Valentine is the girl from the French Alps!
She grew up between the French & Swiss Alps, worked as a tailor-made trip planner in Sri Lanka & Maldives, and was an event organizer for extreme sports competition in Switzerland. She finally settled down in the Beaujolais wine region two years ago, to share her expertise about France & Switzerland.
She has good taste especially when it comes to accommodation:
she loves charming boutique hotels and gives attention to the greatest details. In her free time, she loves searching for new gems to visit.
Si prefieres, yo hablo tambien español :)
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"Everywhere in France: Paris, French Riviera, wine regions (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sancerre...), French Alps, Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace, and other hidden treasures.
Switzerland : Obernese Alps, Ticino, Bern, Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Montreux, Gruyères. You will fall in love with Switzerland!
I specialize in honeymoons, family trips, celebration trips (wedding anniversaries, birthdays), epicurian getaways, and so on!
"
How did you get involved in travel?
"Travelling opens your mind. I always loved to offer memorable experiences to my travelers. They become even more knowledgeable when they come back home! "
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"On the way to Brittany on a family trip, I crossed the doors of Villandry Castle. I will never forget its magical gardens made of flowers and vegetables! I felt like Alice in the Wonderland trying to escape from the maze!
(Trust me, the experience is even better if you fly over the Loire Valley Castles in a hot air balloon)."
Valentine's favorite itineraries and travel advice
Top itineraries and travel advice
Road trip itineraries
Spend the day gliding through the countryside, starting with a guided bike tour on the Loire à Velo paths in the beautiful country. You'll continue riding along the Loire River, then explore the area around Chenonceau Castle, built on a bridge over the Cher River.Also known as the "Ladies...
The southeastern French region of Provence is one of the most scenic in the country. It's the land of the Riveria, medieval villages, lavender fields, and endless olive groves and vineyards. But Provence is as much a way of life as it is a point on a map. Today you'll experience Provence's...
The Louvre in Paris may seem like just a tourist's obligation, just as much as the Eiffel Tower, yet this palace of 35,000 pieces of art is certainly worth a visit! Henri Loyrette, former director of the Louvre, said that 80% of visitors see the Mona Lisa and then simply leave. In his opinion,...
Normandy is well-known for its important war sites from WWII. Spend an emotional day touring some of the most important areas, discovering the powerful legacy of D-Day on Normandy's landscape, as well as its effect on the world. A local specialist will lead you across Normandy's coast, and as an...
No visit to the French Riviera is complete without a legendary sunset, so why not take a cruise along the Mediterranean coast to make it even more special? Nice and its coastal neighbors offer beautiful postcard landscapes, enhanced by the unique colors of sunset. Combine the experience with a...
Enjoy a day spent savoring the famed countryside of Aix-en-Provence, starting with views of the Sainte-Victoire Mountains, a source of inspiration for the famous painter Cézanne. Your first destination is the Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire vineyards, set just east of the city of...
Recent trip reviews for Valentine
All in all a great trip.
France
|
Jun 10 - Jun 18, 2025
Juan A.
New Zealand
| Reviewed on Jun 23, 2025
All the arrangements were perfect. Our guide, Chloe, in Marseilles was excellent. The pastry chef, Chef Marthe, was a very experienced and amazing teacher. Our captain, Bastian, in Cassis gave us a wonderful tour of the coastline. All in all a great trip.
Read more
All the arrangements were perfect. Our guide, Chloe, in Marseilles was excellent. The pastry chef, Chef Marthe, was a very experienced and amazing teacher. Our captain, Bastian, in Cassis gave us a wonderful tour of the coastline. All in all a great trip.
Activity Reviews
Seine River Cruise with Audio Guide
Paris
Unlock the Secrets of Perfume-Making!
Paris
Baux de Provence Castle & Quarries of Lights (Combined ticket)
France
The Quarries was an unexpected delight.
La Galerie Dior - entrance ticket
Paris
French Dessert Cooking Class
Paris
Sorgue River Canoe Trip
France
Pont du Gard (Entrance tickets)
France
Lavender Museum (entrance tickets)
France
Another unexpected delight.
Half-day Visit of the Calanques by boat with swimming stops from Cassis (private cruise)
France
Private Gourmet Food Walk in Marseille
France
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jun 24, 2025
Bonjour Juan,
Thank you so much for your kind review, happy that you enjoyed France with your grand daughter, what a family memory of a lifetime🤩
Next time, maybe Normandy, French Alps or Switzerland?
