luxurytravelconsultant2.com Blog

The best of Normandy in just three days.

Administrator — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 03:40:15 +0000

Citroen 1950 rentals at Vintage Roads

Normandy is always at its best in the fall, when the crowds have gone and it is the best way to enjoy this beautiful region. Here is a classic itinerary, first rent a 1950’s Citroen from Vintage roads ( 16 rue Charles Despeaux, Chatou; 33-6/08-85-38-31),http://vintage-roads.com; three days rentals fairly available for 3 to 4 people from around $ 540.00). If you are departing from Paris they will deliver your car for $ 65 fee. Follow the signs west for Normandy-bound A13, and within an hour you should be near the exit for Vernon, a few miles away from Giverny. It is a bit touristy but do not miss the opportunity to see the Claude Monet Foundation, ( 84 Rue Claude Monet, Giverny; 33-2/32-51-28-21; http://foundation-monet.fr and its gardens?, the grounds stay open til November 1. Do avoid the tour buses and if you want a good meal go to the Ancient restaurant Baudy ( 81 rue Claude Monet, Giverny; 33-2-/32-21-10-03; very affordable lunch for two $ 59).After your lunch, drive an hour northwest to Rouen, a very famous site where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. You can head out to La Place du Vieux Marche, and walk through the Farmer’s market where the Joan of Arc memorial is. wander around along the cobblestoned streets to Notre Dame Cathedral, Place de la Cathedral where a very massive 14th century clock known as the Grosse Horloge, rue de la Grosse horloge and if you have a sweet tooth make a stop at La Chocolatiere, their specialty is a layered Praline Paillardise.Get back on the road and head out to Honfleur and check in at the Hotel des Loges ( 18 rue Brulee; 33-2/31-89-38-26; http://hoteldesloges.com, made of three fishermen houses. For dinner head out to Au Bouillon Normand ( 7 rue de la ville; 33-2/31-89-02-41) their three course prix fixe dinner for two is around $ 68. If you happen to be lucky and you happen to be in Honfleur on a Wednesday, go to the organic farmer’s market and get some local cheeses and cheeses before getting back on the road and heading out to Trouville-sur-mer, not as well known as its neighbour Deauville and much more down to earth as well; Le Galatee serves delicious mussels and fries, lunch for two around $42). Deauville is very nice and very trendy, a kind of resorts for the rich and beautiful, you can always look at the windows of all the high-end stores or enjoy a cup of tea at Normandy Barriere $ 12 for two. Keep going out West and do not miss the village of Asnelles, with a shop called Les Sablees D’Asnelles that specializes in Butter Biscuits ( 17 rue de Southampton). Finally you can end your day Port-en-Bessin, an unspoiled fishing town where you can buy the best the best Breton striped shirtsand also enjoy and savor every bite of a fruits de mer platter at the Bistro d’a cote ( 12 Rue Michel Lefournier) and if you want to feel like royalty you can always stay at Chateau La Cheneviere,(33-2/31-51-25-25;, an 18th- century former residence set in very expensive gardens.

Sustainable traveler and Luxury Travel Consultant2

Administrator — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:59:59 +0000

Changing the way we treat the world……

We, living in Western Europe or the US are very fortunate people and we have the resources to basically go anywhere we please.We are also responsible for the majority of the pollution, natural resources consumption and landfill waste in the world. With our fortunate position comes an individual responsibility to moderate our personal consumption and mitigate the waste we create at home as well as abroad.

