Mustard 101 ~ France, The King of Mustards

 So we've been to France many times over the last 35 years, most always staying in hotels... But when we go over on our research trips to Provence, we  typically stay in AirBnbs so that we have a kitchen...  When we work out on the road actively researching all day, we often don't feel like going out at night to restaurants for dinner...  and theses trips can often be 2 to 3 weeks long and costly, so having a kitchen helps to lower our business expenses...  So we spend a fair amount time in grocery stores stocking up these kitchens, and this is where we became big fans of French Mustards, or as they say Moutarde!  OMG! they are so good! We'll of course have a few different ones at the Villa, but it's also a great inexpensive souvenir to bring home for yourself or others... And they sometimes come in cute little jars that are made to double as a really nice little casual stemless wine or spirits glass! 

Mustard seeds have been cultivated in China and the Indus Valley since 4000 BC and mustard–made from mixing mustard seeds and vinegar–has been around since Ancient Rome. The first recipe for mustard appears in a Roman cookbook from the fourth or fifth century called “De Re Coquinaria”, which translates to “On the Subject of Cooking”. In the recipe, the mustard is made with mustard seeds, pepper, honey, vinegar, and an assortment of herbs. Mustard first came to Paris in the 10th century, when the monks of Saint Germain des Pres began using imported mustard seeds to create their own concoction. By the 13th century, the city of Dijon, France had become a mustard hub, and it remains the mustard capital of the world, along with the French city of Meaux.  Mustard has been beloved by France since the 14th century, when the government first introduced regulations for mustard recipes. Throughout history, Popes and Kings have even appointed their own mustard-makers, but the condiment was enjoyed by royals and commoners alike. While France is most famous for Dijon-style mustard, you can also find whole-grain mustard and honey mustard along with other various flavors, styles, and variations that are unique to France.  Below, we’ve rounded up a few of the best French mustards, from familiar favorites to hard-to-find boutique brands. 

Pommery

Sold in an iconic stoneware jar, Pommery’s Moutarde de Meaux has been made in the city of Meaux since the 1700s. Pommery’s original mustard is a grainy, stone-ground mustard that has a richer and deeper flavor than Dijon. In addition to their traditional recipe, Pommery also has variations made with ingredients like honey, cognac, fig, truffle, or green peppercorn. There is also a more finely ground version, called “fine” that’s a traditional Dijon. 
Where to find it: While you can sometimes find Pommery at grocery stores, you can order it from specialty stores, or you can order it directly from www.moutarde-de-meaux.com

Bornier

Spicy and tangy, Bornier is a traditional Dijon mustard, made in France for over 200 years. There are three varieties: original, a smooth, creamy Dijon; whole grain, packed with crunchy mustard seeds; and honey mustard, made with 10% honey. The Dijon and whole grain varieties also have organic versions. 
Where to find it: All Bornier varieties can be found on Amazon, and you’ll be able to find the organic versions at grocery stores like Whole Foods. 

Maille

Maille is one of our favorites!

Arguably the most famous French mustard brand, Maille has been around for centuries, selling vinegar and mustard in storefronts in Paris and Dijon. Today, you’ll likely be able to find Maille’s most common versions–Dijon and Whole Grain–in your local gourmet grocery store, but in France you’ll be able to find versions made with truffles, grilled onions, walnuts, pesto, black currants, and more. 
Where to find it: Visit your local grocery store, order online from Amazon, or stop by a Maille boutique in Bordeaux, Paris, Dijon, Melbourne, or London.  

Those of you going to Paris before the Provence Tour will find a large Maille boutique in the center of Paris, at the Place de la Madeleine, sits a beautiful Maille boutique. Here, hundreds of bottles and dozens of beguiling mustards scale the walls with distinctive, complex and audacious flavors to satisfy even the most demanding taste buds. The Maille Mustard Sommelier offers you to taste. Taking pride of place is a row of gleaming, ingeniously engineered pumps. For it’s here, drawn by hand, that your selection of condiment is freshly filled into earthenware pots and carefully sealed with cork stoppers. Delicate vinegars, playful vinaigrettes, luxurious tableware and unique gifts for food lovers are also to be found, all accompanied by inspiring food tips and recipes to take home with you.
www.maille.com

