2012 Tour Schedule - Off the Beaten Path France Tour Dates & Prices
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-DETAILED- Brochures below feature complete and comprehensive details of each tour day, include photos and images as well as additional detailed information from our website.
2012 - Best Adventures in PROVENCE Gourmet, Walking Tour - 6 Days/5 NightsTour Summary • Tour Itinerary • Tour Price Includes • Tour FAQ • The Hotel
Named "One of the Best" By Conde Nast Traveler • Featured on Conde Nast Traveler's "Editor's Pick List"
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Our Provence trips are designed for and cater to both walkers and non-walkers alike, and feature a lot of flexibility, daily options and freedom to choose what you would like to do each day and how active you would like to be each day. Participate in every activity and walk or pick and choose to participate in only those activities of interest to you.|
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What is included in the Provence Tour Price?
EVERYTHING BUT airfare to/from France, train fare to/from Avignon TGV station, 1 lunch, guide and driver gratuities, personal purchases.
Provence Tour Guest Testimonials:
"Thank you for a great time in Provence, it was wonderful! Petanque and dinner with the Chef at her home was especially memorable, as was the calanques hike! We had great fun!! Thank you again!" Dr. Don Ristad and Dr. Kent Cassidy, Wayzata, MN (Provence Tour)
"Thank you for a wonderful week! We really enjoyed the trip and everyone in the group. The calanques walk and cooking classes were definite highlights of the trip. You clearly know a lot of French history, and we would have loved to have learned even more from you. You taught us about France and we loved it!! " Tom and Dana Riccard, Los Angeles, CA (Provence Tour)
2012 - LOIRE VALLEY Castles & Culinary Adventure - 6 Days/5 Nights
Tour Summary • Tour Itinerary • Tour Price Includes • Tour FAQ • The Hotel
Download and print our LOIRE VALLEY TOUR DETAILED BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
Download and print our LOIRE VALLEY TOUR -SHORT VERSION- BROCHURE - Details Wineries We Visit on this Tour - (Adobe pdf)
Featured "Best Active, Cultural Loire Valley Tour" by Travel & Leisure • Featured on Conde Nast Traveler's "Editor's Pick List"
2012 - Loire Valley Tour Highlights:
This tour features a lot of flexibility, ludic stories about the castles, French Kings, Queens and their courts, guided tours at castles and gardens of Chambord, Blois, Amboise, Chenonceau, Azay-le-Rideau and Villandry, shopping at markets of Blois and/or Amboise and in local historical villages, an evening hot air ballooning excursion, 3 fun, cooking classes with 4 different Michelin-star/Master Chefs (1 with our friends' Chris and Angelique at their home, a 2nd and 3rd with each of our friends, Michelin-star Chefs Damien and Christophe in their professional kitchens), professional OTBP guides, photo opportunities every day, daily leisure walking, 10 meals, gourmet dining prepared by our friends who are Michelin-star and Master Chefs, classified wines at all meals, wine and cheese tasting throughout your Loire Valley experience, leisure time, shopping time, 5 nights deluxe chateau hotel accommodations (Never any hotel hopping) and a personalized photo album of your tour...
2012 Loire Valley Tour Price:
RESERVE a Loire Valley Tour BEFORE March 2, 2012 and SAVE $300 per person off the price below!
TOUR PRICE - $3,698 per person land only, double/twin occupancy (6 days/5 nights)
Solo travelers add single supplement: US$462
2012 Loire Valley Tour Dates:
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What is included in the Loire Valley Tour Price?
EVERYTHING BUT airfare to/from France, train fare to/from St. Pierre des Corps TGV station in Tours, France, lunches, guide and driver gratuities, personal purchases.
