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France, With Creative Destinations

12/15/2015

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In Paris, I met with Sebastian Jonqua, the son of Jean Pierre Jonqua, who is the Président of Creative Destinations Collection.

A client advised me to make sure that I do a VIP service, due to security delays and long lines, as a result of the attacks in Paris that had just occurred less than a week before my trip.  My client arrived in Paris, wishing he had thought to do so. So as he advised, I requested the VIP service. It took me no more than 10 minutes to go from the door of the plane to the luggage carousel.  I did not have to do the long queues upon arrival, thanks to the service of Daly Global Chauffeur Service.

I stayed at Le Burgundy, and I truly believe this is the best kept secret in Paris.
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Le Burgundy is a fashionable boutique hotel located 5 minutes walking distance from Place La Madeleine.  There is shopping close by, on Rue St. Honre and Place de la Concorde.  The Paris Opera is located on a very quiet street, only a 2 min walk from the Madeleine metro station.
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What a beautiful boutique hotel, near perfection!  There are 8 suites, 10 Junior suites, an apartment, classic rooms, superior rooms, and deluxe rooms, all 59 of which provide free WIFI and 24-hour room service.  My bed was one of the most comfortable I ever slept in.  Thanks to the premium bedding, I slept until 11:30 AM the next morning.  I have not done that since I was a baby!

The bathrooms are spacious.  All rooms are equipped with generous amenities, and the staff couldn't have been more helpful.
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The décor of the hotel is chic and contemporary, with a great use of primary colors; yellows, blues, and reds.  The elegant furniture blends well with innovative modernity and elegant fabrics
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I enjoyed looking at the frescos, art, and lithographs which decorate the hotel.  The floor in the front lobby is a piece of art designed by Guy de Rougemont; a black marble puzzle, with brass wire running through it.
Amenities include a spa, sauna, and a hammam, as well as an exercise room, and an indoor pool with a fountain.

Le Baudelaire Restaurant is a Michelin Star restaurant, serving contemporary French cuisine.

I definitely enjoyed my stay and I recommend this fine experience to my clients without any hesitation.

Creative Destinations crafted a great trip for me! 

After enjoying Paris, we left the hotel and moved to the Loire Valley, about a two-hour drive away. The Loire Valley has a long history, with about 1000 years of astonishing, rich architecture. Kings, queens, dukes, and nobles established their feudal strongholds in this broad and fertile valley along the side of the River Loire.

We arrived at the Relais & Chateaux Domaine des Hauts de Loire in Onzain, 20 kilometers from the city of Blois, home of the Chateau Royal de Blois, the residence of seven kings and ten queens of France.
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The Chateaux is a former 19th-century hunting lodge, with 31 Empire-style rooms, set on 178 acres of majestic forest. The gardens and lakes are inviting for a leisurely walk, which will most likely be accompanied by black and white swans, Egyptian geese, ducks, and even deer.
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The rooms all have views of either the garden, forest, or park.  They are very spacious, and decorated with traditional furniture, balancing the past with the present amenities.

The Hotel has a great culinary school with a very modern kitchen equipped with the latest in appliances, and the instructors are great chefs, who work at the two star Michellin restaurant in the hotel. I took a class, and I was very impressed with the chef and his teaching.  French food can be complicated, but his demonstration and willingness to share his secrets made the whole class fun and very informative.  I learned lots of new tricks!

​The pool and spa are beautiful.  This hotel is wonderful for families, and children will be very happy here with so much for them to do, even cooking classes are available to them.
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​The hotel is located near the Loire Valley wine route and close to many of the Loire Castles, and Chateaus.
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Our next stop was Le Vieux Castillon, in Provence, the pride of the medieval village Castillon-du-Gard.  It is a charming Renaissance building with newly refined contemporary décor.  There are 21 bedrooms, all fully renovated.  The hotel also has 10 rooms in an annex building, decorated with the typical Provence atmosphere for anyone who would to like experience it.
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​The outdoor pool is located on a raised terrace, overlooking the vast vineyards.  The openness allows you to see the most dreamy sunsets and glorious sunrises.  The cozy terraces, shaded patios, and the sweetness in the air from the citrus trees,  make this a very special vacation home.

​There is also an outdoor cinema next to the pool for a unique cinematic experience.
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​Walking on the cable stone streets makes you feel like time has stopped, but suddenly the toll of the bells coming from the church awakens you from the spell, and you are transported to medieval time. 