Enjoy Summer,
Valentine
Valentine planned a spectacular trip
Switzerland
|
Jun 8 - Jun 14, 2025
Kevin S.
Newark, NJ
| Reviewed on Jun 18, 2025
Valentine planned a spectacular trip of a lifetime for us. She took the time to understand the kinds of activities and places we enjoy, many of which we would never have discovered on our own. One of our favorites was our walking tour with Roberta through Gandria, who gave us a personalized tour of this beautiful village near Lugano.
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Valentine planned a spectacular trip of a lifetime for us. She took the time to understand the kinds of activities and places we enjoy, many of which we would never have discovered on our own. One of our favorites was our walking tour with Roberta through Gandria, who gave us a personalized tour of this beautiful village near Lugano.
Hotel Review
Walter au Lac Hotel
Lugano
Location is perfect. We had a beautiful balcony overlooking the lake, which made our stay very memorable. We highly recommend!
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jun 18, 2025
Good morning Kevin,
Thank you so much for your kind reviews! It was a pleasure to organise this special trip for you, Happy that you went back home with tones of beautiful memories in mind :)
We note all your feedbacks to continue improving our offers and advise less-knowned amazing areas!
I wish you a great Summer, and do not hesitate to reach out for any new trip in France & Germany, these are my specialty too! :)
A bientot,
Valentine
Road Trip Bordeaux to Avignon
France
|
May 17 - May 26, 2025
Wilson G.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on May 30, 2025
/Users/Tom/Desktop/Bordeaux to Le Baux Road Trip May 17.pdf
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on May 30, 2025
Hello Wilson,
Thank you so much for your feedback on the trip, it was super helpful :)
It was a pleadure to organize your trip and we are happy that you enjoyed Dordogne & Provence area!
See you soon in France!
Valentine
An amazing tour of Switzerland
Switzerland
|
May 11 - May 24, 2025
Laura H.
De Pere, WI
| Reviewed on May 28, 2025
Our trip to Switzerland was nothing short of AMAZING! We worked months in advance with a planner who helped us come up with a custom made itinerary full of adventure and to fit our budget. As our travel time approached the original planner had left the company, but Valentine made a smooth transition helping us make small tweaks and answering all our questions. We were so grateful for being set up with the Swiss Travel Pass as it allowed us to travel freely by train, boat, bus, cable cars and...
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Our trip to Switzerland was nothing short of AMAZING! We worked months in advance with a planner who helped us come up with a custom made itinerary full of adventure and to fit our budget. As our travel time approached the original planner had left the company, but Valentine made a smooth transition helping us make small tweaks and answering all our questions. We were so grateful for being set up with the Swiss Travel Pass as it allowed us to travel freely by train, boat, bus, cable cars and even gave us free admission to museums in Zurich as well as Chateau de Chillon in Montreux. Valentine provided us with the special vouchers we needed for certain things that were not included in the pass, such as our visits to Schilthorn, Rochers-de-Naye and for priority seating on the Gornergrat panoramic train to visit the Matterhorn. A highlight of the trip was our E-bike tour of Lauterbrunnen and Valley of 72 Waterfalls. Cuba was our tour guide for the day and he did an excellent job taking us along on the bike paths at a pace that allowed us to enjoy the stunning views of the valley and mountains. Seeing the Trummelbach Falle as part of this tour was an added delight! Each day we built in enough time to really enjoy the places we were visiting and exploring. Hiking was spectacular coming down Rigi Kulm to Weggis and hiking up above Oeschinen Lake. We also decided to hike from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen after visiting Schilthorn -Piz Gloria. This hike was very easy on a paved trail. Another fun excursion we experienced was riding the Chocolate Train out of Montreux. The day featured tours of cheese, a castle, and chocolate at Cailler factory. I highly recommend having a cup of hot cocoa at Cailler! It was the best I ever had even after all the chocolate samples! We enjoyed having all our lodging close to train stations on travel days and each place was close restaurants, stores and a Coop was always near by for picking up snacks for hiking. Every place had friendly people working reception, were clean, comfortable and provided breakfast. Switzerland is a beautiful country with lovely people. We are so grateful to have visited and will treasure the memories.
Hotel Reviews
Boutique Hotel KARL
Luzern
The staff at reception were friendly, knowledgeable and willing to help us with exploring the area on our first days in Switzerland. Our room was very clean and the breakfast was perfect for starting our days.
Authenticity & Character
It’s located along side the river and has a small boutique feel.
Location
It’s walking distance to everything you need in Lucerne.
Staff
Very friendly and welcoming.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was spotless upon our arrival.
