🎼 On The Road Again... I just can't wait to be on the road again... 🎼

 🎼 Seein' things that I may never see again... And I can't wait to get on the road again... 🎼

So there's been a lot of chatter lately about airline tix... Everybody  is starting to look!  Some folks have already booked.  Some folks have reached out... and we've received a few questions from guests... And of course we always invite you to give us a call if we can help you...  

Here's the caveat, we are not travel agents... and we can not buy tix for you... but we'd be happy to try to help you find a few options online, or if you need advice with something like: "is this a good airline" or "is this a good price" or perhaps "is this layover time safe" or  "is this a reasonable flight duration"  or maybe: "can we fly on one airline into Paris and another home from Marseille?"

Again, we always stress to folks; we're not travel agents, and we only have the same tools you do... but we do, between the two of us, have a fairly extensive amount of International Air Travel experience, specifically to Europe over the last 40 years...  

Personally, we typically start out researching tix on Kayak.com and Google Flights... and when we find something we think might work for us, we go directly to that Airline's website, search for that flight, and we buy the tix directly from the Airline.   We're not masters at finding the cheapest tix... but we can tell you that the more time you spend researching, the more likely you are to get a good feel for what is a good value! 

Terese and I personally tend to stick to the legacy carriers we know & trust; United, Delta, American, Lufthansa, Air France, Emirates, British Airways, etc...  We do this because we can't afford  to not get there on schedule...  If there's a major delay or cancellation, most of these legacy carriers have multiple flights to Europe everyday and they also have "codeshares" with multiple airlines and can more easily get us on another flight in a reasonable amount of time... Sometimes, the discount airlines do not have these codeshares and also they usually have very limited flights...  (For example: United Airlines & their combined codeshares probably have dozens if not 100's of flights leaving major airports daily into major hubs in Europe... and those airlines would likely have dozens of flights daily going into Marseille.  Some discount airlines have only one or two flights a day from the US and no codeshares at all... and some of these discount airlines have only 1 or two flights a week) 

This isn't to say that there may not be other good airlines & flights out there... This is just our own personal opinion and strategy... And you know what they say about opinions... 

For us personally, we think there's lots of other things to consider besides price... We also look at Flight Duration, # of stops and the length of those layovers...  If flying from the US into Marseille, you likely have at least one stop...  We try never to book a flight with more than 1 stop... Two stops / or connections double the possibility of either us, or our luggage, not making the connection...  But with that in mind you'll usually find that the flights with the shortest duration sometimes have the shortest layovers.. and short layovers can again possibly mean either you or your luggage not making the connection...  So it's a fine line.... and of course there's always an element of risk... For those of you flying into Paris for a few days; most of those flights will be direct nonstop.

Yet another thing to keep in mind is that these days many airlines have a lot of different levels of "Economy" tix... and often the lowest level of basic economy (read: least expensive) of these tix have more restrictions... Often these tix are not changeable or upgradeable... And most often they don't include checked luggage... And sometimes they only allow a personal-size carry-on and not a full size carry-on...  You should know that if your tix doesn't include at least one piece of checked luggage, you likely would have to pay $90 to $120 per person to  check each bag... and that fee will apply twice per person - once each direction! So your baggage fees if you check just one bag, could be as high as $240 per person round trip...

And lastly:  While some guests arrange their flights to arrive the first day of the Tour (Saturday), we usually suggest flying over at least one day earlier and staying in your arrival city in a hotel for at least one night just to be safe in case of cancelled or delayed flights. (this is of course totally your choice) But this does help you adjust more easily to the jet lag / time zone change.

And if you're flying home on the Saturday immediately after your Provence Tour, be careful concerning how early your flight leaves (you'll need to drive to the airport, return your car, get a shuttle from the car return lot to the terminal, and check-in a few hours before your flight departure... all of that can be pretty tough to do if you have a 9 am flight... you may want to consider an afternoon or next day flight.

Lastly, someone has asked about the pros and cons of buying air tickets thru online discounters or an OTA (online travel agency). We personally prefer to deal directly with the airline, but many folks are temped by the prices they see in ads for ticket discounters. So we break these down into two categories; the traditional Online Travel Agencies like Expedia or Orbitz... and the major Ticket Discounters like Cheapo Tickets, CheapFlights, and ASAP Tickets.  Usually buying tickets thru a traditional online travel agency is much like walking into a brick and mortar travel agency and they typically sell tickets for the same price as the airlines do directly.  But often when buying thru one of the big Ticket Discounters you'll end up with "promotional tickets" that they buy from the airlines in bulk and they sometimes have very few perks or amenities attached. (ie: non-changeable, non-refundable, no checked luggage, etc.)  And if you run into a problem while traveling and call your airline, they tell you to call the agency you bought your tickets from... This is sometimes not easy and they often have limited availability to help you... So just be careful; ask questions and read ALL the fine print... for more on this subject click here 

Again, if we can help you in any way at all, please reach out to us! We're always happy to help! 

 

Do something truly Magical this Holiday Season... Share!

 

 Thanksgiving, the gateway to The Holiday Season, is a time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives, and a reminder of the importance of gratitude. It's a day to gather with loved ones, share a meal, and express thanks for all that we have.

Gratitude is not just about feeling thankful; it's about actively acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of our lives. When we focus on what we are grateful for, we shift our perspective from lack to abundance, and that gratitude opens our hearts and minds to the beauty that surrounds us, both big and small.

By cultivating gratitude, we can improve our mental and emotional well-being. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can reduce stress, increase happiness, and strengthen our relationships. It's a simple yet powerful way to enhance our lives and the lives of those around us. This Thanksgiving, let's take a moment to pause and reflect on the things we are grateful for. Let's express our thanks to those who have made a positive impact on our lives. And let's carry the spirit of gratitude with us throughout the year, making every day a day of thanks...

