Just Dordogne

Steve and Natalie – our first year with Emotional Escapes

Natalie and I joined Emotional Escapes just over a year ago.  Like many couples we work hard and look forward to our leisure time which, for us, means regular trips to the Dordogne in France.  In fact we love it so much that last year we were lucky enough to purchase a traditional French farmhouse in the region.  Now we have homes in the UK and France!

Dream jobs rarely present themselves but, when they do, you have to seize the opportunity.  Emotional Escapes business founder, Tim, was clearly taken with our enthusiasm for France and the Dordogne and was keen for us to become involved with the business.

Whilst we both still need to work full time at present we see a bright future with Emotional Escapes over the long term, representing and running the Dordogne region for the business.  It’s hard work balancing the jobs at the moment but it’s proving so rewarding.  Already we have met charming people who own stunning properties.  Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves that this really is a job, as we drive around the sunny Dordogne countryside on our way to the next breathtaking property, to be given a personal guided-tour.  And sometimes lunch and glass of wine!

What really impressed us though is the core values that are central to the success of Emotional Escapes.  There is no compromise on quality, insistence on personally viewing of all the properties and commitment to top-rate customer service.  It’s a refreshing antidote to the large, impersonal travel agencies or the lumbering, bargain-basement ‘owner direct’ websites.  It’s the personal touch.  We want to work for an organisation that believes in these things.

The goal now is to significantly grow our portfolio of properties over the next 12 months and start to introduce those who want to experience the charm and delight of the Dordogne to some truly fabulous holiday properties.

And if it proves to be half as successful as Just Provence, you never know, the day jobs may become a thing of the past.

We still can’t quite believe it!

Stephen & Natalie

Cet article Just Dordogne est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

Why you should plan your vacation in Provence early.

With the economic climate being as it is, hotels and holiday resorts see an increase in last-minute bookings. Does this mean the trend nowadays is to plan and pack a week before leaving on the holiday you’ve been anticipating all year? In the case of vacation rentals and specifically in Provence I would strongly advise against it. If you want your stay in Provence to be the experience of a lifetime you have to know exactly what you want from your trip and therefore make every effort to get exactly that.
Planning to stay in an exclusive vacation rental is about experiencing Provence like a local, enjoying life in the South of France at your own rhythm. This can only be achieved if you set exact objectives for your emotional escape, and pinpoint key features of your stay that must be fulfilled.

•  Know when you want to go.

“A Year From Now You Will Wish You Had Started Today” – Karen Lamb

This quote has been used over and over on the Web, and I unapologetically use it here. Because it applies perfectly to vacation planning especially regarding 2013 in Provence. Rental property owners love nothing more than early bookings, it allows them to plan their rental’s occupation, plan for the staff required to keep the property running in the coming season and also to plan for improvements on their property year after year. They will go out of their way to make sure  their guests are well cared for months in advance by preparing cots and high chairs for families for example. Whereas a booking made a month prior to arrival in the height of peak season will be considered with urgency rather than concern for their clients.

One important event to take into account in 2013 is the Tour de France visiting Mont Ventoux on the 13th of July. Which means that not only will it coincide with a National holiday but that the fortnight from the 7th to 20th of July are already being booked by cycling enthusiasts. So even if you have no interest in cycling but were planning to visit Avignon in early July you will face competition for this spot in the sun.

• Know where you want to go.

Provence is a region with a rich variety of locations from the busy city of Avignon to the quiet out-of-the-way medieval village of Le Barroux. There is a full spectrum of locations that are the dream destinations to fit everyone’s taste. One must also take into account that some otherwise unremarkable villages are actually the highest sought after hot spots during the summer time. Good examples of this are Oppède-le-Vieux, Ménerbes, Eygalières…

Whether you want to be near a cultural centre like Saint-Rémy-de-Provence or in the midst of the Luberon National Park to enjoy Provence’s flora and fauna whilst visiting quaint medieval villages, you would do well to book in advance even if you don’t plan on coming in peak season (June-August).

The greatest advantages of booking a vacation rental are that you get privacy, autonomy and services that hotels don’t offer at similar rates, whether you are travelling as a couple or a large group of family or friends. These benefits are true in any of our exclusive vacation rentals but if you want the experience to be truly exceptional it has to be in a location that suits your needs. That can only be ensured through early bookings.

• Know what you want to do.

Provence has a great appeal worldwide because it offers a high quality choice of activities and services. Whether you are planning wine touring for a week, discovering roman ruins, improving your Golf or touring the local markets and indulging your foodie needs, Provence is the best place to be.

Although the activities listed above are enjoyable within an hour radius from any of the vacation villas listed on our site, it is important to note that the nearer you are to your chosen interest, the more time you will spend enjoying these activities. If you pick a villa in Vaison-la-Romaine for example you will be just minutes away from renowned vineyards, fantastic roman sites and the Mont Ventoux, but 50 minutes from the nearest 18 hole golf course or the UNESCO recognised Luberon National Park.

Trips abroad are very personal adventures, emotional escapes that each traveller matures prior to experiencing it. They are very rarely a whim of the moment’s decisions. They are dreams that require careful preparations so that once they are fulfilled they are truly exceptional. This is what Just Provence strives to offer through our portfolio and to ensure it happens, early booking is essential.