Hotel Weisses Kreuz
Interlaken
As a family of three adults traveling together our lodging was spacious and provided all the room we needed.
Authenticity & Character
It has an old world charm to its setting.
Location
It is located in downtown Interlaken close to both train stations. We got to experience seeing the paragliders from our balcony.
Staff
They were friendly and kind.
Hotel Ambassador Zermatt
Zermatt
A great place for a family of 3 adults to stay. We had plenty of room. Seeing the Matterhorn from our balcony was an added bonus!
Authenticity & Character
It is a very comfortable place and the swimming pool, sauna and whirlpool felt like a spa day!
Location
It was basically across from the train station. Very easy to access on our arrival and departure.
Staff
They were very kind and offered ideas of places to visit in the village.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Our room was clean and the beds comfortable.
Hotel La Rouvenaz
Montreux
This was a nice hotel located close to the lake and walking trail. As a family of 3 adults we had to checkout two rooms, but this worked out fine for us.
Authenticity & Character
It has old world charm and character.
Location
Very close to reaching everything you need to from here.
Staff
Very polite, kind and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very comfortable and meet our needs.
Swiss Night by Fassbind
Zurich
Located on a quiet street and still close to walk to downtown and lake area.
Authenticity & Character
Everything is themed with farm cows. There was a beautiful light design on the ceiling that gives the room added charm.
Location
On a quiet street.
Staff
The lady who welcomed us was extremely nice and helped us understand the bus system in Zurich.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Well kept and comfortable for our needs.
Activity Reviews
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls
Switzerland
A great way to tour and experience Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen!
Quality of Experience
The whole tour was amazing!
Food
The picnic lunch was perfect! Healthy too!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Cuba did a nice job telling us about the area and rode at an easy pace so we could enjoy the views!
Transport
The bikes were all in great working order.
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland
Our travel pass helped us travel Switzerland with ease. It’s great because the travel pass is more than just a train pass. It includes access to ride boats, buses, trams and visit museums. It also gives you discounts for other activities.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains (tickets)
Switzerland
We were blessed to visit in a clear beautiful day. The views hiking from the top of Rigi to Weggis were spectacular!
Quality of Experience
The beauty of Mt Rigi , the spring flowers and glacier blue water.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ease of using Swiss travel pass
Transport
It was fun to experience a boat ride taking us to tram from Mt Rigi.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Jun 04, 2025
Hi Laura,
Thank you so much for your sweet review, we are really happy that you enjoyed your trip and the beauty of the Swiss mountains!
It was a pleasure to take over your trip organisation, and it was also very helpful to get your day by day feedbacks.
See you soon maybe in France or Germany?
Have a lovely Spring and Summer,
Valentine
The first time in Paris
France
|
Apr 16 - Apr 23, 2025
Judy G.
Ashburn, VA
| Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025
It was a truly memorable trip for all three of us. We especially enjoyed the cooking class with Chef Dominique. He was very informative and great letting us all have a chance to participate. Also special was the view of the Eiffel tower from our room on the 6th floor of our hotel. We watched it lit up every night! Saw the usual iconic landmarks, the tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and the cathedral with the beautiful stained glass windows. Some of us saw King Louie's castle and were...
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It was a truly memorable trip for all three of us. We especially enjoyed the cooking class with Chef Dominique. He was very informative and great letting us all have a chance to participate. Also special was the view of the Eiffel tower from our room on the 6th floor of our hotel. We watched it lit up every night! Saw the usual iconic landmarks, the tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame and the cathedral with the beautiful stained glass windows. Some of us saw King Louie's castle and were underwhelmed with the Hall of Mirrors but were really wowed with Claude Monet's home and gardens. All in all a great trip. First time in Paris had to see all the major attractions. Lines were long even though we had timed tickets. Some of the venues (the Eiffel tower in particular) did not have signs to direct you where to go. We were trying to get to the second floor restaurant for lunch and had to walk totally around the building to find the access. Thanks to KimKim for all their help in getting this trip together. Will definitely use your services again if we make another European trip. I don't think we contacted Valentine while we in Paris although she was very receptive to our requests to organize the itinerary.
Hotel Review
Hôtel Lorette - Astotel
Paris
We stayed in an apartment on the 6th floor and could see the Eiffel Tower from our skylight. What a bonus! Enjoyed the treats in the lobby and the beverages in the room. Breakfast was great,,,plenty to choose from. (Would have liked soft boiled eggs.) Clean establishment with beds made and clean towels every day. Good working elevator which was important to me as I have a breathing problem and do not do stairs well. Would highly recommend this establishment.
