Trips - FAQs

Oooh la la… I’m ready to sign up! What’s my next step?
A 50% non-refundable deposit is due per person at registration. No reservation will be confirmed until the deposit is received. Final payment is due 90 days prior to the trip start date. For reservations made within 90 days of departure, the entire trip cost must be paid at the time of booking. We accept payment by American Express, Visa, MasterCard, and personal check. Trip prices are in US dollars.

Have you offered this trip before, and can we get some references?
Yes! And we’d be happy to give you some references. You can also read recent testimonials from others who have done the trips. Want an insider’s view of one of our trips? We’re thrilled to have been featured on "La Dolce Vita" blog, you can read the post right here.

How many people can go on the trip?
The trip is available on a first-come/first-serve basis. We need to have seven (7) guests in order to do the trip. 

I can’t stay for the full week. What arrangements can be made for me to leave early?
If you need to leave early, or arrive later than the group, we ask that you make your own arrangements to get to the train station or airport. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds if you don’t stay for the whole week.

What if I need to cancel?
Because our deposits are non-refundable, we urge all guests to purchase travel insurance. We recommend Travelex or American Express.  Please see our Booking Procedures for more information. 

How do we get to Avignon?
There are direct flights from Atlanta to Paris on Delta or Air France, and then a very convenient fast train (TGV) directly from the Paris airport. To book tickets online, visit Rail Europe. If you are going directly from the Paris airport, the train station within the airport is called CDG-Roissy. If you decide to spend a few days in Paris at the front end of the trip, the train to Avignon leaves from the Gare de Lyon in Paris. Either way, the train takes about 3 hours and is a beautiful and easy trip. We will meet you at the station in Avignon upon your arrival and take you back to the Avignon station between 7 and 9 a.m. on the day of your departure.

Who will be driving and what kind of car will we be in?
You will be driven in an eight passenger van by a local driver, and accompanied by one of your guides on all your outings.

May I rent my own car?
You may rent your own car but there will be no refund for renting a car on your own.

Are there any other charges?
We try to have everything included in your fee, but we do recommend a gratuity for your driver, if you are happy with his services. No other gratuities are necessary.

Is there internet access?
We do have wifi and high speed internet access for those who need to bring a computer. Be sure to bring a converter that works in France.

Do we need to bring hair dryers or converters?
We have four hair dryers at the house, so you should not need to bring one. It’s best to avoid bringing other electrical appliances if possible.

Do you allow smoking?
Les Murets is a non-smoking house. You may smoke on the terrace but due to dryness of the area, we ask that you be very careful when smoking on the property.

Is this itinerary set in stone? Can we vary it according to our needs?
This is a guideline and we may end up changing it, depending on the interests of the group. We have been to this area multiple times and are very familiar with all the opportunities and things to do. We also realize that one week isn’t very long and we are trying to pack as much in as possible.

We’ve noticed all dinners are at home in the evening. Can we go out one night?
You may surely go out on your own, but we have found that most people prefer to have dinner at home, where they can relax, watch the sunset, and not worry about drinking and driving along the dark and windy roads at night. Also, French dinners in restaurants tend to be much longer than we are used to and we’ve found that our American friends sometimes get impatient to go home. Plus, we think part of the fun and camaraderie comes from hanging out in the kitchen and helping to make dinner.

Will I be expected to pitch in and help around the house?
Yes and no. We’ve always found that when groups of women travel together, the preparations are fun, everyone pitches in with a glass or two of wine and the kitchen ends up spotless! During these trips, we will have food catered several nights during the week by a remarkable chef who makes wonderful tarts, veggies, meat or fish, and a lovely dessert. We always fill in with fresh foods from the market, including salad, cheeses, fruit and bread. On one or two nights, we will just have a light meal of leftovers with salad and/or soup and cheese (often everyone’s favorite meal!) and specialties from the markets, such as olives, tomatoes, cherries or strawberries, depending on the season. So the dinner preparations are easy, fun and delicious. If you want to pitch in, you’re welcome to. But if you want to sit by the pool and read a book, you are welcome to do that too.

Do I need to be physically fit?
You don’t need to be fit, but you should definitely have comfortable shoes. We usually travel with only two pairs of shoes (we figured out a long time ago that nothing takes up more room in a suitcase than shoes), and one of them is terribly ugly but comfortable, while the other one serves its purpose in dressier situations. Comfort is key. Remember, the reason French women don’t get fat is because they walk everywhere. We guarantee that you won’t gain weight if you act like a French woman during this trip, and eat only what you love and walk everywhere! We won’t be doing any heavy duty hiking, unless you want to. So it’s just important to be prepared and to be as comfortable as possible.

What will the weather be like?
Of course it’s impossible to predict the weather. But in May and June, temperatures usually vary between mid 60’s and mid 80’s with some wind. The same goes for September. It’s always smart to bring layers, because the days are often quite cool in the mornings and a little brisk in the evenings, although they can get pretty hot during the day. Here’s a tip: Travel lightly! You won’t need many clothes and you don’t want a heavy suitcase, especially on the train. The South of France is very casual and you don’t need to dress up. And there is a washer and dryer at the house. It is so much better and easier to pack lightly than to bring too much. Trust us, you will thank us for this advice!

I would like to put together my own trip. Is this possible and will you manage it for us?
Yes, we would be happy to do this! We offer a "Build your own trip" to Paris and Provence, with 3 nights in Paris and 5 nights in Provence for $30,000, and a Provence Only trip, which includes 6 nights in Provence for $26,000. The maximum number of people for this trip is eight. If there are eight, instead of seven, our leader will not accompany you on day trips in Provence, but we will make all the necessary arrangements with our driver and tailor the trip to your desires. Please call us for dates and details.

I’m interested in going to Les Murets with my own group of friends and family. Is the property available for rent?
Yes, it is. Please just contact huffsinfrance@yahoo.com and we’ll let you know if it’s available. Rental fees range from $4,500 to $8,000 per week, depending on the season. You may also book a week on your own, and have us do all the planning and reservations, but not accompany you. There is a special fee for this service.