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Valentine Julien

Valentine is the girl from the French Alps!

She worked as a tailor-made trip planner in Sri Lanka & Maldives, and was an event organizer for extreme sports competition in Switzerland. She finally settled down in the Beaujolais wine region two years ago, to share her expertise about France and its bordering countries.

She has good taste especially when it comes to accommodation:
she loves charming boutique hotels and gives attention to the greatest details. In her free time, she loves searching for new gems to visit.

Si prefieres, yo hablo tambien español :)

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Everywhere in France: Paris, French Riviera, wine regions (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sancerre...), French Alps, Loire Valley, Normandy, Alsace, and other hidden treasures.

Switzerland : Obernese Alps, Ticino, Bern, Interlaken, Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Montreux, Gruyères. You will fall in love with Switzerland!

I specialize in honeymoons, family trips, celebration trips (wedding anniversaries, birthdays), epicurian getaways, and so on!
"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Travelling opens your mind. I always loved to offer memorable experiences to my travelers. They become even more knowledgeable when they come back home! "

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"On the way to Brittany on a family trip, I crossed the doors of Villandry Castle. I will never forget its magical gardens made of flowers and vegetables! I felt like Alice in the Wonderland trying to escape from the maze!
(Trust me, the experience is even better if you fly over the Loire Valley Castles in a hot air balloon)."

Valentine is part of the following groups: Germany Travel Agents, Switzerland Travel Agents, France Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice
Road trip itineraries

Favorite experiences

Cycle & Hot Air Balloon Ride at Château de Chenonceau

Spend the day gliding through the countryside, starting with a guided bike tour on the Loire à Velo paths in the beautiful country. You'll continue riding along the Loire River, then explore the area around Chenonceau Castle, built on a bridge over the Cher River.Also known as the "Ladies...

Provençal Cooking Class & Markets of Aix-en-Provence

The southeastern French region of Provence is one of the most scenic in the country. It's the land of the Riveria, medieval villages, lavender fields, and endless olive groves and vineyards. But Provence is as much a way of life as it is a point on a map. Today you'll experience Provence's...

Treasure Hunt at the Louvre in Paris

The Louvre in Paris may seem like just a tourist's obligation, just as much as the Eiffel Tower, yet this palace of 35,000 pieces of art is certainly worth a visit! Henri Loyrette, former director of the Louvre, said that 80 percent of visitors see the Mona Lisa and then simply leave. In his...

Tour the D-Day Sites of Normandy

Normandy is well-known for its important war sites from WWII. Spend an emotional day touring some of the most important areas, discovering the powerful legacy of D-Day on Normandy's landscape, as well as its effect on the world. A local specialist will lead you across Normandy's coast, and as an...

Mediterranean Sunset Cruise from Nice

No visit to the French Riviera is complete without a legendary sunset, so why not take a cruise along the Mediterranean coast to make it even more special? Nice and its coastal neighbors offer beautiful postcard landscapes, enhanced by the unique colors of sunset. Combine the experience with a...

Wine Tour of the Luberon Region

Enjoy a day spent savoring the famed countryside of Aix-en-Provence, starting with views of the Sainte-Victoire Mountains, a source of inspiration for the famous painter Cézanne. Your first destination is the Côtes de Provence Sainte-Victoire vineyards, set just east of the city of...

Recent trip reviews for Valentine

Switzerland Trip
Switzerland | May 2 - May 10, 2024

Brenda
Brenda B.
Abilene, TX | Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets... Read more