Amora

An offshoot of the Maille brand, Amora mustard is one of the most popular mustards in France, found in nearly every kitchen. With the tagline “fine et forte” it’s much spicier than a regular Dijon–and you can even find the “extra forte” version, a rich and spicy condiment that will make your sinuses tingle. While brands like Maille and Pommery come in beautiful bottles with beautiful labels (and the price tags to match), Amora is a more minimalist design and can be found in French grocery stores for under €2, and often comes in simple little jars that double as an elegant little stemless wine glass.
Where to find it: Amora is supremely easy to find in any market in France, and you can find them in some supermarkets in England. Amora on Amazon

Edmond Fallot

Edmond Fallot has been crafting world-class French mustard at their family-run mustard mill in Burgundy since 1840. Today, the business sells vinegar, relish, and mustard in plenty of varieties and flavors. Edmond Fallot’s traditional mustards are a creamy Dijon-style mustard and a whole grain variety made with whole mustard seeds. In addition, specialty flavors include walnut, basil, honey, fig, and more.
Where to find it: You can find the original Dijon and whole grain styles at gourmet shops around the country, or order one of the specialty flavors from Amazon. You can also visit the Edmond Fallot boutiques in Beaune and Dijon. 

www.fallot.com 

Maison Pebeyre

This mustard from one of France’s oldest family-run truffle houses in France is rare, luxurious, and quite hard to find. Since 1897, Maison Pebeyre has earned a reputation for quality truffles, shipping their exquisite products all over the world. Using their world-class truffles, Maison Pebeyre has created a suite of gourmet products, including white truffle oil, truffle mayonnaise, truffle salt, truffle honey, and their famous truffle mustard. 
Where to find it: Your best bet for finding a jar of Maison Pebeyre’s truffle Dijon in the wild is to visit a local gourmet shop that specializes in French products. 
www.pebeyre.com

We're always careful to tell our guests, that much like an evolving appreciation of French wines, once you indulge and develop a taste for the incredible French mustards, French's (made in Missouri) will likely never do...  

Take the time to smell The Roses, even if you've just met them!

 We've all experienced the feelings of transformation or enlightenment while we've traveled on vacations... We're forced to see far off lands and cultures thru new eyes... We urge you, on this upcoming adventure to France, to get the very most out of it, by deciding before you go to heighten these experiences by being open to everything around you... 

The Roses

In Provence, you will be surrounded by endless possibilities to "fertilize your soul..." While many of these things will be obvious, others are much more subtle, and you actually must seek them out... You will be surrounded by new foods and smells and we certainly urge you to open your mind to trying them... Maybe it's the Coq au Vin (Rooster with wine), the Confit du Canard (Duck confit), or something as simple as Salade Niçoise or Steak-frites. These are all very popular French dishes...  And I know there's a handful of you that love your Huîtres, (oysters) and France, with it's 2000 miles of coastline, is world famous for it's Huîtres!  And of course there's so many incredible cheeses to try in France!

But beyond the foods & wines, there's still tons of possibilities to nurture your soul by sincere interaction with the local people... Take the time to realize that even interaction with someone like the Customs officials or the attendant at the rental car facility, offers opportunities to bond as citizens of the world... I'll never forget talking to a man at an outdoor farmers market in Cambodia and asking him "how are you today?"  His reply to me was "I am truly blessed..."  It opened a short, very enjoyable conversation, but more importantly, things he said to me that day were very moving from an international perspective, and he made an indelible mark on my soul, and it helped me to grow spiritually...

Always remember that you truly are an ambassador of your country when you travel... The people that you meet and interact with definitely project their feelings about you onto the USA as a whole...  And this, this is where you have a chance to really make a difference in how the world sees the United States... Whether you give a coin to a street musician, or a sincere compliment to a chef, you have these few moments to truly nurture your soul... to learn something... to convey something... and perhaps, if you're lucky enough, to create a bond, if only for a few minutes... or if you're assertive enough,  a friendship that will last forever!  We have many guests that have been on our trips that keep in touch regularly with some of our local friends we've introduced them to... With social media these days it's so easy to create these international relationships.

