Hi guys, hope you are all well and settling back into your respective time zones!
As Joe posted on WhatsApp the other day, The Tour de France bicycle race is heading into the Alps and will make the climb up Mont Ventoux in Provence tomorrow (Tuesday). The Peacock Channel has sole rights to the broadcast here in the US,,,
Having just been to the Summit of Mont Ventoux on our Provençal Classique Road Rally, you might be interested in watching this stage of the race, as it finishes at the Summit! If you don't have the "Peacock Channel" (it's a pay channel), you can sign up for it online, and yesterday we found a "Promo Code" online that gives you the first 3 months for free and the ability to "cancel at any time". So if you want to watch this Stage of the race, you'll need to sign up... Here's the Promo Code we used and it worked just fine: PEAGZ7LNYFN44OEJ6
By now, most all of us have returned back to the good ol' USA and hopefully you're adjusting well to the time zone changes... We're reminded that while it's wonderful to travel, see a bit of the world & experience different cultures, it's really nice to come back home, see our loved ones, our kittens & puppy dogs, and sleep in our own beds!Terese & I feel so very blessed to get to do what we do... and with our Tour Groups being so small, we tend to make friends and we love to keep in touch with our guests... A few of you in these groups, we've known for years... And it was so nice to spend time with you again...
just click on any of the pics to zoom in!
And for those of you who we've more recently met, we truly hope this trip is just the beginning of a long friendship, and we hope you'll keep in touch with us and with each other! We've all shared something pretty special, and we like to think of you as part of our Adventures to Tuscany Family... We try to keep in touch with all our guests by sending out a short newsletter a couple times a year with updates on what we're doing and news on recent & upcoming Tours...
We always say that, to share your vacation pictures with your friends is nice... but to actually share your vacation with your friends is something that creates memories that will truly last forever! A virtual bond that survives thru time knowing that the group of you have taken off traveling around the globe together, experiencing some of the most awesome adventures and beautiful sights the world has to offer...
These magical moments are not necessarily measured by the experience itself, but often by our reaction to them! And when as a group, we can share those experiences and our reactions to them together, the memories increase a hundredfold! These most recent Adventures to Provence, were by all accounts, magical experiences... We had a truly magnificent Villa, some really great foods and wines, an outstanding group of people, and truly, a ton of fun!
And when we savor these memories and joys over the years, it's important to realize what these experiences mean to us, and the real joy and total impact they have on our lives... Whether tasting a new food, a different wine, a foreign language, or something as simple as dancing with someone from another culture... experiential travel expands our horizons and expands our lives to make us more dynamic individuals... We truly believe it changes your life forever...
At Adventures to Tuscany, we market our Tours as truly unique, authentic & immersive, escorted & guided, experiential adventure expeditions! This is a lot of adjectives, and can be a hefty promise, so we truly hope the Tour was everything we promised you and everything you were expecting... From our exclusive personalized BLOG... to our very unique & authentic 400 year old Provençal Villa... to immersive experiences within our group of local Provençal friends that we've developed over the years... We always say: what makes us different, makes all the difference in the world! We work hard to live up to the promises, and we truly hope you recognized & felt those differences!
Our Trips, as you know by now, are lifestyle focused... And it's a very fine line to balance our expeditions with active touring and free leisure time... Too much touring and of course guests can get fatigued... Too little touring and you might go home saying "we didn't really do much..." We try to boil it all down to "Memories." We're in the business of creating memories... So it might be that first impression that you get from that incredible cypress lined. driveway through the vineyards and olive groves... or the first time you step into that amazing post & beam Solarium and see those classic Provençal sunsets...
Or maybe our awe-inspiring Provençal Classique Road Rally passing all the bikers on our wayup the face of Mont Ventoux! There's no doubt our Champagne Toast celebration at the Summit of the mountain with our souvenir "Petites Coupes à Champagne" is one of our favorite memories! And our fabulous luncheon on the Terrace at Le Belvedere was so much fun! (we had our fingers crossed ~ this was our very first year at Le Belvedere).
There were so many other great memories and experiences as well; Arles, Le Baux-de-Provence, Carrières de Lumiéres, Le Cours de Pâtisserie, Gordes, The Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, Roussillon, our fun~filled Soirée Blanche garden-partycelebration with Mitch & Juliette... Those amazing Lavender Fields!... Our Le Cours de Pâtisserie with the souvenir aprons, The Pont du Gard... and of course our Tasting Tour & Chic~Pique-neek at Chateau Pesquie with your keepsake corkscrews! These were all the "active touring" experiences... And our more relaxing moments of our leisurely Breakfasts Buffets... our daily afternoon Champagne Swim Parties, our Happy Hours, our amazing Appetizers on the Terrace and Coralie & Fabien's wonderful Dinner Parties with those scrumptious desserts!
