Bicycle and Hiking Tour Blog

Team Astana Rocks TTT

2009-07-07T10:45:00.001-07:00

Sent by a colleague in our France office:

Life is sweet.
Today, I had a day of so I was able to see the Tour de France in my own city: Montpellier, close to the French office.
From my flat, I could hear the people and the helicopters used for TV. The atmosphere was dedicated to bicycle.
So, of course, the crowd was fantastic and very enthusiastic. People were from all over the planet.
But guess who get the best welcome? Lance for sure!
The only guys who draw something on the road were Lance fans, they wrote “Allez Lance” (Go Lance) just in front of me. Even if there are quite a lot of stars, everyone was overwhelmed by Lance.
He has a huge charisma, he moves the audience.
I am so happy to finally get to see him even if they are so fast that you just cannot believe it!
The race is on, enjoy it…

More on our Facebook fan page

Tom.

Events in France

2009-07-06T17:12:00.000-07:00

What's Happening in France:

The Fête de la Musique on June 21^st set the tone: the summer has started, and it’ll be an eventful one in France! With the Tour de France underway and the recent heat wave that hit the country in the last 10 days (and is still there in southern France), there is a smell of holiday in the air! In July and August, you will find plenty of festivals taking place throughout the country, from the small village festival to the big city one. Whether you like music, theater, dance or art, you’ll find an event for you, for sure! So here is our “Festivals tour de France”!

For those of you traveling to Provence, there is of course the Festival of Avignon. It starts on July 7th until July 29th, and features theatre plays, concerts and ballets among other. Also, several "side-events" take place at the same time too. There is a market, called the "marché du festival", taking place from 11am to 1am everyday, from July 3rd to 26th. More information at www.festival-avignon.com

Also, each saturday July 11th to 25th included at the Halles, several local chefs will prepare, in front of the public, a meal using products from the Halles markets. It takes place from 11am to 12pm.

In Arles, there is "Les Rencontres d'Arles" from July 7th to September 13th. The festival celebrates its 40th anniversary. This event is dedicated to photography, and several exhibitions are organized throughout the city. From July 7th to 12th is the opening week, with various conferences and exhibitions planned. More information at www.rencontres-arles.com

Then, from July 13th to 19th is the Festival les Suds, dedicated to world music and dance. The full program is available at www.suds-arles.com

In the Languedoc region, there is the "Festival de Radio France et Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon", from July 13th to 31st. Dedicated mainly to theater and classical music, it celebrates its 25th anniversary. More information at www.festivalradiofrancemontpellier.com

In Carcassonne takes place the "Festival des Cités", a cultural festival that uses the beautiful background of Carcassonne's medieval town to create a magical event. Dedicated to music, dance and theater, it is not to be missed if you are in the area! Details available at www.festivaldecarcassonne.com

In Dordogne, you'll have plenty of events to discover too! In Sarlat, from July 18th to August 5th the "Festival des Jeux du Théâtre" takes place. Centered on theater, it features several plays, from renown authors or young artists. Full programme can be viewed at www.festival-theatre-sarlat.com

In Bergerac and its surroundings the festival "L'été musical en Bergerac" takes place from July 23rd to August 14th. A total of 15 events will be held in Bergerac and its surroundings (Abbaye de Cadouin, Bastide de Monpazier among others). This festival is dedicated to music (all genres, from classical to blues) as well as dance. More information at http://festivalbergerac.blogspot.com

In the Bordeaux area, there is the festival “Vivacité fait son cabaret” in La Réole, on July 17^th and 18^th. It features several street animations and shows, for all ages! More information at vivacite.info.

In August is the “Itinérance Médiéval en Valley du Dropt”. This festival travels through the Dropt Valley (Saint Macaire, Sauveterre de Guyenne area) from August 6^th to 30^th, with shows and animations presenting what life was in this region in the Middle Age, using the many monuments (bastides, castles…) as a beautiful background. More information at www.medieval.dropt.org.

More information about festivals in other regions of France coming up soon!

Sent by Laura in our France office.

Tax in France restaurants drops - will the price?

2009-07-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

VAT changes in France

After years of discussions between restaurants, the French government and the European Union, it finally happened! Instead of applying a 19.6% VAT on the bill, restaurants will now apply a lower tax of 5.5%. It had been a promise made by Jacques Chirac, and was a subject of conflict between the government and the restaurants union. So today, all the newspapers talk about this change, and how it should reflect on the overall bill. Officially, restaurants and cafés are supposed to reflect this tax change by lowering their prices. Officials also hope that the employees will see a raise in their paycheck, and that it will create more job in this industry. If you believe the media, it is the magical pill that will solve all the problems restaurants are facing right now, and will have everyone in France rush to the restaurants. Will it really shows on the bill? Personally, I don’t think so. I hope it does lower the price by a few Euros, but I wouldn’t count on it. Many restaurants say that they are struggling to make money, and have already announced that they will not use this to lower the price but to have a better margin.

It will take some time to determine the consequences of this change on prices, as the summer season is here, summer prices have arrived and depending on where you travel, some places charge a ridiculous amount of money compared to the quality of products/services they offer. So one piece of advice for all of you traveling, don’t jump on the first restaurant you see. Take some time to walk around and see the various options you have.

Sent by Laura in our France office.

Team Astana Works the TTT Course

2009-07-01T04:44:00.000-07:00

As we have an office just outside of Montpellier and a few connections in the local cycling scene, one of our local contacts sent these pictures in from Tuesday when Team Astana showed up in Montpellier to work on their Team Time Trial form on the course for next week in the Tour. The course and details can be found at www.letour.fr

World's Coolest Castles

2009-06-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

In the tradition of top ten lists, headline news, and useless trivia, I post this subjective list of Coolest Castles according to MS NBC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31447437/ns/travel-destinations

Chateau of Chambord is number 7. Interestingly, purists scoff at the castle of chambord as a example of excess and a total lack of uniformity and architectural style. hmmmph!

