Save the date for our dreamy French Flea Market tour!

Do you know what you’ll be doing May 29 – June 4, 2019? Well, let me make a suggestion: a game-changing, larger-than-life opportunity is just around the corner and we want you to be part of it! A legendary “vintage experience” of Provence, our annual French Flea Market tour is a  special tour  created from pure passion for the region, its people and the pursuit of unique shared experiences. For some, this is also the ultimate French vintage treasure hunt. The tours have, through the years, touched many hearts and fancies – both for our tour participants, as well as our local Provencal friends.

We hope you will join us on this special week as we are received at local homes, witness life in fairy tale like villages and take in spectacular scenery. You will experience fabulous French food and wine (of course!), get an up-close taste of French culture, be surrounded by exquisite interior décor, shop the famous markets of the south of France, and be given special entrées to parts of this heaven-on-earth not accessed by most tourists.

 

We’ve added something to this tour to make it even more extraordinary: the ability to take part in a “container share.” You can actually buy “pretty much” to your heart’s content and have a way to get it back home, without it breaking the bank. You will be the envy of any American woman who has been to France and fallen in love with something she couldn’t bring back with her on a plane ride.

 

Day 1 Wednesday, May 29
Arrival
Check into lodging by 4 p.m. Take some time to get settled in your room. Once the tour starts you’ll be glad you took some time to “install,” as the French say. 5 p.m. casual orientation of elegant and casual Aix en Provence. We won’t have ample time to cover the city’s 2,000 year plus history but your guide will cover some basics so you have an appreciation of this special place that will be your home for the next week. You will also be oriented to this easy city to take in by foot on your free time. Welcome drink in a gorgeous setting and dinner in the old city of Aix (included in tour) just two minutes on foot to your hotel.

Day 2 Thursday, May 30 Your choice, either a fabulous museum tour or (first come first served) breakfast and welcome at “chez Colette,” home of a sparkling local antique/vintage dealer! Opportunity to purchase exceptional items directly from her home – great prices. Onto another home, this time of a well-known vintage and antique dealer with a large inventory. A snack will be provided to tide you over.
In the afternoon we’ll go out to the country to take in “une belle boutique” of curated local antiques. Agnes, the owner, is a wealth of information about all her rare items. Later an open evening in Aix. You will have a list of local recommended restaurants that are a beautiful short walk from the hotel.

Day 3 Friday, May 31  “Enchanting Villages & A Secret Garden” We’ll head for the over-the-top beautiful hills of the Luberon this morning. First stop the wonderful outdoor market of Lourmarin, one of France’s most beautiful villages. We’ll spend the morning surrounded by the absolute charm of the village market sellers and enticed by all the lovely wares and seasonal products. This is a place that past tour participants never wanted to leave, so we’ll have extra time in this extraordinary market. Enjoy a typical Provençal lunch in one of Lourmarin’s lovely restaurants & cafés. After lunch stroll the village and its boutiques at your leisure. We then hit the road to visit the gorgeous village of Cucuron, location for several key scenes in the lm A Good Year. We will be received at a magnicent garden – recognized as one of the most beautiful in the region. Followed by a glass of local sparkling wine with the owners on their Provencal terrace.    

Day 4 Saturday, June 1  A Day in Aix, you will be guided through the largest market of the week this morning. Afterwards we go to a warehouse-style treasure trove of vintage goods, mixed in with antiques and household items from the last decade. Enjoy an outdoor lunch in one of Aix’s nest restaurants – be it casual or de luxe. You will have a list of recommended restaurants or scout out your own. This afternoon you have options! You could enjoy time to yourself in Aix en Provence. Use your free time to rest and restore for a big day out tomorrow, or explore your beautiful home city through its cathedrals, museums or outdoor cafes. Or you could jump in a vehicle and do some spontaneous treasure hunting with Lynni and Jill. We won’t know what’s going on market-wise until we’re on the tour so this is a gamble for the hard core shoppers. We’ll meet up at the end of the afternoon for a toast to swap travel stories from our day. 

Day 5 Sunday, June 2 “A World-Famous Antique Market” This will be a big long day of taking in all types of markets – from the quaint village market to the famous frenetic and abundant market of Isle sur la Sorgue. Once back home, it’s a good idea to take some time to organize the packing of your new purchases. Then a Show-and -tell party at the hotel. Group dinner in the city for an evening of discovering Provencal fare.

 

Day 6 Monday, June 3  The Mediterranean! This morning we are off to a très picturesque shing (cum chic) village on the Mediterranean. The day includes perusing the chic boutiques, a 45 minute boat ride in
astoundingly beautiful waters. First-time visitors to the Mediterranean are cordially invited to a “toe dip” on the beach. Casual lunch in the port (included in the tour) with lots of people-watching. We visit a parfumerie and learn about artisanally made local perfumes. Isabelle, the wife of one of the more recognized “noses” of France, will show us the proper way to perfume oneself, and give great tips about fragrances. Open evening – time to get ready for tomorrow’s departure. If we have any takers, an impromptu get together for drinks or dinner. 

Day 7 Tuesday, June 4 Departure Day Shuttle to Aix en Provence train station or Marseille airport in the morning.

Le Trip has been making American visitors feel at home in France since 1999, with a focus on vintage shopping, wine and food themed journeys, and warmth & fun as the priorities. Be prepared for open-armed welcomes and beauty beyond imagination.

Give us a call at (530) 275-4451 for more information, this could be your once in a lifetime experience!

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