Switzerland was beautiful and the trip was great. Overall we enjoyed using the Swiss Pass and traveling by train. The trip felt a bit rushed and may have been my fault as I worked with Valentine to set it up. We got to Montreaux too late to see the castle or anything else, so it would have been nice to bypass Montreaux and spent the night in Zermatt. It was a little confusing when we were trying to check in to ride the train to the Matterhorn. We didn't realize there were two sets of tickets per person and the operator was getting a little flustered with us. We had a great time once we were able to get on the Matterhorn Railway. Grindelwald was beautiful and amazing. We loved, loved the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria. So beautiful! We loved riding the cable cars. The little village of Thun was okay but we could have skipped this visit. It would have been nice to visit Jungfraujoch as well, now that I know more about this area. Also, we missed seeing the Trummelbach Falls because of all the excitement of Schilthorn. Maybe the Falls could have been part of the trip details when going to/from Schilthorn. Luzern was nice but we were there less than 18 hours. Our tour guide (Adrian) was very enjoyable, likable, and knew the city. He was an okay guide. Lugano was beautiful and our tour guide (Patricia) was amazing and incredible. She recommended a small village, Ascona, for us to visit on the second day and it was perfect! We loved Patricia! Zurich was nice but we were there less than 14 hours. It would have been nice to spend an extra night there. Our tour guide was nice and had interesting facts about the city. Also, Valentine put together a nice trip for our family. She was very responsive on all our questions. If she was not available someone else assisted us.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Excelsior
Zermatt

Quaint hotel with a view of the Matterhorn.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great view of the Matterhorn.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Hirschen - Grindelwald
Grindelwald

Beautiful, quaint hotel. Loved our room! Beautiful view of the mountains from our balcony.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Wonderful location. Beautiful view of the mountains.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very clean.
Hotel Felix
Zürich

Very nice, but the rooms were just a little too small.

Authenticity & Character
Felt like a hotel in America.
Location
Location was good; 5 or so minutes from the train and close to cute stores and shops.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Rebstock
Luzern

Did not care for this hotel. It was confusing to find the room, the room felt dark and victorian, and had to use an actual key to lock and unlock the door.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich
Private Walking Tour - History & Mystery of Zurich
Zürich
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Swiss Travel Pass
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland
Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket)
Gornergrat panoramic train (return day-ticket)
Switzerland
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
Schilthorn - Piz Gloria
Switzerland
Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)
Bellinzona – Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro (private tour)
Lugano
Guides, Drivers and Staff
 Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise
Luzern City Tour Private Walking Tour with Lake Cruise
Lucerne
Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking
Boat Cruise to Gandria & return by walking
Lugano
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 29, 2024

Hello Brenda,
Thank you very much for your kind and detailed review about your trip!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, I really wish you had more time to visit each area, it is true that it was a rapid pace in order to fit all the places :)
Well-noted for all your feedbacks on each activity, it is very important for us to improve our services and offer quality experiences.
Have a great Summer,
Valentine

Switzerland & Italy- Valentine
Switzerland | May 10 - May 26, 2024

Eric
Eric T.
Singapore | Reviewed on May 27, 2024
Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team. Read more

Valentine did the planning of my trip and everything goes well. Top of Europe, Mt Rigi, Oeschinensee lake, Lavaux vineyard, burano island are excellent recommendations to visit /hike. Valentine and her team also track and follow through my journey. Very responsible team.

Hotel Reviews
Romantik Hotel Wilden Mann
Lucerne
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Metropole Hotel Interlaken
Interlaken
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel La Rouvenaz
Montreux
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Liassidi Palace
VENEZIA
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Relais Sul Mare Boutique Hotel
Naples
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Marcella Royal Hotel
Rome
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains
Self-guided day to Mount Rigi, the Queen of Mountains
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (tickets and seat reservation)
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Early Morning Access Vatican Tour  (small group tour/3,5 hours)
Early Morning Access Vatican Tour (small group tour/3,5 hours)
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Doge's Palace & St Marks Basilica Tour at Night (Small Group/3,5hours)
Doge's Palace & St Marks Basilica Tour at Night (Small Group/3,5hours)
Switzerland
Quality of Experience
Pop
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access | Semi-Private Tour
The Best of Colosseum & Ancient Rome With Exclusive Arena Access | Semi-Private Tour
Rome
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 29, 2024

Hello Eric,
Thank you so much for your kind review!
We hope you enjoyed the mix of breathtaking sceneries and beautiful Italian Architecture.
Your feedbacks are every important to us, in order to improve our services.
Have a nice Summer and see you soon in Europe,
Valentine

Switzerland was fantastic. Thanks KimKim and Valentine!
Switzerland | May 5 - May 13, 2024

Bo
Bo K.
Wade Hampton, SC | Reviewed on May 22, 2024
We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us. Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery. Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country. Read more

We loved our trip to Switzerland and Valentine did a fantastic job planning the trip and supporting us.