These super special experiential moments come only to those who take the time to look for them...  So by all means, - pause, take a breath, and take the time to look for them!  Our Tours are very different... They're specifically designed to deeply immerse you into the magic of the local culture... And because of our extremely small groups, you'll have lots of these opportunities...  Know that the Provençal people are very, very friendly... Start a conversation... ask polite questions... give compliments... ask for advice... Show them pictures of your children, and ask to see theirs!  Ask a waiter to recommend something new, something unlike what you'd normally try... How's the pigeon today? You'll have the rest of your life to have a Reuben Sandwich... So today, maybe try the rabbit or the snails! Ask for a picture together... Smile... look them in the eye and sincerely thank them for their help... And if you can form that magic bond like so many of our guests have done, it will pay dividends for the rest of your life!

Communication only ever truly happens if the person on the receiving end understands exactly what you are trying to convey...  And to this end, we urge you to carry a phrase book, or become proficient with a translator app on your phone... even if it seems awkward... the other person will sincerely appreciate your trying... but more importantly, the act itself conveys amazing compassion and respect...   In our business, we get to hear people's "bad vacation stories" all the time... And it's so easy for people to be cynical these days...   Commit to making this your best vacation ever!  Recognize that this is a  special time in your life... And that you're on a very special trip, and that you've earned this... Enjoy every minute of it,  embrace the diversity of different cultures...  truly open your heart and watch the magic just happen! We work hard to nurture this in our guests, and so we're the lucky ones, we get to see it all the time! It's truly magical... 

La Vie en Rose

“Quand il me prend dans ses bras

Il me parle tout bas

Je vois la vie en rose

Il me dit des mots d'amour

Des mots de tous les jours

Et ça me fait quelque chose

Il est entré dans mon cœur

Une part de bonheur”

We hope your Holidays are Grand!

 

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

this is Gordes in all it's hilltop glory!

Provence... so incredibly magical it seems like a dream... It's as much an emotion, as it is a place... the purity of the air filled with the pungent sweet scent of lavender... the tangy aroma of freshly pressed olive oil and the classic sound of cicadas softly singing in a light summer breeze... 

Narrow winding country roads lined by majestic plane trees leading into rugged granite mountains, topped by pastel tinted villages... In your mind's eye you can picture the brightly colored cafe umbrellas lining the cobblestone streets of quaint & charming medieval villages...

And this is one of those quaint & charming villages; the village of Gordes... it's an iconic Provençal hilltown, very near to Château du Soleil, and we will of course take you here! It's a spectacular village... all stone built and standing majestically over grape vineyards, olive groves and lavender fields! And while so many times the views of destinations can seem enhanced, this view, which is on one of the roads leading into the village is one you can easily get to...  If you've ever seen the movie A Good Year with Russel Crowe & Marion Cotillard, this is the village where it takes place!  

If you haven't seen it, we highly recommend watching it before you travel as it's a wonderful movie to give you a feel of the culture & emotion of Provence

As you wind down the steep mountain road out of Gordes on the road to the Villa, you'll come across Abbey de Sénanque... You've probably seen pictures of the abbey... It's famous and its photos tend to show up anywhere Provence is mentioned! Over 1000 years old, this is still a working Abbey where Monks live in silence and grow lavender and tend bee hives for honey... We'll stop here to enjoy the Lavender Fields. It's very spiritual! And best part is that's it's only about 8 miles from the Villa.

EES... ETIAS... LMNOP... LSMFT... etc...

  Hi Guys, hope all is well with each of you, and we hope you're getting excited about your upcoming  Adventure to France!  We've recently received  a couple different questions from guests on our upcoming Provence Tours this June and we'll talk about them here...

First, someone has reached out about the new Schengen Area  Entry/Exit System known as EES. As the European Union works to get immigration under control, they're ruling out a couple new programs to keep track of who is entering, how long they stay, and when they leave.  The new EES system has been in the works for years and has been delayed several times already. They're now estimating that it will be ready to be put in place "Autumn 2024".   Travelers will need to scan their passports at a self-service kiosk each time they enter or cross an EU external border. The system will register the traveler’s name, biometric data, and the date and place of entry and exit. Facial scans and fingerprint data will be retained for three years after each trip.  

