France My Love Letter to La Belle France
France has always been my through line.
I majored in French in college, spent 6 months in Paris when I studied abroad, then went to international business school to perfect the language. In-between the two, I worked for a global company where my French really came in handy when they’d throw me on the phone to talk to a CEO’s assistant en français.
But the moment I knew I’d be a Francophile for life happened at the tender age of 15.
I was on a high school trip to Paris. I remember my class trooped out of our train at the Gare du Nord station, ascending the steps to the buzzing streets of the 10th arrondissement. I walked out into the sunlight and was immediately smitten.
The grand architecture! The packed cafes! The impossibly chic Parisians strolling past!
So this is what they meant about Paris having a certain “je ne sais quoi.”
That sense of wonder eventually evolved into a feeling of belonging. I’ve visited France probably 20 times at this point—I say “probably” because I’ve been back so many times I’ve lost count!
Whenever I go back to France, I breathe it in and feel at home.
This place is in my bones.
That’s why I LOVE helping my clients plan their own France vacations. I want them to get an authentic feel for what makes this country so special, to go deeper on an immersive itinerary that enlivens every sense.
And—I want them to enjoy their escape without stressing about logistics or differences in customs. I’m here to demystify it all!
On this page, you’ll find my curated (and free!) resources for planning your own French rendezvous. And if you’re ready for some planning help from a lifelong Francophile, simply reach out to me directly.
Bon voyage,
Custom France Travel: Work With Me
From the lavender fields of Provence to the beaches of Normandy, the vineyards of Burgundy to the châteaux of the Loire Valley, I’ve crisscrossed almost every inch of France—and I’m ready to put my first-hand knowledge to work for you!
Why work with me to design your France vacation?
Totally Customized to You
When you work with me, you won’t be stuck with a cookie-cutter package sourced from a 3rd-party partner—like the best, most buttery croissant, I’ll build your itinerary from scratch 😉 That way you get to see what YOU want to see, go where YOU want to go, and pepper your stay with immersive experiences that speak to your interests. We’ll build in plenty of free time, too. Because nothing beats whiling away an afternoon at a lovely French café!
Experience You Can Count On
My decades of personal travel experience net you an itinerary that takes you deeper. We’ll send you to both the can’t-miss wonders and the under-the-radar gems that only locals know about—and I’ll tell you what’s not worth your time. Think traveling to France is très difficile? Au contraire! Because I understand the culture, people, and language, I can set expectations for you, answer all your questions, and ease any anxieties.
Where to stay in Paris?
The posh Opera or the laid-back Latin Quarter? A vibrant left-bank neighborhood full of iconic sites (bonjour, Eiffel Tower!) or the chic—and delicious—Marais?
Take this 60-second quiz and I’ll tell you where you should stay next in Paris, based on your unique travel style:
Curated Blog Posts from the (French) Road
My Favorite Hotels in Paris (A short list) There are SO many hotels in Paris that it's really tough to narrow your choices down. I've developed a quiz to help at least figure out what neighborhood is the best fit for your personality & expectations for your next trip to Paris (go to www.bestparisneighborhoods.com to take it!), and narrowed it down to 5… Continue Reading
Normandy: So much to see! As this week marks the 72nd anniversary of D-Day, when thousands and thousands of allied troops successfully stormed a string of beaches in Normandy to gain an all-important foothold on mainland Europe, I wanted to highlight not only those beaches, but the entire area. Normandy is amazing, and not just because of the WWII history,… Continue Reading
Wine Tasting in France – An Overview Living in San Francisco as I did means that I spent a fair amount of time up in our own fabulous wine country (Napa & Sonoma counties), so of course when I went to France this summer I wanted to do my own investigations of their wine areas. I didn't get everywhere, but I did… Continue Reading
Avoiding Lines in Paris! When I was wandering Paris this past June, often dodging tourists and gaping at long lines, it dawned on me that I haven’t been in this beautiful city during the height of tourist season in many, many years. I honestly was unprepared for just how crowded it really can be!!! Moral of the story, if… Continue Reading
France – Reflections afer a month-long road trip I can't believe a month has passed so quickly, but I have now returned my adorable little black convertible VW Golf and am relaxing on a boat, heading up the Rhine river. I technically have one more stop in France (Strasbourg, tomorrow), but mostly I've left it behind, and before I get into each region… Continue Reading
Versailles: to Go, or Not to Go? This always seems to be the question when people are planning their trips to Paris. It seems like people feel a "duty" to go visit Versailles, like it will be a chore because it's crowded and far. Well, that's plain crazy, because the train out there is quick, there are some strategies to deal with… Continue ReadingCurated Video Tips on Traveling to France
Astounding itineraries, under-the-radar regions, how to conquer the Paris metro (even if you don’t speak a lick of French)—I tackle it all in this collection of videos:
Navigating Dining Venues in France
Travel Tip: How to use the Metro!
