You will be traveling from Bordeaux and its world famous vineyards to the fabulous Perigord, renowned for its gastronomy, historical heritage and amazing landscapes.
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 …
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!
Wines & Gastronomy of the SW of France
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Your accommodations
Pictures of the specially selected accommodations
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityA Bordeaux classical architecture
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityMixed with modern touches - which makes the place very special
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityThe rooms are much larger than usual, being downtown a major city
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityYour lovely hosts are multilinguals. Your host comes from a winemaker family
#1 - A typical Bordeaux house, in the heart of the cityEnjoy the views of Bordeaux roofs !
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneStay only 15 minutes to Sarlat in the heart of the medieval Dordogne
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneEnjoy a fantastic dinner by the swimming pool or the fire place
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneThis medieval castle is walking distance from your B&B
#2 - A Perigord style house, in central DordogneYour lovely hosts know the region perfectly
Step by step
Bordeaux Region : Wine & Heritage
You may plan to arrive to Bordeaux airport or train station to start this itinerary (or we can help you get there if needed).
Start your journey with 3 nights downtown Bordeaux Unesco city and enjoy discovering this lively city being within walking distance from the different historical districts.
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 you need: from villages nestled into 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!
In a famous wine estate in Medoc, we have planned a special tour for you: after visiting the estate from the cellars, to the vats, passing by the vineyards to understand the different grape variety, you will play the sorcerer's apprentice and make your own wine (your own blend) to match different chocolates. You'll see that it's not that easy!
Dordogne : quaint villages & gastronomy
Continue your sightseeing expedition in the Dordogne region. In Black Perigord history is around every corner. In the lush river valley, you will spend the following 4 nights in a beautifully restored stone house.
Your lovely hosts will cook a delicious dinner inspired by local traditions. We'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
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. Dordogne is famous for the prehistoric caves in Lascaux and we'll recommend you a much more intimate visit, in a 20,000 year old cave. If you are interested in history or if you are a JM Auel reader, this is a must! Visit the old city of Sarlat and feel the buzz of activity on market days.
Another day, let a passionate villager take you on an unforgettable search for the black diamond: Perigord truffles. Nestled in a typical Dordogne hamlet, the view on the surrounding valley is gorgeous. This is an experience you'll remember!
There is a lot to do in this region: medieval castles to visit, wonderful food to taste - we'll tell you where to find the most typical goat cheeses - and if you like outdoor activities, you'll be in paradise.
In Dordogne "to be le Roi Carotte" means that you are the happiest man on earth - we hope that you'll feel like being Le Roi Carotte.
Activities included
Bordeaux Wine tasting & blending
Visit a Medoc wine estate with an English speaking guide: from the vineyards to the wine storehouses. After the tour, you'll make your own blend with different varieties and pair wines with 3 chocolates.
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.
Truffle Hunt
In Dordogne, spend a memorable time looking for truffles with a passionate professional and his truffle hound.
We had a wonderful experience with Laura and Emilie- they were very responsive to all of our questions and needs and helped us plan a fabulous trip! While we were there, they were also very helpful when we needed assistance with reservations or had questions about processes during COVID.
We had a wonderful experience with Laura and Emilie- they were very responsive to all of our questions and needs and helped us plan a fabulous trip!
While we were there, they were also very helpful when we needed assistance with reservations or had questions about processes during COVID.
Tracey & Sandra
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I …
Without a doubt one of the best vacations my friend and I have ever taken! We keep raving to all about how authentic the trip was. Not only was every aspect of this trip gorgeous from the grape vineyards to the lavender fields to the mountainous towns and cathedrals, but the details were second to none. Emilie and Laura provided my friend and I with the perfect girls getaway. When we first planned this trip, we had no idea what an amazing trip would lie ahead.
The B&Bs were absolute perfection, and their owners were lovely and catered to all of our needs. The pools on the grounds of the B&Bs were just beautiful. We loved the delightfully French cuisine laid out on the breakfast tables and the opportunity to meet other travelers. The ten wine tasting with Francois in his range rover and the cooking class with Jacques were highlights for sure! Every day held beautiful travel memories.
The guide book is AMAZING!!! Its easily the best replica we will now have long after the trip was over. Awesome to read long after the trip concludes. The details, the care, and the time put into the plans of our trip were unbelievable. Pictures even how to insert money into the tolls on the highways!! Every question was answered. Note to all: beware the speed check zones!! There are no police on the highways, only boxes with cameras checking speeds randomly and you will get a ticket later on if you exceeded the speed! : ( But that was the only surprise..France was so driveable, packed with roundabouts and gorgeous scenery to see every day!
We cannot thank Emilie and Laura enough for the time and attention they paid to our trip. We were truly blown away by the details in our itinerary, and the beautiful sights we experienced on our travels in France. Thank you again!!!
Kim
So helpful and thoughtful! We had an amazing trip thanks to their planning and insights. Highly recommend, especially if you don’t have time to research places on your own. All the b&bs were beautiful, restaurant recommendations fantastic, great suggestions of routes and stops on our longer drives and having the cell phone with our guide book …
So helpful and thoughtful! We had an amazing trip thanks to their planning and insights. Highly recommend, especially if you don’t have time to research places on your own. All the b&bs were beautiful, restaurant recommendations fantastic, great suggestions of routes and stops on our longer drives and having the cell phone with our guide book already downloaded on it made travelling a breeze!