What can you do when go on a tour with us?
1.
Re-hang your towels after use – Behave as you would at home. These are home, not hotels (and even the most luxurious of hotels are asking their guests to minimize water waste). Provence has been experiencing a major drought for some time, with many wells running dry. Please re-hang your towels during your stay and ask that they be washed only when necessary.
2.
Line-dry your clothes. – Provence is hot and dry in the summer. It is rare to have a dryer in Provence because they use the sun! Do as they do in Provence – hang your clothes to dry outside – it is faster than in the dryer and saves energy.
3.
Recycle while you are there – Just as you do at home. Just imagine how many empty bottles of wine a group of 15 people might produce in a week… Our villas have staff to the recycling to the bins and others ask you to do it. Collect all your recycled waste and make sure that it gets put in each village’s recycle bins. They are normally located in visible areas coming in or out of town.
4.
No need to buy bottled water – Drink the tap water… it’s great!
5.
Turn off the lights and air-conditioning when you leave for the day – Every year we get feedback from the staff that they are amazed that nobody ever turns lights off when they leave last
6.
Buy carbon credits to offset the carbon emissions produced on your trip – The funds go to renewable energy projects. It’s easy, affordable and it’s the responsible thing to do.

Be more aware of your foot print and be respectful of the environment, anywhere you are in the world. Let’s build a better and safer world for our children.

Where to eat while in Paris, Part one

Administrator — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:54:38 +0000

The dishes that define France, can be found at their absolute best in paris, if you know where to go. As an insider I can show you the way.

Hors d’oeuvres Varies a hole- in- the- wall, weekdays only lunch spot, Chez la vieille is legendary for its all-you-can eat assortment of terrines, stuffed vegetables, and salads ( Lentil, apple-and-endive) and it is just for appetizers. Thursday is the only night the restaurant serves dinner.

Main Courses, la Mascotte woos meat lovers with a more-than-half a pound Normandy rib steak one of the tastiest pieces of beef, out of this world!!, paired with bone marrow and the house fries of nearly shoestring thinness. The bistro is always full of French regulars.

Roast Chicken and mashed potatoes owned by Jacques Cagna, better known as the chef of the Michelin one-starred restaurant. La rotiserrie D’Armaille serves very succulent Free-range chicken in its own jus and silken hand-riced potatoes.

Restaurant La Mascotte in Paris

Chez la Vieille

Souffle, The old school waiters at the Souffle really get a kick out of first customers about hard-core-patrons who order a Chanterelle souffle as a first course, a Roquefort- and- Walnut souffle as an entree, and a psitachio-and-chocolate chip souffle for dessert. You really have to admire this institution that for 40 years has dedicated itself to one of France’s most monumental dishes.

Bon Appetit!

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Where to eat while in Paris, Part one. – San Francisco France Travel | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/france-travel-in-san-francisco/where-to-eat-while-paris-part-one#ixzz1Kb7f2LiS

Veggie Power in Paris

Administrator — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 03:49:32 +0000

Alain Passard, the chef & owner of L’Arpege does not look like a revolutionary – He looks more like a teacher than a chef at his famous three- star restaurant in Paris, L’Arpege. The restaurant feels more like a very elegant drawing room than the headquarters of a gastronomic inserruction. And yet , if you are lucky enough to get in and sit down at a table at one of the 12 or so tables in this temple dedicated to divine food and then open up the menu, it should not take you too long to realize just what this particular revolution is all about. At firts glance, everything seems to be as it should be. The lighting is subtle, the staff very attentive, the decor very chic, and the prices, well lets say very impressive ( be aware). But then you become serious , because this is a serious restaurant, and you want to know more about the dishes that will be wafting their way from the kitchen to your table.you can enjoy such specialties as couscous of vegetables and shellfish, lobster braised in the yellow wine of the Jura, braised monkfish in an Orléans mustard sauce, pigeon roasted with almonds and honey-flavored mead, and carpaccio of crayfish with caviar- flavored cream sauce. Although Alain Passard is loath to include red meat on his menus, Kobe beef and venison sometimes appear. He focuses on fish, shellfish, poultry, and his passion — vegetables. These he elevates to levels unequaled by any other chef in Paris. The one time I was there, a friend of mine ( American) took me out and my choice on the menu was” Grilled artichokes from Brittany perfumed with lime blossom”.

