Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Vanessa Lew riding a bike in the Loire region, in France.

Traveler Vanessa Lew particularly enjoyed riding through small towns in the Loire region.

This was my first trip solo was to Loire Valley for 4/12-4/17, and it was amazing!! My guides were informative, helpful and friendly!!

I had gone to a Chateau Chambord, Amboise, Clos Luce & Blois. I had gone to three vineyards, stayed at Fleur de Loire with a two-Michelin-Star restaurant on the grounds, which was delightful. I would highly recommend staying there.

Even though I had days planned and free I was able to add in a few things that seemed interesting, I highly recommend the hot air balloon excursion over the chateaux (I went during sunset but they also have sunrise) & the light show at Château of Blois—it was beautiful!!

One day me and my guide rode from Blois to Chambord and around Chambord which was about 30 miles that day, but lovely to ride through small towns in the Loire region.

I highly recommend this trip for anyone who doesn’t want the craziness of Paris but wants to see learn more about the history of France.

A vineyard-covered hillside in St. Emillion.

A vineyard-covered hillside in Saint-Emilion. Photo: Traveler Joe Lyle

We’ve been using Wendy Perrin’s team for our travels over the past decade, and when it came time to plan our first trip to France, we felt confident in choosing the WOW List representative, Philip. Our goal was to explore several wine regions and indulge in great food—and we certainly achieved that. The team listened closely to our wishes and crafted a three-week itinerary that began in Paris, then took us to the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion, Provence, and Burgundy.

We loved being able to stroll through charming villages, and the boutique hotels were perfectly located for us to interact with locals and enjoy the markets. To satisfy our culinary desires, the trip included a wonderful mix of Michelin-starred dining and cozy local bistros. One highlight was Le Cinq—an extraordinary dining experience in Paris. At Resources in Bordeaux, we were thrilled as the chef presented his innovative creations of his choosing, showcasing the freshest local ingredients.

A few standout moments included a cooking class where we shopped at a local market for fresh provisions, and our WOW Moment in the home of a talented pastry chef. We also enjoyed a romantic private cruise down the Seine on a sunny day, which offered a breathtaking view of Paris. A private tour of the Louvre, along with truffle and chocolate tastings, were pure joy and left us in high spirits.

The visits to the wine chateaus were guided by experts and experienced sommeliers. We especially appreciated the opportunity to explore small, boutique wineries and engage in insightful discussions about the different wine regions. We gained a deeper understanding of French wines and the distinctive qualities of each region.

Thanks to Wendy and her WOW List, we had an unforgettable experience that helped us fall even more in love with France.

"Crouching Spider" art installation at the Provence wine estate Chateau Lacoste in France.

“Crouching Spider” is one of 40 art installations at the Provence wine estate Chateau Lacoste.

It was a terrific trip, and Philip’s team did what we asked….and more. We needed help with planning a trip of less than a week’s duration that would take us from west to east in the south of France. Highlights included an Art and Architecture tour of Chateau Lacoste, a must for lovers of contemporary art, and a stay in Marseilles. Yes, Marseilles. It has city energy, great food, and lots to see and do. The drivers and guides from the travel company were excellent.

We just got back from nearly a month in France and our travel agents from Philip’s team were responsible for 2½ weeks of our itinerary. Our trip went very well —no hitches. We had started planning the trip a year ahead and went through various iterations with them as we fine-tuned the details. We had specific ideas of what we wanted, but they also made suggestions along the way.

One thing they suggested which was very enjoyable was a trip to a Manade in the Camargue region. Learning about the bloodless bull fighting was a revelation and fascinating. One thing we requested was a dinner cruise on the Seine and they made a few suggestions, from which we selected a ship. It was one of our favorite experiences of the trip! We had a WOW Moment in Paris which they arranged. It was a motorcycle and sidecar ride and we absolutely loved it!

All of our guides were great and all of the hotels they recommended were very good. The connections they arranged went very smoothly, so we never had to worry about anything. We just sat back and enjoyed the ride. When we had questions, they responded immediately. We recommend Philip and his team.

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