Our favorite was a six hour e-bike trip from Interlaken to the Lauterbrunnen Valley known as the valley of 72 waterfalls. Effortless pedaling and non stop beautiful scenery.

Also Grindelwald was amazingly beautiful. The country is so clean and the engineering is incredible. Swiss buildings actually enhance not detract from the natural beauty of the country.

Activity Review
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls (small group/6 hours)
E-bike tour Lauterbrunnen & Valley of 72 Waterfalls (small group/6 hours)
Switzerland

Do this for sure!!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on May 23, 2024

Hello Bo,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback,
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland and make you discover our beautiful mountains and Swiss culture :)
I am glad you liked the e-bike, this is definitely one of our favorite activity 😍
See you soon,
Valentine

Switzerland is Amazing!
Switzerland | Mar 26 - Apr 9, 2024

Glen
Glen P.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no... Read more

My wife and I had round trip plane tickets to Geneva with no particular plans. KimKim put us in touch with Valentine who knows all about Switzerland first hand. She asked us a few questions about our budget and what we liked to do and see. Valentine put together an incredible itinerary covering Geneva, Zermatt, Interlaken, Lugano, Luzern, Bern, and Montreux. All hotels were within walking distance of train stations, and getting around with the handy Swiss Travel Pass was no problem.

Switzerland is such a diverse and beautiful country. The Swiss Alps are breathtaking. Especially memorable was our view of the Matterhorn in Zermatt. Valentine set us up with a private guide, Patricia, in Lugano. Patricia put together a food tour highlighting the local Italian cuisine. The next day, she took us on a hike along the shore of Lake Lugano to Gandria, a charming little village, followed by lunch at one of the grottoes across the lake (Grotto Descanso) where we had an amazing meal with a stunning view.

All of these cities were wonderful in their own unique ways. This trip far exceeded our expectations. Thank you, Valentine!

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Apr 23, 2024

Hello Glen,
Thank you very much for your kind review!
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to Switzerland, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine

Our trip to Paris
France | Apr 4 - Apr 12, 2024

T
Tammy S.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service. All the people to pick us up or tours... Read more

We were extremely impressed how everything went so smoothly. Valentine was extremely helpful and communicative throughout the process. The only complaint was not getting our final itinerary with the final times so close to our departure was concerning since this was the first time we used Kimkim. I like to know everything is set a lot earlier to our trips and this made me uncomfortable, but everything went as planned, so very happy with the service.

All the people to pick us up or tours were on time. It was nice to receive messages from the drivers the night before letting us know they would be picking us up and where to meet them. Our drivers Michael and Thomas in Paris were exceptional.

Our guide Celine, for the Louvre and walking tour of Montmarte was excellent. We wished we had her for all our tours, She provided so much details about the paintings, sculptures, and history at both the Louvre and as we walked through the Montmarte area.

Our guide Alex with Alla la France tours in Amboise and Loire Valley was very informative and we really enjoyed the tours of all of the Chateau ‘s.

The Hôtel Le Manoir Les Minimes in Amboise was a beautiful hotel and located close to all the restaurants and shops in Amboise. The woman in the morning at the reception desk, we forgot to get new name, was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. We would definitely recommend this hotel.

We would definitely use Kimkim again for other travels.

Hotel Review
Manoir Les Minimes
Amboise

This hotel was perfect. Located closed to restaurants and shops. The woman at the hotel desk was extremely helpful and made our stay exceptional. Breakfast was great. All the staff were friendly and helpful. Highly recommend this hotel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Private tour of the Louvre
Private tour of the Louvre
Paris

Our guide Celine was amazing and provided such great details that we have never experienced on a museum tour before. She provided so much details about the history and things about the paintings or sculptures that we would have never heard from an audio guide. Highly recommend Celine!! We wished we had her on our tour for Versailles.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Exceptional guide!!
Private Guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel and entrance tickets to the Abbey
Private Guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel and entrance tickets to the Abbey
France

