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Booking your Reservation

Our Tour "Themes"...

The Bike Tour
The Roman & Castle Tour
Art and Beach Tour
Camargue and Féria Tour
Le Lubéron Tour
The Wine Crush Tour
The Fall Colors Tour
The Marmiton Cooking Class
The Avignon Festival Tour
The Senior Tour of Provençe
American Student Tour of Provençe
Abbeys and Cathedrals of Provençe
The Dive Trip

Other...

Pictures of the Parish House
The Manse
The Cloisters
Doing Business in France
Products of Provençe
Links

BOOKING YOUR TOUR RESERVATION

This is the most important page of our website. If you've decided that a Parish Tour sounds like your kind of experience, and are ready to book it now, talk to us or leave a message at 970.241.5034. It is absolutely essential that we talk to you, and ask you some additional questions. Please send us an email answering the 3 Questionnaire requests under the "Talk to Us" button. From May until September, it is preferable to EMAIL US so that your questions are answered directly from France.

We will confirm your choice of Parish House Suite, your period of travel, method of payment, that you understand our "B&B Style" of touring and that you have read the contractual terms. 

Pricing: Frommer's has called us "the best deal in the South of France", about $220 per day versus $440 per person on a full-priced guided tour. We take you EVERYWHERE in Provence, no one takes you to as many places. The Parish House is a Bed & Breakfast atmosphere, but luxurious in that each guest gets his own floor, for complete privacy and independence. No chocolate on your pillows, here, however. We immerse you in the Provence culture. In American English we explain what makes the Provence culture so unique. 

We fill up each year. It is important that you do not sign up for our tour strictly on the basis of price. It is important that all guests have read this Website in-depth, and understand that "Like-mindedness" is the insurance policy that insures a great convivial time. We cater to the value-conscious, like us. You get a tour that is unbeatable at twice the price... we keep the price low because we want to cater to people who like a bit of adventure, like us, and who like to "keep it simple". 

Come on our tour if you need a little adventure in your life. Come on our September-October tours if you are a gourmet, opera buff, museum-person. Come in JULY-AUGUST if you need a little adventure in your life, like jazz and dance, want the lavender in fragrant bloom, the sunflowers popping, have children you want to introduce to France and want additional (free) beach-time (82 hours of touring). Come in April if you like red poppy fields galore. Come in May-June if you like gardens, springtime flowers, and wine.

Our approach is simple & straightforward: We protect our guests, and promote a cooperative family atmosphere. We do not cater to people who should be on large coach tours. We pair you with 7 other "Like-Minded" explorers of Provence. We take all your suggestions, incorporate them into a "tailored" small tour, and then we lead you into what we think you will like. Our approach is designed to promote independence, and protect your tranquility.

The payment is just as simple: 1/2 down check holds your place for 2 wks, enough time to make your own flight reservations and get travel insurance, which we recommend for your peace of mind. We help you choose the most efficient flights and trains to Avignon. We know the schedules better than any travel agent. Only after full payment is received is your reservation "firm". After full payment (due within 90 days of departure) we refund only when your slot is subsequently filled. 

If you are single there is a $400 Single Supplement. There is a security damage & key deposit of $50 upon arrival, refunded at departure if you leave your suite in good order and without breakage. 
We send you a mandatory-reading 24-page LEGUIDE: "Guide for The Parish & Avignon/Provence" with advice on how to really exploit your Days Off, insights into Provence, some of the touring conditions (e.g., no eating in the Van, no smoking except on balconies, shutters closed at night, no loud music), and recommendations on how to "hit the ground running". 
We highly recommend travel insurance for your ease of mind ($150). We take your deposit and you have 2 weeks to arrange your flight (see "Travel Tips" button). We help you make all the arrangements as a part of our service. We can help you find a hotel in Paris. You can have an easy and pleasant Paris visit, if you fly into Charles de Gaulle Airport, take the airport train directly to Avignon (~2.5 hrs), then visit Paris on your way out. Or, you can fly directly to Avignon Airport from Paris. 

Seasoned World Travelers are our most satisfied customers. They've looked for value all over the world and know how to dispense with the nonsense of tour and travel hype. They understand the value of local knowledge. They like to be introduced and talk to real people, the very essence of our tour. And they like our American Ambiance, the feel of being "at home", and the benefits of an American Host explaining the Provence style-of-life.

The 2008 pricing for the Tours of Provence is as follows:

Reserving: Reservations are not "confirmed" until fully paid. You may "reserve" with a half-down payment. Full payment is due within 90 days of departure. For immediate "firm confirmation" over the telephone you can opt to pay via Cashier's Check or Money Order (we do not take credit cards); If you choose this option, call us and tell us that the check is in the mail, then at date of mailing your reservation is confirmed and solid. 
Therefore if you want to go, the order of usiness will be to: 

A) Call or email us to determine availability. Ours is a word-of-mouth business. Call early in the year for the best availability & best chances of "customizing" your tour. If you are sending a money order or Cashiers Check, you're confirmed on the date of your call. 

B) Ask us for advice before Paying for your Flight. British Airways (BA.com) has very good connections to Lyon, if you are not visiting Paris. Lufthansa and BA have good flights to Marseille (40 min away). Delta has good deals through Nice and is the most convenient airline into Paris. I recommend a consolidator in NY at 1-800-247-6578, if you have no travel agent.

C) Send Payment to our address in Colorado. Cashier or Bank Checks are preferred, they make things simpler for us, and we repay you for the effort with a complimentary chilled bottle of champagne or wine selection of your choice upon arrival. We pool everyone's champagne and then have a complimentary "Champagne Party" on the Manse terrace, overlooking the Palace of the Popes and the tiled rooftops of Avignon. Its our way of saying "thank you" for seeing all the advantages of The Parish House Tour. We then confirm receipt and send "LeGuide". You sign the Agreement to Tour.

Groups of 6 or more are highly encouraged. Not only do you have more fun in your own group, but we increase the tour time to 82 hours and host a champagne party on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the illuminated Palace of the Popes, on the first night of your arrival.

For more information, please contact me at:

toursofprovence@aol.com

or call

970.241.5034