France with Friends

The Art Trip of a Lifetime!

Inspired by you and designed for you, this will be the art trip of a lifetime! We will explore the city of lights together and uncover its artistic and cultural treasures. With private tours of the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, the Pompidou and more, we will marvel at masterpieces, but we will also uncover hidden gems in smaller and less-frequented museums. In particular, we will have a personalized tour of the temporary exhibition, Pionnières at the Musée du Luxembourg, spotlighting women artists of the roaring twenties. Beyond the museum, we will discover the history of Paris. Lodging at Hotel Artus, a sophisticated boutique hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Près, we will be in the picturesque heart of the city with easy access by foot and by metro to the Louvre, Notre Dame and other major sites. There will be time to relax and deepen our connection through discussion, merriment and laughter. Each day, we will discuss what we've seen together at an historic or trendy café, nourishing our hearts and deepening our bonds. After all, this trip is as much about friendship as it is about art! Not only a feast for our eyes and sisterhood for our souls, this voyage offers a veritable delight for our palates. We'll dine at the city's finest dining establishments, from Michelin star restaurants to hidden bistrots. We will not do as tourists do! Instead, we will do as the locals do and savor the best that Paris has to offer as we immerse ourselves in everyday Parisian life.

This deluxe voyage is curated for an intimate group of women who wish to travel tastefully, while deepening their connection to art, culture and each other.

In addition to Paris, you have the option to travel like royals to the Loire Valley where we'll walk in the footsteps of the French queens in their castles. We'll escape the crowds and discover enchanted palaces, hidden histories and local traditions. We'll sleep like royals in a castle at the Château Hotel, Domaine de la Tortinière, and pamper ourselves at the spa and pool. This hotel has welcomed many famous guests over the years including Audrey Hepburn. We'll have private tours of magnificent chateaux, including Chenonceau, Chambord and Chaumont-sur-Loire. And with wine and cheese tastings, we'll discover the Loire's unique terroir. We'll slow down and enjoy unique cuisine, wine and gastronomy as we relax in the stunning countryside and enjoy each other's company.

I can't wait to show you the finest art, food and wine

that France has to offer!

Oh the fun we'll have!

Art:

Private Guided Tours of the following museums led by Lauren:

The Louvre

Musée d'Orsay - Impressionism

Orangerie - Monet's waterlilies

Pompidou - Modern Art

Notre Dame & Sainte Chapelle

Musée du Luxembourg & meeting with Curator Camille Morineau

Musée de Montmartre - Suzanne Valadon's former studio

Musée Nissim de Camondo

Jewish Walking Tour of the Marais

Art Gallery Tour with Contemporary art expert Caroline Etter

Castles:

Private Guided Tours of the following French castles led by Lauren:

Versailles

Chambord*

Chenonceau*

Villandry*

Chaumont-sur-Loire*

International Garden Festival*

Clos Lucé, Amboise & Blois*

Fashion:

Meet-and-Greet with Haute Couture expert Guénola du Halgoüet

Fashion History at Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Tour of the historic La Samaritaine, Le Bon Marché and Grande Épicerie

Vintage Couture and Paris Arcades Shopping Experience

Food, Wine and Epicurean Delights:

Three Course Meal at a Michelin Star Restaurant in Paris

Private Champagne Tasting - Women Wine Makers with Cynthia Coutu

Sugar Crawl Pastry Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Près with Pastry Chef Lisa Allen

Food Market Tour of Marché d'Aligre

Private Pastry Making Class at Versailles with Molly Wilk

Loire Valley Vineyard Tour & Tasting*

Loire Valley Cheeses Tasting*

Nightlife:

Live Jazz Concert featuring drummer Jeff Boudreaux

Paris bars à vin and wine tasting with Charlotte King

Belly dancing class with Yaël Zarca

Night out in Saint-Germain-des-Près

& MORE!

This itinerary is subject to change

*Included in Ultimate Package Paris & Loire Valley

All activities are optional

You're in good hands with Lauren!

Art Historian and French national licensed guide

and an exceptional team of

French Culture Experts!

Carrie Angoff

French cuisine and culture expert with 15 years' experience running international cultural exchanges.

Cynthia Coutu

Award winning certified wine professional focused on women wine makers and Champagne.

Caroline Etter

Art historian, curator, consultant and licensed guide with vast knowledge of contemporary art.

Chiara Gugliemucci

Fashionista and licensed guide from Venice.

Guénola du Halgouët

French fashion consultant and strategist in haute courture and luxury brands.