84 Rue de Varenne
75007 Paris, France
01 47 05 09 06

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Veggie Power in Paris – San Francisco France Travel | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/france-travel-in-san-francisco/veggie-power-paris#ixzz1Kb6m1iTv

Perfect weekend to Brittany

Administrator — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 05:18:28 +0000

Every smart and savvy Parisian knows that the best place to flee the frenzy of Paris for a weekend is Chateau de la Ballue, 200 miles from the city, deep in the rural tranquility of Brittany’s Ille -et- Vilaine region. This slightly eccentric and luxurious hotel was built in 1620 has welcomed the right guests. Victor Hugo began one of his last works, quatrevingt-treize, when he was a guest at the chateau in 1836. Balzac dropped by, as did the poet Alfred de Musset and more recently the American painter Robert Rauschenberg.

The chateau current owners , Alain Schrotter and Marie-France Barrere, are art dealers and former Parisian publishers. They restored the mansion in 1995, decorating the salon, bar and five bedrooms in a old world meets new world style. The room to get at the chateau is the one sunny suite overlooking the chateau’s stunningly mannerist garden with contemporary sculpture dotting the grounds, the garden is recognized by France as a national treasure.

One of the hotel Ballue’s joys is true personal attention from the owners. Schrotter and Barrere cook a great breakfast every morning- flaky croissants, jam and homemade yogurt- and if you ask in advance the owners will cook dinner using 17th- century recipes. Also you can ask Schrotter , a very accomplished bartender , mix you a parraude, a blend of creme de menthe and pernod. The taste is truly wonderful. 33-2/99.97.47.86; www.la-ballue.com

12 miles from north from La Ballue, at the top of le Mont Saint Michel is the famous 1000 -year-old abbey. Steep climb only for the hardy and best done during off season when it is not crowded. Also the village of Cancale, where you can try their oysters and scallops. All the local restaurants prepare them in local fashion -with creme fraiche. also just outside of Cancale, a seven -mile clifftop path leads to the Pointe du Grouin, with majestic views of the sea and the rugged Breton coast.

The gardens look like a scene from Edward Scissorshands

The Chateau de la Ballue in Ille -et-Villaine

One Bedroom suite at the Chateau de la Ballue

An amazing stay at the Chateau de la Ballue

Parisian Cafe Society

Administrator — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 18:12:03 +0000

Breakfast at Les Deux magots

Breakfast at Les Deux magots

: Breakfast at Les Deux magots

: Cafe Beaubourg in Paris

La Cafe Marly, Paris.

Le Cafe Marly

One of the Dame Tartine in Paris.

Cafe de Flore, Paris.

There is nothing more Parisian than sitting at an outdoor table, watching Parisians walk by. Here are a few places to pull up a chair, order a little something and take it all in.

Parisians Cafes provide ; companionship or solitude, meal or snack, black coffee or a glass of wine, noise or quiet, newspaper or blank page, here are the many options to choose from.

For new and very eager American arrivals, a cafe in Paris provides the inner rhythm of the French capital. The cafes compiled here reflect the diversity and vitality of the city’s caffeinated landscape. Some of the most interesting cafes are gathered near the Pompidou center and the Louvre.

Cafe Beaubourg. openned in the late eighties by the Costes brothers, Gilbert and Jean Louis. Cafe Beaubourg reinvented the classic Parisian cafe and established the prototype for the contemporary, fashionably and costly cafe. The Beaubourg’s menu includes foreign foods- carpaccio, spring rolls, Gazpachio, Caesar salad and brownies. Also on the menu, bagel au lox saumon cheese.

Le Cafe Marly. Housed in the Richelieu wing of the Louvre, the cafe Marly is one place I love to go to whenever I am in Paris. It’s a destination unto itself where sophisticated tourists can bump elbows of the Paris Haut Monde. The Marly’s outdoor cafe offers blue canvas chairs in a long vaulted gallery overlooking the Louvre Cour Napoleon. The cafe is also owned by the Costes Brothers and on the menu ” CheeseBurger” ( About $ 12), a wonderful beef carpaccio with arugula and an out of this world Sole meuniere.