Travel Tip: Talk the Talk
Trip Montage: Pilgrimage across France
Travel Tip: Quirks of European Hotels
Interviews
30 Days of Travel Dreaming
My dear friend Sandy Salle from Hills of Africa Travel started a wonderful “30 Days of Travel Dreaming” series on Facebook in February, 2020, and I was thrilled to be her first guest to chat all about France!
Travel Radio Podcast
At the end of 2020, I chatted with Megan Chapa from “Travel Radio Podcast” to discuss my top 4(.5) regions of France, beyond Paris and Normandy:
(Virtual) “Travel Salon”!
You may or not be aware, but back in the day, fashionable ladies held social gatherings called “Salons” where diverse topics were discussed – from art and culture to politics and philosophy. I’m bringing the spirit of the Salon back, virtually! While I can’t host guests in my home, I’ve decided to host them online a few times a month to discuss all things French. Each Salon will feature a different guest speaker – either a native or an expert in their field – and we’ll run the gamut on topics so that you learn a little something new about France from each gathering – and have fun chatting & sipping & nibbling along the way. I know I’m craving some social interaction these days, so if you are too, come join me! We’ll get a taste of that French joie de vivre each time we’re together.
I started with Paris three ways: Paris for Lovers, Paris for History Buffs, and Paris for Families. For my very first Salon, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we had a BLAST with Oliver and Lina Gee. This adorable couple lives and works in Paris – lucky them! Together they shared their top 5 favorite romantic spots in Paris that you’ve (probably) never heard of. Since you couldn’t travel to Paris for THIS Valentines day, listen in to get some tips so that you can win major brownie points for your next trip to Paris with your main squeeze.
My second Travel Salon was all about the Jazz Age in Paris, featuring my dear friend and fellow-francophile, Julia Browne from “Walking the Spirit” tours. She told us all the secrets of 1920’s Paris, from fascinating stories and characters that we should all know more about, to the IT girl of the age: Josephine Baker. It was a wonderful discussion that could have gone on for much longer, so if you’re curious about the Black American contribution to “Les Annees Folles” – check out the recording here!
And finally, to wrap up my Paris series, I wanted to focus on activities that your kids would enjoy, specifically those hard-to-please tweens and teens. I know a lot of people are worried about entertaining their kids in a city like Paris, which is so full of “boring” things like museums and history and art, so I turned to the experts from “Family Twist” – one of my favorite Virtuoso travel partners who specializes in family travel to Europe. They joined me to share several different strategies and activities that are fun for the whole family, AND will keep the kids off screens and engaged with the city. If you want to hear all the juicy goodness, listen in to hear what all we chatted about!
At the end of March, I had to branch off from France a little bit, because my favorite river cruise partner, AMA Waterways, announced the most epic river cruise ever: The Seven Rivers Journey. If you want more details about what you’ll see, how it will work, what it costs, and what might still available (very little for the summer 2023 journey as of the end of March, 2021 – it is very popular!), check out the presentation with my dear friend Kathy from AMA.