A great big Thank You goes out to everyone on our Adventures To Provence Team; many of whom you met, including our amazing Chefs Coralie & Fabien... their (up & coming) Pastry Chef son Nathan... and their incredibly cute daughter Appollina... Our outstanding Tour Guide Isabelle... Our amazing Sexy Duet of Mitch & Julliete... Our newest host Damien, at Le Belvedere... and at Chateau Pesquie, our incredibly beautiful & fun friend Celine... and also to the many folks behind the scenes without whom our programs and immersive experiences would not be possible! From our wine consultants & travel insurance affiliates, to our accountants and car rental affiliates, our Tour Operator Insurance providers, and our legal counsel at The National Tour Association, none of what we do would be possible without the incredible of help we receive from all these folks! And lastly we hope you had the chance during our Soirée Blanche to meet a few of our close local friends from Provence; Chantal & John Paul (Polo) and Beatrice & Luc...
We of course just want to take this moment to say Merci Beacoup to all of you, our guests, for having the sense of adventure to sign up for this truly alternative experience! We know you have choices when it comes to travel; Thank You for choosing us, and we we hope you'll consider traveling with us again in the future! Our Guest return rate is 58% and we love to reward our returning Alumni with a whole host of perks & discounts;
Alumni Loyalty Program; we offer you a $75 per person ($150 per couple) discount for every prior trip you've taken with us.
Referral Discount Program; once you've traveled with us, we offer you a courtesy referral bonus for anyone (new) that you refer to us. ($100 discount per double room booked)
Real Reviews from Real People: write a short review/testimonial for our website within the next 30 days and get another $75 discount off your next trip with us! - (one review per room). Just email it to us and we'll copy & paste it to our website... (see examples at: https://adventurestotuscany.com/reviews/ )
Early Sign Up Program - sign up for your next Tour within 60 days of the end date of your last Tour and receive another $50 per person / $100 per couple discount.
Thank You from "the bottom of our heart" (yes, right here ~ this is the bottom!) 😂
Discounts are cumulative & limited to a maximum of $500 per person / $1000 per couple (per trip)***
And with that being said, all of our 2026 Tours are filled, and we have very limited availability in 2027. If you're thinking of our Friends Food & Fun Under The Tuscan Sun Expedition, there's just a couple rooms left in 2027, but we will announce 2028 Tuscany Tours later this year, and as Alumni, you'll see these Tours announced before we release them to the public.
We really appreciate the trust you placed in us by signing up to come with us on one of our Adventures To Provence Expeditions... We hope you could tell how much we love Provence and how passionate we are about it... And like anyone who loves something dearly, we hope that the people we show it to, fall in love with it as well... We hope the trip lived up to all the promises we made you... and again, Thank You from the bottom of our hearts... You make it possible for us to live a life we are so very grateful for... and we never-ever take it for granted. Remember; "The way you choose to see the world, creates the world you see"
We love you guys! Please stay in touch with us!
So please don't think of this as "goodbye..." We like to think you're now part of our Adventures To Tuscany Family!"
All our Love, Tommy & Terese, and the whole team at Adventures to Tuscany... It's where the Magic is!
***(Adventures to Tuscany reserves the right to change our prices and the terms of our discount programs at any time... but those prices & discounts are always locked-in once you sign-up for a Tour).
So. often times folks can be a bit nervous on that first day driving in a foreign country... But let us assure you driving in France is not all that different from driving here in the USA... But there are some differences... We did not write the article below, but we think it's a good post for getting you prepared for some of those differences.
Driving by car is a great way to explore France, travel on your own schedule, and see areas of the country that are harder to access by public transportation. As an American, you’ll find that driving in France is not all that different from driving in the United States.
If you are planning to drive in France in a rental car as a tourist it’s essential to take note of the rules of the road. Let’s look at some of the key differences and important road signs so that you know what to expect when driving in France.
Can you drive in France on a US license?
As a short-stay visitor, you can drive in France on your US driver’s license. It’s not required, but its a good idea to bring an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) with you. This is simply a translation of your driving license. It is not valid on its own and must accompany your actual driving license. You can obtain one quickly, easily, and cheaply from your local American Automotive Association (AAA).
Can you rent a car in France with an American license?
