I have wanted to visit Paris since I took French in high school and college. I decided to go for my 60th birthday and a good friend agreed to come with me. We really did not want the rigidness of a tour, but since neither of us had been to France, we needed assistance. Culturessence was the answer.
Blandine and Sandrine handled the many plans that we would have been unable to do for ourselves. Early in our trip, we took a tour of Paris in a CV convertible with a most interesting guide. He gave us a great deal of information about the city, allowing us to stop where we wanted. We used that tour to help us plan the rest of our stay.
Culturessence planned two rail trips for us, one to Giverny and one to the Burgundy wine country. Their attention to detail was commendable. Transfers from taxis to trains and back went so well. We really enjoyed both days.
As a Christmas present for my friend, they helped me purchase tickets to a wine tasting in a loft in Paris. It turned out to be a gift that was special for both of us.
We also spent a full day in Versailles with a private guide, Marion Millet. We learned so much more than we could have on our own. She gave us an in-depth tour of the chateau in the morning, and after lunch, we walked through the Petit Trianon and the Hamlet, favorites of Marie Antoinette. It was a most enjoyable day.
Finally Sandrine and Blandine helped us choose restaurants according to our tastes, and they made all the reservations. The highlight was the Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower with a table overlooking the Seine. They also booked a cruise on the Seine for us which included dinner. The food at all of their suggested restaurants was delicious.
Culturessence truly made this a trip of a lifetime, and I would highly recommend using their services.
Carol Knapp & John Reiss (Michigan)
Trip to France (Paris + Burgundy + Giverny) - June '08
In March of 2008, my husband and I spent several memorable days in Paris, made more so by two events arranged by Culturessence.
We attended a most interesting and informative wine tasting in a Paris loft as well as being taken on a private 2CV car tour which was delightful, especially with the car top down and many Parisians waving and smiling at us, pleased to see their beloved 2CV car on the streets.
The careful planning and attention to detail provided by Culturessence was first rate. Sandrine and Blandine kept in contact with us prior to our departure sending us walking tour information and additional maps.
They even e-mailed a Welcome Home message upon our return.
Peggy Warner (Michigan)
Trip to France (Paris) - March '08
Nous souhaitions offrir à un couple d’amis architectes français, un week-end « inoubliable » à Paris associant découverte dans le domaine de l’art et de l’architecture, avec détente et étapes gastronomiques.
Comment les « surprendre » et atteindre notre objectif ?
Ayant eu connaissance par de la famille de l’existence de Culturessence, nous leur avons demandé de nous proposer un programme répondant à notre souhait, sachant que ce programme devait tenir compte de leur niveau de connaissances professionnelles, de leurs goûts et de nos désirs personnels dans la façon de leur faire plaisir.
Tout a été réussi : une réalisation du projet défini parfaite, la possibilité de participer à chaque étape de la création du programme avec un grand choix original d’activités et de lieux, un devis précis absolument respecté et un accueil de Blandine et Sandrine toujours très chaleureux : en un mot un grand coup de chapeau pour leur professionnalisme, leur créativité et le respect de notre demande.
Patrick et Marie-Christine (Loire Valley - France)
Trip to Paris for their friends- November '07
Un grand BRAVO à culturessence pour son impeccable organisation d’un merveilleux week-end parisien
- bravo pour le choix des restaurants gastronomiques, en particulier SANDERENS (le cadre est aussi raffiné que le contenu de l’assiette)
- bravo pour le choix du thème majeur : le Design (interessant et varié) et la passionnante visite du Louvre
- bravo pour la qualité des guides (leur culture, leur gentillesse, leur disponibilité...)
- bravo pour le timing très étudié
- bravo pour le choix de l’hôtel (situation au coeur de Paris, aménagement beau et sobre)
Quel luxe de se laisser guider dans un programme raffiné qui rassemble tous les plaisirs ! En plus temps idéal, soleil et température douce d’automne ! Vraiment un sans faute à CULTURESSENCE !!
Elisabeth & Bernard
Trip to Paris - November '07
For my wife’s 50th birthday, we planned to celebrate with a trip to France and thanks to Blandine Lavaux and Sandrine Rossi-Gili of Culturessence they made it a trip of a lifetime.
Having worked for a major company for years, my wife and I have had the opportunity to travel the world with trip itineraries and hotels arraigned by a well known travel agency. However, the best that we have ever experienced was the France trip planned and executed by Blandine and Sandrine-----They took care of every detail with no ”Surprizes”.
Because they are French and having lived in Paris and other areas of France, they were able to provide us the French perspective every day of our trip starting with an orientation of Paris in a classic Citroen convertible showing us all the historic sites and many non tourist areas-----Fantastic. The best way to get an overview of Paris.
Then Blandine and Sandrine arraigned a private tour of Paris and Versailles from a historical perspective by Marion Millet. Marion isn’t your typical tour guide. She is finishing her PhD in 18th century art at the Louvre and Versailles. If you are interested in French history, Marion is the best. Spend a few days with her and you will see Paris as it was when Louis the 14th was king.
After Paris, we toured the chateaus and castles in the Loire Valley guided by David who knew every quaint village and back roads in the valley. Again, Blandine and Sandrine gave us the “real French flavor” of the valley with restaurants where the locals dinned and booked a world class hotel were the rooms were in Rock Caves-----Quietest room we have ever stayed in!!!!
We finished our trip spending a few days in Normandy. Similar to Paris and the Valley, Blandine and Sandrine took care of every detail booking us into a lovely French Country Inn. The one regret we have is that we only had a couple of days in Normandy and could have spent more time to see more of the history and seaside villages.
All in all, this was a trip that we will always remember and will return using Blandine and Sandrine services. They are well worth their fee and we are so pleased that we have asked them to plan a trip to Italy in 2009. If you want to know France, go with Culturessence.
Rosemary and Pat (Michigan)
Trip to France (Paris + Loire Valley + Normady) - September '07
Dear Blandine and Sandrine:
I am so sorry it’s taken so long for me to write this note, but getting back to work was a bit overwhelming.
First, the hotel was perfect. Very clean, great central location, and the staff was very nice.
Paris was AMAZING and we LOVED the day you put together for us. Our car ride was really wonderful. It was a beautiful morning and we had a very extensive overview of the city of Paris. Our driver was a lot of fun and was really knowledgeable. We were then able to identify spots that we wanted to go back to for a more detailed visit.
The tour of Musee d’Orsay with Marion was incredible! She was so knowledgeable and gave us a 5 hour tour! It was really more of an Art History lesson in Impressionism than just a tour. It was one of the most memorable parts of the entire trip. I hope she enjoyed it as much as we did.
Dinner at the Eiffel Tower was delicious. We had our window seat just as you arranged, and the food was delicious! Unfortunately the weather was rainy so we did not go up to the top. We loved Pershing Hall also! Very chic and very busy. It was great for people watching over some lovely cocktails!
We also really loved Provence! The French countryside is so beautiful, the architecture is amazing and our villa was great. We traveled to Avignon, Les Beaux, Aix en Provence, Roussillon, and a few other towns I can’t spell correctly! We were very busy!
Thanks again for everything you did for us. It would not have been the same wonderful trip without your arrangements!
Best Regards,
Sheila O ’Hara (Michigan)
Trip to France (Paris) - May '07
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