RICK STEVES FRANCE MY WAY TOUR, 2024
Bonjour, fellow travelers!
We're Joe and Linda Siebert from Kirkland, Washington and our daughter Erin who lives in North Carolina. What a joy it was to share this trip together! We hadn't been in France since 2006, and then only for a few days in Paris. We were excited for the chance to see much more of the country this time around. Join us as we explore the wonders of France "Our Way!"
Scroll down for further thoughts and reflections.
Click on the buttons above for stories and photos of our adventures at each destination.
Look for this symbol to read about little success stories along the way.
Itinerary
Take a look at this route and you'll see why we were so excited for this trip. The tour begins in Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The next stop is the Loire Valley, home to two of France's most famous châteaux. Then it's on to Lyon, known for its prominence in the silk industry and for its epicurean delights. For a big change in scenery, the tour heads to Annecy, with an optional tour to Chamonix in the French Alps. Next up is historic Avignon, with a stop along the way at the magnificent Pont du Gard. Continuing through Provence to the French Riviera, the tour ends in the sunny city of Nice. There's even time on the last day for a quick trip to Monaco. Wow!
Why a Rick Steves tour?
Though this was our first Rick Steves tour, we've used his luggage and his guidebooks for years, and we value his commitment to helping people learn more about the world. We love Rick's philosophy: travel light, meet new people, learn what other cultures have to offer - and no grumps! ​
Why a My Way tour?
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Between the three of us and our two friends who joined us on this trip, we had five different speeds, five different thoughts about what to see, and five different ideas about how much to try to squeeze into one day. This kind of trip was customizable to all of our needs and gave us the freedom to make our own sightseeing choices.
The tour included much more than six hotels and a bus ride between each. We stopped for visits at several places en route and were offered two optional day trips (both highly recommended). In addition to always being available to answer questions or give guidance, our tour manager led an orientation walk at each new destination, hosted happy hour for our group in several cities, and filled our glasses with wine as we picnicked together under the Pont du Gard. We were all together again for a delightful farewell dinner in Nice. We didn't miss a thing.
Why France?
Don't be silly. It's France!
Planning
What we planned well:
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Studying
Our most valuable resource was the Rick Steves guidebook which we studied thoroughly. But we also took advantage of other excellent guidebooks available at our local library. Especially for a My Way tour, we needed to have a good idea of what we wanted to see and do before we got there so we could hit the ground running.​
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Packing
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We made sure our carry-on bags met airline guidelines but also took great care in selecting our personal items. The Rick Steves Euro Flight Bag fits under any airline seat and holds a lot more than many backpacks or purses. A small purse or lightweight stowable backpack takes up very little room inside the larger bag.
Y​ou'll notice in many of our photos that Linda's wearing a lot of black and white. Neutral colors are great for mixing and matching, with added accessories for a pop of color. Note: jewelry is heavy, scarves are not.
Because we'd be staying in each hotel for more than one night, we knew that things we washed in the sink would have plenty of time to dry, eliminating the need for much duplication. And laundromats were available everywhere.
We thought carefully about which electronic devices we needed and left the rest at home. We took a charging station with multiple ports and adapters to fit French outlets.​​
​​Managing expectations
Of course you want everything to go according to plan, but where's the fun in that? Yvon Chouinard, the famous climber, said "It's not an adventure until something goes wrong." Many of the best stories come from Plan B!
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​What we'll plan better next time:​
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Toiletries
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Unlike most American hotels, shampoo and conditioner were not typically provided. If you don't mind washing your hair with body wash, then there's nothing to worry about. But next time, we'll take our own products.
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Emergency numbers
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We always had the phone number for our guide handy but realized that if there had been a true emergency, we didn't know how to call for help. Next time - wherever we go - we'll make sure we know the local equivalent of 911, just in case.
Reflections
I'm a retired medical technologist who had no idea how to create a website. What's the difference between a page, a section, and a strip? How do you click on one thing to open another? Optimizing photos? What does that even mean? But I'm glad I stuck with it because this was an amazing trip, and I really wanted to share it. But more than that, it gave me a chance to relive the experiences: the sights, the people, the food, the fun! Would I recommend this tour to others? Oh, my goodness, Yes!​ Linda
France! From my student days learning this beautiful language to my bachelor days crossing the western Alps on skis to my parenting days with our young family and finally to this retirement tour with our grown daughter, all were absolute highlights. The food. The wine. The delicious history, art, and culture. The friends. And new friends. The memories. What a trip!
Joe
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​I was thrilled to go on this trip! I’ve traveled internationally for work, but this was the first time in a long time that I got to go for pleasure. Being able to take a full two weeks off from work to do so was just that much more exciting. I had always enjoyed hearing my dad’s stories of skiing in the Alps, so it was incredibly meaningful to see that part of the world with him and to meet one of his skiing buddies. Between breathtaking sights and delicious French food and wine, this trip will be a memory to cherish for a lifetime. ​ Erin
To read about this tour on the Rick Steves website, click here.
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To learn more about our experiences on the trip, click on the destination buttons above.
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To experience it for yourselves, sign up and go!