Whatever you think, the way to see it, and compare to others is on our Classic Loire 7 Night tour:
http://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/loirevalley_cycling_tour_sgp4.html

L

Tour de France - Day by Day Details

2009-06-11T17:51:00.001-07:00

The Tour de France website now has the details of each stage posted. You can see stage by stage the map/route, sometimes profiles when it isn't a flat stage, also the time schedule which I think is really great info. There are nice pictures and info of the stage start towns and finish towns. If you are going to the race, the Time Schedule is very useful for planning. The race runs almost exactly as they have it posted!

http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/100/etape_par_etape.html

Normandy D-Day Celebrations June 6

2009-06-04T17:02:00.000-07:00

June 6, 2009 - the 65th anniversary of the landings at Normandy and the starting of the end of WWII.

United States President Barack Obama will be attending the 65th anniversary of D-Day ceremonies in Normandy on the 6th of June, 2009. French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed the American Presidents visit during the commemorations of the 8th of May in Sainte-Maxime. Though Barack Obama's itenerary is not yet set, many believe that he will be stopping in Caen as well as the Peace memorial. There are also current talks of the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown attending as well.

Keeping the Memory alive
Sixty-five years after D-Day, the landing sites still speak to us of the heroic actions and sacrifice of the Allied forces. Museums and memorials provide a window to the past, while continuing to update and innovate, passing the flame of remembrance to the younger generations.

How can we grasp the enormity of the sacrifice? Visit the American Cemetery and contemplate the endless rows of white crosses - 9,386 in all –in perfect alignment, leading your eyes out over Omaha Beach. You can almost see the landing boats on the horizon… What actually happened on D-Day? Omaha, Utah and Juno Beach each have a museum providing insight into the assault through collections and archive film footage. Arromanches’ artificial port is also explained in a museum facing the remains of this gigantic undertaking. In Sainte-Mère Eglise, the famous drop point the night before the landings, you can see an actual WACO glider, while further inland, the Memorial of Coudehard-Montormel tells of the bitter fighting that brought the Battle of Normandy to an end.

But what was D-Day really like? Today you can experience intense moments of the June 6th assault inside one of the original Merville Battery blockhouses thanks to digital surround sound, a light show and battlefield odors. At the Arromanches 360° circular cinema you are at the center of the action during an exceptional film, combining period footage and modern-day images. As of June 2009, you will be able to rent a multimedia PDA/GPS that provides explanations, archive photos and videos corresponding to each point of interest in the Sainte-Mère-Eglise - Utah beach sector. And to get the big picture, don’t miss the Caen Memorial, one of the most visited in Europe, which covers 20th century history and the long road from war to peace.

FESTIVITIES 2009

Once again, and for the third edition, the Bayeux-Bessin tourist office presents its annual D-Day Festival, which will take place in Bayeux, Longues-sur-Mer and Port-en-Bessin-Huppain on June 5th, 6th and 7th.

First given in 2007, the Festival contributes in highlighting the touristic appeal of the region, internationally famous for 65 years: out of 4 million visiting the sites of the Battle of the Normandy, 3 million are counted in the Bessin area alone. It therefore seemed particularly legitimate for the Bayeux-Bessin region to organise a major touristic event reflecting its historic heritage.

The D-Day festival is a popular event which will be linked to the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings: it is the celebration of the liberation, and the occasion for the veterans to travel for the last time to Normandy. That’s why this big celebration promises to be a particularly moving and festive time. The programme of the events will suit the whole family: a lighting-up of the coast with 25 fireworks along 50 miles of coastline, the official liberation evening with the famous London gospel band, the London Community Gospel Choir, a parade with over 300 military vehicles and a 13 mile long walk in the footsteps of the British soldiers … An event not to be missed!

FREE ACCESS!

“The night they arrived”
Friday 5th June – Longues-sur-Mer & Port-en-Bessin-Huppain – 11pm

Normandie Mémoire, an association which promotes the historical heritage and the duty of remembrance, is preparing a magic moment: an incredible lightning up of the coast!

At 11pm, 25 magnificent fireworks will light the coast along 50 miles for the 65th anniversary of the D-Day, from Merville-Franceville to Saint Martin de Varreville, near Utah Beach. This first show will be a tribute to the soldiers who landed on June 6th, 1944, in order to free France.

Longues-sur-Mer and Port-en-Bessin are two of the numerous location taking part in this event.

In the footsteps of the 47th British Commando
Saturday 6th June – From Asnelles to Port-en-Bessin-Huppain – 8.30am

A historical and popular 13 mile long-walk is organised by the Bayeux-Bessin tourist office to re-live the epic of the soldiers who freed Port-en-Bessin. On 6th June 1944, it was the 47th British Commando’s mission to take part Port-en-Bessin, thus making it the first petroleum harbour. It was the opportunity to make the junction with the junction with the American troops coming from Omaha beach.

A lively picnic will be organised at noon with a concert by the band awaiting Power Flower the participants. A British veteran will give a short conference during luch and some veterans of the 47th commando will be there for the D-Day festival.

During the afternoon, the participants will enjoy a break in Mont Cavalier to know how the harbour was taken. The speaker will give a lecture for the last time to share his own story.
The bus will drive back the participants at 5.30pm from Port-en-Bessin-Huppain.

“The official liberation evening”
Saturday 6th June – Bayeux, place De Gaulle – 6.30pm

6.30 pm: Concert with the philharmonic orchestra from Bayeux

The Bayeux’s philharmonic orchestra will revisit music from famous films, the biggest 1940’s hits and military marches.

7.30 pm: Picnic and liberation ball with the Anita Covelli Quartet.

Anita Covelli is a well-known singer from Normandy, she will interpret songs from her repertoire to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day. It will be a popular ball just like in the 40’s with a joyful atmosphere of the “post world war II”.
Everyone will bring his picnic or get it on site thanks to Kiwani’s association who will propose a food stand.

10 pm: Grand concert with the London Community Gospel Choir

Bayeux is proud to do things on the grand scale by welcoming the London Community Gospel Choir. Through this band singing the liberation, the symbolism is significant: Bayeux is the first town to be liberated in France thanks to the Britannic soldiers.

In 1982 a dream and a vision came alive. Bazil Meade made a mark in history pioneering the first concert gospel choir in Britain – the London Community Gospel Choir (LCGC). Over the years, he worked with more than 100 singers from all accross the country.