Dame Tartine. Three dame Tartines on the short list of cafes. One is south of the Pompidou center, the other one is down the street of the Opera de la Bastille , on the third ( which goes by the name Cafe Very but has the same menu) is in a glass-and -cherrywood pavillon within the Tuileries gardens. The cuisine is prepared imaginatively and inexpensively : Cinnamon-almond chicken, Salmon with coconut milk, warm peach cake with two sauces.

Cafe de Flore. The Flore is highly regarded as a literary landmark for the three great ” isms ” of the twentieth century”: surrealism, existentialism and tourism”. Jean Paul Sartre used to spend many hours during the harsh winters of world war II. (Coffee will cost you a little bit over $ 3-). The thick hot chocolate , is too good to nurse for a long time.

Les Deux Magots. Hemingway’s former hangout. Still a great place to watch the world go by. The interior is a classic coffeehouse , distinguished by ornate moldings, crystalline chandeliers and the two grotesque Chinese dignitaries that are” the Deux Magots“. A magot is a far Eastern figurine. Menu is minimal but prices are not. Drinks are valued over food by Veteran waiters, one of the favorites, a bottle of the house champagne ( Delamotte) and the house reserve Cognac ( Hennessy privilege).

Ma bourgogne. With its terrace beneath the arcades of the Place des Vosges, Paris first royal sqare. During the winter its tables are equipped with parasols chauffants. I love Ma Bourgogne best on quiet weekday mornings, when locals and tourists stop by for breakfast. Their lunch and dinner menus are expensive.

Pause cafe. Another star of French cinema, Pause cafe was featured in the 1996 film ” Chacun cherche son chat” in the us it was released under ” When the cat is away“. The cafe portrayed itself as a relaxed hangout for a working-class neighborhood trying to cope with an afflux of artists and creative professionals. It is a hip place and is located near La Bastille area. Try their savory tarts known as “tourtes” , they have inspired a new cafe lunch trend.

My favorite Parisian obsessions

Administrator — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 22:14:10 +0000

My Favorite obsessions when I am in Paris are L’eau de Badoit, a natural sparkling mineral water. Once I read ” In the world of eau Gazeuse, Badoit is club soda what a chateau Petrus is to Boone’s farm”; No comparison whatsoever. It tastes great and has a gentel fizz that my stomach loves.

The honey at the Luxembourg Gardens. Sold only two days in September. Get there super early because it sells quickly and senators tend to buy it as Christmas presents. Around $ 19 per kilo; at the orangerie , north part of the gardens.

Gros sel gris aux Epices. I just love that salt and it makes everything taste better. $7 per bag ; Sundays at the Marche Biologique on boulevard Raspail.

Pierre Herme Paris. Laid out like jewels in this very chic and dark shop, Pierre Herme’s confections from macarons to millefeuilles – are food – Fashion. 72 Rue Bonaparte; http://www.pierreherme.com

Laduree has several shops in Paris but I just love to go to the one on 16, rue Royal. Laduree’s macaroons are out of this world and I love everything about their stores, they are like a fairy tale come true.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Some of my Parisian obsessions – San Francisco France Travel | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/france-travel-in-san-francisco/some-of-my-parisian-obsessions#ixzz1DPKrDesP

Laduree Macaron

Window at Laduree looks like a fairy tale

Laduree Pastry shop in Paris

Pierre Herme Macarons

Le large macaron stuffed with Raspberry is out of this world

Honey making at the Luxembourg Gardens

Get the honey at the Luxembourg Gardens, go there early because it sells pretty fast.

the once unfashionable rose is being taken more seriously

Administrator — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 03:29:43 +0000

The rose wines of Provence are being taken more seriously as the popularity of very good roses soars. Believe it or not , the rose wines may eventually replace white wines as the second most popular wine colour.

The quality of the rose still varies as does the range of style, the reason behind it is the vast amount of land. Vineyards stretch east from Marseille along the mediterranean coast nearly to Cannes. From the sea , the wines continue inland into the harsh garrigue ( Scrubland) and craggy mountains described in the novels of Marcel Pagnol.