This was a great tour. We took a train from Paris to Mont Saint Michel and our driver, Samuel was our guide as well. He communicated with use the night before to let us know where to meet him at the train station and confirmed the time. He was great. He provided information about the towns as we drove through them. Provided great details about the people, island and Abbey. We would not have gotten the same experience from an audio guide. This was probably our favorite place. Wish we could have stayed to see the tide come in. Maybe next time!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the château
Chambord, Chenonceau & Lunch at the château
France

Our guide, Alex was excellent. She was very informative and it was nice the tour was a small group. The lunch at the private Chateau was nice and helped to understand what owners have to go through to live in one. We enjoyed all the chateau’s and all are different. Only complaint was the meeting point information on the vouchers was a little confusing, because it showed two different meeting points on it, because they picked up people at two different locations. I should have confirmed earlier with our agent. Suggestion for Kimkim if the meeting point on the itinerary or vouchers actually said meeting point at the Office of Tourism with the address, instead just a street name.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Alex was awesome!
Transport
Villandry Castle, Azay-le-Rideau and Vouvray Vineyards
Villandry Castle, Azay-le-Rideau and Vouvray Vineyards
France

This tour was ok, probably not the best of all our tours. Kimmy, our guide was good. We were with a small group, all french speaking people, except us, so felt a little left out in conversations. There was a lot of driving, but our guide did not provide information about the towns we were driving through. A lot of quiet time in the van. These chateau’s are beautiful, both Azay-de-Rideau and Villandry Castle. We would have liked to been able to actually toured the inside of the Villandry Castle, not just the gardens. Maybe three hours at this location, since we must do lunch on your own or given the option. The gardens were spectacular and you definitely can spend a hour in the gardens. The Vouvray Vineyards tour was good, we enjoyed the detailed about the winery and how they make their wine. Wine was excellent. We enjoyed this tour except we think driving out to see the grape vines could be skipped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris Dinner Cruise
Paris

A little disappointing, not really impressed. We did not get to see all the river scenes due to the river high. Also the dress attire. Everything stated formal attire, not jeans, tennis shoes, base caps, but that was not the case. We were over dressed. Majority of people were wearing tennis shoes, jeans, and baseball caps. It was a very casual dining and not formal. The food was ok, we did not receive what we actually ordered. The music was great. The singer was excellent.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff did not check with us that we got what we ordered, just drop it off and then gone.
Transport
Taxis are charged $10 to get in the gate to drop you off and then you have to pay that, which is ridiculous! Should be a place for taxis to drop off or pick up without this additional charge to the people. Our charges with taxi when leaving.
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Montmartre Artistic & Picturesque Life (private/2hours)
Paris

Excellent guide, Celine. Highly recommend her for tours. She provides such insight on the history and art. She was good about making sure we did not over do with the hills, so it was a nice and slow walk through the district to the top to see the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. We really enjoyed the walk with Celine!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Celine was awesome!!
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris

This tour we were on our own, but the instructions and skip the line was fantastic and everything went smoothly. Definitely recommend the summit to the top and skip the line!!

Quality of Experience
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Apr 23, 2024

Hello Tammy,
Thank you very much for your detailed review.
We noted all your feedbacks on the tours. It will help us to improve our services and refine our selection of activities.
It was a real pleasure to organize your trip to France, we hope that you came back home with a lot of memories in mind.
See you soon in Europe,
Best,
Valentine

Our trip was very well organized with every detail attended to...
Switzerland | Aug 29 - Sep 25, 2023

Karen
Karen R.
Scottsdale, AZ | Reviewed on Oct 06, 2023
Our trip was very well organized and the attention to detail helped us every step of the way. We contacted KimKim with a request and a general outline of the places we'd like to see and the length of time we intended to spend traveling. Our specialist worked with us to refine the details, arranged our accommodations, our travel and numerous tours at each stop. She also made suggestions about places of interest and restaurants at the spots where we didn't book a guided tour. We climbed, hiked,... Read more

Our trip was very well organized and the attention to detail helped us every step of the way. We contacted KimKim with a request and a general outline of the places we'd like to see and the length of time we intended to spend traveling. Our specialist worked with us to refine the details, arranged our accommodations, our travel and numerous tours at each stop. She also made suggestions about places of interest and restaurants at the spots where we didn't book a guided tour. We climbed, hiked, kayaked, cycled and sampled local cuisine. Our hike to Kliene Scheidegg and the bike tour of Lauterbrunnen were lovely. It was our first taste of wild garlic and we loved it! We traveled through Switzerland and Northern France ending in Paris. Kimkim made it the trip of a lifetime.

