details

Let's go to Provence!

Details

About this trip: This ten-day trip will show you the best of Provence, a region in Southern France with wonderful food, wine, and scenery along with a great climate. We'll travel in a small group at a comfortable pace with lots of time on your own if you want it. Highlights include wine tasting, markets, and hilltop villages.

Although the pace of the trip is relaxed and the activities are not considered strenuous, you will enjoy the trip a lot more if you are in reasonably good shape. Walking around hilltop villages means a lot of uphill on old cobblestone streets. For those who like a lot of activity, there are several hikes possible plus the option of horseback riding and cycling.

Cost: The $1490 to $2130 per person trip price range is based on how many meals you'd like and the comfort level of your hotel room. Most of the hotels we use have rooms of varying degrees of comfort, so it is possible for me to reserve a simpler room for those who want a lower trip cost.

All price levels include nine nights accommodations in a shared double room, breakfast, transportation beginning in Aix (including pick up at either the Aix/Marseilles Airport or TGV station), gratuities for drivers, hotel and wait staff, and entrance fees for all included excursions. Not included are beverages at dinners, optional activities, or transportation to and from the United States and our meeting point in France. Below are four trip price possibilities.

$1490 economy room (possibly with shared bath) and just continental breakfast.
$1950 economy room (possibly with shared bath) and all meals.
$1670 very nice room with private bath and just continental breakfast.
$2130 very nice room with private bath and all meals.

Cost is based on the current euro value (which is not in our favor right now), and trip prices may have to be changed as it fluctuates. The price will not be raised once your deposit is paid.

If you are traveling solo and would like to share a room, I will try to line you up with a compatable roommate. If a suitable roommate cannot be found or if you would prefer a private room, the single supplement is $540 for a very nice room or $360 for an economy room.

Joining information: You will be met at your choice of either the Aix/Marselles Airport or TGV station on Thursday and taken to your hotel. The trip will end nine days later on a Saturday in the late-afternoon at the TGV train station in Avignon where you can take a high speed afternoon train directly to the TGV station at the Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, or down to the Aix-Marsailles airport. There are good hotels at both these airports for those who wish to overnight for a flight the following morning. (See Getting There.)

Accommodations: All four hotels have been selected for their charm, location, and/or restaurants. These are not four-star accommodations, but all are wonderful! Each reflects some aspect of the local culture and rooms are clean and comfortable. The fanciest hotel will be the one in Aix, the plainest one will be in the Carmargue region, and the most charming one is in Saignon. Two of the four hotels have stairs to the rooms and no elevators, and one of those has no rooms on the ground floor (so you will have to be able to handle at least one flight of stairs to your room in three of them).

Food: You will love the food in Provence! Breakfasts usually consist of a hot beverage, juice, fruit, yogurt, croissants, french bread, butter and jam. (I will bring along some packets of instant oatmeal for those who must have something more substantial.) If you have selected a trip with all meals provided, lunch will either be sandwiches or a choice of picnic items (usually including breads, cheeses, olives, spreads, meats, salad, fruit, cookies or pastry, and juice or iced tea). Dinners will be your choice off the set menu of the restaurant, which is usually of regional specialties including a starter course, main dish, and cheese course or dessert (usually a choice of one or two items off a dessert cart). We will eat very well!

French cheeses

Transportation: A couple of our transfers will be by taxi, but we will mainly travel in a comfortable mini-van with a local driver. Most of our transfers from one area to the next will require about a forty-five minute drive except for the drive from Aix to the Carmargue region which will take about an hour and a half. All of our transfers are broken up with a stop along the way. Our drives for the day trips are much shorter.

Reservations: This trip is available by request for a minimum of four people. It can either be set up as a private tour for your group alone or offered as one that anyone can sign up for. The next possible time I can offer this trip is in May or June of 2010, and I already have three people who would like to go next time it is offered.

Once interest in a trip and dates are established, a $100 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your reservation. An additional $500 is due four months before departure, and the balance is due one month before departure. If you must cancel after the additional or final payment, all but up to 40% of the amount will be refunded (the up to 40% is based on the amount I have paid on your behalf that I cannot get back).

Trip insurance: You must show proof of emergency medical insurance that will work in France before you can go on the trip. If your personal policy will not cover you, there are several companies that sell short-term emergency medical insurance for a reasonable cost. Trip cancellation insurance is also highly recommended in case you suddenly have to cancel your trip. I will send information for two possible companies along with your booking confirmation.

This tour is being offered privately and is not affiliated with any company. I am an honest and dependable person who will work hard to see that you have a safe and enjoyable time on this trip, but I will not be liable for any misfortune that may befall you. You will be asked to sign a waiver of liability to show that you understand and accept this.

About your travel coordinator: I am an Alaskan resident who loves visiting France. My first trip to France was in 1970 and I have been back several times. I enjoy good food, good wine, and good company in unique surroundings and look forward to sharing my knowledge of this area with you. Please feel free to ask if you have any questions or concerns about this trip.

email Cindy

Details