About 50 Km north-east of Toulon, you will discover you will discover one of the new breed of Provence wine estates. Domaine Rimauresq stretches out on 46 hectares of prime vineyard land, with harsh mineral soils and sheltered from the very fierce Mediterranean sun by the Maures Massif mountains. The vineyard is owned by the Wermyss family, who produces white wines with lots of character from the local rolle grape and elegant reds from Sauvignon, Syrah, Carignan and Mouvedre and Grenache.

Their rose is full- bodied with fresh fruit flavours. The warm mediterranean sun ripens the grapes to perfection, while the combination of the sheltering mountains and an early morning harvest keep the wine fresh. A very pale and delicate colour is the resultof a short maceration, following the wine’s cool fermentation.

Domain Rimauresq makes wines in the cotes de Provence appelation, the largest in the region. If you are in Aix en Provence, look out for wines from the palette appelation of Bellet, where the wines are made from Italian grapes such as Braquet. Do not buy them at the airport because they are extremely expensive, just make sure that you buy them from the cellars. They are rarely exported.

Domaine de Rimauresq
Route Notre Dame des Anges
83790 Pignans
France

Telephone: +33 4 94 48 80 45
Fax: +33 4 94 33 22 31
Email: rimauresq@wanadoo.fr

North of Nice lies the small appelation of Bellet, if you happen to go there. Great roses as well!.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: The once unfashionable rose is being taken more seriously – San Francisco France Travel | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/france-travel-in-san-francisco/the-once-unfashinable-rose-is-being-taken-more-seriously#ixzz1D94tmi8D

Domaine Rimauresq produces a great Rose

Le Domaine Rimauresq

Cabernet from the domaine Rimauresq

A great Rose at the domaine Rimauresq

Champagne Vacation Lifestyle

Administrator — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:58:42 +0000

Our stay at chateau d’Etoges turned out to be an amazing stay, the staff was very friendly and very helpful and as we entered through the doors of this 17th-century chateau we felt like it was stuff of fairytales, with high ceilings, ornate antique furniture and chandeliers. The staff showed us to our room and our jaws dropped. A canopied bed, portraits on the walls, huge windows with great views across the gardens, a bathroom with a big roll-top bath were just amazingly beautiful. As we were late we were treated to a candle-lit meal of foie gras, cheeses, charcuterie, bread and salad at a table in our room, with a bottle of local red. The restaurant , situated in the Chateau’s orangerie is very chic with stunning views across the grounds, while the lounge is the perfect place to rest and unwind from the day by a roaring fire. The little village of Etoges, with its 12th-century church, is right on the doorstep. www.chateau-etoges.com

The chateau is just short driving distance of some of the best-known champagne houses. Dom Perignon, De Castellane and Pol Roger are all based in Epernay, just 25-minute drive from Etoges and we can arrange Tours and Tastings at all of them. For more information visit our website, www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com & email us anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Also visit La Cave a Champagne. This cozy dining room serves hearty dishes made with lots of regional ingredients ( accompanied by lots of bubbly stuff) it is a very popular and international gourmet lovers alike , so remember that it is safe to book ahead. www.la-cave-a-champagne.com

Also for beautiful grounds, you have to visit Chateau de Montmort, five minutes drive from Etoges. Built on the site of a medieval castle, a true Renaissance marvel, originating from the 16Th-century. Believe it or not the drawbridge is raised every evening. A museum at the stables tells the story of the local Resistance during World War II. Tours during the summer time only. www.montmort.com

: Chateau d’Etoges

: Chateau d’Etoges

: Room at Chateau d’Etoges

: Breakfast at Etoges

: La cave a champagne in Epernay

: Le Chateau de Montmort

: Moet et Chandon Champagne

Paris for every budget

Administrator — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 20:44:57 +0000

Getting around in Paris , you have different options.; The first one is the Luxury one, calling a taxi, if you are loaded with shopping bags or just tired from a day’s sightseeing then hopping into a taxi can be a much more tempting option than the metro. There are 15,300 taxis in Paris operating day and night, which can be hailed on the street. The number to call , (Fr) 1 45 30 30 30 used for all firms. All taxi cabs in Paris have an illuminated sign ” Taxi Parisien” posted on the roof and a plate fixed to the front-right hand wing bearing the license number. Tiping is not essential so it’s down to you as to wether you feel it’s necessary. For more information, visit http://www.parisinfo.com