His great reputation earned him frequent appearances on the radio and on tv, or side by side with world-renowned artists such as George Michael, The Temptations, Manu Dibango, Tina Turner, Michael Bolton, Blur, Depeche Mode, Celine Dion, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross or Elton John. The LCGC also took part in the original soundtrack of the movie "the Lion King" Walt Disney 's most successful film until now.

“Liberation picnic”
Sunday 7th June – Port-en-Bessin-Huppain – 1pm

Port-en-Bessin-Huppain takes part for the first time in the D-Day Festival, organizing a big picnic for everyone with musical entertainment.

The city was the first petroleum harbour of the landing operation on 7th June 1944, consequently the most important objective for the allies in the recapture of the territory.

“Bayeux, first town to be liberated”
Sunday 7th June – Bayeux – 3pm

True to popular tradition, Bayeux organised last year a parade of historic vehicles, but this year, the city together with the tourist office have decided to go up a watch : thanks to the partnership with MVCG France, no less than 300 military vehicles will parade in the center of Bayeux.

Displayed on place Gauquelin Despallières, on Sunday morning from 10h30 to 12h30, the D-Day legendary vehicles will then parade along Larcher Street at 3pm, via the street Saint-Malo and Saint-Martin. Mr Quemener, President of MVCG France will do a commentary throughout, from the city hall square.

For More Information Contact:

Office de Tourisme de Bayeux Intercom
Mélanie Dufrou
Phone : (+33) 02.31.51.28.24
Email : mdufrou@bayeux-tourism.com

Springtime in the Vineyards

2009-05-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

sent by Laura from our France office:

“Printemps dans les Vignes”

Each year the regional tourist office of Languedoc-Roussillon organizes, in coordination with wine growers, a wine festival. The goal is to allow wine growers to share their passion and their work with the public. Various animations are organized each weekend throughout the whole region. Concerts, tastings, bike riding or walking through the vines to discover the various techniques used to grow the vines etc… From the vineyards around Montpellier to those of Collioure, all the AOC wines are celebrated.

For all of you traveling on our Carcassonne countryside tour, you will cycle through the various vineyards of this region. Make sure you check the schedule of this festival, as it is a great, fun way to learn more about vineyards and discover another aspect of the French culture.

More information available at www.languedoc-wines.com. Website in French only.

Year of the Last Minute Booking

2009-05-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

Not many posts lately as we have found ourselves a bit under water with tour bookings. Its a great problem to have when all the news is seeminly bad, yet curious that business is so strong. We certainly won't complain. While it is hard to manage last minute bookings, we are getting them done. It is obvious why it is the year of the last minute booking - if anyone reads the news they gotta be scared! So, planning far in advance for a vacation doesn't seem like a good strategy anymore.

In light of this trend, how can travelers keep the stress level down and plan a vacation? First of all, I suggest that a traveler stop watching the news! Or, at least try to put things in perspective when you get your news. Consider why you might be waiting and not booking in advance. Is it a tenuous job situation? Is it a tenuous financial situation, or both perhaps? These are stressful enough on their own. A vacation is a nice getaway from those stresses and the media and other daily life adventures. But, I suggest you look at the type of vacation that you want to have. If you book in advance, are there penalties to cancel? If so, how much and is it worth it to book in advance? For example as we are finding in much of France, hotels are filling up and space is getting sold. If you are really set on a particular experience, you may want to weigh the costs of cancellation against not being able to book it later for lack of space. And, can you get an airline ticket at the last minute; and at what price? Do these add up to good choices?

Anyone looking at our self guided trips or just doing a trip, on their own -on the fly - should be ok to wait to book, as long as you remain flexible. We are adjusting hotels to sometimes upgrade or go down a star rating in order to get an itinerary to work. Sometimes we have to adjust by a day or two for the start. Last minute bookers should expect to be flexible - in time, and possibly cost as well as lodging.

With what seems to be a bad economic time for many, one would think discounts could be had. The airlines and some hotels have started to train the public that booking last minute is the way to get a deal. That is not a universal application. Many people have asked us for a discount on our tours this year; unfortunately we aren't getting any discounts from our suppliers and we are at much lower margins than our industry standard. So, discounts, if you will, are already built in - the price is the price. We recommend some comparison shopping and you should ask yourself how a company that is offering a $500 discount on a tour can do so without losing a lot of money. And, do you think they are losing any money? If so, they won't be around long! Look at the terms and consider how much your paying for that product!

Booking last minute shouldn't be planning last minute. Travelers should continue to do their homework and study the exchange rates, evaluate the terms and conditions of the tour they like and the competition, and finally watch the airfares and their attached terms. If you do so, you'll be very informed when it does finally come time to book - even if its last minute.

Spring in Provence

2009-04-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

Spring in Provence

Ca y est, spring has arrived! We've had the chance of having a nice weather in March with a lot of sun. April started with a few clouds and some rain, but we can't complain! Spring is my favorite season for several reasons. First, the landscapes change and the colors are beautiful. Fields are green and filled with yellow flowers, fruit trees are in bloom and add shades of white and pink. It's incredible! Another reason I love the spring is because it's the beginning of the fruit season! There is a fruit producer in the small village I live in, and they have finally opened for the season. And much to my delight the first Gariguettes have arrived! This variety of strawberry is mostly found in southern France as it's a delicate fruit that doesn't support transportation very well. To me it's the best strawberries. They have so much taste that you can eat them without anything on it, no sugar or cream!

The strawberries are the first fruit of the season, but the producer explained to me that by mid-May, they should have the first melons. They'll also have tomatoes, potatoes, zucchinis and aubergines. In June, we'll have the first peaches and apricots as well.

For all of you traveling either on our biking or hiking tours, you'll see small fruit stands along the road. This is the best place where you can buy fruits as they come directly from the producer! Prices are reasonable (not really more expensive than in the supermarket, but the quality is so much better!) and I strongly recommend to stop at least once! This is one true French experience!

Sent by Laura in our Southern France office

Tour de France - French Riviera

2009-04-10T10:56:00.000-07:00

So, the Tour starts in Monaco this year which is very unique in the history of the tour. The Principalite of Monaco is an independent country but it might as well be France. Situated just next to Nice on the Cote d'Azur, this is the perfect start for the tour we are offering to enjoy some of the best southern France countryside and the greatest bicycle race in the world!