You can rent a car in France with a US driver’s license. An IDP (see above) is not necessarily required. The rental agency can ask you to present an IDP, but they might not request it at all.
Each rental agency has their own terms and conditions for renting. Most car rental agencies in France impose a minimum age of 18 years (or more for certain vehicles) and at least one year (sometimes two years) of experience. Additionally, there are supplementary charges for younger drivers. Anyone below the age of 25 is generally considered a young driver.
While manual cars are very common throughout Europe, there are also options for automatic cars. The rental price for automatic cars is typically higher. It’s beneficial to shop around when choosing a car rental agency. Compare costs as well as terms and conditions.
How is driving in France different from driving in the States?
Driving in France is not too different from driving in the United States and should be fairly manageable for an American to handle. Here are a few noteworthy differences to keep in mind before getting behind the wheel. This is based on what stood out to me!
Traffic Circles
While the United States is ruled by stop signs and traffic lights, France is primarily ruled by traffic circles. Known as un rond-point in French, roundabouts are super practical, allowing for a continuous flow of traffic.
In truth, you can go around as many times as you like in order to verify signage and make sure you head off in the right direction. If you’re traveling around more than half of the roundabout, keep to the left lane (if there is one). Keep your left turn signal on until you are ready to exit. A right turn signal will allow others to know that you are exiting. Be sure to check your blind spot on the right before leaving the rotary.
Priorité à droite
Priorité à droite is a fundamental French driving rule that can cause confusion for foreigners and natives alike. The basic tenet of priorité à droite is that you must yield to cars entering from the right. In this way, even if you are driving along a main road, you might find a car suddenly pulling out in front of you from a minor road. This can be confusing (and dangerous!) for Americans who are used to having priority on a main road.
Although priorité à droite is the default rule for determining who has the right of way, there are so many signs around France indicating when it is not in effect that one wonders why they didn’t just repeal this rule in its entirety.
At a rond-point, if we’re abiding to priorité à droite, those in the traffic circle are supposed to yield to those entering. Indeed, this is the case for perhaps the most frightening of all the French roundabouts… I’m speaking, of course, of the rotary around the Arc de Triomphe. However, most traffic circles throughout France these days have a cédez le passage sign for those entering to yield to those already in the roundabout. This will probably feel like common sense to you!
A yellow square (diamond) sign means that you have the right of way and priorité à droite does not apply. Many major routes will have signs like this. When you see that the yellow square has been crossed out, priorité à droite is back in force. This is frequently the case when entering a town or village.
Another indication that drivers on the main street have priority over minor streets is if you see a solid white line on the minor road. This signifies that the driver on the smaller road needs to stop, thereby yielding to the cars already on the main street.
Right on Red? Don’t even think about it!
As you roll to a stop at a traffic light, resist the urge to creep forward in preparation for making a right turn on red. Unlike in the States, this is not the default. Right on red is not allowed in France unless otherwise indicated.
Speed Limits
Take note that speed limits are indicated in kilometers per hour (kph), not miles per hour (mph) 😉
What I find most frustrating about driving in France is that the speed limit is not always displayed. Sometimes, you’ll simply encounter a sign indicating that a certain speed limit is no longer being imposed and you can return to the normal speed limit. It’s expected that you know what type of road you are driving on and the speed limits that are associated with that type of road.
It is rare to see police pulling cars over. Speed limits are most often enforced by radars. If you’re speeding, you’ll be sent the fine by mail. This is also the case if you are renting the car. Don’t worry—They’ll forward any fines along to you!Here is a traditional radar on a French road.
This is not a big deal and certainly something you can get used to, but it can be a bit disconcerting when you’re unsure! I found that the GPS on my phone is often, but not always, accurate in displaying the speed limit. Keeping up with traffic can be a good rule of thumb as well.
Types of Roads
Autoroutes in France are highways designated by the letter A followed by numbers. They are generally the most efficient route to take when driving for a long distance across the country. The speed limit is 130 kph but this decreases to 110 kph when it’s raining. There are often tolls (péages) to use these motorways which you can pay by credit card or cash.When on an autoroute or other major motorway, you should drive on the right and pass on the left. If you are not actively passing someone, you should move over to the right lane. When there are more than two lanes, the slowest vehicles (like trucks) typically travel in the farthest right lane. In this case, you can travel in the middle lane.