We don't think this will be in place when you travel in June,  (based on our experience, we highly doubt it will be ready) but even if it is, there's nothing you need to do in advance of traveling. (unless you're an international jewel thief). You'll just scan your passport at the arrival airport and the kiosk will snap a facial photo and you'll put your fingers on a digital scanner for fingerprints.

The other new program that's also still being touted is The New European Travel Information and Authorization Services (ETIAS). This program has just been delayed for the third time in 3 years until 2025, so you won't need to worry about it on this trip.  It's been characterized  as a "money grab" by the travel media as it will require travelers entering Europe to register online and pay a 7 Euro fee for a digital visa-like document that will be valid for 3 years. But again, it won't be in place until 2025, so there's no need to worry about it.  But we always take the opportunity to remind you that the French government requires you to have a  US Passport that's valid for at least 3 months after your scheduled return date from France, and many airlines require you to have a Passport that's valid for at least 6 months.  If you need a passport or if you need to renew your passport, we strongly urge you to work on it now. It takes upwards of 3 - 4 months to get a new one or renew.

 And lastly, someone has asked again: "Do I really need Travel Insurance... I've paid my final balance and I don't plan to cancel..."  So again, the sort answer is: "no, we don't require you to buy travel insurance." But we do highly recommend it.  No one ever plans to cancel their trip...  But over our now 23 years of organizing Tour Groups multiple times each year, we have had people cancel their trips for a variety of reasons from broken legs, job loss, heart attacks, car accidents, broken marriages, etc...  It was never, ever planned... it was always regretted, and it was sometimes very costly for those that didn't have insurance coverage...  But keep in mind, comprehensive travel insurance covers a lot more than just trip cancellation...  Most comprehensive Travel Insurance policies also cover a variety of health, medical, dental, trip interruption, baggage loss, baggage delay and more. And many domestic health/medical insurances including Medicare provides no or very limited coverage when out of the country...  As a practical application, when guests contact us to tell us they need to cancel, we refer them to their Travel Insurance provider for refunds.

there are many renditions of this song that are better recordings, but Grahm Nash telling the story behind the song makes this very special... if you're old enough to have been a CSNY fan, you'll appreciate this!

🎶🎶 Help... I need somebody 🎶🎶🎶

Hi guys, Just a quick note today... If we can help you with any of your travel plans for before, during, or after Provence, please reach out to us...  If you haven't made flight arrangements, car rental arrangements, hotels for pre or post, etc, our advice is to get these things nailed down as soon as possible, as all signs indicate that this coming summer will be a record breaking season for tourism in France... especially because of the Olympics!  And in the travel industry, as inventory of things like flights & hotel rooms start to dwindle, you'll have far less options to choose from and prices will naturally go up... If you're not sure where to start, we're happy to help! 

Many folks on our upcoming Provence Tours have already reached out to us with questions about flights, luggage allowances, car rentals, hotels, AirBnb's, restaurants, sight-seeing itineraries, rail tix, Seine river cruises, Eiffel Tower tix, Versailles, drivers, Tour guides, The Lourve,  HRT Hormone replacement therapy, etc... (no, I'm not kidding click here ).  If you have something we can help you with, please reach out!

You can email us at AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com or simply pick up the phone and give us a call at 610-657-7894. Whatever it might be, we've probably had experience with it in our decades of European travel... and we're happy to help! Hope your getting excited!  Only about 180 days to go!

if you think these are the Back Street Boys, you're too young for this group!

Hey, how come there's two toilets in my bathroom?

So if this is your first sojourn to Europe, you might be surprised to see a bidet next to the toilet in your bathroom!  Bidets are very common in Europe...  They're not nearly as common in France as they are in Italy, but  you'll definitely run into them, and there are bidets in some of the bathrooms at Chateau du Soleil...

Here in the US, many folks have heard of or perhaps have seen bidets on their travels, but think that they are just an Old World tradition and not commonly used any longer...  

