Loved the rooftop bar at the hotel and its location across from the Promenade De Anglais. Loved being able to walk everywhere in Nice from our hotel. Great food & wine. The villages we visited were charming and easy to stroll through.
We loved it. We like the smaller group tours. The experiences were hit and miss. The Tours manager Christina was outstanding. She was charming and helpful and knowledgeable. She managed the different personalities of people on the tour making, I think, everybody happy.
I like the fact that there was a good amount of free time on the tour, and we stayed three or four nights in each location.
There were three nights in Paris, but we added an extra night at the tour hotel-Paris Renaissance Republque Rep Hotel. We love this hotel -best breakfast of the trip. It is within walking distance of Le Marais which has great food, but the area near the place de Republic where the hotel is actually located is also wonderful. The tour included a walking tour of Le Marais, the Latin quarter and boat ride on the Seine. The day had a lot of walking, but it was worth it.
The next day we were on our own. We did not go on the optional excursion to Versailles as both my husband and I had already seen it on a prior trip.
We went to the musee d’orsey which for me was a highlight. There are no museums included on the tour. So if your museum person like me, probably need to get your own tickets for independent time. I figured out three weeks before the tour that everything is closed May 1 for Labor Day in France and it turns out most of Europe -that was one of our free days (actually our pre-tour day that included a tour dinner.) We walked. I would’ve liked to have more time that I could’ve gone to museums on that day, but it wasn’t possible.There are several days where you have late afternoons or half days on your own, which is one of the reasons I really like the tour. I also like that we had somr dinners that were on our own too.
From Paris, we took the high speed train to Marseille and then a bus to Aix-en-Provence where we stayed at another wonderful hotel. Word about the train-you are on your own with the luggage. Do not overpack. You will regret it on this train trip. We had smallest suitcases, which still did not fit in the overhead rack. Many people on our tour did not listen to the advance instructions and really had a lot of trouble with their suitcases. I wish the Tours had included a trip to the Popes palace in Avignon. We saw it from the train, but I would’ve preferred that to the farm experience.
The hotel in Aix en Provence was Grand Hotel Roi Rene. It was walking distance from the main area. Tons of great food options and museums within walking distance. First night in each city usually included a Tour dinner. In Paris, the restaurant was called Habile and i cannot recommend it. The food was under seasoned. The Tour dinner in Aix-en-Provence was excellent, although it took a while, but this is Europe and service is often slow. My husband was very frustrated with this though -it didn’t seem like there were enough servers. The tour dinner the first night and Nice was excellent. The final meal lunch in Cap Ferrat was delightful.
We did not go on the farm excursion. My husband and I love cheese, but we don’t care how it’s made and don’t really have any desire to hug a sheep or goat. There is one more reason to eliminate these farm experiences. When you return to United States, they ask you if you’ve been in contact with farm animals. We could honestly answer no. But the people on the tour would have to lie.I understand it was muddy and they gave you booties. Since I only brought one pair of tennis shoes I’m glad we missed it. We spent the day in Aix-en-Provence and it was wonderful. We went to museums and walked around.
The next day was one of the best days on the tour where we visited Cassis and took a boat ride. Great seafood. One of the most beautiful places we visited. Saint Paul de Vant was also pleasant.
The next day, my husband and I did go on the optional excursion to a market in St. Remy, an old midieval Walled town called Les Baux and an illumination experience in a cave of the projected paintings of Monet. The first two were wonderful. I enjoyed the illumination experience, but you really don’t have to go to France to get this experience. These illumination experiences are available all over the USA with different artists. I have always wanted to go to one though so I was very happy. My husband was a bit bored.
The next day was not so great for me or my husband. The tour included a visit to a parfumarie (a place that makes perfume) in Grasse. We visited this on our way to our next stop -Nice -so we couldn’t miss the perfume experience. The problem for me is I’m very allergic to perfume. So I stayed on the bus and walked around the parking lot. It took two hours. My husband did go on the tour was very unhappy with the perfume experience as were many of the husbands. He said it was too long. It could’ve taken a half the time.The town of Grasse was wonderful, however, the perfume experience was outside of town and they couldn’t leave me in Grasse, which was too bad because I could’ve definitely used a couple of hours more there. I had told Collette about my problems with perfume before going and they told me to talk to the Tour manager. The tour manager did everything she could do. I would suggest in the future Collette go to a perfumery in the town of Grasse.
We really enjoyed Nice. We stayed at a Best Western very close to the center of Nice and the promendpade and the beach. One day the tour went to Cap Ferrat  which is where I want to retire if I win the lottery.
This is our third tour with Collette so we must like it. The hotels are usually excellent. You don’t have to carry your own luggage and my spouse and I have bad backs so this is a real benefit. And the tour managers are usually very good although I will say Christina was outstanding.-one of the best ever.
Bon vacance!
City sightseeing
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Resort
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Provence
Paris, Nice, Bordeaux, Provence, Villa Ephrussi De Rothschild, Aix En Provence
Itinerary was very full of wonderful activities and sights to see! You're up and going early every day but it's well worth it to get going to be first in line ahead of the many other tour groups that follow.
Wine tasting toursFood tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, Albi, La Roque Gageac, Ro
Paris, Albi, La Roque Gageac, Rouen, Gold Beach, Saint-malo, Loire Valley, Dijon, Chamonix, Grenoble , Nice, Provence, Aix En Provence
18% OFF TODAY
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Kalliste. The most beautiful. The ancient Greeks used this name to talk about the allure of Corsica, a veritable heaven on earth that seems to have every wonder of the world on its shores or in its hills. Join us on a cruise to discover the kaleidoscope of blue in the sea waters and the fresh mountain air in the peaks.
This was my first trip to Europe and I could not imagine experiencing it any better than on the 18 day EX tour. Although we only scratched the surface of many places it gave a wonderful perspective for places I want to come back to for further exploration. We covered a lot of ground in 18 days and made unforgettable memories. I was expecting to see beautiful things and have great experience but the relationships that formed within our group were an unexpected, and delightful, surprise. I'm so thankful I choose to do this tour and have recommended to all of my friends. I will definitely do another Expat tour when I'm able. Disclaimer; This is not a trip for those who want to kick back and relax. It was very active with many early mornings, late night and non-stop adventure days.
Marvel at Gaudi’s masterpieces in Barcelona, spot locals sipping pastis in Nice and admire Florence the home of Michelangelo and the Renaissance, as you circle the azure waters of the Mediterranean. Embrace the city of Pisa with a stop at the famous leaning tower, where Italian astronomer Galileo was said to have pioneered his theories of gravity. In France, work up an appetite in the medieval streets. In Spain, dine with the locals in Basque tradition with an evening of San Sebastian pintxos tastings, snack-sized tapas, while sipping on a refreshing glass of local Txakoli wine. In Rome, taste the seasonal flavours and of course, handmade pasta.
The Mediterranean Tour was wonderful and will be fondly remembered for the rest of my lifetime. A favorite experience is difficult to choose as so many were great. I was awed by the visit to the Basilica of the Holy Family in Barcelona.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa
Age Range
1-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Barcelona, Tuscany, Nice, Genoa
Barcelona, Tuscany, Nice, Genoa, San Gimignano, Costa Brava, Figueres, Marseille
The sun reigns on these charming and authentic Mediterranean islands. Our cruise includes glimpses of traditional living and a plunge into the exuberant Spanish scenery. Barcelona is one of the trendiest places to visit nowadays, in part due to Gaudi's cathedral masterpiece La Sagrada Familia. The city bustles from avenue to avenue, but a moment of calm and solitude in a small square right around the corner is never far away.