Charity, an off-shoot of gratitude, is a virtue that uplifts both the giver and the receiver. It’s the selfless act of giving, a beacon of hope in a world often shadowed by darkness. Charitable individuals possess empathy, understanding the plight of others. They are generous, willingly sharing their resources, time, or talents. Their kindness creates ripples of positivity, inspiring others to follow suit. By giving back, they foster a sense of community and make the world a better place, one act of compassion at a time. 

Take a moment to consider all the incredible riches in your life, and then do something truly magical this Holiday Season... Share! Whether by dropping a dollar in a Salvation Army Red Bucket, or donating a few canned goods to your local food pantry, your simple act of kindness brightens both your world and the lives those less fortunate... Grace is so much more then just a little prayer you say before eating a meal... it’s a way to live your life!

 As America gives their Thanks to the world, we'd like to offer our Thanks to America! As you get together with your loved ones, we can't help but remember what president John F. Kennedy so famously told the world: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to just utter words, but to live by them." The poppy fields all over Europe are a constant reminder of the sacrifices America made for The world... We are truly & forever grateful... 

Today, as we celebrate America, we acknowledge you are a truly great nation... May you be proud of your contributions to the world, and may your Star Spangled Banner fly free & proud today and everyday! 

Happy Thanksgiving America!

Courtesy Reminder

 Hi Guys,   Hope you are all doing well as we head into the Holiday Season! And we hope you're enjoying the Blog!  We've started getting a few inquiries from some of you asking when your Final Balances are due...   So Final Balances are due six months before we meet up in Provence, which is no later than December 19th. (We'll send each of you an individual email with your final balances later today).

Postal delivery times increase significantly in late December: We politely ask that you allow plenty of time for this payment to reach us on time. 

The easiest and most inexpensive way to make this payment is to simply send us a check... Sending a check is of course free of any additional fees. 

Please make checks payable to Adventures To Tuscany and mail to:

Adventures To Tuscany 

215 Country Acres Dr, 

Kunkletown, PA 18058

You can also make free Zelle transfers to our business account at Bank of America. If you're unfamiliar, Zelle transfers are essentially a digital checks that happen immediately.  Zelle transfers are made to our email address (not our phone#) AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com

We're also happy to accept Visa, MasterCard, & American Express, but again as you know, you'll need to add the additional 3.25% processing fees that the bank charges. (these fees can be several hundred dollars). If you choose to use a credit card, the email we send you with your balance on it,  will have our Credit Card Authorization Form on it; just fill out the form and email it back to us. (to calculate your processing fee, just multiply your balance due by .0325).

On behalf of our entire Adventures to Tuscany team, we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Your trust and patronage is instrumental to our success, and we are truly honored to have you as valued guests. 

We hope your Holiday Season is truly Grand & we look forward to meeting up with you in Provence in a few short months!

Tommy & Terese

While many people thought Gilbert O'Sullivan's 

chart-topping hit "Clair" was a love song, 

it was actually a tribute to his producer's 3 year old daughter, 

Clair,  with whom O'Sullivan shared a special friendship...

Whoever said money can't buy happiness has never spent a week at a Villa in Provence!

 So a common question we always get is: How much money do we need for our Provence trip and how do we get Euros ?

First and foremost you need to know that they do accept common credit cards in France... Mostly Visa, MasterCard...  American Express is often accepted at larger stores, but many times not accepted at smaller stores & cafes...   (note: Discover Card is usually not commonly accepted France).   

But sometimes at smaller establishments, just like here in the US, it is cash only.  As far as how much cash you'll need... That's of course totally dependent on your personal choices & lifestyles... Over the last 25 years that we've been taking these groups, we've seen some of our guests get by using very little in euros; (maybe 100 Euro per person over the 8 days) and other guests spending ten times that....

it always seems so far away, but
it'll be here before you know it!

During your week at The Villa, for your Adventures to Provence Tour, most all of your "hard expenses" are included with your Tour price, with the exception of three lunches while we give you free time in some of the villages we'll be touring...   And you'll be on your own for lunch during the Free Day (Wednesday). On these days,  some prefer to maximize their time sightseeing & shopping and forgo lunch... (the Breakfast spreads at the Villa are substantial) or just grab a quick and simple sandwich or slice of Pizza and Soda from a street vendor (typically available for around 6 - 9 euro)...   

On the other end of the scale, some prefer to relax outside at a table with a view in one of the nicer Cafes and have a larger hot lunch and a glass of wine and do a little people watching...  this is likely more in the neighborhood of 20 - 25 euro per person (depending on the view)!   

And of course anyone that's spent any time at all in tourist destinations, knows that it's not hard to spend 50 to 75 euros per person, if lunch to you means either steak or lobster with a bottle of wine...  A simple and casual relaxed lunch with a glass of wine and a little people watching is always one of our favorite things in Provence... we tend to favor the moderately priced Cafes with a nice view to just relax and soak in the French ambiance...

And of course, you'll have small miscellaneous personal expenses throughout the week... perhaps a glass of wine, a gelato, a caffe, parking, maybe something you need from a drug store, etc. Nothing big, but you will want to have a little pocket money...  So you can see, as far as how much money you'll need, this is not an easy answer...

We always suggest you budget around 10 - 20 euros per person/per day (+/- 150 euro per person for the week)...  And you can certainly get by on a whole lot less if you want to...   But your personal expenses for shopping can be a whole other story... There's leather purses, shoes, belts, perfumes, pottery, clothing, paintings, sculpture,  Provençal tablecloths, wine, etc...  Usually anyone selling more expensive items, will take credit cards...  (and when using a credit card, if you're asked; would you like to be charged in Dollars or Euros, always say Euros... choosing Dollars gives a retailer the ability to do his own "dynamic conversion" and charge a higher exchange rate).

best if you start watching the
fluctuation in the price of the 
Euro so you can buy them 
when they're at a low point...