Actually nothing could be further from the truth... Europeans use bidets all the time...  It's not a type of toilet, but think of it as a bathtub for your "private parts".   So a common question is: Don't they use toilet paper?   Yes, they use toilet paper just like we do,  but then afterwards, they just scamper over to the bidet to "clean-up..." (In Europe, they actually think it's odd that we don't use bidets)  

Here in the US, many people have slowly adopted to "wet-wipes" for the same reason, and those in the real estate business will tell you that the bidet is slowly making it's way into the upscale & luxury US housing market...  All that being said, we told you this would be an "adventure" and we suggest you at least try the bidet if there's one in your room!  You might find that you like it! You basically just squat down and hover over the fixture, turn on the faucet, and splash a little water over the parts you want to clean!  If there's a bidet in your bathroom, there will be special towels provided in your room specifically for drying after using the bidet!  And in the "end" (pun intended) you'll feel much more international & immersed!

(note: while were on the subject, we always like to remind our guests that sometimes if the bidet has not been used for a while, the water in the p-trap evaporates and septic odors can escape into your room... if you smell anything odd, just run the water in the bidet for 10 seconds so that the p-trap fills with water.)

The video below will give you a little more detail on "bidet technique".   Enjoy! 

(hover over the video after it starts, and click the little box on the right to go full screen)

Other Market Streets in Paris

 Hi Guys,

Someone has reached out and asked about other possible markets to visit in Paris besides The Rue Cler... So there are many market streets in Paris, but some are more worth your time than others... this video points out a handful of the most popular market streets... (the Rue Cler is still our favorite!).  We will in future posts also talk about some of the famous department stores in Paris that are worth a quick walk-thru! Enjoy!  (ps: if YOU have questions, or if we can help in any way, please reach out)

The Rue Cler...

  For those of you going to Paris for a few days and staying in the 7th arrondissement at the hotel we recommend,  Hotel de Londres Eiffel, you will of course be just a 5 minute walk from The Eiffel Tower... (more about the Tower in future posts), but you will also be in The Rue Cler neighborhood, and just a 3 minute walk away from The Rue Cler, a wonderful quaint & charming little pedestrian market street filled with lots of fun little shops, cafes and bistros! It's a favorite place of ours in Paris!  This is a great place to go for a stroll and immerse yourself in the delights of the French culture... There's some great little bistros and cafes to eat or just sit outside and have a glass of wine and do some fun people watching...  Perhaps pick up a bottle of wine and some fun cheeses for the late evening parties under the Eiffel Tower for The Light Show! Here in this video you have our favorite travel guru, Rick Steves, showing you the charm of this little market street!

So how many suitcases can I bring?

If you've not traveled with us for a few years, we now have nifty
new complimentary Adventures to Tuscany luggage tags
we'll be sending out to you as we get closer to your departure!

Your upcoming Beautiful Villages of Provence Tour is now just around 6 months out, and usually at this point some of our guests are beginning to start to think about packing... So our guests often ask us:  How many suitcases can I bring? 

 As far as we're concerned, you can bring as many suitcases as you want... (But to be the happiest, our advice is: one medium suitcase & one small daypack) This is what most experienced travelers learn to live with...) 

You do need to be aware of a few things...  Airlines today, in order to make more money, usually strictly limit both your carry on and checked luggage...  Today many airlines have at least four to five levels of tickets: 

• Basic Economy
• Standard Economy
• Premium Economy
• Business
• First Class 

With their very most-basic economy tickets, some airlines now usually only allow one small personal item (9" x 10" x 17") as a carry-on. (not a full size 9" x 14" x 22" carry on).  With these most basic tickets, if you want to check luggage, you sometimes have to purchase that separately...  Usually around $100 per piece of luggage up to 50 lbs.  And if you show up at the gate with a full size carry-on, they likely will make you pay the $100 to check it, and may even charge you a $25 Gate Handling Fee.  We strongly suggest you check your airline's written policies on their website... and if you haven't purchased tix yet, keep the luggage situation in mind when you research flights. If your tix doesn't include checked luggage, consider this scenario: 

