You want a vacation in France, but off the beaten track and on a restricted budget! I can book you into a furnished cottage, for a very personal and up close experience with French culture. Center your vacation around wine tastings or another theme of particular interest to you.

Choose a countryside setting or a small village setting. Bed and bath linens are furnished, as are pots, pans, utensils and table service for the kitchen. Other amenities, such as TV and dishwasher, are available as well, depending on your budget. When evening rolls around, you can leisurely prepare your own dinner in your own little home away from home, and kick back with a glass of newly discovered wine. Most cottages have a private terrace or garden.

Tours length: one week (Cottage Stay weeks run from Saturday to Saturday)

OPTION 1: One week Shoestring Cottage Stays

You provide me with the dates and the size of your party and I’ll locate and book your cottage. I’ll act as your guide, taking you to a variety of vineyards, wine cellars, and cave coopératives, where you’ll learn about wine -- from the vine to the bottle -- and taste it, too, of course. I’ll also take you to local markets, grocery stores, and bakeries, where you can purchase whatever provisions you’d like to stock into your cottage. Two nights during your stay, I’ll take you to dining establishments with an excellent cuisine and wines to match, in an authentic ambiance – la France profonde, French culture at its roots.

Included in Shoestring Cottage Stays (Option 1)

• Cottage location and booking
• Accommodations in for one week: Saturday 3 p.m. to Saturday 10 a.m.
• Pick up and drop off at Montpellier, Nimes or Avignon airport or TGV (train) station
• Transportation to cottage
• 3 days of wine tasting visits
• Transportation from your accommodations and back for wine tastings
• Two dinners for two at local restaurants (transportation to and from included)
• Bilingual guide service for visits included
• Price: from $1,600 to $2,200 total for 2 people per week (price depends on choice of amenities for cottage)
• Airfare not included: you book your airline tickets.

You provide me with the dates and size of your party. I locate and book your cottage. I’ll provide you with information about the local wines and places for tastings, driving directions, and contact information. I’ll also provide you with a list of local markets and supermarkets, bakeries, gas stations, along with suggestions and driving directions. You book your airline ticket and rental car, then get on the plane for a relaxing week – at your pace.

Included in “Do it yourselfer” Shoestring Cottage Stays (Option 2)

• Cottage location and booking
• Accommodations for one week: Saturday 3 p.m. to Saturday 10 a.m.
• Detailed information about vineyards and caves coopératives to visit.
• Recommendations and information for markets, restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, sites to visit, along with directions.
• Price: from $650 to $1000 per week, depending on cottage amenities selected.
• Airfare not included, transportation not included: you book your airline tickets and car rental. Your American driver’s license is accepted in France. If you have a larger group, I can book you a larger cottage at a higher price. Please contact me for more information about larger groups.