So there's quite a few options for accessing Euros... We'll address the three main options:

#1.   Buying Euros in advance from your bank or local AAA office

Buying Euros ahead of time from your local bank or AAA Club here in the states is a safe & conservative approach... This is what we do... In our opinion, this is the most convenient and easiest way to get Euros, and already have them in pocket when you arrive in France.  Often they won't have the euros at a branch, but they'll get them for you in a day or two...  Your personal bank usually gives you a very fair exchange rate and typically any fees are covered in the exchange rate.  We always buy them easily online in advance from our bank; Bank of America...  and they just ship them to us.   That way we have the euros in our pocket when we get there.  If your bank doesn't do currency exchange, call around to find a AAA office in your area that does.

we'll have future posts about Euro notes & coins

So our Villa is a private residence, not a hotel, so there are no room safes, and we strongly advise against leaving valuables in your room when you're not at the Villa. (cash, expensive watches, expensive jewelry, etc).  In fact we strongly advise against even bringing & wearing expensive jewelry/watches at all... If you're going bring these types of things with you on your vacation, we suggest carrying them with you when you when you leave your hotel or the Villa during the day...

#2.  Buying Euros from one of those all too familiar Currency Exchange Booths

these types of booths at airports tend to be 
an expensive way to exchange currency

You know these places... You've seen them all over the place at international airports and in large tourist cities... These booths, while very convenient, and always touting "The Very Best Rates" are usually the most expensive way to get Euros...  We don't suggest them basically because they're just so expensive... Their exchange rates are typically 10% or more above the going rate. 

#3.   Using your ATM Debit Card to access cash from ATM Machines

This is what we suggest to our guests as the most economical way to access Euros once you're in Europe...   If you decide to go this route, we always suggest to our guests to bring a couple hundred US dollars as emergency cash, two credit cards, and an ATM debit card... And just hit an ATM at the airport in Europe as soon as you get in and access Euros with your ATM Debit Card. (you probably don't want to use a credit card for this... that would be a cash advance and be costly).   

Most banks give you a fair exchange rate doing it this way, and charge little or no additional fees... We always suggest checking with your bank to find out which European ATM networks you're in... It's best to use a Bank ATM in your network as the fees will likely be less.  Be careful using small private ATM's as the fees can be substantial, and stay away from "dynamic conversion" offers at ATM's or retailers as this is typically a very costly option.  Have them charge you in Euros, NOT US dollars, as your bank offers the best conversion/exchange rate. note: Sometimes ATM and credit cards are slow to start in Europe, even when you tell your bank you're going to be in Europe... We always advise to have an international phone number handy, in case you need to call your bank. With all the credit card fraud that's going on these days, banks are super cautious... and their abundance of caution can be an inconvenience for you. (that's why getting at least some euros in advance is the safest route)

We always suggest that you call your bank and credit card companies a month in advance and tell them your travel destinations and dates.  Many will tell you there's no need to do this, but we strongly suggest you do...  and  politely insist they please note the info on your account... Often you can do this yourself on your bank's website.

Whichever way you choose to exchange currency, you should definitely do it before you arrive at the Villa on Saturday, as you'll want to already have Euros in your pocket before our Touring activities  start on Sunday morning... we also suggest you fill your car with gas before you arrive at the Villa on Saturday, there's rarely time to do this during our Tour days... 

                    _______________________________________________

How to master Google Flights!

 

So guys, here's a great article by Thrifty Traveler on using "Google Flights" to find "cheap flights & airfares".  A couple of things:

1. This article is not written by us   
2. We don't necessarily endorse or recommend Thrifty Traveler (we don't know them)
3. While they offer some great tips on how to find cheap flights, as folks who do a fair amount of flying, in our humble opinion, cheapest price isn't everything.
4. Other things to consider besides price: comfort, convenience, ease, safety, reliability, reputation, etc. (all these things have value that you may be willing to pay a little more for)

All that being said, enjoy this video and article from Kyle Potter at Thrifty Traveler:

By Kyle Potter:  There are plenty of search engines out there to find a cheap flight. Maybe you've got a favorite airfare tool like Skyscanner, Hopper, or an online travel agency like Priceline or Expedia. But one option is better than all the rest: Google Flights.  Yes, that's right, the search engine behemoth Google is also king when it comes to finding cheap flights. It's incredibly powerful, with tons of features that will help you zero in on the best prices for your flights … and maybe even get a refund if prices drop after you book thanks to its new Price Guarantee feature. It's got a bevy of filters you can use to find the best flights you really want – and avoid the ones you don't. Plus, you can use this tool to search almost all carriers and book directly with an airline rather than through a third-party site – something that's become even more important since the pandemic. click here to continue reading

🇫🇷 The One "Secret Word" That Will Unlock Your Trip to France 🇫🇷

Wouldn't it be incredible if there was one "secret word" that, every time you used it, instantly gave you an advantage?

this is you after you learn the secret word!

Imagine: a better price on something you’re buying, the best table at a restaurant, a free hotel upgrade, better service from a waiter, or perhaps a little more compassion from a police officer.  Well, in France, there is a magic word, and that word is "Bonjour."   It simply means "good morning" or "hello," and while the word itself is simple, the act of saying it is the true magic.

The Crucial Cultural Context

European culture, and French culture in particular, is a bit more formal than our own in the US. When you encounter someone ~ anyone ~ they fundamentally expect you to formally acknowledge them with a proper greeting before you begin to speak. They do this by saying "Bonjour," and they expect you to do the same.  If you walk into a small shop, ask for directions, or inquire about the price of an item, the proper (and expected) way to start is with a smile and "Bonjour."

In the US, we're very casual. We might walk up to a clerk and simply say, "Does this shirt come in yellow?"   But in France, and across much of Europe, beginning a conversation without a greeting will make you seem mildly rude.