​The  Renaissance facades, stone arches and carved-stone window frames and doorways make up this enchanted Medieval village, perched on a rocky hill.  The morning light gives the whole village a touch of gold. 
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​Nearby, you will find the gorgeous Pont du Gard, a three-level stone aqueduct crossing the Gardon river valley.  It was built over 2000 years ago, in 19 BC, by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, the son-in-law of Augustus.

Other activities include visiting wine cellars and olive mills, doing cultural visits, riding on hot-air balloons, mountain biking, and visiting Arles and Avignon. 
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​We then moved to yet another beautiful property, Oustau de Baumaniere.  Five historic buildings make up this beautiful, single domain.  Located between the land of Cezanne and Van Gogh in Les Baux-de-Provence, this is one of the most and unique sites in the world.
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The property is suranded by olive, cypress, and pine trees, magnificent gardens of roses, a swimming pool, a kitchen garden. 
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Once I arrived, I submerged myself in the gentle charm of Provence.

​The rooms are tastefully decorated, all with their own unique decor, featuring a blend of Provencal and contemporary styles.  Some of them even have a nice outdoor area to sit.  
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​L’Oustau de Baumaniere is great for families, it has a spa and the legendary 2-star restaurant, La Cabro d’Or which serves fresh, organic food.
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​Creative Destinations had another wonderful surprise, another jewel from their portfolio:  The Relais Bernard Loiseau, in Saulieu, a small town in the Cote-d'Or department of Burgundy.
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​The Hotel is located in a historical building, an old rustic-chic mansion, with exposed beams, traditional red-clay tile floors, and elegant furnishings.  The rooms vary in size, but they are charming overall, and some come with perks like fireplaces or balconies that face the gorgeous garden courtyard.   With elegantly decorated rooms and beautiful lounges, gardens, and the spa, the welcome is warm and attentive.
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​It is also the place of one of the best restaurants in France, The Loiseau.  According to Guide Michelin, it is a “feast-day for your tastebuds”.

​I ordered the best frog legs I have ever tested. 
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The service was as good as ever!

M. Loiseau, the lovely and charming wife of the legendary Bernard Loiseau, was a great hostess.  I had the pleasure to savor one of her  latest champagne creations!   Dominique Loiseau spoke with great passion about her late husband’s legacy and his culinary art.

The Town of Saulieu is at the edge of the Morvan Natural Park, an area of woods, pastures, lakes, and rivers. Anyone who enjoys walking, cycling, bird watching, fishing, or riding will enjoy the unspoiled countryside all around.

It is a key stepping-off point if you want to venture in a variety of directions.

Saulieu is located between Chablis and Beaune, between Auxerre and Dijon, between Beaunee and Châtillon-sur-Seine, and between the Auxois and the Morvan.  

The hotel makes a great stop for people vacationing in the Alps or for drivers cruising the region, who want to rest for a day or two in this timeless place. 
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Next we moved to the South of France, to stay at the beautiful property of Cap Estel.  It is located on a private 4-acre peninsula with a 180 degree view of the coastline. The Hotel is positioned at the edge of the peninsula, between Eze and  St. Jean-cap-Ferrat, only 10 minutes from Monaco, and 35 minutes from the airport in Nice. 

The gated property is nested amongst terraced gardens, statuesque palm trees, green pines, and bougainvilleas - a scene like a “Dulce Vita” movie.
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Cap Estel consists of a main building and one separate building called La Corniche, as well as two bungalows, La Mer and Le Parc. All of the suites and rooms have either a balcony or a terrace, and all of them have sea view.

I really like Le Parc and La Mer, both positioned at the edge of the peninsula, with super panoramic vistas of the Mediterranean Sea and the pretty beach.

With 8 deluxe rooms and 12 suites, all decorated with great taste and comfort, the hotel has a Michellin restaurant called The Table of Patrick Raingeard.  There is also a cinema, spa, gym, and a library with DVDs and CDs.  It has it’s own private beach, and the outdoor pool is really beautiful.
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 This is a great place for honeymoons and anniversaries.
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Eze Village is only 4.3 kilometers away.  The ancient, fortified village is a must-see while visiting Cap Estel.  The 12th century stone town has castle ruins and a tall bell tower. 

​The sunsets at Eze are especially romantic. 
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    John Rios

    I love broadening my horizons and opening my mind to different cultures and experiences through travel!  I have been an international consultant for several large corporations including CNN, IOC, and The Weather Channel. Through my extensive worldwide travels, I have amassed a great network of hoteliers and tour operators in every country.  My passion for customer service has led many of my clients to stay with me through multiple generations.

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    ​In addition, I am a published author and avid painter.

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