Our Travel Experts: France

French culture and language are deep in my bones! French is my first language (I grew up in Brussels), and was my major, along with German, for my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. I travel regularly to France with my husband and several times with our children...and now our grandchildren as well. We always spend some time in Paris, but have also rented houses with our family in Dordogne and Provence, toured the Loire, Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Riviera, and everything in between. I led a group on a river cruise down the Rhone and Saone, spent a week at a great Thalassatherapy Spa in Brittany, and watched my husband give a lecture at the Sorbonne. We eat very well and reasonably in France. I have a friend who runs a vineyard in Chateauneuf du Pape, where I took my river cruise group, and have stayed at inns, chateaux, and a great variety of hotels.

I have passed the examinations of The Travel Institute to become a France Destination Specialist, and am anxious to share my knowledge and love of all things French with you.

I was born in the Brittany region, but grew up in Provence. I studied art history at the School of the Louvre Museum, while working in the office of the National Opera of Paris. I then became a tourist guide in the South of France, sharing the love of my country with travelers like you. Currently a travel planner, I have a unique insider's experience, and would love the opportunity to share my passion and knowledge with you. Let's tailor your once in a lifetime visit to France!

Bonjour! Each time I travel to France, I return steeped in French culture, language, and atmosphere. Strolling through cobblestone streets, finding the new chic spots, watching rollerbladers speed through the streets at night with cellphones plastered against their ears, discovering cafes and brasseries that have such appeal - Paris never disappoints! It ranks high on my list of most romantic cities, filled with beauty, history, possibilities, and surprises. The French countryside has so much to explore. The region of Languedoc has been called the new "Provence", as its popularity is growing. Tucked away in the southwest corner close to the Spanish border, it is a region known for art, wine, and gastronomy. Come discover France for the first time, or again.

I always knew I’d love Paris. As a child growing up in L.A., it was my dream to be a fashion designer, so I studied the language and all things French. However, I could not have predicted, even from my first visit, how much I also would grow to love France. And that is what I would be pleased to share with you in helping orchestrate and create your dream trip to France. Would you like to try bicycling through Burgundy or Bordeaux? Or perhaps take a leisurely drive through the magnificent chateau country of the Loire Valley? How about a stirring visit to the historic World War II beaches of Normandy or the jet-set sands of Nice, Cannes or St. Tropez? Perhaps you’d like to see the real water lilies of Giverny that so inspired Claude Monet? Or wander through market day in Aix-en-Provence? There’s so much to see and do that, for most of us, France must be savored region-by-region over a lifetime. In Paris, I can arrange a private marketing and cooking lesson with a respected chef/instructor, or a personalized walking tour the left bank, the Marais or Montmartre, or a guided tour of the Louvre, or the best chocolatiers in Paris or even a hard-to-get seat at a couturier show. Farther afield, perhaps it you’d like me to organize a wine tasting in Baune or a historian-guided tour of the majestic Chartres Cathedral. Whatever your heart desires, France’s gifts are bountiful, and I would love to help you partake in as many as your time allows.

My travels through Europe started when I was 19 years old on trains and buses and every other form of transportation I could find, visiting almost every country in central Europe but, I fell in love with France in particular. There is something about the air there not to say anything about the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of France. Since then I was always thinking about ways to return and I have had the pleasure of being able to visit France many times since. It seems to be my passion and favorite place on earth other than Tahiti and that is also French, no? Please call me when you are thinking of taking that once in a lifetime trip. It could be Paris for the romance, museums, and glamour, it could be the French Riviera (Cote d’ Azur) for the beauty, or it could be a little inn in Provence for the simple life! Here at TravelStore, we have the means to make your dreams come true.

France is a never ending love affair. As soon as I arrive home, I am planning the next trip to return. Paris is the most intriguing city. No matter how much time you spend there, you will still find new places to explore and shops to discover. May I suggest a perfume making workshop where you can design your own fragrance or a gourmet walking tour of ancient bakeries, private chocolate ateliers and open markets? For the mechanically inclined, what about a behind-the-scenes tour of the Eiffel Tower? Every region of the country has its own character. You can travel through the Loire Valley and tour its fabulous chateaux. Visit the northern coast and the sites of Normandy. For the more active, visit Monet’s gardens at Giverny on a cycling tour. How about floating through the glorious Burgundy countryside on a canal barge while sipping wines and savoring the local cheese? Jump off and enjoy the local towns of Beaune and Dijon in the afternoon. Provence is always magnificent and deserves its popularity. Use a romantic chateau as your base, as you meander through the region at your leisure. I can arrange for cooking classes with a top chef in the heart of the area. Or get off the beaten track and head to Bordeaux and the Dordogne in the south west. Whatever strikes your fancy, I can design the perfect trip for you.