To know more about the opening events and activities for the race, visit this page of the Tour's website: http://www.letour.fr/2009/TDF/COURSE/us/grand_depart_2009.html

We are offering a chance to ride along the French Riviera and then continue on to the southern beaches of Provence to see the all important Team Time Trial. Among all the hard core cycling tours we offer at the Tour, this trip is not meant to be a hard core trip. In fact, it is a moderate trip that is open to good cyclists who love to follow the race but would also like to enjoy some Provence countryside and Mediterranean beaches. There is no heavy climbing and the ride distances are moderate with options to go long for those who need more miles.

To see full details about this trip, please see our website at http://www.cyclingclassics.com/grand_tour01.php

Last Minute Booking - The Way of the Future?

2009-04-01T08:19:00.001-07:00

Hotels and airlines are willing to undercut themselves and their advance planning customers in order to fill unsold space. The trend has been around for a while, but it seemed like only a lucky few or those who were very flexible could get a last minute deal in the past. For example, being single gives you a whole lot of flexibility that a family of 4 may not have. According to the Wall Street Journal today, this last minute trend may be something of the new norm.

Of course new norms change all the time. The examples cited in the article show that currently this does pay off. I think this can only work with airlines and individual hotel bookings, however the cruise industry seems to be doing the same thing. Well, I personally don't care much about what the cruise industry is doing and frankly all these 'travel products' have become commodities. My concern is how this mentality transfers over into the tour business.

As a company that sells mostly self-guided trips, we can handle it. In fact, we can prosper from it where I am sure many guided/group tour programs with fixed departure dates cannot. We will happily take bookings at the last minute and organize the whole tour to start any date; that is our offer anyway, so if more people go to booking last minute then we can be there for them. How can a group departure do that?

The majority of people who book 'tours' are booking group, guided programs with fixed departure dates. These trips are organized by companies that have to lock up hotel rooms and services very far in advance. Often the hotels don't like to tie up rooms without some guarantees and so comes the non-refundable deposits, etc. These tours need early bookings to assure departures and hold space. If minimum numbers are not met far enough in advance, a tour company has to decide to either cancel the space to avoid lost non-refundable deposits to the hotels, or raise prices on those who book in advance to keep the trip. The latter is almost never the solution. These same hotels that would discount to last minute travelers booking direct impose higher restrictions and standards on the tour companies that market their product and bring them groups.

So, I would expect to see more group tours with fixed departure dates to start canceling. This may leave some people who booked in advance out in the cold - with airline tickets and no tour. We have been able to help many of these people in the past who are willing to go to a self guided trip, but for those who aren't - well, tough luck. Therefore, who wants to book a guided group tour with fixed departure date in advance??

Tour companies, including ourselves, are pushing hotels and other service providers to be more flexible in their terms, but when the demand for direct bookings is so strong (and more profitable to the hotel), why should they? This could mean quite some changes for the tour industry.

L

Year of Picasso

2009-03-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

In the south of France there is always something going on with the impressionist painters and their influence, so it seems! In Aix en Provence, they continue to emphasize Cezanne, the name is now synonymous with Aix en Provence. Exhibitions of Cezanne this year are combined with Picasso works since it is a celebratory year for Picasso. The Musee Granet has an exhibit running to September 27: www.museegranet-aixenprovence.fr Nearby at the Chateau de Vauvenargues, where Pablo Picasso and his wife lived briefly, and where they were both laid to rest after their deaths. The chateau is privately owned, but the owners are making it available to the public for some limited visits. For more info, see the Aix office of tourism.

Nearby at Les Baux de Provence and the Cathedral d'Images, a Picasso exhibit will last all year. This stop is easily made on many of our Provence cycling and multisport tours. More information see: http://www.cathedrale-images.com/index.htm

Also, in Antibes, one of Picasso's favorite places and site of the Picasso museum, there is more:

Picasso, 1945-1949 : l’ère du renouveau (Age of Renewal)

Exhibition 28th March to 14th June 2009 at the Picasso Museum, Antibes

Since summer 2008, the Picasso Museum has reopened its doors. After two years of renovation work mainly focussed on safety, accessibility and climate control, the public has discovered a new museum offering more comfort for visitors and better preservation conditions for the works of art exhibited. This reopening means the return of the museum collection to its visitors and the planning of temporary exhibitions for the years to come.

The first of these, “l’Ere du renouveau” (the Age of Renewal) from 28th March to 14th June 2009, will be the occasion to see in a new light what is often described as Picasso’s Antibes period. From the vanitas of winter 1945 darkly influenced by the war years, to the creations filled with light at the end of the 1940s, the exhibition will be composed of approximately 200 works of art (paintings, sketches, ceramics) from important public and private collections, including certain works created during his stay at the Grimaldi castle but kept by the artist, which will now come back to the studio where they were conceived. Thus the artist’s production will be put into context over a wider period of history, situating the “Picassos of Antibes” in a creative and particularly rich chronology during those happy years, of which the painting La Joie de Vivre constitutes a sort of emblem.

NB The museum will be closed for exhibition preparation 10th – 27th March and for several days from 15th June (contact the Museum for exact closure dates, and dates of guided visits).

Practical information : Open all year, closed on Mondays and French bank holidays (1st Jan, 1st May, 1st Nov & 25th Dec). 16th Sept to 14th June : 10am – 12am and 2pm to 6pm

Provence Cycling - Customer Experience

2009-03-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Pure Adventure: Provence France Trip

After literally traveling on planes, trains, and automobiles for 24 hours, we arrived at our hotel outside of the walled-city of Avignon in the Provence region of Southern France. We could barely keep our eyes open through dinner that first night.

The next morning we awoke, eager to try out our rental bikes. I couldn’t wait to go sightseeing by bicycle…without a big group of American tourists, without a guide, without a SAG wagon, and on nobody else’s schedule but our own. The self-guided bike tour with “Discover France” was the perfect arrangement for us. We felt like we were totally on our own, but we could them call for help if it was really needed.

