September 9 - 18, 2010

Join Your Man in Europe for a unique approach to visiting France. Our French Bliss tour captures an amazing number of “the best highlights of France” in one single trip. This free-wheeling, leisurely dance through one of the world’s most beautiful and captivating countries takes us to three main destinations: Paris and the Ile de France, Provence, and the Languedoc Region of the South of France.

September 9 (Thursday)

Departure from your airport on your TransAtlantic flight to Paris, France. Guests should arrange for flights to arrive into Charles de Gaulle Airport by 11:00 AM on Friday, September 10.

September 10 (Friday)

Morning arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport – no later than 11:00 AM. After a quick transfer into Paris, we’ll check into just the perfect hotel - a haven of tranquility right in the middle of this vibrant city. Paris is to be savored, not rushed; so we’ll begin our stay there by exploring the fabulous Luxembourgh Gardens – an ideal window into Parisian life. While there we’ll enjoy a delightful picnic made up of French gourmet specialties. Later in the afternoon we will take an easy-going walking tour of the area near our hotel.

During our stay in “The City of Lights”, we will seek out the wonderful “off the tourist track” places known only by insiders. We’ll enjoy food fit for the gods, heavenly chocolate, the greatest art on earth, and, most importantly, Joie de vivre. To end this first day in Paris we’ll have an unforgettable evening entertainment, followed by a leisurely late dinner together. Then it’s off to bed for a very well-deserved night’s sleep!

September 11 (Saturday)

After a delightful Parisian breakfast, we’ll enjoy a walking tour of the Ile de la Cite followed by a nice café lunch. In the afternoon we’ll venture outside of Paris for an incomparable treat: a visit to Vaux le Vicompte. This magnificent chateau was Louis XIV’s inspiration for Versailles. Visitors who discover this hidden gem much prefer it to Versailles, as – even on its busiest days – it is far less crowded and touristy than its more famous “offspring”. Vaux was the setting for the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet, a faithful minister in the court of the youthful Louis XIV, who paid the price of life imprisonment because of an embezzlement he did not commit.

For ten years under Fouquet's direction, the chateau was a haven for leading French artists, designer, painters, and sculptors who gave the best of their talents to the glory of Vaux le Vicompte. Fouquet’s tragic story is one of jealousy and deceit, and has led to the theory that he was actually the real “man in the iron mask”. It’s all an epic French drama!

We are fortunate that today features a dazzling fountain show in the magnificent gardens. The fountains are still gravity fed as they were in the seventeenth century: rain is captured along three aqueducts above the reservoir pool. From there, the water feeds the pools and activates the fountains with only the force of gravity.

And there’s more: in the evening the chateau will be lit by more than 2,000 candles. We’ll see this stunning private home as it would have looked in the days (or rather nights) of young King Louis XIV. We’ll end this fabulous experience with a casual dinner and champagne on the terrace before returning to our hotel in Paris.

September 12 (Sunday)

A wonderful breakfast we’ll begin a “choose your own adventure” day. Guests will be assisted with recommendations, and an unlimited pass to ride the Metro system throughout Paris. Spend an artful day at Musee du Louvre or the Musee d’Orsay, or focus on your favorite artist’s individual museum.

It’s a great opportunity to take in famous Paris landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe, the Conciergerie, the Musée de Cluny, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Panthéon, the Eifel Tower, or Sainte-Chapelle.

More adventuresome guests may get the urge to travel outside the city to visit Château de Fontainebleau, Versailles, the Cathédrale of Saint-Denis, Malmaison, or Château de Vincennes.

Whatever your choices, everyone will have a ball exploring Paris independently. Lunch and dinner will be on your own today.

September 13 (Monday)

After an Au Revoir breakfast in Paris we’ll board the fantastic TGV high-speed train for First Class travel to Avignon.

The goal of any real traveler is to experience that “sense of place.” Beauty is found not just in a museum or monument. It’s also right outside your train window.

