & Tasting in Chinon
Visit a Chinon winery run by a charming couple who come from generations of winegrowers.
Enjoy a commented tasting of the wines with some local-product snacks.
Private Guide in the Dordogne
Spend a special day with Bea in Dordogne. She will take you back to the prehistoric and medieval times...away from the beaten paths.
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.
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.
We have just return from an amazing holiday arranged by France Just for You - visiting Paris, Vimy Ridge, Normandy (D-Day Beaches) and Mont Saint Michel. Emilie listened to what our wishes were and arranged everything in great detail. The accommodations (hotels and bed and breakfasts) all had so much charm and character - the hosts were very …
We have just return from an amazing holiday arranged by France Just for You - visiting Paris, Vimy Ridge, Normandy (D-Day Beaches) and Mont Saint Michel. Emilie listened to what our wishes were and arranged everything in great detail. The accommodations (hotels and bed and breakfasts) all had so much charm and character - the hosts were very welcoming and helpful and treated us like family. We could never have found these ourselves.
The tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and pleasure to be around. Emilie made last minute requests with ease and willingness. The guidebook was filled with so much information and a great memory of our holiday. We would definitely use France Just for You again and will recommend to our friends and family .
Janet
We have traveled in Europe a dozen times. Our trip to France, the Loire Valley and Normandy was one of the very best. Their custom self-guided tours are based on places and activities that interest you. Emelie listened to what we wanted and created an itinerary that was just what we wanted as well as some suggestions for other things we might try …
We have traveled in Europe a dozen times. Our trip to France, the Loire Valley and Normandy was one of the very best. Their custom self-guided tours are based on places and activities that interest you. Emelie listened to what we wanted and created an itinerary that was just what we wanted as well as some suggestions for other things we might try. Emelie created a spiral bound book with information about traveling in France as well as detailed information about the B & Bs, maps, directions and all the places we planned to visit. The B & Bs were lovely old stone buildings with modern comforts. A private cooking class, a private tour of an ancient church in the mountains, and a guided tour of Normandy were features we really enjoyed. The chateaus and gardens [my personal favorites] were magnificent. Normandy was so moving. I am glad that we had a guide who spent the entire day with just us. We learned and saw so many things we would have missed on our own. We would urge you to consider France Just for You. We loved our trip and would use them again. GPS was a life saver.
Kate & Sister
My sister and I wanted to plan a vacation together with our husbands to Normandy and the Loire Valley so I started online only to find it was a difficult process. We found "France Just for You" and our problems were solved, Emilie planned every detail! Our hosts in all accommodations spoke English and made us feel most welcome, our stay in each …
My sister and I wanted to plan a vacation together with our husbands to Normandy and the Loire Valley so I started online only to find it was a difficult process. We found "France Just for You" and our problems were solved, Emilie planned every detail!
Our hosts in all accommodations spoke English and made us feel most welcome, our stay in each place allowing us a French experience which we all truly enjoyed.
Our guides were extremely knowledgeable and their English fluency excellent, Chris, our guide for the Normandy Beaches was exceptional, he spent 10 hours with us and still hadn't parted with all that he knew!
We all strongly recommend you use Emilie and her company.
