Name: Provence & Riviera, Off the Beaten Path
Start: 2023-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
End: 2023-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Aix-en-Provence, France

Stevie Jay Travel LLC

Email address verified

72 reviews

Sep 29 - Oct 9, 2023

Group size: 1 - 25

Provence & Riviera, Off the Beaten Path

Aix-en-Provence, France

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Stevie Jay Travel LLC

Email address verified

72 reviews

Sep 29 - Oct 9, 2023

Group size: 1 - 25

THE SOUTH of France, like Tuscany, is noted for its Mediterranean lifestyle and unique light drawing artists like Gaugin, Van Gogh, Picasso, and Chagall. Now we go off the beaten path to explore picturesque villages and seaside towns. Meals feature a unique Provençal cuisine, olive oil, and wine. Then finally, east to Milan, the Italian city of design in fashion and Ferraris.

• Beaune • Provence • Côte d'Azur • French Riviera • La Garde-Adhemar • Aix-en-Provence • Maubec-en-Luberon cooking class • Cadenet • Arles • Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer • Camargue • Cassis • Cannes • Saint-Paul-de-Vence • Italian Riviera • Milan • Nonstop flights both ways

Each person paying his balance due (by May 29, 2023) with an e-check (or paper check) gets a €50 Euro note as a nice perk!

*All prices are per person, based on occupancy, and to be advised double, single, or triple; ask if you want us to watch for a roommate. Click here for a Printable Flier.

• The deposit is $1250/person. Balance is due by May 29, 2023. We limit the group size to 31 people.

• Document required for US Citizens is a Passport valid through 1/9/24 with three blank pages; no visa or shots at this time. Other citizens should consult their consulate.

• Insurance coverage included in the package price is the Travel Guard Vacations & Cruise Plan; for coverage details, please see steviejaytravel.com/insurance covering cancellation charges; other terms at steviejaytravel.com/terms, which are incorporated by reference. • If the group size is 25 or fewer, a small group surcharge of $90 applies. Price and details are subject to change. Acct#230929s 6JAN23 16:29

Beaune (1) Hotel Le Cep

Aix-en-Provence (4) Grand Hotel Roi Rene

Cannes (2) Canopy by Hilton

Milan (2) Hotel Cavour

Choose the Green Select button* (upper right) or call Bill Owen at 217-619-0202.

*Or the Available Packages buttons at the bottom of this webpage. If the room type is full, call us, as we may be able to get more.

If you provide your own air ticket,* when booking the tour, apply the discount code NO-AIR and receive an $1100 discount. If you do not want the included travel insurance, apply the discount code NO-INSUR and receive a $388 discount. Or if you want neither the group air ticket nor the travel insurance, apply the discount code NO-AIR-NOR-INSUR $1425 discount.

*To fly on the same United Airlines flights, ensure that you book the same as the group's: UA987 29SEP ORDCDG 625P 930A+1, UA415 9OCTMXPORD 310P 600P. If you fly into Paris on a different flight, the risk that your flight might be delayed until after the group's does; we recommend that you depart on September 28, arriving on September 29, and book an airport hotel at de Gaulle for one night.

Round trip motor coach
transportation from Central Illinois
Round trip flight
non-stop from Chicago O'Hare
Baggage handling
at hotels
Round trip
transportation from airport to hotel
Touring by luxury coach
tour manager, sightseeing & admissions
Headsets
throughout the tour
Tips for
the tour manager, driver, guides and included meals
Travel insurance include
from AIG Vacations & Cruise Plan & Global Assistance
13 Meals
9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, and 3 Dinners
$415.48
current total taxes, surcharges & fees, subject to change
Hotel accommodations
Led by
Larry & Alaina Kanfer

Twin or Double Room Traveler

Most rooms have two twin beds. If you prefer a double bed instead, note that in the Occupancy question, and we will request it. Double beds cannot be confirmed. Price is per person based on two sharing the room.

If you are booking separately from your roommate, please choose this.

$5,772

Past Trip

Single Room Traveler

This is a room with one single bed for one person.

$6,998

Deposit:$1,250

Past Trip

Triple Room Traveler

This is a room for three people utilizing 1 double bed and 1 single bed. A third rollaway bed can be requested. The number of triple rooms is limited, so they usually must be booked early. The price is per person based on three sharing the room.

$5,772

Deposit:$1,250

Past Trip

Milan Transfer

$60

Sold Out

Earlier departure by shared private car from Milan hotel to the airport.

Day 1, 9/29/23 Friday
Day 1, 9/29/23 Friday
Champaign-Chicago O'Hare-Overnight flight
Larry and Alaina welcome you aboard our private motor coach to Chicago O'Hare. We board our nonstop flight to Paris.

Photo: travel both ways on a non-stop United Airlines 787 Dreamliner
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Day 2, 9/30/23 Saturday
Day 2, 9/30/23 Saturday
Flight arrival-Paris-Beaune
Our flight arrives at Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, and our veteran tour manager, Gerard Venet, greets us. We board our private motor coach and drive to Beaune, where we stay overnight. This is the wine capital of Burgundy in the Côte d'Or, which translates as the Golden Slope. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight. (D)

Photo: Hospices de Beaune, a hospital for the poor. At the end of each day are the initials of breakfast, lunch, or dinner included in the package price.
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Day 3, 10/1/23 Sunday
Day 3, 10/1/23 Sunday
Beaune-La Garde-Adhemar-Aix-en-Provence
We drive south through the Rhone Valley to La Garde-Adhémar, a medieval hilltop village with free time for lunch and exploring. We chose autumn because of the pleasant weather and many fewer tourists that come in summer.

Continuing, we arrive at Aix-en-Provence, the city of the post-impressionist artist Paul Cézanne. Claude Monet said, "Yes, Cézanne, he is the greatest of us all!"