Location
Close to Metro stop and cafes.
Activity Reviews
Palace of Versailles & Giverny Day Trip
Paris
Guides, Drivers and Staff
French Cooking Class
Paris
We really enjoyed this activity. Chef Dominique was great in explaining everything and letting all of us have a chance to contribute to the meal. It was delicious. I would recommend this activity to any travelers over the age of 10.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on May 03, 2025
Bonjour Judy,
Thank you so much for your review and feedbacks :)
All your comments are very helpful!
I am glad you spent a great time in our beautiful city with your family and I hope you will comeback to discover more about France :)
Enjoy Spring,
Valentine
Tony’s Germany trip
Germany
|
Apr 1 - Apr 18, 2025
Tony S.
Flagami, FL
| Reviewed on Apr 23, 2025
Trip was planned very well. Every detail was looked after by Valentine. Even when there was a mi or issue with a transfer, it was resolved right away.. would definitely recommend Valentine and Kim Kim and would use them again
Read more
Trip was planned very well. Every detail was looked after by Valentine. Even when there was a mi or issue with a transfer, it was resolved right away.. would definitely recommend Valentine and Kim Kim and would use them again
Hotel Reviews
Hotel Ai Cavalieri di Venezia
Venezia
Staff are excellent and hotel is close to everything in Venice
Hotel am Mirabellplatz Salzburg
Salzburg
Very nice hotel in great location
Staff are very pleasant and helpful
Breakfast staff are exceptionally helpful and friendly
Activity Review
Munich Beer Tour and Bites
Munich
Our guide was excellent and very informative
Showed us lots of fun places
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Apr 24, 2025
Hello Tony,
Thank you so much for your review, it's good to read your feedback and know that you spent a great time with your family :)
All your comments are important to improve our services.
See you soon maybe in Switzerland or France this time?
Enjoy the Spring Season,
Valentine
We had a private guide, Cairan, in Berlin fo...
Germany
|
Apr 13 - Apr 19, 2025
Jeffrey B.
Boston, MA
| Reviewed on Apr 21, 2025
We had a private guide, Cairan, in Berlin for 2 tours:
The Berlin Wall & Cold War
The Third Reich
Cairan had extensive knowledge & understanding of history, great presentation & was fantastic relating with our 14 yo Grandson who was with us.
Our tour to Dachau was a small group tour. The guide .was excellent (don't remember his name but he was American & played the trumpet). He delivered the information with compassion.
Our tour in Nuremberg of the old City & Nazi...
Read more
We had a private guide, Cairan, in Berlin for 2 tours:
The Berlin Wall & Cold War
The Third Reich
Cairan had extensive knowledge & understanding of history, great presentation & was fantastic relating with our 14 yo Grandson who was with us.
Our tour to Dachau was a small group tour. The guide .was excellent (don't remember his name but he was American & played the trumpet). He delivered the information with compassion.
Our tour in Nuremberg of the old City & Nazi Rally Grounds was good. We were disappointed, however, because we very much wanted to see the courthouse where the trials were held, & it turned out not to be on our tour as we had expected.
Hotel Review
Scandic Berlin Potsdamer Platz
Berlin
Hotel had great location, friendly helpful desk staff, able to check in on arrival in morning after flight from US (for extra charge). Excellent breakfast. Room was clean comfortable & pleasant.
Location
Able to walk to everything we wanted.
Staff
They were helpful & friendly. All spoke English.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beds comfortable, decor pleasant.
Activity Reviews
The Cold War and behind the Wall
Berlin
Quality of Experience
Seeing history where it happened
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Very knowledgeable
Transport
On time with a smile
Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial
Munich
Subject was difficult and painful. Tour was respectful.
Quality of Experience
Nothing further than what has been said
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Visit Nuremberg's Old Town & Nazi Rally Grounds
Nuremberg
The tour was 4 hrs, not 6 hrs. Unfortunately, the courthouse where the trials were held was not part of the tour as we had expected.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
We went on an ICE train from Nuremberg to Bsrlin after the tour. I was amazing ! 300kph!
Private Berlin World War II Tour: History and Downfall of the Third Reich
Berlin
Appreciate learning about efforts Germany has made to insure nothing like this could happen again.
Our guide had extensive knowledge and understanding of history.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Apr 22, 2025
Guten tag Jeffrey,
Thank you so much for your review, it was a pleasure to organize your trip with your grandson!
Amazing pics by the way :)
I note carefully all your remarks, it will help us to improve our services.
