Tag: France

Rating: 5/5. My husband and I are frequent visitors to the Luberon area of Provence and lived there for six months a few years ago. Now we lead small group tours several weeks each year and share our love of the Luberon with others.

We first visited Domaine Faverot when we lived in Provence. Local friends had recommended the wine, and we stopped by for a tasting and to buy a few bottles. The owner Francois Faverot (half British/half French) greeted us warmly and helped us learn more about the wines produced in the Luberon valley. A few weeks later we scheduled a tasting with some friends visiting from the USA. That was the beginning of our connection with Francois and Sally Faverot and their beautiful wine estate located near Maubec. We now take our groups to Domaine Faverot for a tour, tasting and lunch, and it’s a highlight of our week. Read the rest of this entry »

Rating: 5/5. We stayed a week in this beautiful apartment in the old town of Menton. It overlooks the beach, harbor and Garavan area of Menton. Right out the door was main street of the old town of Menton – Rue Longue.

The owner has restored the apartment and has fully equipped it with all amenities. The building is from the 17th century but has been modernized. The original frescoes are still on the ceiling. The apartment is on the second floor and accessed via stairs.

There are two bedrooms. The main bedroom has a double bed and is decorated in lovely red toile fabric. The second bedroom has a smaller trundle bed. In the bathroom, there is a full shower and a separate WC.

The living room had ample comfortable chairs and sofa. It was a very large room and a full dining table was also in the room but it did not feel crowded. The windows have a gorgeous view toward Italy. Read the rest of this entry »

Rating: 5/5. This is a gourmet’s delight. The owner loves to cook and has renovated this stone farmhouse in a small hamlet in the Luberon. He has equipped the kitchen with everything a cook would want. In addition to the 5 burner gas range, there is also a dishwasher and a fun Smeg refrigerator. He grows heirloom tomatoes and left us a wonderful basket of fresh tomatoes. He will also deliver your first morning breakfast.

The whole apartment has been loving restored. Upstairs is a large bedroom with a queen bed. Next to it is a small reading room with a twin bed. The bathroom has a wonderful walk-in tiled shower and a glass bowl sink. Fluffy towels and great linens in the bedroom. The living room has a TV, MP3 player and a good stock of guide books.

There is a metal staircase between the two floor. I would not recommend it if you have any mobility issues or if you have a small child.

It is located near the small village of Lioux and there is a lovely vista of the Falaise above Lioux from the garden outside the rental. It was a little cold when were there mid-October otherwise it would have been great to sit in the garden and have our morning coffee. It is not far to the villages of Roussillon and Joucas. A supermarket is just a bit farther in Apt. It was also an easy drive to L’Isle sur la Sourge, Orange and Lourmarin. The owner lives in another area of the hamlet and is available if you have any questions.

If you are looking for a country house for two, this is a great house.

Further information

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No rating. I have booked an apartment in Paris with this agency for our summer 2009 trip. We have not stayed there yet, but I wanted to comment on how good the agency was to work with through the booking process. They answered my many questions, helped me make my decision and even sent me information on vegetarian restaurants in Paris. Payment was easy – mailed a check to their US office. They have local staff in Paris who will check us into the apartment when we arrive.

Further information

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By Anthony Grant

Museums are great — and probably an almost mandatory part of any Paris vacation — but I have to confess that sometimes my favorite part is the gift shop. It’s like you get all the museum’s greatest hits in one little space, and you can buy them, too. The same principle applies to museum restaurants. Granted, you’re not going to find Michelin-starred cuisine at the places on my list, but so what? It’s absolument fabuleux to spend a few hours taking in cultural treats and then eat some too — even a humble café-style restaurant takes things to the next level in Paris. Check these out:

1. Musée d’Orsay restaurant. Probably my favorite. In an ornately gilded room squarely located on the museum’s middle level, you’ll find a great menu du jour and service that is just charming. Don’t forget the museum is closed on Mondays.

2. Musée des Arts Decoratif: Le Saut du Loup. This is the very non-traditional restaurant of a museum that is located in a wing of the Louvre but is officially separate from it. Translated, it’s “the wolf’s jump,” and the space is chic and sober. Expect creative cookin’ and save room for the “Confusion of Meaning” dessert: a marvelous mélange of rose and pistachio ice creams, citronelle and raspberry sorbets and Chantilly whipped cream. Read the rest of this entry »