The bikes were the hybrid style, with a wide padded seat, upright handle bars, shock-absorbers on the seat post, and big baskets in front, presumably to carry wine, cheese, and baguettes. These bikes were built for comfort. We put on our helmets, loaded up the water bottles and snacks, checked our maps, and we were off!

Our itinerary called for us to cover about 25 miles a day at a leisurely pace including time for lunch and visiting many sites of interest unique to the area. Let me share a few of those places with you.

The first day, after going through many small towns, we arrived at one of the main attractions for the day, the majestic Pont du Gard. The roman aqueduct, built in the year 19 BC, is a giant stone bridge that spans across the wide river with huge arches. Once we were on the bridge, we peered over the edge of the stone wall hundreds of feet above the water. There was no fence or safety net to prevent tourists from plunging into the river and then suing the government. I guess that’s mostly in America where we worry about things like that. Typically our hotels were always located at the top of a hill, which meant a steep climb at the end of the day. However, there was always the fabulous Southern France dinner as a reward (remarkably similar to California Cuisine, so we felt right at home), as well as inexpensive local wines, wonderful desserts, and to top it off, my personal favorite, the cheese plate, at the end of the night.

On another day we rode through medieval villages, then onto rural farm roads past vineyards, colorful fields of flowers, olive trees and fruit orchards, finally arriving at Chateau Tarascon, a 14th century castle situated on the Rhone River. The huge castle was quite a fortress with beautifully woven intricate tapestries on the walls dating back over 700 years, but was otherwise empty. The most interesting rooms looked like small stone closets. In the center of these rooms, which were actually the ancient bathrooms, there was large hole in the floor. When I looked through that hole, I was surprised to see straight down to the flowing river three stories below! People always complain about the bathrooms in certain European countries. Needless to say the French have come a long way from those days, although the concept of a shower curtain still escapes them for some reason.

Towards the end of the trip we visited the old Roman city of Arles near the Mediterranean Sea. When we arrived here for the evening, we were greeted by mosquitoes that obviously thrive in the Mediterranean climate. The suggested packing list provided by Discover France had included insect repellant, but unfortunately I did not paid any attention to it. As result, we were swatting at bugs the last couple of miles to the hotel. Luckily this one hotel was not at the top of a hill.

Van Gogh lived in Arles for two years of his life and did many paintings here before being sent to the insane asylum. We visited the museum with many of his paintings plus many old ruins like the amphitheater and the public baths that had been built by the Romans when they invaded Southern France over a thousand years ago. There was also a coliseum that still held events like bull fights to this day. Later in the day we saw an amazing event. In the evening as we were walking on the crowded main street though town, we heard a loud noise approaching like thunder. Suddenly the crowd parted as a group of large white horses galloping at full speed herded a pair of huge bulls right past us. At the end of the long street they were escorted up a ramp and onto a truck waiting to take them home after the day’s bullfight with the matadors. The bulls had only been six feet away from us, again with no protective fences or barrier, and the crowd was buzzing with excitement afterwards.

All in all it was a great trip and eye-opening experience, and we both really loved the bike trip. We are already planning a similar adventure in Spain next year!

Linda K. - California

Press Release: Food & Wine Cycling

2009-03-11T07:07:00.001-07:00

Discover France Offers Food and Wine Cycling Tours of France For Less

Scottsdale, AZ—Discover France, the leading specialist in travel services throughout France from Paris to the countryside, features creative food and wine itineraries that offer the best of each region at the greatest possible value to the traveler. Their website features more than 30 different self guided tour itineraries, several in region of which are food and wine focused and well priced far below the guided tour options—an incredible value for travelers who yearn to visit France but are afraid to spend the money during challenging economic times.

These trips offer visitors the opportunity to get more than just a snapshot of French culture and lifestyle--they offer an experience in true cultural immersion at an amazing value. The price of these trips includes accommodation in top quality hotels, expertly chosen routes, and ample support, proving that it is possible to combine both luxury and value. Self-guided travel is a growing trend due to the flexibility it presents and the extraordinary price that accompanies it. Offering support and independence, guests don't have to put forth much effort in order to generate a relaxing and memorable vacation. Here is just a sampling of Discover France’s Food and Wine Itineraries:

Savor the Tastes of Provence: Vineyards and Lavender Tour

On this 8 day bicycling tour, travelers will discover the wines of Provence, from the Rhone Valley to the Haut-Vaucluse area to the Drome and back to Ventoux area. Cyclers will have the opportunity to taste the grand wine of Chateauneuf du Pape, Gigondas, chocolates, and lavender flavored honey. Gourmet stages combine with astonishing visits along the Castle and Abbey route like Rochegude and Grignan; Roman art in Vaison la Romaine; the Dentelles de Montmirail, the fields of lavender at the foot of the Mont Ventoux, and more. Guests will enjoy being hosted in charming hotels such as a luxurious Relais & Château castle in Rochegude, a unique manor house in Grignan, a 16th century mansion in Vaison la Romaine and a typical Provençal hotel in Bedoin at the foot of Mont Ventoux. Dates: April 1 -Nov 1. Cost: 1425 Euros per person, double occupancy; Single supplement: 499 Euros; triples at 1310 Euros/person.

Cycling for Foodies: Explore Burgundy Gastronomy and Wine

Burgundy is hallowed ground for foodies because of its most important treasured assets: wine and cuisine. This trip takes cyclists through the stunning Burgundy region to explore the mouth-watering food and unforgettable wines that make this area so famous. Starting in Dijon, a beautiful city with sites, history, and gateway to vine country, travelers will make their way across the vineyards of the most famous vignobles. As great wine requires great cooking, adventurers will have many gastronomical experiences in the restaurants that are included, but participants can also venture out to explore the many excellent choices available in both Dijon and Beaune on their own. Dates: April-October. Cost: 1544 Euros per person, double-occupancy.

For more information or to see a complete listing of itineraries, please visit the website or contact Loren Siekman at (480) 905-1235.