• if there's 2 of you
• 2 checked pieces of luggage @ $100 each (the fee is charged each direction)
• total luggage fees = $400 

size matters! the black one is 22" and will actually satisfy full-size
carry-on restrictions, but  be aware now some airlines are also 
putting weight restrictions on the carry-ons... the purple one is a 26" 

With the next level up: Standard Economy ticket, you typically (not always) get one free personal item, and one free full size carry-on that's typically limited to no larger than 9" x 14" x 22" and one free checked bag (usually)with a top limit of 50 lbs...    They're pretty stringent on the weight limit...  if your bag goes over, the fee is expensive... (many airlines charge $100 extra if your bag hits 51 lbs - 70lbs and $200 extra if it goes over 71 lbs) All airlines have their own policies and they change often.  (While this post is just an example, it by no means is the exact policy of your airline.) Please keep in mind, this is generalized advice based on lots & lots of experience; but we don't know what airline you're flying, what class of tix you've purchased, or what their luggage restrictions are... We suggest you check with your airline for restrictions based on your tix.  (find their written policy on their website) You'll get nowhere telling a gate agent: i called and was told blah, blah, blah...

Biz Class / First Class: If you've shelled out the $3k plus for a biz class tix or the $5K+ for first class tix, you're probably not concerned about luggage restrictions!

As far as size and style goes, usually anything above a 26" case is wasted space as you can easily put 50lbs in a 24" - 26" case...  35 years ago we always traveled Europe with backpacks...We personally like rolling luggage these days, and it certainly makes toting your own a lot easier... And "spinner" luggage is a joy on smooth surfaces...  While a standard 2-wheeler tends to pull easier if you're walking across an Old World city on cobblestone streets...   Another thing to think about is that in Europe you're typically handling your own luggage. Most of your smaller 3 star hotels will not have porters, bellmen or lifts.  It's just not as common in Europe...  And this will be true at our Villa in Provence as well. The Villa has a couple of floors and there is no lift, so just like most everywhere else in Europe, you'll be handling your own luggage...

the classic  zip out tote bag, folds into the little pocket

in the front and available in several sizes for around $20

Also, another thing to think about; if you're sharing a car with others, you'll likely have limited space...   Cars tend to be smaller in Europe. Note the luggage guide on your car rental companies website for your class of car. If you're trying to put  4 people in a car with 4 large suitcases and 4 daypacks, you'll certainly need a larger car! After observing many of our tour groups with their luggage several times a year for over 23 years, we can tell you that we've always noticed that those with the least luggage seem happiest! 

We also recommend you at least think about packing  a "folding nylon suitcase" for your return flight... (Most of our guests end up buying things that they want to carry home).  They're  commonly available, economical and will last forever.  It folds up tiny into the little pocket in the front, usually weighs less then a pound, and packs into your suitcase till you need it...  So the strategy is this; you pull this out for the trip home, put your carry-on daypack inside of it plus any excess weight to keep your checked bag under the 50 lb limit...  If you decide to get one, make sure it's a size that satisfies the "carry on restrictions" within your ticket.  This bag or bags like it are usually about $20 and available in less then 30 seconds with one click at Amazon.com.

this is a style of daypack we usually recommend 

for daytime touring... room for a water bottle, camera,

 map, guidebook, lightweight sweater & umbrella

And then a daypack...  The daypack is a small backpack or shoulder bag like kids use as book bags for school... the key word here is small...  This a small pack that you might take with you as your free personal item on the plane and/or out touring everyday to carry your camera, water bottle, sweater, guidebook, umbrella, map, personal items, etc.. (usually available for as little as $10 - $20 at amazon.com)

Lastly, we'd tell you that from our experience, everyone usually overpacks...  We'll guarantee you this; the less you take with you, the happier you'll be... if you end up needing something, there will be stores everywhere!  Over all the years, and hundreds & hundreds of guests, we've never heard a guest say: "next time I'm going to pack more..."