Loie Valley Tour Guest Testimonials:
"Loved the Chambord Castle tour, hot air ballooning and all of the cooking and eating with the Chefs! Thanks for an excellent trip!" Mike and Pam Curtis, Fort Worth, TX (Loire Valley Tour, May 31-June 5, 2012 Provence Tour)
"Kudos!! Our guide's devotion to orchestrating our tour events to maximize our enjoyment was much appreciated! She was professional, yet had a personal demeanor that the entire group enjoyed. And, her knowledge was phenomenal! Our dinners were out of this world, the wine and cheese tasting was excellent, selection of castles was fascinating, the hotel staff was wonderful. You really delivered!! Thank you!" Bill and Robyn Roberson, Sandy, UT (Loire Valley Tour)
2012 - BORDEAUX Wine Discovery & Gourmet Walking Tour - 6 Days/5 Nights
Tour Summary • Tour Itinerary • Tour Price Includes • Tour FAQ • The Hotel
Download and print our BORDEAUX TOUR DETAILED BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
Download and print our BORDEAUX TOUR -SHORT VERSION- BROCHURE (Adobe pdf)
Named a "Forbes Favorite" by Forbes Traveler Magazine • Featured on Conde Nast Traveler's "Editor's Pick List"
Named "Best Wine Tours in France" by eHow.com • Best of Bordeaux," Andrew Harper Hideaway Report
Featured National Geographic Walk of a Lifetime
2012 - Bordeaux Tour Highlights:
This tour features a lot of flexibility and options daily including - three (3) different walks of prestigious wine producing areas (Saint Emilion, Sauternes and Graves), "insider" winery tours, VIP wine tasting, 1 cooking class with our friend, a celebrity Master Chef at his traditional Bordelais farm-home in the Sauternes, 11 meals, gourmet Michelin-star dining, private gourmet picker's lunch at a classified wine chateau in Saint Emilion, a private gourmet lunch in a wine producer's castle in Graves, classified grand cru wines and cocktails at all meals (even breakfast), time to try the Caudalie Spa, time to explore historic wine producing villages, a day in historic Bordeaux, 5 nights-luxury hotel accommodations (NEVER any hotel hopping), professional OTBP guides, photo opportunities every day, shopping time, leisure time and personalized photo album of your tour...
2012 Bordeaux Tour Price:
RESERVE a Bordeaux Tour BEFORE March 2, 2012 and SAVE $500 per person off the price below!
TOUR PRICE - $4,298 per person land only, double/twin occupancy (6 days/5 nights)
Solo travelers add single supplement: US$1360
2012 Bordeaux Tour Dates:
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What is included in the Bordeaux Tour Price?
EVERYTHING BUT Airfare to/from France, train fare to/from Bordeaux St. Jean rail station, 1 lunch, 2 dinners, guide and driver gratuities, personal purchases.
Bordeaux Tour Guest Testimonials:
"We really enjoyed all of the walks, wineries and tastings, and especially loved the cooking class with Antoine! Our group and guide were outstanding and lots of fun! All of the meals and food were excellent! Thanks for a great time! We're looking forward to returning for your Provence walking tour." Paul and Cyndy Kozik, Baltimore, MD (Bordeaux Harvest Tour)
"This trip was overall amazing! Loved all of the food and grand cru wines. The walks were a wonderful way to discover the different appellations. We learned so much about Bordeaux wines and had a great time drinking them too! Plus Chef Antoine and his wife were so intoxicatingly wonderful. Thank you for such a fun week!" Tony and Debbie Tilford, Austin, TX (Bordeaux Harvest Tour)
The Best Vacation You'll Take in France with the Most Knowledgeable and Fun Guides
All Off the Beaten Path guides are Americans with dual nationality (American-French citizenship), are multi-lingual and reside in France. They bring a wealth of local information and history to enrich each guest's experience and have been selected for their comprehensive understanding of French culture. You will find that Off the Beaten Path guides are wonderful traveling companions, whose knowledge and sense of fun and positive attitude make each day a wonderful experience.
Read what our guests say about our tours - Testimonials
Why Choose Off the Beaten Path, LLC for your next tour vacation to France? Click here to read (opens in a new window)...
Our Commitment to Ensuring Inspiring Itineraries, Exceptional Quality and Excellent Value!!
- OTBP itineraries are designed to share the very BEST of each region --Provence, Loire Valley, Bordeaux wine country, Champagne and Dordogne-- including luxurious accommodations that reflect the heart & soul of each region and offer complete modern amenities, spectacular theme walks, both Michelin-star gourmet and bistrot style dining at the best restaurants of each region, cooking classes at the homes and/or private workshops of Michelin-star and Master Chefs who are Christy's personal friends and who welcome OTBP guests to their homes and professional kitchens as a group of friends, visits to local artisan workshops, shopping at the finest craft markets, hot air ballooning and much more.