Cycling in the Loire-Customer Entry

2009-03-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

The following was sent to us by Barbara Browne about her trip last fall:

Sept 23, 2008

Wow….in a trip full of gems discovered as we pedal along country roads and bike paths through the Loire Valley, today we came upon the motherlode. The day was absolutely picture perfect for biking. Fair skies, mist burning off over the distant forests, sun kissing off the Autumn chill. Now that we’re in to the rhythm of our biking adventure (and now that we know we can actually cycle that far in a day), we greeted the morning with a thrill of anticipation. It also helped that our Chateau is at the top of a hill so to start our day we coasted for a while before we began to work.

The first part of the morning took us along deserted rural roads and pathways, and through some tiny villages one of which we stopped at for a sip of café au lait and chocolat chaud. We sat on the small sunny patio and were entertained by the resident German Shepherd who we dubbed “Rocky” due to his obsessive love of retrieving and carrying rocks. We quickly became his friends as we indulged his obsession.

The road out of town lead us through wooded countryside and past glimpses of pastures and stone farm buildings We have taken picture after picture of cows, goats and one day, a lama. It’s not that we haven’t seen such animals before (Canada does have farms). It’s just different when you are cruising past them at arm’s length on your bicycle and can actually make eye contact.

It was as we rounded a curve and emerged from the forest that we were greeted by one of the most memorable and beautiful vistas of our trip thus far. In front of us stretched a field of pink, yellow, blue and purple wild flowers. In the distance, seemingly rising from the wild flower field and crowned by a sun-filled sky, a castle’s slate blue turrets gleamed. It was like entering a fairytale scene you’ve only ever imagined before, only ever so much more vivid than your imaginings. We immersed ourselves in the scene for many minutes, drinking it in with our eyes, standing in the field of flowers and snapping picture after picture from every imaginable viewpoint, hoping to take from it some small snippet that will bring us back here, if only in memory. Reluctantly, we left the field of wildflowers behind and approached the castle itself. It was deserted, closed for mid day. But it didn’t matter; though the day was only half over and more delights were to come, we were content.

Carnival in France

2009-02-24T05:10:00.000-08:00

This may be a little late in coming since Carnival is underway in most places and finished in some others, but France offers a lot of partying at this time of year. Maybe next year it could be on your radar screen to go to the south of France and celebrate. This from the French government tourist office website:

THE 2009 CARNIVALS IN FRANCE:

A little history:
Carnivals, generally associated with the Christian feast of Mardi gras or Fat Tuesday, are a common festival celebrated throughout Europe and in South America.
The word carnival is Italian in origin: carnevale, made up of carn (flesh or meat) and levare (to take away), because people traditionally ate lots of meat to make up for what they would have to give up during Lent.

It is generally a time when the people in a town or village can dress up, with masks or makeup, and come together to sing and dance in the streets, throw confetti, and sometimes watch a parade.

According to the religious calendar, carnival begins with Epiphany (January 6), which marks the end of the Christmas holidays, and it ends on Mardi Gras, the eve of Lent.

Disguises of all kinds, masked balls, and going out on Dimanche Gras (Fat Sunday) and Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) are traditionally the various forms of entertainment during Carnival.

Some of the key Carnivals celebrated in France:

The Carnival of Dunkirk: January 30 to March 14, 2009

A huge celebration where thousands of carnival-goers line up, arm in arm, and sing traditional songs.

The Carnival of Nice: from February 13 to March 1, 2009

2009 will be the 125th year that the celebration is held, with the key moments of the corsi carnavalesques and the famous battles of flowers. The entertaining and pretty parades include the papier maché or flower floats, street performers and musical groups.
The Carnival Biarnés: from February 13-24, 2009

10 days of celebration in Pau, an event that remains faithful to the carnival tradition of Béarn. Research done on the characters, the costumes, staging, music, songs and dances creates a festive event that goes back quite some time in history.
The Carnival of Paris: February 22, 2009

The Carnival of Paris was, for many centuries, one of the most important in the world. It grew in importance in the 16th century, replacing the Feast of Fools. The star of the parade is a Limousine breed cow, named Pimprenelle, who embodies the fatted calf.
The Carnival of Granville: from February 21-24, 2009

4 days of feasting and some 20 satirical floats, thousands of carnival-goers and tons of confetti take over the streets of Granville.
The Carnival of Sarreguemines: from February 8-25, 2009

The biggest carnival in the region of Lorraine is held in Sarreguemines each year during the week before Shrove Tuesday. It takes place according to the same ritual with a Prince and a Princess, the Kappensitzung, the great Cavalcade and masquerade balls (Balla-Balla). It ends on Ash Wednesday with the sentencing of the Prince.

Carcassonne Tour News

2009-02-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

As mentioned previously in this blog; we have redesigned the Carcassonne Countryside Tour. Below is a a note from Tom, in our France office, who went out to work on the route books recently.

Discover France has set up a new tour for 2009: Carcassonne country side biking.
The team in France is settled in the region of Languedoc (the tour starts close to our office, in the magnificent village of Saint-Guilhem le Désert), so it has been our pleasure to select and double check every roads and itineraries for some of you -lucky travelers- who will ride on these roads.

I’ve been living in this region for quite a while but I must say that I didn’t expect this tour to be so beautiful and amazing. Our region expert did a brilliant work, the result is simple: I have totally rediscovered my own region!

There is such a variety of landscapes: beautiful vineyards all the time but it never come with the same surroundings. Sometimes it’s a typical Provence landscape, then its mountains and rocks, sometimes there are red rocks and lakes, or typical country side of France (so lovely that you will be overwhelmed), not to mention the world famous canal du midi.

As a result, the landscape will change every day and quite often, it will change within the same day! As if it is not enough; you will pass through villages full of history. Of course, Saint-Guilhem le Désert and Carcassonne are must see, but you will also admire and be charmed by other places that are not so famous, surprisingly.

This tour is an off beaten path, no one else will take you on these roads, so if you are looking for a great tour that show you a lot of the many typical colorful landscapes of France and a lot of historical places (Churches, Castles, medieval Cities, Abbey…), this tour is what you need.

As a result, I can say that I love my job and I feel so lucky to have seen all these gems of my own region.
We checked this tour on a cloudy day, and even with such weather, we were amazed.

I can’t wait to ride my bike on sunny days and impressed my friends with our region!