The affordable approach , is the metro. The Paris metro system is one of the quickest and easiest way of travelling around the city. If you want an idea of journey time allow two minutes between each station and five minutes for each connection. Lines have their direction named after the last stop making it easy to navigate which direction you are travelling in. Maps are also available free of charge at ticket offices in the stations. Also maps are displayed on the platforms and at the entrance to each station. Le metro operates every day including public holidays. There are also five RER ( Reseau Express Regional) lines, A to D which run across Paris and in and out of the suburbs including Versailles and Disneyland.

Budget approach, is the velib’ . For an eco-conscious and wallet friendly way of exploring Paris, travelling by bicycle is an ideal solution. Paris is very accessible and safe for those who want to get around on two wheels. The Itineraries Paris-Petions-Velos – Rollers are very scenic areas of the city closed to cars on Sundays and holidays are worth keeping in mind when planning your route. The first 30 minutes of every rental is free and can be used an unlimited number of times, so you can hop on and off throughout out the day without paying a penny. For longer journeys a fee will apply, ( from 1 euro and 4 euros) is charged for every subsequent 30 minutes used. Also when I was there two years ago a 150 euros security deposit , pre-authorised from your bank card, is required for all short- term subscriptions. http://www.velib.paris.fr

Tours in Paris.

The Luxury Approach. What could be more glamourous than an helicopter tour around Paris’s peripherique. If you fly with Heli-Paris you will be greeted by a VIP hostess at the Heliport de Paris( in the 15th arrondissement), before taking of for a smooth flight around the city. See the Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, Les Invalides and the Montparnasse Tower from a whole different angle. Also before flying out of town over the Palais de Versailles and its beautifully manicured gardens. In 2009 this 45- minute flight cost 209 euros per person. A 30- minute flight cost 139 euros ( Discovery flight) and a 15- minute flight ( Initiation flight) , 79 euros are also available. Take your pick- http://www.helicoptere.com or call (FR) 1 41 31 33 92

The Affordable Approach

Segway. Of course Paris is the ideal city to explore on foot, but why break a sweat when you can do it by Segway, an easy- to- drive, stand- up scooter. It is a new way to tour the city. They go where pedestrians go- down small , cobbled streets and up-close to the city’s famous monnuments. City Segway Tours operates great dayTours as well as night time tours of up to eight people, which last about four hours including a refreshment stop. You will be given a ” Driving lesson” bfore you start using it so that you can master stopping, starting, turning and zooming then you are ready to go and explore Paris. Both day & night time tours cost around 70 Euros per person.http://www.citysegwaytours.com or call ( FR) 1 56 58 10 54

Also The San Francisco based travel company uses the 2CV Tours. There are few things more French than a little 2CV, so what better way to tour the capital city?, 4 Roues ( Wheels) sous 1 parapluie provides you with a Citroen, a driver and some wonderful tour options. http://www.4roues-sous-1parapluie.com or call 0800 800 631

Budget Approach. Paris is a walker’s city, its most beautiful sights hidden away from the road and only approachable a pied. Paris has countless walking tours – Visit http://www.parisinfo.com for a list of what is offered. The tours last about two hours and cost 12 Euros for adults and 10 Euros for students ( under 21) and around 5 euros ( under five). http://www.paris-walks.com

Boat Tour. Bateaux Mouches ( 10 Euros per adult) might be the traditional way to tour the Seine, but just for 4 euros or a bit more you can buy a two-day pass for the Batobus shuttle. You can hop on and hop off as many times as you like.http://www.batobus.com

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Paris for every budget – San Francisco France Travel | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/france-travel-in-san-francisco/paris-for-every-budget#ixzz1CYKL2QxU

Paris Velib Station

Visit Paris by helicopter

Segway in Paris.

2 CV tours of Paris

Segway in Paris.