Your Personal France

04/06/2024

I was so very touched to receive Leslie's feedback as they came to the end of their tailor made 10 day vacation in Northern France!

Sharing a passion and enabling travellers to return home with such amazing memories of this beautiful country is so incredibly rewarding.

Each trip is designed around a traveller's interests and budget, taking into account their travel style and preferences.

In-country support is provided as standard to ensure a seamless trip.

France is a big country and there is so much to explore! Contact me now to plan your France experience!

17/10/2023

Come celebrate 150 years of the Impressionist art movement in France on our brand spanking new 12 night immersive experience.

Highlights include;

- Rouen cathedral from Monet's perspective
- A deep dive into the Impressionists' world with a private guided visit to the Orsay museum
- A visit to Auvers-sur-Oise where Van Gogh found so much inspiration and visit his final resting place
- Experience the world of Monet at the gardens of Giverny
- A spine-tingling visit to Cezannes's atmospheric studio in Aix-en-Provence
- Stand on the spot from which Cezanne painted Mont Sainte Victoire near Aix

Interesting fact....... the name for the movement was inspired by Claude Monet's painting, "Impression: Soleil levant" which was first shown at what would become known as the "Exhibition of the Impressionists" in Paris in April 1874.

The aim of this fully flexible itinerary is to bring the world of the Impressionists to life in a truly memorable way.

This tailor made trip is available from March to October 2024 and can be adapted to include more sites in Normandy (le Havre, Etretat, Honfleur) for those who are looking for an even deeper dive into the world of Monet and his compatriots.

You don't have to be an arts enthusiast to be moved by the experiences that are included on this itinerary!

Ready to dive in? Get in touch now!

09/10/2023

In progress at the moment ....

Amy and her 2 friends are in Nice, where their itinerary includes a cookery class with a local, a perfume making workshop, a foodie tour of the old town and a day trip to Monaco and beautiful Eze.

Ken and Susan's trip to explore the world of the Impressionist painters in France is continuing. They've completed the Paris leg of their trip (private guided visit to the Orsay Museum, skip the line tickets to the Marmottan and the Orangerie museums) and are now in Provence for a few days visiting Cezanne's studio and exploring the world of Van Gogh.

Monica and her 2 sisters arrive today for a fabulous week in Paris and the Loire Valley, with experiences that include foodie explorations in the historic Marais district, a private tour of the 'village' of Montmartre and a sunset dinner cruise on the Seine, followed by some e-biking around the Chateau de Chambord and a discovery of the Vouvray vineyards!

It really has been a huge pleasure to create tailor made itineraries for these curious travellers, itineraries which indulge their interests and enable them to enjoy some truly memorable experiences in this rich and varied country.

What's more, they're all enjoying some exceptional and very summer-like weather at what is absolutely my very favourite time of year in France!

In particular, the light has a fabulous clarity about it in the early autumn, which is just one of the many factors that attracted painters such as Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne here.

2024 is going to be a busy year with more curious travellers looking for that special tailor made trip that will enable them to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Will you be one of them?

02/09/2023

🌟 Reflecting on a Wonderful Summer Season in France 🌟

As the summer season draws to a close, I can't help but feel immensely grateful for having had the opportunity to share so many incredible experiences with so many of you curious travellers.

For many of you, the tailor made itineraries that I have created truly have been the trip of a lifetime to this beautiful country and I am truly thrilled to see so many happy faces in the photos that you have shared☀️🇫🇷

The destinations you have visited have spanned the country! I bet you can't guess which was the top destination!

🗼 Yes, Paris, the City of Lights! I've had the pleasure of planning experiences in Paris with private local guides who introduce travellers to a Paris that the normal tourist will never see. Others have thrown themselves into a croissant-making workshop, indulged in a private picnic in the gardens beneath the Eiffel Tower and explored the fascinating world of the Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

The second most popular choice was.....