Photos can speak louder than words… Just be aware that we did not stop to take pictures of the famous places, we just stop for some of the off beaten path marvelous places, yet there is a lot more to see and even more stunning!

Cassis - On the South Coast

2009-01-27T13:44:00.000-08:00

An article posted on Conde Naste Traveler was forwarded to me; pretty good little story. It is about a little town on the Mediterranean coast near Marseille in the south of France. This little town is called Cassis. Now, before I go further, I have to comment about pronunciation. As my wife is French and her family grew up in Marseille, and still live there, I happen to know Cassis very well. She spent many summer days there and I have been there so many times I don't even know anymore. She and her family pronounce Cassis with a silent 's' at the end. Like: cassee

Almost all foreigners that I ever met pronounce the last 's'. I had one tell me that a local confirmed it that way. I don't know for sure, but I do know that however a Parisien pronounces is probably NOT how someone from the south would pronounce it.

So, about the article; here is the link: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500267?pageNumber=1

I am pretty sure I have written numerous times about Cassis in this blog. This story paints a nice picture of Cassis; and it is a nice place to visit. Except in July and August. Avoid it like the plague then; unless you enjoy traffic jams, no parking, towel2towel sunbathing on the rocks (as opposed to sand). In fact, if you want to go lay on the beach, don't come here. If you want to sit on a cafe terrace and look out at the port; then come here in any other month. Winter is a great time to visit! Cassis has a nice Christmas market too - maybe not 'offically' such a market, but you can get Santons and other typical trinkets of Noel known in the South.

There are adventures to be had here however. For starters, there are some excellent hiking trails that are not easy: GR 98 and 51 can be found at Port Miou which is found outside of Cassis on a road leading to nowhere. It leads to this port. Lots of pine trees shade the area, and the trails are right above the port. You can walk for an hour or 4 hours. The trails are marked with Red & White "trail signs".

What else? Take a boat trip. For divers - no problem. For fun though, go on a zodiac! They can be rented in Cassis (with captain/driver of course), or in Marseille to visit the Calanques and stop and swim. Those pictures of clear azur water sure are fun to swim in! Take a snorkel and mask! (picture from Wikipedia left shows the steep and rocky coastline known as the 'calanques)

Lodging: lots of choice. I personally know the Jardin d'Emile which most people don't like because the rooms are not too well insulated. But it is charming and in a quieter part of town. Just above it is the Mahogany which is better. I recommend staying outside the port center to have a little peace and quiet.

Rent a bike? Not here - too hilly anyway for most people's taste and too much traffic. Get on the train and c0me see us in another part of Provence.

Cassis is a great spot to spend 1 or 2 nights after a cycling tour in Provence. For couples, go deluxe and just relax by the pool with awesome mediterranean views! To me, Cassis is a destination and shouldn't be used as a hub to go out and visit the countryside and what I would consider far away towns like Aix. Too much time wasted in the car fighting traffic and searching for parking!

L

France National Monuments and Museums

2009-01-16T10:12:00.001-08:00

Soon to be free to all persons Under 25 are all the French National Monuments and Museums which does include the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Currently, the freebie is good to age 18, but in a recent speak French President Sarkozy said the measure will go into effect on April 4 this year. This story appeared on MSNBC and no further info is available.

This will have a big impact on visitors to Paris mostly, but of course applies to "National" monuments and museums throughout France. For a list of sites, see www.monum.fr

Goodbye 2008!

2008-12-31T12:02:00.000-08:00

Anyone sad to say goodbye to 2008? Today, the 31st of December is the last chance to talk about the best of 2008 and what to do in 2009, so articles are everywhere.

For travel, the predictions seem to be that 2009 will be a tough year. Airlines will continue to struggle (as if that mattered to anyone's travel plans anyway!); and credit will be tight. However, when I talk to people, especially people in the know like CPA's and other business and tax advisors, the overarching thing seems to be fear. There are problems out there, but there seems to be money on the sidelines and a pent up demand for services and goods that is not breaking free for now due to fear.

Travel consulting firm Xola believes that 'pent up' demand will continue to rise in 2009 and then explode in 2010 when the overal 'global climate' improves. What most are predicting is a slow 2009 and then late in the year things will start to change. Demand will take off in 2010 and so then will all associated services. What will make this change? Perception mostly, but that will be rooted in the general 'feeling' of businesses and consumers. Banks that feel ok to lend again will help business get rolling which will then reinvest and spend and when the media starts talking about these good things the consumer will start to feel like its safe to go out again. That is when the money will start to flow again.

So, that's the perception issue. How can you get a deal in 2009 if you want to go? I can only address what I think is applicable for Europe since that is what we study and sell. Will I go to Europe in 2009? You betcha. I plan to be at the Tour de France and ok, its business, but I will take the family too. So, I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I'm also lining up my air tickets now. Space and routing is the factor; and I'm going to know exactly what that is going to cost me now and then work on the rest over the next 6 months and find ways to save.

What can people do? The euro is back up again from previous lows; so be aware of what the valuations are and watch for a time to lock in some services. Just 3 weeks ago services could have been had, and prepaid, at 10% less than today. So, know what is a good rate. For 2009, I would say anything below 1.33 dollars US to Euros is good. Canadians, Aussies - you have to know your market likewise.

Deals will abound this year. Suppliers are cutting margins just to cover costs and 'stay alive'. Another idea, suggested by me - a tour operator/supplier: book the pre-packaged tour! The more customization requested, the more costs have to be increased to adapt and pass on. We offer self guided trips that can go any date; if you book a package as we offer it, you will get our best price which is posted. We spread certain costs of support and route development out and once its created, we have lower costs to reproduce it. If we have to create something new, then costs are higher. Now, perhaps it sounds less 'unique' to book the package off the shelf, but speaking of our product which is mostly self-guided, that couldn't be less true. Its not like 5000 people per week are doing this, like some stomp up the Eiffel Tower. You will most likely encounter very few others doing it on the same dates and so it will feel like your own personal program. Et voila, yet another reason Self Guided is superior. Don't forget that the cost is WAY less than a guided trip.

Bring on 2009! Happy New Year!