Note: If you are driving in a middle lane and you see that the car behind you is flashing their lights, this could be signal that something is wrong with your car or you left a turn signal on, etc. However, what’s more likely is that they are giving you encouragement to drive a bit faster!! If you are going exactly the speed limit, consider yourself a slow moving vehicle and move over to the right lane
Routes Nationales in France are designated by the letter N followed by numbers. Routes Départementalesare designated by the letter D followed by numbers. Both are generally toll-free, yet larger and with higher speed limits than communal roads.
When in a town or rural area, communal roads can be quite narrow in some areas. It’s often necessary to pull off the road slightly in order to provide enough room for a car coming in the opposite direction to pass by.
Europe for the past ten years has been strongly discouraging single use plastics, resulting in the all too common convenience store bottle of water becoming less common and way more expensive... Here at Adventures to Tuscany, for both our Provence and Tuscany Tours we typically provisioned 3 bottles a day per guest for the week, so for our typical Provence Tour went through at least 48 bottles per day or 336 plastic bottles for just one Tour Group! When we did the math, we realized we were responsible for several thousand plastic bottles every Tour Season and unfortunately, many of these never made it to a recycling plant...
Just a small token of our appreciation...
So back a few years ago, we decided to get on board and be a little more environmentally conscious! With this in mind, that's why we gift you the small thermos we sent in the mail. As a small token of our appreciation, each guest received one of our official Adventures To Provence thermos bottles! We think you'll love these; they'll hold half a liter (17 ounces) they're super lightweight,(only 8 ounces), double walled, vacuum insulated & powder coated 18/8 stainless steel thermos' bottles... You can fill them with water, coffee or even wine, and they'll keep beverages ice cold or steaming hot for almost 24 hours...
They'll easily fit in the side pocket of your daypack and they're wonderful to take along for your daytime activities while you're with us in Provence! We're typically out all day long... It'll be late June, so it can get pretty warm, and it's nice to have something ice cold to sip on! (in late June it's common in this area of the mediterranean for temps to hit highs in the mid 90's... the day you arrive they're forecasting a high of 96).So we strongly encourage you to bring these bottles along on your trip... We put out pitchers of ice water on the Breakfast Buffet in the morning... Fill your bottle and throw it in your daypack... you'll be glad you did!
Terese & I actually fill one of ours with ice water and the other with coffee and share throughout the day! You'll find they'll also work well to fill with ice water and have at your bedside overnight while you're at The Villa! And don't worry, we think you'll find the water at our Villa, high in the rural Provençal countryside is ultra pure and tastes wonderful!
We first discovered these years ago when we were looking for something functional for ourselves, as it's not always convenient for us to stop somewhere to buy water or coffee while we're out leading our Tours... and after a few years, we decided it would be a nice gift for our guests as well... We think you'll enjoy these for many years! So many of our guests over the years tell us they use them everyday! Got one of these from a previous trip with us? Now you've got two!
Thanks again for choosing us for your Adventure To Provence! We really appreciate it & we're looking forward to spending time with you!
Tommy & Terese
We've seen the rain! best to bring a small travel umbrella...
Hi Guys, hope you are all well, and getting excited about your upcoming adventure to France!
Today we're less than 10 days out from the start of our first Beautiful Villages of Provence Expedition! Terese and I fly out in just 2 days to prepare for your arrival! And we know many of you are going over early as well, to spend a few days in other destinations before coming to meet us at Château du Soleil in Provence! It's typically at this 10 day out countdown that our guests start to get really excited and have questions... After 25 years of running OIGT (organized international group tours) multiple times a year, we understand this... and we encourage you to give us a call if we can help you with any of your planning for your trip!
Also we remind you, that there's a good chance that we've previously addressed many questions right here on The Blog! The simplest way to search The Blog is to use the "Search Box" in the very top left of your screen. To search for something, just type a keyword into the search box... So let's say you have a question about "how much to tip in France," Just type the keyword "Tipping" in the search box and all posts that address that topic will come up in the results.
Got questions about something The Blog doesn't address? Shoot us an email to AdventuresToTuscany@gmail.com... We always try to respond to emails within 24 hours... Something urgent? need a quicker answer? give us a all at 610-657-7894
If you haven't seen "A Good Year" with Russell Crowe & Marion Cotillard, we highly recommend it... This Ridley Scott movie was filmed very nearby our Villa, and many of the scenes take place in Villages we'll be visiting! (the film is loosely based on Peter Mayle's famous best-seller "A Year in Provence") It's one of our favorite movies, and we watch it every year the week before we leave for Provence... you'll typically find it on one of the streaming channels like Netflix)
Here is a traditional radar on a French road.