🏰 The Loire Valley. You were thrilled to meet private vineyard owners and to learn about their life and discover their truly delicious wines, to experience the life of a castle owner over lunch in a fairytale chateau and also to discover local food producers and taste the local specialities at the best indoor market in the area! The history, romance, food and wine certainly left a lasting impression on all of you who visited the Loire Valley!

🏖️ Historic Normandy has also been a popular destination. Those of you who chose a private tour to gain a deeper insight into the events of D-Day were profoundly moved by the experience.

🌻 Picturesque Provence: The colours of Provence's lavender fields and sunflower meadows left many of you in awe! You also loved discovering the world of Impressionist painters such as Cezanne and Van Gogh. the vestiges of the Roman Empire and of course the culinary delights, wine and charming villages which truly are a sensory feast!

It really is incredibly rewarding to see travellers savouring every moment of their tailor-made trips to France.

Crafting unique experiences with carefully selected local guides is a labour of love, and your smiles are the greatest reward. 😊

Thank you for entrusting me with your dreams of discovering France. Here's to the memories we've created together, and to many more adventures to come! 🥂✨

If you're ready to embark on your own French adventure, don't hesitate to reach out. I can't wait to create more unforgettable moments with you too! 🗺️🥐🍷

31/07/2023

What an absolutely wonderful family!

All the way from Nebraska in the US, Travis, Amber and their girls are coming to the end of a tailor made trip that I arranged for them that included an amazing 4 days in Paris followed by an action packed 2 days in the beautiful mountains of the French Pyrenees with activities arranged through The Adventure Creators.

My goodness they have made the most of every minute of their trip across the pond!

I arranged for an expert local guide in Paris to help them find their feet on arrival and to take them on a private tour of areas that regular tourists rarely see, after which they did the classics such as a private tour of the Louvre and a visit to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

From Paris, they headed to the Pyrenees mountains which have, not surprisingly, wowed them!

They all threw themselves into a full day of river canyoning followed by an action-packed descent in the rafts, ending with a well-deserved session in the pools of the Balnea thermal spa facility to recover 😂!

Now it's back to Paris for a final day before a flight home on Wednesday.

What wonderful memories they've made and what special times they've all had together as family!

Get in touch if you're considering an autumn 2023 or a 2024 trip to France and we can have a chat about how I can help you to make some great memories too.

22/05/2023

"The key to an unforgettable holiday? Just focus on the food!"

Yes, yes, yes!

France is renowned for its gastronomy.

Indeed, the 'Gastronomic meal of the French' is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

France is a big country in which each region offers its own foodie specialities.

The best way to explore the local cuisine is in the company of somebody who lives and breaths the area.

One the most popular experiences that I offer in various areas of France is a gastronomic walking tour with a local guide, sampling delicious delights along the way.

Also very popular are guided visits to markets to meet local producers as well as cookery classes that teach you how to make local and regional and even national specialities.

Then of course the matter of eating out and exploring the best restaurants, as recommended by locals, opens up a whole world of deliciousness.

If you're a travel professional with clients who could be interested in a food-orientated trip to France, we must talk!

The options really are endless!

Discovering a great local place to eat is often the highlight of a trip and a way of understanding a culture

06/05/2023

My goodness, it's wonderful to see so many North American travellers coming back to France!

We're as busy as busy can be creating custom trips for our American and Canadian friends who want to truly experience France rather than simply scratch the surface as most visitors will do.

As a France destination specialist, Your Personal France works with carefully selected local experience providers who share our passion for everything this beautiful and varied country has to offer.

Some areas are more requested than others and this Paris/Provence/French Riviera itinerary is proving to be one of the most popular ones!

It's fully customisable in terms of length, tour type (private or small group), experiences that can be adapted to your interests and of course accommodation type.

No car is required!

If you're even considering a trip to France, get in touch and we can talk through the endless options for a truly memorable experience!

This 2 week outline itinerary can be fully customised for mid range to high budget travellers who wish to fill their visit to France with memorable experiences, with an emphasis on the food and history of Paris, Provence and the French Riviera.