Here is the simple, four-step French traveler's handshake:

1. Look them in the eye.

2. Smile.

3. Say "Bonjour" (pause, smile again, and wait for their reply ~ maintain eye contact!).

4. Then, and only then, can you order your coffee: Un café, s'il vous plaît (A coffee, please).

These small steps of engaging with the local culture are the key to a successful, wonderful vacation. They prevent you from being one of those travelers who returns home complaining, "The French are so rude."

Earning the "1% Credit"

"Bonjour" is acceptable to use at any time of day. They will respect you simply for saying it. If it’s late (usually after 6 PM), some people might correct you by saying “Bonsoir” (good evening), but trust me, they will give you what we call "The 1% Credit" just for trying!

What do we mean by "The 1% Credit?"

It’s simple: 99% of American tourists don't even try to speak the language. To the French, this registers as a small but significant act of disrespect.  Imagine the opposite: You own a small shop in the US, and a French traveler walks in and immediately starts speaking to you in rapid French. You shake your head, indicating you don't understand, and they just repeat the same thing, louder. You’d probably start to think they were a little inconsiderate, right?

Welcome to their world. This exact scenario ~ starting a conversation without Bonjour and then communicating only in English ~ happens to shop owners, waiters, taxi drivers, and hotel staff all day long. We, as Americans, tend to do this more than most other cultures.  You don't need to be fluent. You just need to make a tiny effort. Failing to acknowledge a simple "good day" or "thank you" in their language sends a disrespectful message. It is absolute anathema to many French people when a conversation begins without Bonjour.

Our Philosophy: Experiential Immersion

65% of our female guests come home with a beret!

This small effort is an excellent example of what we mean when we say: "What makes us different, makes all the difference in the world."

We want you to have the very best vacation experience possible. Our philosophy for achieving this is **"experiential immersion"**. ~ getting you as close to the local culture as possible so you can have truly authentic experiences.

This Blog is part of our strategy: we start immersing you into the culture ~ their values, customs, cuisine, and language ~ months before you leave. For a small company like ours, this is how we compete: we know that if we can get you into "the immersion zone," you will have an outstanding vacation. And when you do, you might just join us again for another tour! (Fun fact: 65% of our female guests come home with a beret!)

200 Words: Your Key to Connection

Does this mean taking a college course? Not at all...  Try spending 90 seconds a day quizzing yourself or your partner on a "Word of The Day & Menu Item of the Day." By your departure date, those lists will total around 200 of the most commonly used French words for travelers.   With those 200 words, you’ll be able to communicate, understand more of what you see, and create a stronger bond with the local Provençal people.

200 words is a lot! The last paragraph total just 77 words. Imagine if you could read three paragraphs like that if they were in French!

Another great option: Spend 5 minutes a day on a free resource like DuoLingo. Five minutes a day for the next seven months is almost 18 hours of study!   We’ve seen guests on our Tuscany and Provence trips find incredible success and become almost conversational with this approach.

The Phrasebook Tactic

If you don't want to spend three months in an immersion course, here is the simple solution:

1. Learn the "Word of the Day" list.

2. Buy a small, inexpensive or used phrasebook.

3. This is important: Rough up the phrasebook to make it look well-used, and carry it in your back pocket.

When you need assistance, simply approach the person and say: "Bonjour Madame/Monsieur, pouvez-vous m'aider?"(Good morning Madam/Sir, can you help me?)

join today ~ membership is free!

Then, wrinkle your brow and frantically reach for that beat-up phrasebook. After about 10 seconds of watching you leaf through it, almost 100% of the time, they will switch to fairly decent English: "How can I help you?"

At that point, you can respectfully proceed in English. And here is the very best part: They will think the world of you for the mere fact that you tried!

You are now in The 1% Club. They become much more compassionate and helpful. They’ll offer better service, and they may even walk you down the street to show you directions. You will have done your part to save the image of the other 99% of Americans who won't even bother to try.

(One final tip: The Google Translate app's "conversation mode" is also a great tool, but practice using it before you leave! No one enjoys standing around waiting for you to figure out an app while they have other things to do.)

Oh Lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz 🎼 🎶

Janis Joplin

🎼 🎶 Oh Lord, won't you buy me A Mercedes Benz...
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends...
I worked hard all my lifetime, No help from my friends
Oh Lord, won't you buy me A Mercedes Benz... 🎶

So as you already know, you're going to need a car for your Adventures to Provence Expedition.. You can pick up a rental car at any of a number of places in Provence.... France has all the big names you know like Hertz, Avis, etc... and a bunch more that you may not be aware of... like EuropeCar, Sixt, Kemwell, etc.  So we suggest you don't wait till the last minute to do this!  It's simple supply & demand economics; as inventory starts to get low, prices tend to get higher. 

We always use and recommend AutoEurope (not to be confused with EuropeCar)... AutoEurope is an American company: A consolidator/agent that works with all the rental companies, and because of their size & volume, their prices, convenience and selection are hard to beat...  We've personally been using AutoEurope for all our rental cars for over 40 years! They're the agency for all the major brands ....  They make it super simple to find, compare and reserve cars from all the rental car companies and their prices are usually about 20% cheaper than going direct! 

Adventures to Tuscany & AutoEurope.  We've expanded our relationship in both Italy & France with AutoEurope and we're proud to announce that they supply us with our own Booking Engine!  (full disclosure: we get a small referral fee from them at no extra cost to you if you book from our site)

AutoEurope is by far the global leader in international car rental services and have been helping travelers find the perfect rental vehicle for their trips worldwide for over 60 years. They offer the most competitive car rental rates in the industry, guaranteed. With that said, here at Auto Europe, we don't believe customers should expect less because they pay less. Our rates will always be competitive, and we continue to remember this is also a service-based business. Auto Europe also understands that clients appreciate saving money whenever possible, so we not only take pride in guaranteeing the lowest car rental rates, but we also offer great deals on accessories, and offer the most extensive car rental fleet selection in the business!