- All OTBP tours are run by OTBP. The company does NOT subcontract any of its' tours. Many OTBP tours are owner led and those that aren't owner led are led by guides who work exclsuively for OTBP and who have been hand-picked by Christy based on her very strict criteria.
- Since all OTBP tour guides are Americans who reside in France, we do NOT have to incorporate any international transportation and lodging costs for tour guides into tour prices, meaning even greater savings to you, because we can ensure our OTBP luxurious quality tour experiences at even more competitive prices.
- All pre-dinner cocktails, classified wines and non-alcoholic beverages are included at all group meals.
- OTBP group lunches and dinners are comprised of a combination of set menus exclusively elaborated for our groups that reflect the cuisine of the region, ordering off the menu and indulging in select gourmet menus that feature a Chef's local and/or seasonal specialties. We are constantly told that our restaurant selections are one of many highlights of our tours! We are also happy to accommodate vegetarians and other special dietary requests.
- OTBP has established, proprietary relationships with all wineries, chefs, restaurants, service providers and bistrots on each tour based on both its' exclusive and privileged network of contacts and French friends, and its' outstanding reputation throughout France. All chefs, restaurants and bistrots selected for OTBP tours are Michelin-star and/or have been featured/recommended by top "foodie" magazines and/or fellow Michelin-star Chefs. OTBP tours feature dining in both gourmet restaurants and favorite hide-a-ways.
- OTBP has negotiated the best rates with its' French partners to ensure the best luxury experience again at the best value tour prices.
- OTBP has the LOWEST single supplements in the France tour industry thanks to established relationships with partner hotels. Our single supplement fees cover exact hotel single occupancy fees charged. We do NOT charge a single supplement for profit, NEVER.
- OTBP small group tours feature TRUE SMALL GROUP travel. The maximum group size on OTBP tours is 8-16 guests per tour date. Limiting group sizes creates the ideal ambiance for guests to easily mingle and get to know other guests, yet still maintain their independence. OTBP also limits its' groups to a maximum of 8-16 guests per tour date in order to preserve each guest's personalized experience, and ensure its' famous quality customer service.
- *ALL 2012 Tour dates are guaranteed departures!*
- Book your tour today to lock-in and guarantee your tour price. Once your tour is booked, your tour price is guaranteed and will NOT increase. Otherwise, prices are subject to change.
Very Proud to Announce...
Off the Beaten Path, LLC is excited and very proud to announce that Lauriann Greene, founder and former owner of French Wine Explorers, is joining its' team beginning with the 2012 Tour season. Lauriann founded French Wine Explorers in 1999 and was president of the company until 2007 when she sold it to pursue other professional opportunities. Under Lauriann's direction French Wine Explorers was considered a leading luxury French wine tour company in the U.S. Lauriann was noted as one of the "best wine tour guides in the world" in Food & Wine Magazine. She also holds the prestigious Sommelier-Conseil degree from l'Université du Vin in France. We are thrilled to welcome Lauriann to our team in 2012! She will lead our Bordeaux Wine & Culinary Tours and some of our Best Adventures in Provence Tours alongside OTBP owner Christy Destremau.
Tour Deposit and Payments:
- Initial deposit to confirm tour participation is US$500 per person per tour.
- Final payment is due 90 days prior to the 1st day of the tour.
- Final payment invoices are emailed to guests 30 days before the final payment due date.
- A 6-month installment payment plan is available to budget the payment of the tour balance.
Cancellation Policy:
- 91+ days (from the first day of the trip): $500 per person Tour deposit. An alternative to cancellation - Transfer of Deposit: Guest may transfer from one trip to another up to 91 days before trip departure without penalty after which time the cancellation policy applies. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than Guest's original trip, Guest must pay the difference. This credit can only be rolled over once and Guest incurs no penalty.
- 61-90 days: 25% of the total Tour price
- 31-60 days: 50% of the total Tour price
- 0-30 days: 100% of the total Tour price
- Detailed Terms and Conditions
- We recommend Travel Guard Insurance for all of your travel/trip insurance needs.