Memorable, once-in-a-lifetime experience
France | Aug 28 - Sep 6, 2022

Mary
Mary M.
Buckhall, VA | Reviewed on Sep 08, 2022

Our trip to the south of France would not have been nearly as memorable, exciting, and stress-free had it not been for our local specialist, Lucie. During the planning process, Lucie was attentive to our desires, patient with our questions, and worked diligently to create a trip that was perfect for us. When we were in France, she was very communicative and helpful. She saved the day for us twice - once when we were late for a tour and again when we had a snafu with a hotel. There were many things that she planned for us that we would not have discovered ourselves - via ferrata in Verdon Canyon, a bike trip to one of the region's oldest wineries, and more. We are so grateful to her for creating this experience for us and have already highly recommended her services to friends.

Hotel Reviews
La Villa Nice Victor Hugo
Nice

This was a very nice, comfortable hotel in a great area of Nice. Our room was small, but comfortable and well equipped with a very comfortable bed. We loved the small touches, from the toiletries to the fridge in the room. The balcony overlooking the street was also lovely. We would stay here again if we found ourselves in Nice.

Authenticity & Character
It was a very basic hotel, character-wise. Not a lot of personality.
Location
Very walkable to notable places in the city.
Staff
All staff were very friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
VERY comfortable bed.
La Bastide De Tourtour & Spa Hôtel
Tourtour

This hotel was nothing short of spectacular. We stayed in one of the premier suites overlooking the mountains and it was absolutely worth the extra expense. I could not get enough of the view! The bed was very comfortable and the staff was excellent. We did not get a chance to have dinner in the restaurant, but really enjoyed our breakfasts. The pool was such a treat after a long day hiking through Verdon. The hotel is a short walk from the town, where there were many lovely little restaurants. It was a beautiful stay!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Boutique Hotel Cezanne
Aix-en-Provence

This was a lovely little hotel, well located in Aix. Our room was a little dated, but quite comfortable. We enjoyed the breakfasts on the hotel's patio and appreciated the access to private parking. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful. A great place to stay while in Aix!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
E-bike tour in Nice's seven hills, with wine tasting
E-bike tour in Nice's seven hills, with wine tasting
France

This was our favorite experience of the whole trip! Our tour guide, Juan, was very welcoming and warm. We greatly enjoyed the ride up the hills and felt very safe with Juan's direction. The winery was absolutely lovely - we loved learning from the winemaker and experiencing the tasting with him! Finally, the picnic with our group was great fun. I only wish we had bought another bottle of wine. This was an incredible experience in Nice! Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-day excursion to Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Full-day excursion to Cannes, Antibes and Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Nice

This tour was just okay. I believe that our guide was knowledgeable, but it was difficult to hear her commentary in the van with others talking. Also, since we were visiting 3 towns in only 4.5 hours, we really only had 30 minutes to explore each area. The time management seemed to be an issue through the entire experience. Our guide did a nice job, but we would probably skip this tour next time.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Via Cordata in the Verdon Canyon
Via Cordata in the Verdon Canyon
France

An absolutely incredible experience! One of our favorite things from our trip. This experience was challenging in the most fun way - we climbed, hiked, and swung from ropes in one of the most awe-inspiring places in the world. Our guide, Julien, was very fun and made us feel comfortable and safe. We were also very grateful to the team for waiting for us when we were running late. The flexibility was deeply appreciated. If you're on the fence about doing it - GO FOR IT!!! We absolutely loved it.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Art & architecture visit and wine tour at Château La Coste
Art & architecture visit and wine tour at Château La Coste
France

We enjoyed the wine tasting experience at Chateau La Coste. I have been to many small wineries, but have never seen a facility with such a high level of production. It was interesting to learn about their process.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Market visit and Provençal Cooking Class in Aix-en-Provence
Market visit and Provençal Cooking Class in Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence

This class is one of my favorite things that we did on our entire trip. Mathilde was so knowledgeable about the city's history and culinary culture. We loved learning about the local markets and tricks for knowing the best places to shop for ingredients. After tasting some delicious produce, cheese, and meat at the markets, we headed to her kitchen where we made the most delicious lunch! Our instruction was helpful and the dishes will be easy to recreate at home - we really appreciated the recipe print outs! This was an excellent experience.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Lucie Rousseau
Lucie
Lucie Rousseau
Local specialist in Montpellier | Replied on Sep 09, 2022

Thank you so much Mary for your kind review. It was a real pleasure to organise this trip for you and I am very happy that you had a good time in France.