To reserve your rental car: click here

Tips for car rental ;

a classic 1950's era Fiat Cinquecento 
you'll still see these  all over Europe!

You can make arrangements to pick up your car from offices at the airport, train station, or arrange to pick up at one of their intercity offices... Usually, just like here in the states, rentals cost about 7 -10% more to pick cars up at the airport (airport /convenience tax), but you have to measure that against convenience...  (and you'd likely spend any savings on a taxi getting to an intercity office).

Rental car operators  typically make cars available in upwards of 7 categories; Mini, Economy,  Mid-Size, Large, SUV/Station Wagon, Minivan, or Luxury.. Make sure you get a car with enough room for you and your luggage!   That may sound obvious, but believe me, both cars and their trunks are smaller in Europe!   If you're sharing a car with others,  4 people, 4 suitcases and 4 daypacks WILL NOT usually fit in a mini car... you'll probably want at least an Economy or Mid-size vehicle, maybe even a Large...   And if you're driving from farther away like Nice and spending several hours on the highway, again, you may want to consider aat least an Economy or mid-size.  Also be aware, that unless the car your renting says "guaranteed model" in it's online description (usually only on  super highend luxury models) then it likely says "or similar" meaning you'll most likely get whatever's available in that size/category when you pick-up... 

Insurance

You'll want insurance coverage in France... And you can check with your personal auto insurance company or your credit card company to see if you're covered for a rental in France. If either your insurance company or your credit card company tells you you're covered, we suggest you get it in writing! It won't help at all, if you have a claim to say "the lady on the phone told me I was covered".  Otherwise, we strongly suggest getting a car with "full insurance coverage" (zero dollar deductible... I think AutoEurope calls it no-deductible coverage).  It's a few dollars more, but it pays off easily when you're returning the car and they try to tell you "that scratch/dent wasn't there when you picked it up..."   When it comes to the insurance coverage, do what Nike says... "Just do it"!  Also, make sure you list on the rental contract everyone who will be a driver... and any damage already on the car... (even small scratches) and take pictures with your phone of any damage you see on the car before you leave the rental lot... You'll have to pay a little extra for extra drivers, but if you have a fender bender, and the person driving isn't listed on the contract, the damage won't be covered.

Stick or Automatic

As you're searching for cars, be aware that most cars in Europe are standard transmission, (stick shift) and you'll need to highlight "automatic transmission" in the search criteria if that's what you want. (usually a little more for a car with auto trans). If you don't do this, you'll likely end up with a car with a stick shift... (On our rental car site, this choice is in the upper left-hand corner.)
  

Fuel
Make sure when you pick up the car, you find out if it's "gasoline or diesel" and where the latch for the gas lid is... they can be hard to find... (more info on fueling in future posts). If you put the wrong fuel in the car, the engine will stop working! (and you'll be financially responsible). Also, you're likely to see "Electric" vehicles as an option; we advise against this choice. We'll be in a rural area and you're not likely to have easy access to a charging station.  Hybrid vehicles are fine as they also run on gasoline.

 
Maps

We also suggest you have both a good map and a GPS unit or maps App on your phone... The map they'll give you at the car rental office is typically totally useless. Often times it's very small scale, and sometimes it's just a bad photocopy of a small scale map...   We suggest Michelin Maps, they're by far the very best...  Michelin Provence #527 available from Amazon.com Click here .  You'll see lots of maps available online... In our experience, none are as good as Michelin.  If you have a portable GPS unit you plan on taking, you'll need to check to see if it has "Europe Maps"...   (it probably doesn't) You can either choose to rent a car with a GPS in it, rent a GPS from your car rental office, or choose to use the maps program on your cell phone. 

They'll also offer to rent you a "mobile wi-fi hotspot..."  Our experience with these was so-so at best... not that great...  The good news is there is free wi-fi available at the Villa... but just be aware, wi-fi internet access is rarely as fast anywhere in Europe as what you're probably used to here in the US... but it does work fairly well at The Villa and it is free!

On the day you return your rental car, fill it up immediately before you return it, and "keep the receipt" for the gas... in fact, we suggest you take a picture of it with your phone...  show the receipt to the attendant and get him to note on the contract, that the gas tank is full... (keep the receipt, you may need it later.)

 Lots more to come... As always feel free to contact us with any questions...

Maybe you're not seeing the whole picture

the way The Blog probably 
appears on your phone

 Are you seeing the right side-bar?  

So if you're reading The Blog only from a cell phone, there's a good chance you're not seeing the whole picture!  Viewing the blog on a cell phone often just shows a summary of "post titles" with links to the full post. But what you may be missing is the right side bar that has all the Travel Tools and Resources. 

To see this on your phone, scroll to the very bottom of the page just above the yellow "About Us" section, and you'll see a link that says "view web version" If you click this link you'll see the full version of The Blog with the full right side Bar...  

Many of gadgets you'll see on the right sidebar are links to click on that will open other windows... These are resource tools to help you find flights, trains, car rentals, travel insurance, currency exchange rates, weather, language classes, etc... While others are just resources to help you learn things like a few words of French, or to help you learn to understand French Menus... 

the way The Blog will appear on your phone
if you click on "view web version"

These elements of the side bar (Parlez Vous Francais & Mangeons) will continue to grow every time we post, and of course we'll continue to add new resources to the sidebar every now & then... While these language resources might seem meager right now, by the time you leave for France, they'll probably be close to 200 words that you'll likely see and hopefully use once you're there. (That's about 195 more French words than the average American bothers to learn before they go to France!) 

And if you want more than a Word-A-Day, consider clicking on the DuoLingo link in the right side bar; DuoLingo offers totally free 5 minute French Lessons as often as you'd like! It's an intuitive based learning system just like the Rosetta Stone platform, but it's totally free!