Keep in mind, you will have access to the wonderful laundry facilities at the Villa... Chateau du Soleil is upscale, and the equipment at the Villa is all very nice!  The laundry room & facilities are very nice, and they are for you to do your own laundry, and we fully stock the laundry room with complimentary laundry soaps, stain removers, etc,  and we encourage you to use them. You'll be at the Villa in the evenings, so it's simple to throw a load in.   So if you're doing a multi-day pre-tour extension, you'll be able to do your laundry as soon as you arrive at the Villa and have all fresh clothes for the week... or if you're doing a post tour extension, you can do your laundry on Friday before you leave! 

Hope you're getting excited about Provence... You're gonna love The Beautiful Villages!  And you're really gonna love Château du Soleil... We're going to have a great time!  If we can help you with anything at all, please reach out to us! 

A polite courtesy reminder ~ Final Payments due

Hi guys,

Hope you're all getting excited about your trip to France!  It'll be here before you know it!  Just a polite courtesy reminder; your final payments for your upcoming Provence Tour are due in just a few days...

So your final payments, as noted on your Reservation Forms,  are due 6 months before departure (Tour start date). ie: if your tour starts June 15th, your final payment is due by December 15th. If your Tour starts June 22nd, your final payment is due by December 22nd. 

We. offer several ways to make this payment:

*  By mailing a personal check made out to Adventures to Tuscany and mailing it to us:
            Adventures to Tuscany
            215 Country Acres Drive
            Kunkletown, Pa.  18058

*  By making a easy & free online ZELLE Transfer from your bank account directly to our bank account at:     

            AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com  

Most all banks now use Zelle... It's super easy, it's immediate & it's FREE!  It's like using a digital check. If you're unfamiliar with Zelle, you can learn about it here in 2 minutes:  Pay with Zelle

(if you do make a Zelle transfer, please send us a quick text or email to let us know to watch for it)

* By credit card ~ we accept MasterCard, Visa, and American Express ~ (but to keep our tour prices as low as possible, if you choose to pay by credit card we will add the bank's 2.75% processing fee on to your total payment.  For example; if your final payment is $6000, the 2.75% additional fee is $165.00) 

to pay by credit card, we'll need:

• account type (Visa, Mastercard or AE)
• name on  the card  
• mailing address associated with card
• phone # associated with card
• expiration date
• security code 
• you can email or call us with this info. 

As always, if we can help you with any questions, or help you plan any details of your trip, please reach out to us... We're always happy to help.  You can reach us at our email address: AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com or simply give us a call at 610-657-7894

                         

Tips for dealing with Parisian waiters

 With many of you visiting Paris for a few days before coming down to Provence, we thought this post appropriate as you're more likely to end up in a slightly more upscale restaurant for dinner in Paris than you would in the more relaxed & casual bistro & cafe environments of Provence.

Entering a busy restaurant in Paris can be an intimidating experience for first-time visitors, or even for those who've lived there for years. 

 1. Greetings are crucial

Always greet the head waiter with a hearty bonjour and a smile at lunch time or bonsoir at dinner time. While you may have heard that French waiters are rude, an enthusiastic bonjour on your part will go far to set the stage for cordiality. This may sound overly simplistic, but the same also applies for starting a conversation with anyone, anywhere in France. Our number one piece of advice for our guests is: "A little Bonjour goes a long way!"

2. Don’t expect the waiter to fawn over you

 French waiters leave their customers alone to enjoy their meal. They rarely return every few minutes to ask “Is everything OK?” as American waiters so often do.  This is not because they're trying to ignore you, but more because in European culture, people prefer to have less interruptions...  and because waiters are not "working for tips" as they do in the US, they don't feel the need to hover over your table... (learn that this isn't better or worse... it's just the difference in cultures)

3. Don't feel rushed 

Relax and enjoy the food and conversation.  Consider enjoying a glass of wine before ordering... The experience should be so much more than just eating... The waiter won’t rush you from one course to the next. The French typically eat slower and enjoy conversation with their meal…lots of it. They generally don’t rush to the next course or rush to get out of the restaurant.  They also enjoy the presentation of the dishes – the way the food is organized on the plate.  And they enjoy sipping wine with their meal and commenting on the aromas emanating from the glass.  