Activity Reviews
Swiss Travel Pass
Swiss Travel Pass
Switzerland

This was genius! It allows you to travel everywhere using any means of transportation. It seemed a little pricey at first until you realize everything it does for you. Highly recommend!

Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Panorama Hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
Switzerland

The views available on this walk are amazing, the trail is uncrowded and the air is pristine. So much fun!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Oct 07, 2023

Bonjour Karen,
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, it was a real pleasure to organize your 25-day combined trip to Switzerland & France! I hope you had a great time!
See you soon in Europe,
Valentine

We were very happy with our decision to use K...
France | Sep 20 - Sep 27, 2023

Brenda
Brenda J.
Albuquerque, NM | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2023
We were very happy with our decision to use Kimkim and would do you again. Valentine understood what we had in mind and came up with a program that was perfect for us. She told us we would need a rental car, which we hadn't realized but was really essential, and she organized a perfect small car for us, an automatic, a hybrid, very easy to drive. She suggested excursions we could do, all of which were great, as was the guide (Anne) with that company. And she, Valentine, was very responsive to... Read more

We were very happy with our decision to use Kimkim and would do you again. Valentine understood what we had in mind and came up with a program that was perfect for us. She told us we would need a rental car, which we hadn't realized but was really essential, and she organized a perfect small car for us, an automatic, a hybrid, very easy to drive. She suggested excursions we could do, all of which were great, as was the guide (Anne) with that company. And she, Valentine, was very responsive to all queries. There was one small glitch when we checked into the hotel, but she quickly sorted that out. All in all, a great experience and we would recommend Kimkim to others.

Hotel Review
La Maison des Peyrat
Sarlat La Canéda

This is a lovely hotel, 14th century building with lots of charm, as well as (in our case at least) a 21st century bathroom! The owners are delightful and very helpful. My only hesitation is the location. One needs to know that the hotel is up a very steep hill and there's no food available at the hotel in the evening, so one either has a steep climb up after dinner or the problem of finding parking every evening. Apart from that, we loved the hotel and would recommend it.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Villages of Dordogne Valley Half-Day Trip From Sarlat
Villages of Dordogne Valley Half-Day Trip From Sarlat
France

The Dordogne Valley Half-Day Trip from Sarlat was a delight. We enjoyed touring the villages and the experience of being in a small group was ideal. We were guided by an excellent guide named Ann for the majority of the time. She was knowledgeable and engaging, and I would absolutely recommend her to future travelers.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sarlat Market Visit & Dordogne Gourmet Culinary tour (small group/2 hours)
Sarlat Market Visit & Dordogne Gourmet Culinary tour (small group/2 hours)
France

The market visit and culinary tour in Sarlat was a fun experience. We enjoyed the mix of being on our own and also having guided tours. The small group setting was appreciated and made the experience more intimate. Our tour guide was fantastic and made the experience enjoyable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Paleolithic Art of the Dordogne Shared Full Day Trip From Sarlat
Paleolithic Art of the Dordogne Shared Full Day Trip From Sarlat
France

The Paleolithic Art full day trip was another enjoyable experience. Being in a small group allowed us to ask more questions and get more out of the trip. Our guide, Ann, was exceptional and greatly enhanced our experience. I would highly recommend her and this tour to future travelers.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rocamadour Half-Day Trip From Sarlat
Rocamadour Half-Day Trip From Sarlat
France

The Rocamadour half-day trip was a wonderful experience. We had a different tour guide for this trip, and while he was good, he didn't quite compare to Ann. Nonetheless, the trip was enjoyable and the views were stunning. I would recommend this tour to future travelers.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Sep 28, 2023