We don't want the Blog to become overwhelming... And please once again understand; you don't have to read the BLOG...  We just offer the Blog as an optional resource for your convenience... Again, our philosophy is: the more we can inform you about what you might need for your trip, the culture, etc... the better prepared you'll be, and the better time you'll have! 

Of course if you've been viewing The Blog on a desktop, a laptop or a tablet, you've probably been seeing the full page all along!  If there's ever anything we say that you don't understand, please reach out to us! We're happy to explain!

La Mer... one of the most classic French Jazz songs! 

Is it too late to buy Travel Insurance?

 So someone has reached out and asked: "Is it too late to buy travel insurance?"

We always remind guests that the very best time to purchase simple low cost Travel Insurance to protect your investment in your vacation is when you first sign up for a trip and make your very first payment!  If you do this, most policies will cover "pre-existing conditions".  But it's never too late to buy travel insurance! (Well, maybe after you leave, it's too late... and of course it's a little tough to find home insurance when your house is on fire...)

Some folks think: "Why do I need travel Insurance, I'm not going to cancel."  So no one ever plans to cancel, but as the old saying goes "Sh*t Happens!" As you might imagine, in our 25 years of running Group Tours for hundreds and hundreds of guests, we've seen folks have to cancel for a variety of reasons - from broken ankles to broken marriages.  But travel insurance isn't just about trip cancellation... That's just a small part of the coverage.  Most comprehensive Travel Insurance policies cover a variety of health, medical, dental, trip interruption, baggage loss, baggage delay, and even trip cancellation issues for covered reasons (ie: job loss, sickness, car accident, jury duty, natural disasters, etc).  Many/most domestic health/medical insurances, including Medicare, provides no or limited coverage when out of the country...  (On a personal note, we recently used our Travel Insurance policy to cover our expenses related to a 2 day unexpected delay on our return home from Italy due to an Air Traffic Controllers strike. Our policy covered approximately $1000 in expenses for hotels/meals/taxis/etc.)

Many Tour Operators make Travel Insurance mandatory, and every Travel Agent recommends it...  But while we don't sell or make Travel Insurance mandatory, we remind guests that with our very unique Boutique business model (leasing an entire Villa) and contracting with many of our vendors and suppliers for fixed price services, your deposits & all payments are non-refundable, so if YOU would need to cancel your trip for some reason, your Travel Insurance provider could provide your refund to help soften the financial blow.  So as a practical application, when guests contact us to tell us they need to cancel, we refer them to their Travel Insurance provider.

You can purchase travel insurance anywhere you choose. Here at Adventures to Tuscany, we are an official partner with, and always recommend  www.InsureMyTrip.com  and if you use this link to purchase your Travel Insurance, we receive a small referral fee from them at no extra cost to you. We've personally used them for over 20 years & they make it super simple... it takes just 5 minutes.  A basic Comprehensive Travel Insurance plan for a 55 year old to cover the cost of your Provence Tour can be had for as little as $145.. a few dollars less if you're younger, a few dollars more if you're older.  If you want to also cover your airfare you can estimate coverage at as little as 3 - 4% percent.  So if you want to cover a $1200 airfare, you could estimate an additional $40. Again, this can vary a bit with your age, and the policy you choose.

We also remind you that as a very special benefit: per our Travel Cancellation Protection Policy outlined in your Reservation Form; if Adventures to Tuscany is forced to cancel your Tour for reasons beyond our control, your tour price includes our exclusive Money Back Tour Cancellation Protection. This is not intended as a substitute for personal comprehensive health and travel insurance we've talked about above!  "If Adventures to Tuscany cancels a tour you have reserved, the entire amount you have paid to Adventures to Tuscany LLC for the applicable tour will be immediately refunded to you within 14 days after the tour's cancellation.  Or, at your choice, you may choose a full dollar value credit to transfer to another tour date.  Once this occurs, Adventures to Tuscany has no other obligations to tour members on cancelled trips including any additional costs or fees related to other travel reservations or arrangements which are not included in your Adventures to Tuscany Tour price."  (ps: in our 25 years of running hundreds of tours, the only time we've ever cancelled a tour was during the Pandemic when international travel was prohibited)

If you have a question about your Tour, or if we can help you with anything at all with your travel planning, please reach out to us...  You can email us at AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com, or just pick up the phone and call us anytime 9am - 7pm Mon - Sat @ 610-657-7894. We're happy to help!

This is what happens when you go to Kindergarten at Disneyworld 

and Dolly Parton is your teacher!  A world class entertainer!

Is it true about the frogs?

 We're all very busy these days...  And, after we start sending out emails, there's usually someone who asks:  "Do I really have to read The Blog?"

Tommy - The Mad Blogger

And the simple answer to this is: No, of course not...  You've booked a Tour, and all you really have to do is show up!  But why wouldn't you want to read it...  You've got some big bucks invested in what many people would call the trip of a lifetime! We all sometimes forget how lucky we are to get to experience travel of this scale... 

The Blog is written just as a resource for your convenience... It's an added value that we provide for guests that are eager to get the very most out of their vacation... to start thinking about it a little earlier... to help them plan... And to get excited about what they're going to see & experience! 

 But we'll tell you this;  After 25 years of taking Tour Groups to Europe several times a year, we can always tell who's read The Blog and who hasn't...  The folks that haven't, usually feel a little uneasy because they're in a foreign country and they don't know what's going on day-to-day... and they either have lots & lots of questions or they just kind of disengage and blindly follow the group!

You see, The Blog is designed to answer all the questions way before you ever get there...  So, as our Tour Guests, we'll be polite to you either way...  But know that after all these years of doing this, and seeing the patterns of hundreds and hundreds of our guests, it's so very obvious to us that the folks that follow along and read The Blog religiously actually end up having a much better time and hence get a much better value from their vacation! You may have seen that we often use phrases like "deeply immersive" and "culturally explorative" to describe our expeditions... And this BLOG is the initial part of that deep cultural immersion... 