Do you have any experience of  planning a stay in Provence or France? Did you book your accomodation early?
Living locally I get the chance to try new wines, restaurants and attractions all round the year. But in your opinion where is the most convenient  location to stay in to get a all round experience in Provence?

Further reading, this article: “Finding The Ideal Gîte in the Vaucluse: Reserve Your Own Private Provencal Lifestyle Early” by Provence Ventoux Blog is a useful guide to planning your stay in Provence.

If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to leave a message or contact me at: [email protected].

See you soon.

Dylan

Cet article Why you should plan your vacation in Provence early. est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.

3 things you should look for in an exclusive Provence vacation rental.

Just Provence prides itself in having a portfolio of luxury rental properties built up over a number of years with ever higher expectations. To this effect we have agents in Provence always looking to add properties of the standards we have set for our discerning clientèle.  One might wonder what are these standards? What differentiates an exclusive rental property from your run of the mill villa with pool in sunny southern France?

These standards at first seemed very subjective, what can make a property stand out to be deemed worthy of the “exclusive” title ? I asked myself that question not being quite sure  I could answer it precisely. Until Romuald, owner of L’Oliveraie, brought us his guest-book. His reviews answered the question for me and self-defined the “X-factor”. Yes, X stands  for exclusive…

August 2012

Thank you for  a wonderful, relaxing week – fabulous spot + everyone should have a massage ! I loved the massage.

(In child’s writing) I really enjoyed all the sports.

There are lots of good restaurants near the villa and lots of activities to do at the villa. Rom, thank you for a great week. Regards.
The Goods, UK

L’Oliveraie will be our case study so to speak, this review by the Good family (it is their real name) clearly states three factors that made the property stand out for the whole family. First thing mentioned is the great location, second come the activities at the house and third are the services provided by a friendly owner, affectionately called “Rom” by this family. It seems to me this simple review sums up “Rom’s” recipe for success. And this same recipe will ensure our portfolio only includes such properties and applying these principles in your choice of a holiday rental will ensure you pick exactly the right property for you and your loved ones.

Location, Location, Location !

Where is L’Oliveraie? The villa is situated near the beautiful perched village of Le Barroux. The village itself has a good selection of restaurants, nearby towns of Malaucène and Caromb ( 5 minutes away) both complete this selection with more shops, cafés and restaurants. The area has plenty to see within a 15 minutes drive radius, with two monasteries, a castle, the natural sites of Dentelles de Montmiral and Mont Ventoux and the  various perched villages (Lafare, Suzette, La Roc Alric…) hidden  behind the hills that dot the area. But don’t just take my word for it another review was all about the location :

13 – 27th Aug 2011

Dear Romuald, thank you so much for letting us stay in L’Oliveraie. We had a wonderful holiday, enjoyed Le Barroux and many of the Provence villages. We leave with many happy memories. All good wishes.

The Hobbs family (Michael,  Ingrid, Tom and Adam)

Services available “sur place”*

But as you and I know Provence is full of such jewels and travellers nowadays need more to entice them into venturing into this location rather than the hundreds at hand. I asked Romuald what were those massages the guest were mentioning and the answer I got was very detailed.

” My wife offers oriental massages  for our guests’ well being.”

These massages include the use of essential oils: argan, jasmine, orange flower, rose, ylang ylang and frangipani.

The lady of the house also offers beauty treatments on demand ( pedicure, facial care, manicure…).

And while you are relaxing from your day discovering the area your children and/or friends can relax in the pool, playing table tennis  and other activities made available on the premises.

I sit in the stone house considering fans of lavender and the small basket of blushing apricots given to us by Romuald. Cicadas sing still, morning to night. The “sanglier” maybe will visit, the clear moon will keep us awake. (…) What delightful memories.

Oleander, black blood cherries. The tick tock of our ping pong game. Maybe the dog’s instant ownership- a blessing and a curse for poor Romuald.

I’m looking forward to finding out. Merci à la prochaine fois.

A truly bespoke service.

Finally, what really makes a luxury holiday rental stand out is the little services at your disposal that aren’t really  customary but will make your life so much easier. Romuald and his wife truly understood that. They offer a welcoming dinner to their travelling guests who can just pick from a menu he sends them once they have booked their week online. He even goes that step further by offering to do their grocery shopping  prior to their arrival so the only thing they have to worry about the next day is whether to bask in the sun or go sightseeing. The couple also has a listing of babysitters, chauffeurs and even a yoga teacher should the need arise.

 Do all Just Provence properties fit exactly in this mould? The answer  is yes but in their own ways. But do all visitors to Provence wish these exact services or types of locations? The answer is no.

That is why it is important you define what you need and want for your vacation in the South of France. You can look for destinations you’ll enjoy more, a village like Le Barroux might not be the right choice for you if you enjoy going to the theatre/concert every night. If you’re more the autonomous type who likes to handcraft this vacations from start to finish then you should look into a more “independent” property. But you will benefit from Just Provence’s services along the way to making your choice.

So what truly makes a vacation rental exclusive? As mentioned above a great location that will suit your tastes, services that match your needs and a bespoke service that will answer any question.

As always you can contact me at [email protected] with any questions or requests concerning the blog, our services or Provence in general. All comments are welcome.

Dylan

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* sur place means on site in French

Cet article 3 things you should look for in an exclusive Provence vacation rental. est apparu en premier sur Provence Emotional Escapes Blog.