We’ll arrive in fascinating Avignon in time for a nice lunch together in the town square, Avignon’s Palais des Papes was the seat of the Catholic Church and home of the popes for about 100 years in the 14th Century, when the papacy was moved to Avignon from Rome. We’ll enjoy a walking tour of this gorgeous French city before moving on to our inviting family-owned B&B near St. Remy. This old Provencal mas in the heart of the Alpilles countryside is now a charming "maison d'hote" set among fragrant lavender fields and olive trees.

Enjoy a swim in the beautiful pool before savoring a Provencal dinner made from the farm’s organic vegetables, free range chickens, fresh eggs, home made bread, and its own fresh herbs. Our hosts maintain a relaxing atmosphere "a la bonne franquette", which means without any fuss.

After a memorable dinner together we’ll turn in for a good night’s sleep.

September 14 (Tuesday)

After a delicious home-cooked breakfast we begin our driving tour of the local sights by private van. Our first stop is the magnificent triple-tiered Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, west of Avignon. This iconic Roman structure is an awesome example of the Roman presence in France.

From there we’ll travel back to St. Remy, located on the plains at the northern edge of the Alpilles. This quiet village is where Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night, Nostradamus was born, and Dr Albert Schweitzer was held prisoner. Just at the edge of town is the peaceful hospital where Van Gogh resided for a while and captured an incredible number of local scenes in vibrant colors on canvas. We can still visit his haunting little room there, and see the very views nearby he so lovingly painted. Lunch will be on your own in the town before we move on to our next destination.

We’ll drive past remarkably well-preserved Roman ruins on our way to the nearby village of Le Baux, a breathtaking hill village that seems to have sprung naturally from the stones on which it is perched. There we will experience the amazing “Cathedral of Images”, a unique multimedia presentation deep in the caves formed by the area’s bauxite mining many years ago. We’ll enjoy exploring the narrow, ancient streets of this most captivating village. We will stay in Le Baux to enjoy dinner on your own at any one of the delightful cafes or restaurants there before returning to our farmhouse B&B for a restful night.

September 15 (Wednesday)

After an early breakfast we’ll bid au revoir to our lovely B&B to make our way to the famous city or Arles. Today is Market Day! The renowned Arles Market – one of the finest in all of France - offers something for everyone. Just a sampling of the choices:

• Lots of items made of colorful fabrics, by the metre (such as bright Provencal fabrics), or skirts and tops, and bed and table linens.
• Herbs and spices of the South and their famous Lavender.
• Locally made soaps and toiletries from natural ingredients.
• Art and hand-crafted items such as oil paintings, watercolors, painted porcelains, carved wooden objects, and pottery.
• Antiques such as watches, jewelry, coins, laces, buttons, books, household items and even furniture.

After our time at the market we can store our purchases in the van and enjoy a walking tour with a local guide of the impressive Roman arena, theater, and Romanesque church and cloister of St Trophyme. After the formal tour, enjoy free time to explore this charming town. You may locate some of the many scenes immortalized by Van Gogh, or make your way to “the little night café” made famous by the artist, and remaining virtually unchanged over the years. Lunch will be on your own today.

In the afternoon we’ll leave Arles to make our way to the next overnight destination. Get set for a unique experience: our guest rooms are in a château in the midst of a vast vineyard located in the stunning Languedoc region. The site of a 2nd Century Roman villa, the castle was a stronghold of the medieval Knights Templar, and later a military chateau in the hands of the Knights of St John of Malta. Its architecture defies normal classification; and this is just what provides its appeal to unconventional spirits who appreciate high quality and a warm welcome. We’ll enjoy a nice dinner together after our arrival there.

September 16 (Thursday)

After a delightful breakfast we’ll make our way to the mysterious hilltop village of Rennes le Chateau, recently brought to the forefront by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. The truth of what transpired at this atmospheric little town may never be known; but it’s more than worth the time to visit there. Lunch will be in a charming café in the village.

From Rennes le Chateau we’ll take the short journey to the not-to-be-missed Carcassone. This medieval fortified town with its towering castle walls is a photographer’s dream. These massive ramparts atop a hill provide broad views of the lower city below. In Carcassonne, visitors stroll along the cobblestone streets, browsing shops selling Medieval wares or just taking in the breathtaking views. This city is one of France's top tourist destinations, and it can feel especially exotic. It is an enchanting and impressive place to visit. Everyone can enjoy dinner on your own, perhaps sampling the classic peasant stew, cassoullet, at one of the many charming cafes there. In the evening we’ll return to our own castle rooms for our last night in southern France.

