Planning a luxury trip to France? Forget the typical tourist route. These are the places that actually feel special. The kind you’ll talk about for years. Think dramatic coastlines, splendid castles, villages that smell like wine and woodsmoke. Some are famous, some aren’t, but each one has a real reason to be on your list.
Photo by Roxxie Blackham
Photo by Claire Morris
Perfect for honeymooners, milestone trips, or your once-in-a-lifetime vacation, each spot is best experienced with a thoughtful itinerary and local insight. If you're dreaming about a luxury getaway in France,
keep reading. And take notes you’re going to want to remember these.
Photo by Molly Carr
Calanque de Cassis
South of France
This stretch of rocky coastline in the south of France looks like a postcard. Sharp white cliffs, pine trees overhead, and that unreal turquoise water below.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Rent a boat for the day and let yourself glide from one hidden cove to another. Stop to swim in the clearest water you’ve ever seen, bring along a picnic, or book a table at one of the little restaurants tucked into the cliffs.
Some nearby towns are charming, others not so much, which is why picking where to stay matters. Also, the calanques are protected by a national park and so access is limited. Do your research before heading out there. You can’t just roll up in your rental car and park at the beach. If you want help with your trip planning, we get you the beachfront parking space or a private boat and a fresh-caught grilled fish lunch.
Photo by Greg Finck
Photo by Claire Morris
Photo by Claire Morris
Vaux-le-Vicomte
Paris
Yes, Versailles is impressive on the grandest scale. But what if you want something just as impressive but smaller, quieter, more romantic. Something that was the inspiration for Versailles? This must-see place is about an hour from Paris by car and is not served by a convenient train station, but 1000% worth the trip.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? The food on-site is so-so, pack a picnic and have your apero or dinner on the lawn as the sun sets. Picture yourself, champagne in hand, toasting the end of a perfect day. It feels secret, even though it’s grand.
Carcassonne
Occitania
This place is straight out of a storybook. Think stone towers, drawbridges, thick walls you can walk along. It’s a real medieval citadel that’s still standing. Bring your princess attitude, but be ready for crowds in the busy summer season.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Stay for dinner so you can explore the citadel after the day tripper have left, when the golden light hits the walls and the views stretch for miles.
The citadel is magic, but the town below is not that cute. Try to get a place with a view of the citadel. Done right, it feels like stepping back in time.
Mont St Michel
Brittany / Normandy
It’s dramatic. It’s Gothic. It’s a Medieval abbey rising out of the sea! To get there, you walk across the vast flats and when the tide comes in, it turns into an island. The entire sacred complex is built into the rock, and the views from the top, bottom and every angle are unforgettable. Don’t sleep on the excellent local seafood and fine dining.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Stay overnight on the island so you get the full spooky when the tides of daytime crowds have resided. That’s when the magic really comes through.
Eze
French Riviera
Tiny village. Big views. It’s perched way up above the sea between Nice and Monaco, but feels miles away. Cobblestone streets, stone arches, everything covered in flowers. Walk to the top of the village where the panorama takes your breath away. About an hour from Nice, and a bit tricky to get there since there’s no public transport and it’s entirely pedestrian, no cars allowed. But once you get there, you’ll want to come every year.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Book an intimate dinner at sunset to watch the sea and sky shift their colors along the entire Riviera. Contact Travellur for more info.
St Emilion
Bordeaux
This one’s for wine lovers. Old stone buildings, road winding through the vineyards and underground cellars that feel like secret caves. Some of the best wines in France come from here and those cellars date back to the 6th century.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Meet a local wine maker and learn what makes the wines of Bordeaux world class. We love arranging private tastings in family-owned chateaux that aren’t open to just anyone. It makes the whole experience feel personal. Not all wineries accept visitors, and the best ones book up quickly. Having the right connections turns St Emilion into something extraordinary.
Photos by Molly Carr
Loire Valley
Castles everywhere. Some are massive and formal, others feel like intimate family homes. You could spend a week here and still have more to see. Plus over 2000 wineries. This is where the kings and queens of France and all the greatest noble families made their homes in the Medieval and Renaissance period of French history.
Our ultimate Travellur tip? Mix the major sites with lesser-known gems and balance your castle visits with wine tasting, cycling or visiting a charming village. Of course you should stay in a castle - either a boutique hotel or private chateau that feels like your own private domain. Btw, the region is huge so have a sensible route or you may end up doing a lot of driving.
France isn’t hard to love. But it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Too many hotels that look the same online. Too many reviews. Too many ways to waste time or miss something good. You don’t want to show up and realize you booked the wrong place or came at the wrong time. And when things don’t line up, it can throw the whole trip off.
We got this:
We plan trips for people who want it done right. No tourist traps. No guesswork. We live here. We know the right timing, who to call, what to book early, and what’s worth skipping. Whether it’s a private transfer to Vaux-le Vicomte with for a candle-lit evening visit with fireworks, hotel options/bookings based on your discerning tastes or strategic planning to avoid crowds and missed connections we’ll make your trip to France beautifully seamless.
Get started with a free 30-minute consultation.
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