Chez Ducrot | 2010 Provence Discovered Getaway

Kitchen and dining – Chef Philippe & Linda Ducrot will serve breakfast & on-site dinners from a fully-equipped modern kitchen decorated in the traditional Provençal style. (Guests are welcome to join Philippe in the kitchen for informal classes.) The dining room overlooks the rear gardens through a conservatory-style area close to the kitchen.

Outside Terraces – A number of outside terraces invite you to relax and enjoy the views of the gardens and olive groves.	Swimming Pool - Enjoy the tranquility of the secluded 12 meter swimming pool with diving board.

Living Area – Two separate salons with beautiful and comfortable furnishings offer privacy when needed.

Bedrooms – the queen sized, air-conditioned bedrooms all contain private in-suite baths.

Monday – Lay of the Land
Enjoy a full, sumptuous breakfast served by Philippe and Linda on the outdoor patio dining area overlooking the pool, or in the dining room. Visit the Abbaye de Mont Majour, built in 948 AD and inhabited by Benedictine monks until 1790. From the high tower, get the “lay of the land” with a panoramic view of the surrounding area all the way to the Mediterranean sea. This perspective will orient you to the various sites we will visit during the week. Tour the chapel and other buildings & learn almost firsthand about life and struggle during the turbulent medieval age. Enjoy a driving tour of the area with a stop at our favorite winery for tastings and a tour of the vineyard and gardens. (Yes! They will pack your wine purchases for shipping) Complete the afternoon at Les Baux de Provence shopping in our recommended sampling of the best boutiques. Located in the heart of the Alpilles on a rocky plateau, LES BAUX DE PROVENCE is called “one of the most beautiful villages in France.” The superb, stone fortress is a “must see”. This region, along with the area immediately surrounding the manor house, is the largest olive-producing region in France. Lunch is on the road at one of Philippe’s favorite haunts featuring local fare. We shop for fresh dinner ingredients and local wines. Back at the manor, spend some time on your own to relax, explore the grounds or maybe take a swim. Learn some chef’s tips as you sip wine and help Philippe prepare dinner in the kitchen – in a “low-key” cooking class. On the patio, under the evening sky, we share tales and apéritifs (Pastis, of course), dinner & local wines.

Tuesday – Gigondas
As usual, enjoy French coffee, tea and continental breakfast at the manor; then we drive through rolling hills and countryside to the charming & unpretentious village of Gigondas. Situated on a hill with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside is the Laurus winery where those wonderful wines you raved about at bistro are born. We enjoy a private tasting and lunch at the winery and, for the adventurous, a guided mountain hike. After, we wander the charming village of Gigondas, and enjoy dinner and drinks in the village at Chef Philippe and Linda’s favorite local restaurant. Yes, there will be time on your own to explore. We return to the manor for a nightcap on the patio under the stars.

Wednesday – Guest chef Cooking Class and Dinner
Join guest Chef Jean Michel Suel of Evohé Restaurant for a French cooking class. You will begin your day at the marché in St Remy de Provence where you will assist him as he selects the best of the season’s locally grown fruits and vegetables. Take some time on your own in the marché and surrounding shops to enjoy the sights and shopping. In the afternoon, we return to the manor for a cooking class and dinner with Jean Michel.

Thursday – “Our casual/funky day”
Wake up to the birds with your coffee, tea and continental breakfast served by the pool or in the dining room. Tour the area of La Camargue. Visit the Chateau D’Avignon for a private tour. Lavishly appointed and rich in history, the chateau was at one time owned by Louis Noilly Prat, the famous wine merchant. We visit the beaches, experience the “local color” by visiting a Camargue farm & vineyards to taste such local fare as bull sausage, olives, and the famous “Vins des Sables”. Then we are off to Philippe’s favorite boyhood haunt by the sea for “the best Neapolitan pizza”. We finish the day with dinner and drinks on the boardwalk, by the sea at La Grande Motte. Overnight at the manor.

