Testimonials

Dear Dawn, Our trip to Provence with you was a trip of a lifetime! We are now convinced small group travel with a local tour guide is the only way to travel. We were spoiled rotten! We absolutely loved not having to drive or plan our days, although we appreciated having input into the itinerary. Of course we enjoyed all the sights and sounds of Provence. And with Sharon as our local guide, we got the ‘insider’s view’ which was fantastic. The villa was gorgeous. We loved having a relaxing breakfast there before heading out for the day. And we really enjoyed having the chefs come to us in the villa for a few nights for a casual and delicious dinner on the beautiful patio. Wow! Dinner on our own, with your recommendation and reservation, was a nice touch. The romantic dinner on our own in the garden at La Table d’Yvan was divine. And having the market day on our own was fun too. The trip was the perfect pace, with just the right amount of touring, tasting, and relaxing. Thank you so much for pampering us and giving us this wonderful experience, Lisa and Roger

What a marvelous trip we had with Dawn’s Provence, “Simply France with Dawn.” The relaxed pace of life in southern France was a refreshing change from the experiences we have had in Paris or Normandy. Provence seems to be one beautiful, quaint, historic small town after another, with significant Roman artifacts and art at each stop. Lunches outside in town squares were culinary delights that both refreshed us and prepared us for the afternoon strolls through French history. The wonderful experience continued when we returned to our villa each day. It was a true home and freed us from the confines and restrictions of hotel rooms or ship cabins – and the beds were soooo comfortable. Two fine cooks prepared fine French cuisine several evening in the villa, as well as late afternoon palate delights to compliment fine French wines we experienced every day. Of course each day featured wineries, or fig farms, and markets. We definitely plan on doing another “Simply France with Dawn” again.

I took the Provence trip with Dawn in September. The tour was so much fun, with visites to spectacular Roman sites, wineries and great restaurants. There was a great mix of guided walks and free time on this trip. Our Accommodations were beyond my expectations! The villa was very comfortable and beautiful; I considered playing hookie one day to just enjoy the surroundings. One (of many) highlights was a class with an American guide who has made it her life’s mission to learn and teach everything possible about French wines. Her class was very educational; you would probably learn something new even if you think you know all about wine. I was overcome by the food experience! Each meal was so delicious and unique it was impossible not to over indulge. I am looking forward to seeing what other tours Dawn will design in the future.

We have nothing but rave reviews for Simply France with Dawn. Our group of 4 adults traveled in early October 2016 using an itinerary specifically tailored to our personal requests. We asked for a food and wine vacation with the addition of local cultural activities. We did not want to spend much time in wineries because we had done that on numerous other trips. Dawn designed the perfect trip for us. We went to local markets, attended cooking classes, and toured beautiful Roman ruins and villages. Dawn arranged for Sharon, an American expert on Rhone wines, to visit the villa for a private tasting and very educational discussion on about Rhone wines. We visited an olive oil farm and sampled olive oils with the owner and also toured a lavender museum. Two local chefs (Anna and Vee) prepared meals for us at the villa and entertained us with their bubbly personalities. The villa was stunningly beautiful – huge rooms, outdoor living areas, lovely bedding, and well appointed bathrooms. The food and wine were amazing during the whole trip – at the villa, local restaurants, and at the cooking classes. We flew into Marseille which is a great choice if you fly TAP Airlines because you can schedule up to a 5 day free stopover in Lisbon. Dawn and Scott are marvelous, warm-hearted hosts who made us feel at home. They shared their love of Provence and we all fell in love too. This trip is not the normal 24-30 people in a bus visiting the sights but rather a cozy home away from home experience with marvelous food, wine, and gorgeous countryside.

Traveled to Provence last October with 2 close friends for a week with Dawn and Scott. From the time they picked us up in Marseilles until they dropped us off at the airport, we had the most incredible time. Dawn and Scott are the penultimate hosts! They couldn’t do enough for us, including fresh croissants every morning. Everything was catered to what we wanted to do. Our villa was magnificent, with an incredible view. Every excursion was well thought out. We had a picnic in an olive grove, gourmet meals prepared for us, a private cooking lesson and a private baking lesson. And, of course, great French wine!If you ever have the desire and time for an unforgettable trip, definitely go with Dawn and Scott.