Lady and The Tramp

Many of the mass-market bus tours of France, for many decades, were specifically designed to shield you from cultural un-comfortability... Because they thought people just couldn't understand, or wouldn't want to know... But today, many people truly want to not just know about cultural differences, but to truly understand them and be immersed in them...  And of course you're not going to be shielded on a bus, so it's a little more important that you understand what's going on around you... 

Those that follow along daily are just much better prepared... they know what's going on and they have what they need... They know what the weather's going to be, what to pack, casual or dressy clothes, what kind of footwear, how to get to The Villa, when to arrive, do we need a voucher... how much money do i need... are drinks included, they know whether or not to tip, how much to tip, do you tip in a Cafe, why are French women so thin, do you tip a taxi driver, where we're going, what we're doing, how to get Euros, what the exchange rate is, how many Euros they need, do they need a map... will i need my cell phone.. what kind of calling plan is best for  my cell phone, how to change their SIM card, how to get a rental car, what type of car, what all those French road signs mean, how do you say "I love you" in French... how come there's so many round-a-bouts, where to get gas, how to get gas, the difference between sans plomb and gazole, what about parking in the villages, where to park, how to get a parking disc, will my EZ Pass work... what about a GPS... can I use maps on my phone, where the Tourist Offices are... how to order a coffee in a French bar... can i sit at a table... why is everyone standing at the counter... Is lunch included... why are we going there... what's all this about two-way radios... Do I need a guidebook... what do i do if i get separated from the group...  can we get married in Provence...  what about doctors... do we really need travel insurance.. is there a hospital nearby... does my travel insurance cover that... Do  i need to carry my passport everyday... can i bring my iPad... Is it true what they say about the French men, will netflix work on our phones... what's all this about a Road Rally... are we really gonna be in The Alps... how come everything on GOOGLE is in French... How do i get the wi-fi signal...  do i need a power converter? where do i get those adaptors... what's all this about a white party... why don't they speak English... what do we do in the evenings... Do they really eat Frog Legs? what happens to the rest of the frog?

For those going to other destinations like Paris or Marseille on pre or post tour extensions, we'll include tips on those destinations as well... (if you're heading to another destination, make sure you let us know... we've traveled a bit of Europe, and we're happy to pass along tips if we can).

This list could go on forever, but you get the idea...  We'll post on average 3 times a week from now until you depart for France... most everyday for the first week or so, and then we'll gradually wind down to just two or three posts a week...  and each day there will be just a couple bits of new information and tips, between the post and the side-bar, that's specifically designed to enhance your understanding and make it easier for you to plan and enjoy your vacation!  

wait... are you sure this is France???

So there's lots and lots of info that we pass along here on The Blog!  And that's why we spoon-fed it to you usually at no more than one post every other day... and we suggest that you consume it exactly that way... just click on the link we send you and check in... read the most recent post... it usually takes just 3 minutes!   (read time on this post is just 3 ½ minutes). 

We want you to have the trip of a lifetime!  And we know that, the better mentally-prepared you are for this, the better time you'll have!  Choose to be happy and choose to make this the best vacation ever! As always, if you have any questions about your upcoming trip, or if we can make your experience better in any way, please reach out to us... We're always happy to help!  

wait... is it true these are Ringo Star's kids???

🎶 Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars... 🎶

Well, we're just about 8 months out from your  "Beautiful Villages of Provence" Tour...   So if you haven't done so yet, it's time to start looking for and booking flights!  Demand is very high, so the longer you wait, the less options there will be.

If you're a frequent traveler, and have lots of experience finding and acquiring your own air tix, you may want to just skip this post... But for any of you that might want a few tips for finding the best flights, we're going to go into some of the basic things to look for here in this post... 

Flights

So foremost in this preparation, is to decide where you want to fly out of here in the US, and into in France...  If you haven't done this yet, we suggest you start looking.  We've heard from some of you that you plan on flying over early and spending a few days in Paris before the Tour... In this case you're obviously looking for flights into Paris, but you'll need to think about where you want to return from.  If you're heading home right after the tour, you could perhaps do a multi-city itinerary, ~ that is, into Paris, return from Marseille. 

For any of you that aren't doing a pre-tour destination, and are coming in just for the Tour, we always suggest you consider flying in at least one day early... That would mean flying out on Thursday night, and getting into wherever you are flying into France on Friday morning and spending that night in a hotel...  You certainly don't have to do this, as you won't be able to come to The Villa before 4pm on Saturday... We have had many guests fly out Friday night to arrive Saturday morning, but again, we forewarn you of the possibility of flight delays. Also, the extra day gives you a little time to adjust from jet lag and time zone differences (6 hours). 

click this pic for a clearer view

Everyone always asks: Which airport is closest to The Villa? And the answer to that is Marseille (MRS) (about an hour and 15 min drive).  There's also Airports in Lyon, Nice, Montpellier and Avignon as well but far fewer flights into these. Marseille will likely be your best choice if you're just trying to get close to The Villa. And know that prices can sometimes vary dramatically depending on the airport you fly out of here in the US...  For those of you flying out of the Northeast US, you'll find that flying out of JFK airport in NY usually has the best pricing and the most flights, but of course it's a little more of a commitment to get there... We most often now fly out of Newark NJ (EWR)  or Philadelphia (PHL) and find that EWR prices are usually 2nd best to JFK... Those of you farther South, will likely find the best prices out of Charlotte, Atlanta or Miami...

Flight Tips: We always suggest sticking with a "legacy" carrier such as United, Delta, American, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, etc... You can certainly find less expensive flights, but you should be aware that sometimes the discount airlines only fly these transatlantic routes a couple times a week, and don't have affiliations/codeshares with other airlines...  and if they cancel your flight, they sometimes can't get you on another flight in a reasonable amount of time... We've had guests who scored great priced tix on some of these discount airlines, and then had last minute delays or cancellations and lost a day of their vacations. 