Bonjour Brenda,
Merci beaucoup for your review!
It was a pleasure to organize your getaway in Dordogne.
See you soon in Europe, I would be very happy to organize your trip again,
Valentine

Great first-time trip to Europe
France | Aug 26 - Sep 3, 2023

T
Tyler M.
East Hartford, CT | Reviewed on Sep 10, 2023
Valentine helped us to plan an amazing first time trip to France for us! We really enjoyed all of our tours by A la FRANÇAISE in each city! Read more

Valentine helped us to plan an amazing first time trip to France for us! We really enjoyed all of our tours by A la FRANÇAISE in each city!

Hotel Reviews
Maison Armance
Paris

This hotel was one of our favorites of the trip! The hotel staff & amenities were top notch!

Authenticity & Character
The decor and all of the staff
Location
Close to restaurants, sites and the metro
Staff
They were friendly and thoughtful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hôtel de l’Horloge
Avignon

The hotel was right in the center of town so it was easy to walk everywhere we needed to go!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Maisons du Monde Hôtel Marseille Vieux Port
Marseille

The hotel was within walking distance to pretty much everything!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The room had a little bit of a smell to it like food and the floor wasn’t super clean but overall, we enjoyed our stay!
Novotel Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Tremblay-en-France

This hotel was probably one of the worst we have stayed in. The location was convenient as it was in the airport terminal. We had to change rooms as our air conditioning was broken. The room we changed to had water leaking from the ceiling and the response from the front desk was that they knew. The room wasn’t very clean also. The hotel restaurant was also concerning as we witnessed several people complaining about their food so we ate elsewhere.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Commented Cruise on the Seine (audio guided)
Commented Cruise on the Seine (audio guided)
Paris

We loved this boat tour! Got to see Paris from a different angle

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris

We added these tickets last minute and they did not disappoint!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Palace of Versailles Half-Day Trip including transportation from Paris, Skip-the-Line Access and Audio-Guide
Palace of Versailles Half-Day Trip including transportation from Paris, Skip-the-Line Access and Audio-Guide
Paris

We wish this tour was a few hours longer! We had to get an audio guide but felt rushed in each room as there was so much to see! We loved the inside of the palace and loved the gardens even more!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Paris

The guide we had was awesome! We loved it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable & super nice
Transport
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Murders and Mysteries of the Louvre
Paris

This tour was fun & we learned quite a bit but I think we were under the impression the “murders & mysteries” part was something different. We had a great time regardless!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Avignon Private Guided Walking Tour with a Licensed Guide
Avignon Private Guided Walking Tour with a Licensed Guide
Avignon

We really enjoyed the 1:1 tour through Avignon! We got to ask so many questions and learn so much!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our tour guide was amazing! She gave us so many great tips, recommendations
Transport
The Best of Luberon in an Afternoon
The Best of Luberon in an Afternoon
Avignon

We really loved the Luberon! The tour guide and group was great as well!

Quality of Experience
All of the amazing sites!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide, bastian, was great!
Transport
Full-day e-bike tour in the Alpilles region (small group from Aix-en-Provence or Avignon)
Full-day e-bike tour in the Alpilles region (small group from Aix-en-Provence or Avignon)
France

We loved the e-bike tour for the most part! The only thing we think may be done better is returning the bikes and then walking through the village/town. We loved the olive oil tasting and wish it was a bit longer!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half-day Calanques tour from Marseille (small group tour)
Half-day Calanques tour from Marseille (small group tour)
Marseille

This boat tour was one of our favorite parts of the trip to Marseilles! We loved the entire experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Jean-Luc was amazing!
Transport
Cooking class in Marseille with lunch included
Cooking class in Marseille with lunch included
Marseille

We would have liked to see the menu options before as one of us doesn’t care for seafood but the entire experience was worth it! We loved the chef!