Friday – The denouement
Experience the delights of “Le Marché” with Philippe. The day starts with a continental breakfast served at the manor house. Shop the local marché with Chef Philippe to select fresh ingredients for this evening’s dinner. Time on your own in town & at the manor house. Cooking class with Chef Philippe in the kitchen as we all prepare a classic Provençale dinner (to be announced). Exchange stories and share laughs with your housemates over farewell drinks & dinner prepared by you & Chef Philippe. A “fierce” pétanque competition after dinner, more than likely involving Pastis.

Saturday – Morning Farewell
Departure Breakfast and farewell by the pool.
Check-out of manor by 9:30am.

Tour Options and Pricing

Option I – The Soup to Nuts – Full Tour:
Stay with the Ducrots at the manor and enjoy the full tour (see sample itinerary page & information below; $3,450 per person, double occupancy**
Single supplement: $625.00**

Extras: Add an oceanfront spa getaway to your tour. One, two and three-day stays arranged upon request. Contact us for details.

** In spite of the very high current exchange rate of Dollars to Euros, we are holding the 2008 tour price for 2009. We reserve the right to increase the price should the Euro escalate dramatically. Any increase will be capped at 10%.

Included in the tour price:

• All Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
• Meal Gratuities
• Dinner wine selected by Linda & Philippe (extra alcohol is on your own)
• All transportation within the tour for guests staying at the farm
• Guided tour (see sample itinerary and FAQ’s)
• Cooking classes and entry to tour events

Not included in the tour price:

• Airfare
• Transfers to/from the airport/manor (Transfers may be arranged from the Arles train station for $50 per person.)

Deposit: non-refundable deposit of $300 per guest is due immediately to hold your place. The remainder of 50% of the tour price ($1,425) is due January 10, 2010.

Final Payment: Final payment must be received no later than February 15, 2010 for April, 2010 tour dates. For October – November tour dates the remaining balance is due no later than June 15, 2010. If the balance is not paid on time, we reserve the right to regard your reservation as cancelled and retain your deposit.

Cancellation: In the event that Chez Ducrot must cancel for any reason, all fees, including deposits, will be returned in full. The costs of any travel arrangements or other arrangements that you may have made outside the tour package cost will, however, not be reimbursed. We strongly encourage tour guests to purchase tour insurance.

Only direct bookings are valid. A reservation that is resold to a third party will be invalid and all fees forfeited.

For the comfort of our guests, smoking is not permitted inside the manor or minibuses.

Option II – Tour à la Carte:
Stay with the Ducrots at the manor and enjoy its amenities, full sumptuous breakfast daily and two authentic Provencale dinners cooked by the Ducrots during your stay. Tour the area on your own, with guidance from the Ducrots (see full description below) or opt in & pay à la carte to tour events. $1,395 per person, double occupancy. $625 single supplement

Included in the tour price:
Suite with queen size bed, sitting area and private bath with all amenities. Each suite is uniquely decorated with antiques and oriental rugs, each bath completely renovated with hand-made tiles and designer fixtures, separate toilet. These spacious suites are truly a pleasurable place to spend time. Often, guests enjoy retreating to their suite after a day out, to read, relax and enjoy an aperitif.

Sumptuous Breakfast Daily on the outdoor patio (eggs, fresh fruits, yogurts, pastries, Coffee, Tea…)

Choice of one of the following: Two authentic Provençale dinners cooked by Philippe and Linda for guests at the house OR a group morning trip to the local marché where we will select food then return to the house for a cooking class/group dinner preparation.

On Sunday evening, Philippe and Linda Ducrot welcome you with an apéritif and provide an orientation that will help you get the most out of your trip: this includes an overview of the area and major sites as well as acquainting guests with the inner workings of French culture and how to get an intimate view of French life instead of feeling like just another tourist. We will provide tips for how to achieve this.

Daily, in the morning Philippe and Linda will help you plan your daily route, provide directions to sites, insider tips (and warnings) such as best time to go, what to bring, information on best boutiques, best buys, places to see, our favorite restaurants and we will help you make reservations. We can also help you arrange special items such as bicycles, wine tastings, and special winery tours. You may opt in to full tour events of your choice and pay à la carte for them.