We will stay four nights and explore this region between the mountains and the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy a welcome to Provence dinner tonight! (B,D)

Photo: La Garde-Adhémar
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Day 4, 10/2/23, Monday
Day 4, 10/2/23, Monday
Aix-en-Provence-Maubec-en-Luberon
We drive through the vineyards to Maubec in the lovely Luberon region for a cooking class with Jean-Marc, a Chef, and teacher for 10 years at Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon. We begin by shopping for local, seasonal, and mainly organic foods. Then we learn to cook those foods in a 3-course menu under the instruction of Jean-Marc, and his wife, Alice. Finally, we enjoy our handiwork by dining together. You will receive a detailed copy of the recipes in English.

Afterward, return to Aix-en-Provence for a free evening. (B,L)

Photo: Maubec
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Day 5, 10/3/23 Tuesday
Day 5, 10/3/23 Tuesday
Aix-en-Provence-Cadenet
Today we visit another Luberon hilltop village, Cadenet, voted one of the most picturesque and "real" villages in France. We will have free time for exploring and lunch.

In the afternoon, we return to Aix-en-Provence for a guided walking tour. Our evening is free. (B)

Photo: Cadenet

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Day 6, 10/4/23 Wednesday
Day 6, 10/4/23 Wednesday
Aix-en-Provence-Arles-Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer-Camargue
We drive to Arles, where Vincent Van Gogh painted Starry Night. Here in 15 months, he painted hundreds of works, which then drew Pablo Picasso here.

We proceed to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where the Rhône River meets the Mediterranean Sea. Here we have time for independent exploration and lunch.

Then we continue to the Camargue wetlands, known for their flamingos, black bulls, and white horses, the latter being one of the oldest breeds in the world. Return to Aix-en-Provence for a free evening. (B)

Photo: Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer
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Day 7, 10/5/23 Thursday
Day 7, 10/5/23 Thursday
Aix-en-Provence-Cassis-Cannes
We leave Aix-en-Provence for the colorful Mediterranean port town of Cassis at the start of the Côte d'Azur, azure coast.

We continue east to Cannes, known for its film festival. We will stay here for two nights. Tonight is free. (B)

Photo: Cannes' old town harbor
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Day 8, 10/6/23 Friday
Day 8, 10/6/23 Friday
Cannes-Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Today we head to medieval Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Many notables visited or lived here: Jean-Paul Sartre, Pablo Picasso, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Marc Chagall, and James Baldwin. Actors Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner were married here. You might bump into one of these artists and artisans today!

Return to Cannes with the rest of the day free. (B)

Photo: Saint-Paul-de-Vence
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Day 9, 10/7/23 Saturday
Day 9, 10/7/23 Saturday
Cannes-Riviera-Milan
Saying farewell to France, we drive on the beautiful French Riviera's coastal road northeast via the Italian Riviera. Then heading inland, we arrive at Milan, Italy's fashion capital, the wealthiest in Italy, and serendipitous delights. (B)

Photo: An old tram at the Arch of Peace in Milan's old city
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Day 10, 10/8/23 Sunday
Day 10, 10/8/23 Sunday
Milan
This morning we will see the sights of Milan, and then you have a free afternoon for shopping or independent exploration. Tonight is our gala farewell dinner! (B,D)

Photo: Milan's better sort of shopping mall, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
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Day 11, 10/9/23 Monday
Day 11, 10/9/23 Monday
Milan-Flight-Chicago/O'Hare-Champaign
After free time this morning, we say arrivederci as we are taken to the airport to board our nonstop flight home. After arrival in Chicago, we board our waiting private motor coach that returns us with wonderful memories of Provence, Riviera, and Milan. (B)

Photo: French Riviera
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Day 1, 9/29/23 Friday

Champaign-Chicago O'Hare-Overnight flight

Larry and Alaina welcome you aboard our private motor coach to Chicago O'Hare. We board our nonstop flight to Paris.

Photo: travel both ways on a non-stop United Airlines 787 Dreamliner

My mother and I went together on this trip and had a wonderful time. Our representative from Stevie Jay Travel was excellent - very responsive and a delight to work with. Our hosts were amazing (Alaina and Larry Kanfer). We enjoyed the group that we traveled with and the locations that were selected were perfect. On the Sail Croatia yacht, several of the crew members were exceptional and I really liked our guide. The food was very good and they were all very cognizant of my gluten restriction. I had a really nice time.

By Sarah G for Croatia Yacht on Oct 30, 2024

One of the best trips ever! Everything was well-planned with a great balance of structured and free time. The group was great- really made the trip extra special. “Exceeded expectations”!

By Kathryn W for Croatia Yacht on Oct 30, 2024

This trip was exceptionally well planned. The initial stay at a lovely hotel gave additional opportunity for exploring and jetlag recovery. The time aboard ship was above and beyond what I expected. The perfect combination of time at leisure, excellent food, congenial companions (and crew) mixed with stops that included beautiful and fascinating sights and the chance to get a lot of exercise. We enjoyed it so much.

By Jeana M for Croatia Yacht on Oct 29, 2024

I had another great experience with this travel agency. Our leaders, Larry and Alaina Kanfer were outstanding in every way. Especially liked the chocolate factory experience and the farm to table dinner in the vineyard. Croatia was incredibly beautiful and breathtaking! The small yacht and its crew were so accommodating and delightful. Would definitely recommend this trip!

By Alice E for Croatia Yacht on Oct 26, 2024

It was a fabulous trip, the yacht was fantastic, even better than I imagined, food was delicious, the crew was so polite, kept everything very clean and tidy, assisted us with so many things and knew English well. Everything about this trip was outstanding! I had a great time!