Charlotte King

Licensed guide, art, theater and wine expert. Interpreter for renowned French winemakers and sommeliers.

Camille Morineau

Art historian and curator and fonder of the association AWARE (Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions).

Andrea Sunderland

A people-loving artist specializing in portrait photography.

Molly Wilk

French pastry chef trained by Le Cordon Bleu. Teaches pastry classes in her picturesque home in Versailles.

Luxurious Sleep fit for a Queen

Follow in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn! Sleep in a castle in the Loire Valley and in a retro-chic boutique hotel in Paris!(accommodation booked separately)

Gastronomic Experiences & Michelin Star Dining

Two Gastronomic meals (Michelin star) included in Ultimate Package, along with wine and cheese tastings and pastry classes!

Allons-y! (Let's go!)

May 15-18, 2022 Loire Valley

May 18-25, 2022 Paris

What's included in the Premium Paris & Ultimate French Experience:

8 Magnificent Days of Private Tours & Experiences with Lauren and Local Experts
Art Experiences and Tickets (Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Orangerie, Pompidou, Musée du Luxembourg, Versailles, Sainte Chapelle, Musée de Montmartre, Art Gallery Tour of the Marais)
Fashion Experiences and Tickets (Meet-and-Greet with Guénola du Halgoüet - Haute Couture expert, Fashion History at Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Tour of La Samaritaine, Le Bon Marché and Grande Épicerie department stores, Vintage Couture and Arcades Shopping Experience)
Food & Wine Classes Experiences (Private Champagne Tasting with an Oenologist, Sugar Crawl - Pastry Walking Tour of Saint-Germain-des-Près, Food Market Tour - Marché d'Aligre, Private pastry class at Versailles)
3 course meal at a Michelin Star Restaurant in Paris
Tour of the Chateau of Versailles and round-trip transportation
Group photoshoot with a professional photographer
Paris metro and bus tickets
Taxes and fees on all the above
Welcome Champagne bottle

What's included in the Loire Valley extension:

4 Glorious days of Private Tours & Experiences with Lauren and Local Experts
Roundtrip Train Tickets to the Loire (Lauren will be there to accompany you on the train both ways)
Transportation to Castles and Vineyards in a Private Luxury vehicle
Wine Tasting at a Loire Vineyard (hand selected by Lauren's sommelier sister, Maddy Jimerson)
Tasting of delicious Loire Cheeses
Private Guided Tours and all Castle Entrance Fees (Chambord, Chenonceau, Chaumont-sur-Loire and garden festival, Clos Lucé, Amboise, Blois, Villandry)
Meal at a Gastronomic Restaurant in the Loire Valley
Taxes and fees on all the above

What's not:

Hotel Accommodation: In order to offer the most flexible cancellation policy possible during these unpredictable times, each individual will book her own hotel room. Individual hotel bookings are flexible and allow for late cancellations (up to 48 hours before in most cases). Clear instructions on how to book the hotel will be shared with all trip participants. Prices start at around $200 per night for 4 star luxury accommodation in the Loire and around $250 per night in Paris (single occupancy).
Round-trip airfare to Paris
Most meals (1 gastronomic meal in the Loire Valley & 1 Michelin star meal in Paris are included)
Taxis or Ubers in Paris (bus and metro tickets around the city center are included)

This exclusive trip is limited to 12 women.

This will allow us to stay in unique boutique hotels, eat in the best restaurants, and travel together in style!

I understand the unpredictable nature of our times and have worked assiduously to offer the most flexible cancellation policy possible. Click here to read it.

The Hotels:

Loire Valley: Château Hotel · Domaine de La Tortinière

Set in a castle, this 4 star luxury hotel has a spa, pool, gastronomic restaurant and vast verdant grounds.

Audrey Hepburn is one of the many famous guests to have slept here.

Paris: Hôtel Artus

A chic and sophisticated 4 star boutique hotel with a retro vibe in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Près. Equipped with a bar and spa, this hotel is elegant, immaculate and offers exceptional customer service.

Flights: The first date listed is the arrival date in France. If you are departing from the US, you should schedule your flight for the day prior. For example, for the May 1st trip date, you would depart April 30th. Please select a direct flight to avoid travel delays. Air France/Delta & United/Lufthansa are recommended.

It is an honor to serve you and to help to create memories that will last a lifetime. I take great pride in offering the most exceptional customer service before, during and following the trip. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me by email (lauren.jimerson@gmail.com) or by phone (202-699-5164)

Space is limited!

To reserve your spot and take part in this once-in-a-lifetime art trip, please reserve ASAP!