Quality of Experience
Our group & chef
Food
The appetizers & wine were our favorite. One of us doesn’t like seafood but the meal was good!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Sep 12, 2023

Good morning Tyler,
Thank you very much for your review!
It is always important to read your comments in order to improve our future services.
We hope you enjoyed your holiday in beautiful France.
Have a lovely Summer season & see you soon in Europe,
Valentine

A wonderful and fun trip to France
France | Aug 5 - Aug 19, 2023

I
Indhu S.
Sri Lanka | Reviewed on Aug 21, 2023
We had a super experience! Valentine was very helpful, knowledgable and accomodated all our requests during the planning and booking of the trip. Everything was organised in a very short time period (7 to 10 days before the trip). Also, we really appreciated that she was available to us throughout our trip in France and we were able to reschedule some private transfers and one tour. The tour guides were very knowledable and interesting. The travel including private transfers, internal flight... Read more

We had a super experience! Valentine was very helpful, knowledgable and accomodated all our requests during the planning and booking of the trip. Everything was organised in a very short time period (7 to 10 days before the trip). Also, we really appreciated that she was available to us throughout our trip in France and we were able to reschedule some private transfers and one tour. The tour guides were very knowledable and interesting. The travel including private transfers, internal flight and train rides were all well organised. Perhaps one area of improvement would be that we would have liked a little more transparency with the costs of the individual tours and private transfers. Overall, we had a great expereience! Thank you.

Hotel Reviews
B&B Domaine de l'Isle
Chenonceaux

It was a very pretty and charming place but located a little far from restaurants.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Renaissance Aix-en-Provence Hotel
Aix-en-Provence
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Commented Cruise on the Seine (audio guided)
Commented Cruise on the Seine (audio guided)
Paris

The boat was very crowded but we saw the basic highlights of Paris. It was sometimes difficult to follow the audio guide

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Saint-Germain-des-Prés Pastry and Chocolate Tour
Paris

This was quite an interesting experience and in addition to being introduced to some of the better pastry and chocolate shops, the guide also took us to some of the churches in the area. Sampling the pastries and chocs was also grerat!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Skip the line Eiffel Tower Summit Tickets
Paris

Amazing views of Paris from the Summit. Also, felt great to reach the top of one of the most famous structures in the world. Guide was also interesting and fun.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A Magical Day at Disneyland Paris
A Magical Day at Disneyland Paris
France
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver was very friendly and accomodating
Louvre Private Family Adventure
Louvre Private Family Adventure
Paris

Guide was very good and made it interesting for the kids.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loire Valley Wine tour to Vouvray - Afternoon
Loire Valley Wine tour to Vouvray - Afternoon
France

Very informative guides and enjoyed the scenic drives!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Canoë under Chenonceau Castle
Canoë under Chenonceau Castle
France

Great views of the Chenonceau castle and it felt good to do something active

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chateau de Chenonceau Loire Valley Castle - Entrance Tickets
Chateau de Chenonceau Loire Valley Castle - Entrance Tickets
France

Good audio guide

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Private Tours of the French Riviera
Private Tours of the French Riviera
France
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Aug 23, 2023

Bonjour Indhu,
Thank you very much for your review!
All your remarks are very important and helpful for us, in order to improve our services.
We hope you enjoyed your family trip, it was a pleasure to organize it quite last-minute.
See you soon in Europe,
Valentine

My son and I traveled around France for 2 wee...
France | Aug 8 - Aug 19, 2023

Dianne
Dianne M.
Colorado Springs, CO | Reviewed on Aug 20, 2023

My son and I traveled around France for 2 weeks. I was anxious about planning the trip but Valentine made it stress free. She was easily accessible and answered all my concerns very timely, making changes I requested, listening to what we wanted and arranging the trip perfectly! The accommodations and tours she arranged were better than expected. I would definitely recommend her and use the services for any future travel.

Local specialist: Valentine Julien
Valentine
Valentine Julien
Local specialist in Villefranche sur Saône | Replied on Aug 22, 2023

Bonjour Dianne,
Merci beaucoup for your review!
It was a real plaesure to organize your Mother & Son trip to South of France.
Hope you cameback home with a lot of souvenirs in mind.
Have a lovely Summer Season, and see you soon in Europe,
Valentine