Momma has a big B-day coming up-France?

[chocolatelab]

Judi has a big bday coming up in June.

Last night she hit me with a wine/food tour of France.

Sounds pretty insane but this tour group charges 3400 per person for the week plus airfare. Yikes!

Its a milestone birthday and to protect the innocent I'll keep the particular year confidential

Anybody have any experience with France and have any suggestions?

PS: I'd like to talk her into Belize or something with beaches and tropical water. But thats just me. She's kindly declined a surf trip to Costa Rica. Oh well.

[recycled sixtie]

It is what Judi wants so I think you have to go along with it. First of all have an open mind about France. I have not been there for about 5 years and I was there with my daughter in Paris for a few days. Prior to that I worked 2 summer holidays when I was a teenager in Dijon and Bordeaux areas. I trust that you like wine as there is plenty of that. Take along a French phrase book. I think that if u attempt to speak French that that would help u. I think that u will enjoy it.PM me if you feel the need for more info. Au revoir

[red-beard]

What time of year? Unless it is June/July or September, France can be dismal.

[red-beard]

Oh, and detail WHERE they get to go. The "cheapest" wine tour I did was Paul Roget. They don't give tours, but one was arranged for us by one of the Paul Roget VPs. That was cool!

[boba]

I lived and worked in Paris for 3 years, loved it. I asked to be sent anywhere but Paris and when transferred to Brussels 3 years later I fought to stay in Paris since my responsibilities would be Europe wide.

Go to experience France, not to compare to the US. Be open minded, try all the things offered. I am sure a tour will have a structure and schedule, this will both keep you from the bad and the best. I used to tell people who asked, that I never had a bad meal, but I did get overcharged.
Just the thought of the local bakeries make me hungry as I type this, and the cheese...
I found the people to be open and friendly, they love to see Americans enjoying France as they live it.

[chocolatelab]

Originally Posted by red-beard

What time of year? Unless it is June/July or September, France can be dismal.

It would be end of June beginning of July.

[chocolatelab]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Oh, and detail WHERE they get to go. The "cheapest" wine tour I did was Paul Roget. They don't give tours, but one was arranged for us by one of the Paul Roget VPs. That was cool!

Have you heard of any other good/reputable wine tours?

[speeder]

I'd skip this official tour and just fly to Paris and rent a car. For less than $ 3400 for the week you can do some serious damage eating and drinking plus stay in a nice hotel or two. You could tour the countryside a bit and have a ball.

[Jim Richards]

If it was me and my wife, we'd opt for Denis' (speeder's) suggestion. Whatever you decide, I hope you and your wife have a great time.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by speeder

I'd skip this official tour and just fly to Paris and rent a car. For less than $ 3400 for the week you can do some serious damage eating and drinking plus stay in a nice hotel or two. You could tour the countryside a bit and have a ball.

Yes, but you need to speak French. Inside Paris, they are not the French of old and will work with you in English. When I was in Eppernay, the women would not conduct a transaction in English, at least with an English woman. I talked to them in my poor French and everything was fine.

[creaturecat]

Hang out in Paris. Take a high speed train to Avignon. Rent a car. Explore.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by speeder

I'd skip this official tour and just fly to Paris and rent a car. For less than $ 3400 for the week you can do some serious damage eating and drinking plus stay in a nice hotel or two. You could tour the countryside a bit and have a ball.

This.

$3,400 per person for a week? You would be much better off on your own with a rented car and Michelin Guide. And it's nonsense that you have to speak French. You can get by anywhere today in English. Also there are really great language translation apps for your iPhone that have made foreign travel totally painless.

[Christien]

We went to France for my 30th birthday. We split the trip in two, one week in Paris, one week in Brittany. Don't rent a car while in Paris - all the usual problems of a large, old European city - traffic and parking. Besides, you experience way more of the city on foot an on the metro. Paris is probably the most fascinating and wonderful city I've ever been to. But there's much more to the country than that. Our week in the rural areas are where most of our best memories of the trip came from. Yes, English will be much less common outside Paris, but that's half the fun.