Other things to think about as you search:  Flight duration and number of stops... Obviously a nonstop flight is quicker with less chance of missing a flight or losing luggage, and if you're flying into Paris, you'll easily find nonstop flights... But if you're trying to fly into Marseille, you'll most likely be on at least a one-stop flight. Non-stops to Paris can be found with a flight duration of as little as 7 - 8  hours, whereas one stops into Marseille are often around 11 - 12 hours (including the connection).  Also you'll want to keep in mind connection times... On any connection less then 70 - 90 minutes, there's always a chance your checked luggage (and possibly even you) may not make the connection...  (especially if your first leg of the flight is delayed).

So, if you haven't bought air tix yet, there's at least three basic ways to acquire them:

•  1.Go online and buy them yourself at an airline's website or online agency.
•  2. Call the airline customer service and buy them over the phone
•  3. Go to a Travel Agent and have them buy tix for you

 Buying online  Most of our guests over the years just go online and buy their own tix... This method has the obvious advantage of you taking as much time as you need to see all the options; all the airlines, their departure times, stops, connection times, total flight duration, and of course price. Pick the flights you want and put in your credit card info. Not a whole lot different than buying a toaster oven on Amazon.  (pro tip: clear your cache & history on your computer after each session as they often put cookies on your IP address, and sometimes when their servers see you returning with the same search over and over, the prices can go up).

Calling the Airline  Having good results with calling the Airline and buying them from their customer service agents has a whole lot to do with the actual agent that you end up speaking to. Just like any other industry, some service agents are much better and more helpful than others...  To accomplish this with the most ease, we suggest getting up and calling early in the morning as wait times will be significantly shorter... Mid-day and early evening wait times of an hour or more are not unusual. Be sure to tell them what's most important to you; (price, # of stops, or flight duration). Also, being very polite (they deal with a lot of nasty people) and perhaps saying something sincere like; "I really need your help, I tried to do this online myself but I'm just not comfortable..." If you get an unhelpful or unpleasant agent, just say thank you, and call back at a later time... (Tip: When dealing with customer service agents on the phone, write down their name when they first introduce themselves, and use it throughout the conversation; "Thanks so much Nancy, I really appreciate your help".  It's proven to get better results.)

if you look closely, that's us- just over the wing

Travel Agent  Travel Agents are professionals and not unlike airline customer service agents, some are much better, much more experienced, and more helpful than others.  If you already have have a good travel agent, you can by all means use them, but be aware that these days Travel Agents usually don't make commissions on Airline tix, so they'll typically charge you a fee to do this for you... especially if that's all you're buying from them. (usually this is between $25 -$50 per tix). You might also sense some resentment that you didn't come to them for your vacation plans...  

Things to keep in mind when shopping for tix: 

• Often, the most basic of economy tix won't include checked luggage fees (read carefully)
• Allow extra time between flights if your flight includes a connection (90 minutes minimum recommended)
• Keep in mind that the more connections you have, the more chances of you or your luggage missing a connection.
• Discount airlines vs legacy carriers: be careful with the discount airlines... sometimes they only have a couple flights a week on a given route and they may not have "codeshares" with other airlines (so if your flight is cancelled or delayed for some reason, it could be difficult to get on another flight).
• We always suggest the larger legacy carriers... examples: United, Delta, American, Lufthansa,  British Airways, Emirates, Air France, etc.
• While some guests arrange their flights to arrive the first day of the Tour (Saturday), we usually suggest you consider flying over at least one day earlier and staying in your arrival city in a hotel for at least one night just to be safe in case of cancelled or delayed flights. (this is of course totally your choice)
• If you're thinking of flying home on the Saturday immediately after your Provence Tour, be careful concerning how early your flight leaves (you'll need to get up, drive to the airport, return your car, get a shuttle from the car return lot to the terminal, and check-in a few hours before your flight departure... all of that can be pretty tough to do if you have a 9am flight... you may want to consider an afternoon or next day flight).
• Lastly, we suggest you spend some time researching before you pull the trigger on buying tix... (watch prices for a few days to a few weeks).  Prices often can vary daily...

we always start our research at Kayak.com 

Ticket prices can vary dramatically based on airline, oil prices, demand, departure & arrival airports, days of the week, class of tix, checked luggage,  etc...  For long term planning, we usually suggest a budget of around $1000 -$1400 per person for roundtrip economy tixs...  Tickets are easy to purchase directly on line...  Right now,  for mid June, we're seeing roundtrip economy tix into/out-of Paris for as little as $750...  Into and out of Marseille for  around $1100...  And Multi-City economy tix (into Paris/out of Marseille) on legacy carriers in the $1100 range....  And of course prices can go up significantly for Premium Economy, Business Class, and so forth.

Everyone has their own strategies, but we always start our flight research at a site like www.kayak.com,  or Google Flights and once we find the  flights we want, we personally buy them directly from the airline's website...  If you're uncomfortable researching this by yourself, give us a call; we are Tour Operators not Travel Agents, but we of course travel a lot, and we'll be happy to try to help...  And lastly of course, you could use a professional travel agent to purchase tix for you. If you're only buying air tickets, they'll typically  charge in the neighborhood of $50 - $100 per tix, for this service. (most of our guests typically just book their own tickets online)

Passports

Make sure your passport is valid until at least 3 months after your planned departure date from France... This is mandated by French law... If you don't have a passport yet, you will of course need one... and while historically they were usually pretty fast,  they could take up to several months to arrive...   Right now standard processing is taking 4 to 6 weeks.  And trust us on this; if you don't have a valid passport, they will not under any circumstance, allow you on the plane!   If you need a passport, or need to renew yours, we suggest you start working on it now.

As always if you have questions, or need help, reach out to us!  We're always happy to help! Start getting excited... Your adventure to France is less than 8 months away! You're gonna have a Blast!

You don't need to fly to the moon... Just Provence!