ACCOMMODATIONS

We're pretty picky travelers ourselves, so we can assure you your accommodations will be elegant, efficient, and comfortable. We offer a mix of single, double, and even triple accommodations available on a first-come/first-serve basis.

For more information about our favorite home away from home, please visit Les Murets to see pictures of the house, which was recently renovated from top to bottom. We are also tickled and thrilled to have one of our favorite blogs, Cote de Texas, write a recent blog about Les Murets' coming of age. Regarding room accommodations, by French standards, the rooms are large and most have a private bath or shower. The “premium” single rooms have queen sized beds and an en-suite bathroom. The double room has two comfortable single beds and a private bath, and is also quite spacious. The “triple” is in the Petite Maison with its own entrance from the courtyard. It has two single beds downstairs (which can be made into a king) and a queen sized bed in a loft area with a slanted roof. If three people share this space, they will need to be good friends or family. However, everyone who has ever stayed there has liked it a lot because it’s charming and pretty.

In Paris, we stay at exclusive, private apartments or small boutique hotels. Our Paris apartments are beautiful but, like most accommodations in Paris, the bedrooms are often small and it is not unusual to have to share bathrooms.  For single occupancy rooms, we cannot always guarantee a private bathroom.  Some rooms may also be multi-use rooms with euro-style convertible beds and privacy doors. 

Sample Itinerary

Note: We like to stay flexible so the itinerary is subject to change based on weather, interests of the group, and day of the week.

day 1

You will be picked up at the Avignon TGV train station by our wonderful driver in the afternoon, and driven to Les Murets where you’ll be greeted with a glass of bubbly and plenty of time to unpack, freshen up, and explore the property before sitting down to dinner on the terrace with your new friends.

day 2

Shake off that jet-lag – it’s time to start painting! Depending on the forecast, we’ll start off with a morning of painting “warm-ups” and instruction at a spectacular hillside location that overlooks the beautiful Luberon Valley. We’ll lunch at a lovely little local restaurant and finish day with more painting time or a little light shopping in the many nearby and thoroughly charming villages. Dinner on the terrace.

day 3

Off to an early start today as we head down to the coast for a day at the charming little fishing village of Cassis   We’ll be able to set up easels along the harbor or the beach and get some good painting time in before we dive into a delicious local lunch of soupe de poisson and plenty of nice cold white wine.  After lunch, more painting is an option - or join us to explore, by ferry, the famous “calanques” that line the coast line.   Finish the afternoon by dipping your toes in the blue, blue water or indulging in a little retail therapy at the many boutiques and shops along the harbor.  We’ll also get a birds-eye view of the coast from a secret vantage point (that only our driver knows to how navigate!)  We’ll head back to Les Murets for a little R & R before another heavenly dinner on the terrace.

day 4

Today we will explore the striking hillside village of Gordes and take in the fun and bustling market before a light lunch and an afternoon of painting in nearby vineyards that dot the countryside.  We’ll be back at Les Murets for more painting or sketching, a little downtime and then another memorable meal on the terrace.

day 5

Today we’ll head to Bonnieux, one of the Luberon’s most beloved and picturesque villages. We’ll set up to paint all kinds of valley vistas in the shadow of beautiful 18^th century architecture.  We’ll enjoy lunch at one of our favorite spots (situated next to a spectacular 17^th century fountain) and after lunch, we’ll browse a couple local galleries and boutiques that dot the winding little streets.

 Back to Les Murets for a spectacular sunset and another lovely dinner on the terrace.

day 6

Today we visit Isle Sur le Sorgue, a postcard-perfect town that’s best known for its scenery, its lazy and crystal clear river – and the dozens of antique stalls and booths that are tucked away of the main road.  We’ll set up to paint the river and its iconic paddle wheel, stop for a light bite at a lovely little restaurant and spend the rest of the afternoon painting, sketching or just wandering this delightful town.

Back to Les Murets for our final evening on the terrace where new memories and friendships will be shared under bright stars.  

day 7

Now, no crying. It’s time to leave. We’ll get you to the station in plenty of time to catch your train to the airport… or to Paris if you’ve decided to indulge in a few more days of la vie en rose.

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.