The Wonders of France

First things first, welcome to France. Today, we’ll be getting you settled in at the Hotel Nolinski – a confidently cool hotel on the Avenue de l’Opéra. Its elegant interiors – all moody blues and emerald hues – come from the brain of Jean-Louis Deniot. Compact, cultured, and calm, this is really the perfect place to make your temporary Parisian home.

Today, your driver will take you to Saint-Germain-des-Prés – the historic heartland of France’s intellectual and artistic big-whigs. You’ll duck into the bookstores, boutiques, jazz clubs, restaurants, and cafes that give the area its irrepressible elan.

Later, you’ll see a different side of the city; taking a stroll through the elegantly elevated Montmartre neighborhood; a favorite among artists seeking a bird’s eye view. Taking a skyline snap here might seem obvious, but it’s really hard to resist. Go for it. Later still, as the sun begins to set, we’ll ferry you along the Seine on a private boat with some very cushy banquettes (and a bottle of champagne, of course).

First class in the TGV – it’s a rushing treat. We’re going to be taking you via Avignon to Crillon le Brave – a tiny, tumbling village with a lot of joi-de-vivre. The hidden-away Hotel Crillon le Brave will be your base for the next few days.

While in Crillon, you’ll be able to drink up the magnifique magic of this blissfully laidback place; with its chapels, vineyards, wine estates, hiking, cycling, and horse-riding. Whatever you want, we’ll set it up.

You swept through Avignon; now you’ll make your return. Home to one of the largest gothic palaces in Europe, the city has history like Manhattan has skyscrapers. Your guide is going to take you to the city’s market, too; giving you the chance to line your stomach before meeting up with a local sommelier to work your way through some of Avignon’s most famous grapes (we’re talking about Chateauneuf-de-Pape, of course).

When the day is done, we’ll speed you back to your happy home in Crillon.

Today, we’ll be making you on your way to Nice – the “pearl” of the French Riviera. With its great, soaring hills and chalkily elegant look and feel, this’s a very good reason why this opulent city has become the byword for Mediterranean beauty. For us, there’s no more perfect way to introduce yourself to the city than to stroll the promenade des Anglais (which well-heeled travelers have been doing since the 19th century) and to scale the Colline du Château, which is perhaps better known as “the cradle of the sun”.

Today, you’ll have time at leisure to soak up the museums, galleries, markets, and architecture that have made Nice such an enduring destination for so many centuries. Visits to the Musée Matisse and the Musée Marc Chagall – for those artistically inclined – are strongly recommended. There’s a reason it’s known as “Nice la Belle”, after all.