L

New Carcassonne Tour

2008-12-19T15:14:00.000-08:00

New - a completely different itinerary that still includes Carcassonne! The old tour was a nice tour and very much off the beaten path, but it was perhaps a little too 'off-beat' ? One problem we finally had this year was that one night of this tour cost us 350 euros! Ok, that does include a dinner in a 2 star Michelin restaurant, but we didn't think that was necessary anymore. So, ta-da...

A new Tour! The highlight is still of course the UNESCO World Heritage site of Carcassonne's Cite Medieval; but we have added the super charming village of St Guilhem le Desert and Moureze; both in the interior country of Languedoc/Herault; but filled with charm. From Wikipedia:

Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France").

The village has maintained its historic state. Because of its isolation, in 806 Saint Guilhem established here the monastery of Gellone.

Situated in the narrow valley of the Gellone river where it meets the steep sided gorge of the Hérault River, Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is essentially a mediaeval village located on the Chemin de St Jacques (St James' Way) pilgrim route to Santiago de Compostella.

So, the new price for this gem: 995 euros/person in double occupancy! 7 nights and 8 days and all that is included!

L

More Options, Better Values for 2009

2008-12-09T04:26:00.000-08:00

Our cycling and hiking tours are now available at prices even lower than last year. We have completed a transition in our new offices in France that allows us to cut certain operating costs and we have studied every single tour we offer to find a way to make them less expensive but still of the same high quality! Sounds like some marketing pitch for a new mobile phone!

We have actually 'engineered' our tours in detail this winter and found ways to save for all our travelers:

1. cut down on taxi transfers

2. find alternate hotels that don't impose both breakfast and dinner

3. negotiate better taxi costs for transfers

4. group transfers more efficiently

5. offer telephone orientations in some outlying regions where local guides charge exhorbitant rates

6. work with different shipping companies for better rates on bike delivery

7. offer MORE hotel choices!

This last one is a big one as we now price 2 star hotel versions for many trips. In recent years we have seen a lot of hotels renovate but resist the upgrade to a new category because of certain silly demands that don't seem logical to hotel owners. For example, moving from 3 star to 4 star may require an elevator; or a larger reception area. Moving from 2 star to 3 star may mean having staff on the front desk 24 hours a day. None of these criteria have anything to do with quality of the lodging that many travelers care about: room size, amenities, bed quality, cleanliness, charming/welcoming staff, food quality, general ambiance.

We continue to push QUALITY and VALUE. Now when times are hard it seems people are coming back to these marks in their products or services. How many times do I now hear Home Depot saying "quality, value, best price" in their ads??? Its not a fashion statement for us, we've been on these themes for ever. The good news is that we offer a price point of high quality in 2 stars, 3 stars, and even in 4 star lodging.

Sample: Provence Classic 5 Night Cycling Tour - one of our most popular:

695 euros/person in double occupancy using 2 star hotels
895 euros/person in double occupancy using 3 star hotels
1075 euros for upgraded and 4 star deluxe hotels

If you are 3 persons, the triple rate per person is less in each case. The tour includes all the same things: lodging, buffet breakfast daily, 2 dinners, all luggage transfers, orientation on arrival day with bike delivery and set up, bike return, route book with maps and cue sheets and tourist information and restaurant suggestions, on call emergency support from our local office.

After 15 years of doing this, at these rates we are almost back to where we were 5 or 6 years ago in price! The Euro is high against most currencies, but way down now from where it was just 4 months ago dropping almost 20% in 4 months!

So, with a little planning on the airfare side of it; a nice European vacation can be had for a surprising good rate still!

L

2009 Tours for Le Tour Posted

2008-11-17T15:11:00.000-08:00

Want to see the best cyclists duking it out on the most beautiful roads anywhere? We have finally posted our 2009 tours to follow the French Grand Tour, aka Le Tour, across France next July!

In case you missed the release of the route about 2 weeks ago, check it out on the official website at http://www.letour.fr/ Some really great and surprising changes we made for the 2009 edition. This route allows us to offer a number of tours in conjunction, some that will challenge the strongest cyclists and one that will accommodate more moderate cycling.

Our tours are VERY well priced too! We are pretty proud of the fact we are able to offer fully guided trips, quality accommodations, and sell it at the rates we do. Of course, we are supplying services to wholesalers around the world, but in this case you go direct to the source!

We have trips that cover the Alpes, the Pyrenees, Mont Ventoux, Spain, and the French Riviera to Provence. These are truly the best places to ride and take in the race. The Euro has lost value over the last month so that it is more and more affordable. Contact us with questions, the groups are small, and will fill up quickly. First come, first served!

All tours are listed in detail here:

http://www.cyclingclassics.com/grand_tour.php

Discover France Selected Best Trip for 2009

2008-10-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

Our Provence Multisport has been awarded by National Geographic Adventure as one of the Best Trips for 2009 ! See link on NGA site Not only is this a very important reward and great honor, it says something about the state of travelers currently:

Self Guided is Gaining in Popularity!
Value Matters!

We launched this tour in 2008 but really did not promote it much as we worked to perfect it. We have made a few changes to get the cost down and we have what we think is an even better trip. Included in this 2009 version are:

road biking - hybrid cycling routes in the provence countryside
canoing on the Gardon river at the Pont du Gard
Hiking around the Alpilles and Baux de Provence
Adventure Park activities including zip-lines in the Luberon
Mountain biking in the Luberon area of Provence

In option: an afternoon of Via Ferrata. Not sure what is via Ferrata? Check out the tour description for details: Provence Multisport

To clarify, this isn't a trip for hardcore athletes, nor is it a trip for beginners or persons who aren't getting at least 4-6 hours of exercise per week. It takes a little bit of skill in several areas. But, the mountain biking isn't technical, and the canoing is mostly on flat water, so these are manageable by fit and active people - something we have a lot of in our customer base!

This recognition by NGA will appear again in upcoming press releases and company promotions throughout the coming year. The magazine is on the news stands this week. It is only 1 of 25 trips, so if you are curious - go pickup a copy and check out all the great adventures out there!!

Full trip details: http://www.discoverfrance.com/regions/provence_cycling_tour_sgp2.html

NGA website: http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/25-best-new-adventure-travel-trips-text