Use of all House amenities:

All dates are subject to change

What can I expect from my “Provence Discovered” tour with Philippe and Linda Ducrot?
You can expect an intimate, total immersion experience of Provence. Since our tours are small (no more than 10 guests), you will receive very personal guidance: our focus is to be as structured (or not) as needed to provide you with the very best, most personal experience of the best that Provence offers. As far as possible, we travel “incognito”: The goal is to blend into French culture wherever we go so that you may see Provence as a native experiences it. At various points, we may be joined by our French family, colleagues and close friends, & dine “en famille”, offering you a rare peek into French culture and daily living that outsiders would not otherwise experience.

What is the closest airport to the manor?
The closest regional airport is Nimes. (Nimes is 31.85 kilometers from the manor house.) The closest international airport is Marseille airport, which is 45.51 kilometers away. The closest villages are Mausanne les Alpilles and Paradou (Bouches du Rhone), and St Rémy de Provence is just ten minutes from the manor. The closest TGV (high speed train) station is in Arles (20 kilometers). You may wish to fly to France via London, where you may switch to a small carrier with more reasonable rates that will fly directly to Provence. Or, should you wish to fly through Paris, you may take the TGV (high-speed rail) from from Paris to Arles. Transportation from the Arles train station to the manor may be arranged for an additional fee by contacting us prior to your departure from the United States.

Should I rent a car?
Only if you plan to go off on your own at some point during the tour. Otherwise, a car is an unnecessary expense.

How do I find Train Schedules and make Train reservations from Paris to Arles?
The TGV is approximately three hours, non-stop to Arles and is a very enjoyable way to travel. The trains are high speed, clean and very modern, with a restaurant car where you may purchase snacks and beverages. The TGV schedule and tickets are available online at http://www.raileurope.com/us/. On the web site, click “train tickets”. This website will deliver the tickets to any US address. You may take the train to and from the Paris airport, Charles De Gaulle. This can be a very convenient way to travel within France.

What if we want to strike out on our own for a day?
Our goal is to provide you as much or as little guidance needed to make this a wonderful experience. Should you desire, we will help you plan a day on your own, providing information about local sites and special arrangements required such as bicycles or other ground transportation. There may be a small fee associated with some of your requests. We will inform you if that is the case.

What should I wear?
For Provence, dress is casual and comfortable. In April, the weather may be warm enough to swim, so bring a suit for the pool. Be sure to bring sweaters and jackets for those cooler evenings, as well as appropriate casual attire (we refer to it as “casual chic”) for restaurant dining. (Sneakers and jeans may be recognized as “American uniform” and are to be avoided if you want to blend in.).

What is the weather like?
In general, the days are sunny and warm. We enjoy dining outside, so it’s best to bring layers of clothing for the various conditions that may arise. Bring a windbreaker in case the Mistral (the strong Provence wind) is up; and an umbrella and rain jacket are always a good idea in spite of the typically sunny weather in Provence. Five-day forecasts may be found on WEATHER.COM.

“Not in my wildest imagination could I have pictured anything as beautiful as the manor house. Linda and Philippe took care of every detail while we relaxed, enjoyed the food and wine and made wonderful new friends. We enjoyed our trip so much that we hope to return with the Ducrots next year!”
Kate Gilligan and Jim Greer, Andover, MA

“We’ve been to Europe dozens of times, but none of our trips could compare to this one. There is nothing quite like seeing France with a native and, even better, a chef . Philippe and Linda opened doors that created an exceptional experience of Provencale life. And, Philippe’s classes were relaxing and great fun – as it should be in Provence!” Phyllis Stroup, Chicago, Illinois
	“I went on this trip wanting to experience the best of Provencale cuisine and culture. I wanted to really meet the French. I received all that and more!” Gerry O’Dowd Newton, MA
	“We enjoyed a foreign country without feeling foreign. Because of Philippe and Linda, we felt at home in France just like we do in our home in the US. As a result, we truly experienced French culture and the French people as insiders.” Bill Forniciari, Plymouth MA

2009 Tour