September 17 (Friday)

After breakfast we’ll take another short drive – this time to a fabulous Mediterranean beach, Portiragnes. What would a visit to the South of France be without a beach experience? Portiragnes is a remote, relatively wild and lovely beach with fine sand and picturesque views. Everyone will have the option to take a swim in the chilly waters, or just enjoy the view. Another good reason for choosing Portiragnes is that it is not one of France’s famous nude beaches.

Lunch will be a nice picnic at the beach.

[Wrap & insert Pic 7, Cote d’Azur here]

After our beach visit we’ll return to the castle to freshen up and check out before our return to Avignon to board the TGV train to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport. Once we reach the airport we’ll check into our handy hotel located right in one of the terminal areas. We’ll have a farewell dinner together at the hotel.

September 18 (Saturday)

Breakfast will be served at our hotel. Because we will be at the Charles de Gaulle Airport, early morning to mid-day departures to the USA are easy to make.

Your Tour Guide:

Larry Ivy, Certified French Destination Specialist Extraordinaire, is the Tour Coordinator and guide for Your Man in Europe, and a long-time veteran of European travel and unique private tour-leading. Larry wants just one thing: for you to have “the time of your life”!

This tour is custom-planned for a small group of no more than 8 travelers (with a minimum of 6), plus guide. Even if you are a seasoned traveler, you have never experienced France like this. Whether it’s your first trip or your twentieth, the magic will captivate you. You will be part of a glorious adventure - complete with music, gourmet picnics, and surprises that will delight you at every turn.

This is not a “Big Bus Tour”. There will be no wake-up calls at 5 AM to herd onto the busses. Our travelers will have a friendly, extremely knowledgeable guide for the entire trip – not just a bus driver and contracted tour guide. We do our best to set the mood, to weave a spell, and to make yours a total experience. Hotels and most restaurants on the entire tour have been selected for their very specific location or high level of “atmosphere”. The small group size allows us to personalize the experience in a way large groups simply cannot do.

There is simply no contest between long stuffy confining bus journeys and the openness, freedom and comfort of First Class rail travel. Our travel adventure is not just another mass tour organized by a big commercial tour company.

This is a complete tour; and the prices are not increased during the trip through endless unexpected charges for “extra” tours and arrangements you must handle on your own. Most meals are included, and those that are not included are detailed in the itinerary.

Complete Prices

$2895* Per Person

All prices are based on Double Occupancy. Single supplement is an additional $565.

A $500 deposit holds your place on the tour. Reservations and deposits for this fantastic trip should be made as early as possible, but not later than May 1, 2010.

Tour Includes: All eight (8) breakfasts, five (5) lunches, and five (5) dinners; all ground transportation including airport transfers and First Class rail travel, 8 nights of overnight accommodation (based on double occupancy) in very specially–selected hotels and B&Bs, admissions to all attractions described in the tour itinerary, full time knowledgeable guide services, and standard gratuities. There will be no additional charges for tours and events offered by Your Man in Europe.

Not Included: Airfare to, and returning from Paris, optional travel insurance, extra beverages (meals will include 1 beverage and will be budgeted accordingly); a la cart or premium menu selections beyond the established meal allowances; between meal snacks; gratuities for extra services such as baggage porters, or for superior service (normal gratuities are included in the trip cost); souvenirs; and privately arranged activities.

Also: All overnight accommodations, as well as railroad and van travel will be NO-SMOKING.

*SPECIAL NOTE: Prices are based on the October, 2009 Euro-to-US Dollar exchange rate of 1 Euro = $1.47. Your Man in Europe reserves the right to charge a tour supplement fee equal to any increases in the currency exchange rate exceeding a 2% or greater loss in the US Dollar valuation. We regret this situation, and hope that the exchange rate will be stable.

A complete tour packet and Travel Agreement (contract) will be furnished for all guests. All the terms and conditions are fully detailed in the packet.

This tour is strictly limited to 8 guests traveling together