Have a lovely Spring Season, and maybe see you soon in France or Switzerland?
Best,
Valentine
> All our guides were phenomenal. Alex at Amb...
France
|
Apr 1 - Apr 6, 2025
Ramji I.
Minneapolis, MN
| Reviewed on Apr 08, 2025
> All our guides were phenomenal. Alex at Amboise, Fabian at Bordeaux as well as the guides at Bordeaux for the cheese and wine tour as well as the chocolate and pastry tour guide at Paris.
> All the private transfer pick ups, drop offs, etc. were all really good.
> My only criticism is the train ride. We all couldn't be together from Bordeaux to Paris. As we were traveling with 2 young kids, that was hard. We were able to talk to the people and figure out a solution but this was not...
Read more
> All our guides were phenomenal. Alex at Amboise, Fabian at Bordeaux as well as the guides at Bordeaux for the cheese and wine tour as well as the chocolate and pastry tour guide at Paris.
> All the private transfer pick ups, drop offs, etc. were all really good.
> My only criticism is the train ride. We all couldn't be together from Bordeaux to Paris. As we were traveling with 2 young kids, that was hard. We were able to talk to the people and figure out a solution but this was not ideal.
Hotel Reviews
Grand Hotel du Palais Royal
Paris
Le Manoir Saint Thomas
Amboise
Activity Reviews
Private Photo Shoot in Paris
Paris
Javier was great. We had 2 young kids and he was very accommodating. We are still waiting for professionally touched pictures but so far they look great.
Discover the mythical Loire Valley Châteaux & Hot Air Balloon Flight
France
The Chateaux visits were great. Alex, our guide, was fantastic. Very family friendly and our kids absolutely enjoyed the time. We had to unfortunately miss the hot air balloon since it was cancelled due to poor weather.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Gourmet Food & History Walk
Bordeaux
Overall good experience but the guide didn't know that we did not eat meat. There was charcuterie also planned but we skipped it since none of us were meat eaters.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Apr 09, 2025
Bonjour Ramji,
Thank you so much for your kind review, all your feedbacks positive or negatives are always very helpful to improve our services. We duly-noted all your remarks.
It was a pleasure to organize your trip to France for your family, and I hope you will be back to discover more about our beautiful country! Or maybe next time in Switzerland?
Have a lovely Spring season,
Valentine
I loved the choices Valentine made for us, Es...
Germany
|
Sep 21 - Oct 3, 2024
Rita Z.
Los Angeles, CA
| Reviewed on Feb 07, 2025
I loved the choices Valentine made for us, Especially her recommendations while in the Black Forest.
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Feb 07, 2025
Hi Rita,
Thank you so much for your lovely review. It as a pleasure to organise your trip :)
See you soon in Europe!
Best,
Valentine
Germany/Prague trip
Germany
|
Nov 28 - Dec 9, 2024
Robert F.
Dallas, TX
| Reviewed on Dec 16, 2024
All tours were great, almost everyone was very knowledgeable and made the trips very enjoyable. Got to learn a lot of history and culture while having a great time. Our tour guide in Rothenburg was fantastic (sorry, can’t remember her name) as well as our tour guide in Prague. Upgraded car service to and from the airport and the upgraded castle tour/bus really elevated the experience. Everything was so planned out in exact detail that there was nothing to worry about.
Read more
All tours were great, almost everyone was very knowledgeable and made the trips very enjoyable. Got to learn a lot of history and culture while having a great time. Our tour guide in Rothenburg was fantastic (sorry, can’t remember her name) as well as our tour guide in Prague. Upgraded car service to and from the airport and the upgraded castle tour/bus really elevated the experience. Everything was so planned out in exact detail that there was nothing to worry about.
Activity Reviews
Rothenburg-ob-der-Tauber Private Guided Walking Tour
Germany
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Full-Day Trip to Cesky Krumlov and Ceske Budejovice
Germany
Lot of driving for limited time in 1 city, did not get to spend anytime out of the car for the first city.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Neuschwanstein and Linderhof Premium Tour
Munich
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nuremberg WWII Walking Tour
Nuremberg
Great tour guide, learned lots of history and saw things we were not expecting. Great experience!!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Lausanne
| Replied on Dec 17, 2024
Guten tag Robert,
Thank you so much for your review! It was a real pleasure to organize your romantic honeymoon in Germany and Prague :)
I hope you came back home with a lot of memories for this lifetime trip,
Your feedbacks on our services are really important to improve our services.
See you soon in Europe maybe in France or Switzerland!
All the best,
Valentine