4.  How to call your waiter to the table. 

To attract the attention of your waiter or waitress just raise your arm and politely call out 's'il vous plait'. (please)

5. How to signal the waiter that you're finished

When you’ve finished your course, leave your knife and fork side by side on your plate. (this is the continental signal; I'm finished) The waiter will pick it up after all of your dining companions have finished their meals as well. French waiters are trained not to whisk your plate out from under your nose as soon as you set down your fork. They wait until every person at the table has finished the course and only then do they clear the table for the next serving. 

6. Getting the check

Be aware that servers will almost never bring you the check without your asking for it, as it is considered rude to do so in France. Check, please?: L'addition, s'il vous plaît? (Lah-dee-sy-ohn, seel voo pleh?)

7.  There's no need to leave a huge tip

 … unless the service was truly outstanding. In France, the waiter's service charge is included in the bill and the French don't feel compelled to leave a tip. If your service was outstanding, or if you simply want to reward the waiter with a gesture of your appreciation, a 5 percent tip is appropriate. 

Music... Travel... Love...

Our goal is to totally knock your socks off!  It's not necessarily an easy thing to do... Most of our guests, much like yourself, have travelled a fair amount. So when we tell them that we're setting out to "knock their socks off" we know we're setting the bar pretty high...  

But we know the travel & hospitality world pretty well... With so many choices out there, we feel we can only succeed if we "try harder" than the rest of them! We spend a lot of time (and money) working to do just that - trying harder and giving better value! What you're doing right now reading this post is just one small example... We could give you dozens of examples, but that would take the element of surprise out of it, and it wouldn't sound very modest... Suffice it say, that we literally sit down a lot and ask ourselves "how can we do it better". 

Here at Adventures to Tuscany, we're a teeny-tiny Boutique Specialty Expedition Operator... To compete with the hordes of large mass market bus tour operators, quite simply; we must be different, better & we must offer more... We must give you more value and give you more unique experiences than you can get from a 50 person bus tour!  So we like to say: What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world!

To do this, we blend the very best characteristics of independent travel with the very best characteristics of escorted and guided travel to give truly adventurous guests a super-unique, hybrid travel experience that is the very best of both worlds!   A highly researched and personally curated Tour that is both escorted and guided, blended with the exclusivities of an extremely small group... Our concept starts with our home-base accommodations: Totally unique, magnificent & authentic private upscale Villa accommodations...  The exclusivity of private French chefs, and the uniqueness of authentic French Provençal cuisine...  Totally inclusive upscale Wine, Beer, Prosecco & Champagne bars... Nightly theme parties... Private live entertainment... and truly alternative experiential activities that are just not possible to get from a large scale mass market Tour Bus operator... 

It starts right here! 

Our expeditions aren't for everybody... They're for the adventurous & open minded... Those that want to experience something very special and something truly different... Not just sight-seeing, but also a sense of living in the amazingly beautiful French countryside, among the local people, immersed into their local culture... At our Villa in Venasque you'll be living on one of Provence's most prominent and notable Private Estates... This magnificent, sophisticated,  yet rustically elegant Villa sets in the hills on the border of the Vaucluse and the Luberon and is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves, cherry orchards and iconic Cypress trees & Lavender plants!  

This is a truly authentic way to experience The South of France...  And this is so different from a busy tourist hotel in the middle of Paris, Avignon or Marseille... You won't be sharing the Villa with 200 tourists...  It'll just be us! This is the real deal!  You'll meet and become friends with the local people, many who live in the nearby Villages of Venasque and Didier.

The Chateau du Soleil Estate with the grandeur 
of Mont Ventoux in the Alps in the background

The Beautiful Villages of Provence... A Château in The South of France! Our small group tours are a unique blend of rustic elegance, adventure & inspiration designed to immerse you into the magic of the local Provençal culture... 

Once you experience this magic, you'll understand why we say; Truly unique, authentic & immersive, escorted & guided experiential adventure expeditions to Provence... The Food, Wine, Culture and Adventure Tour for people who don't take Tours! When you come with us to Provence,  you won't just see France, you'll truly experience the quaintness, beauty and charm of The Old World! We hope you're getting excited... We're down to just a little over 8 months!  You're going to love Provence!

just a little diddie from our very favorite band

whose name says everything we're about: 

Music Travel Love