FALL 2004

Welcome to the France Bound e-newsletter. I am delighted to announce the launch of the new France Bound web site, which has been completely redesigned and incorporates new interactive elements, enhanced content, improved navigation, and enticing photos of France. I invite you to visit francebound.net to experience our new web site, and to send us your comments.

The France Bound newsletter is an opportunity to share news, ideas and experiences of life and travel in France. In this issue, we feature rental reviews received from clients who recently visited France.

Fall is an ideal time to begin planning a trip to France, and we recommend you reserve early to get the best selection of rental properties. European travellers book their vacations well in advance, and the most desirable properties fill up quickly. To help you get the best choice, we have carefully selected many new rental properties. We know the properties and the regions, and we look forward to guiding you to the most suitable choices to suit your needs and expectations.

I hope the new web site, rental properties, and reviews will tempt you to visit France soon to experience and enjoy the many diverse pleasures of this extraordinary country.

Kerry McKeen

ANNOUNCING THE NEW FRANCE BOUND WEB SITE

The redesigned francebound.net web site features an interactive map of France to easily locate rental properties and regional information. Visitors can browse our portfolio of rental properties by region via the 'rentals' heading on the top menu bar, or by using the interactive map and following the 'rentals' link on the regional pages.

We have added regional information pages to help visitors become more familiar with each of the 22 regions of France. Information about the landscape, places of interest, activities, food and wine is provided for each region. In addition, a tempting selection of images represent the countryside, lifestyle, and attractions in each area. Regional pages are accessible by clicking the regions on the interactive map, or the subsequent side bar links.

Other new web site elements, include a database and search feature for quick and efficient access to specific information. Details about our travel, relocation, and rental services are located under the 'services' heading on the top menu bar. The new online contact forms make it easier for visitors to send us complete details of their travel requirements, so that we can match the most suitable properties and services to individual needs. Follow this link to visit the francebound.net web site, and to view the new design and developments.

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RENTALS, REGIONS & REVIEWS

Paris travel tip: Make the most of your valuable time in Paris by purchasing a Paris Museum Pass in advance. The Paris Museum Pass offers unlimited priority access to 70 monuments and museums in and around Paris. Museum Pass holders avoid waiting in line-ups, and save money compared to combined entry rates for individual museums and monuments. Contact France Bound to purchase your Paris Museum Pass before you leave home.

Eiffel Apartment review: Paris Eiffel is a fabulous apartment in an excellent location, with a view of the Eiffel Tower. The apartment is spacious and beautifully furnished. We had lots of room to relax and enjoyed cooking at home in the well-equipped kitchen. The neighbourhood, shops, and restaurants were excellent. We appreciated the welcome gifts provided by the thoughtful owners, and the caretaker was friendly and helpful. We really enjoyed our visit to Paris, and our stay at the apartment. Contact France Bound for more information about this property.

Vaucluse region: The Vaucluse is a rich agricultural region that produces bountiful harvests from its vineyards and fields. The outdoor markets in almost every village and town are filled with the fragrance of lavender and rosemary, and the stands are piled high with colourful displays of fruits, vegetables, and local specialties. A few markets not to be missed are Carpentras, Bedoin, and Isle sur la Sorgue.

Maison Caromb review: We've rented houses in a lot of different places in Europe, particularly in France and Italy, but Maison Caromb is without question the nicest house we've ever rented. It is the perfect combination of being beautifully decorated yet "homey". I was pleased with the spaciousness, and thrilled with the quality of the furnishings and accessories. We had 3 couples in our group, and there was lots of room to spread out. I would go back tomorrow and recommend the house without qualification to anyone.
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Aix en Provence: Let Cézanne and Van Gogh be your guides to discover Mont Sainte Victoire, the shimmering white peak that dominates the landscape around Aix en Provence and inspired generations of artists. Take advantage of the cooler autumn weather to explore the mountain trails and discover the breathtaking views from the summit.

Chez Soi Aix review:
We had a fabulous time in Aix en Provence. The house was beautiful and gave us the experience of living in the local community. We really enjoyed going to the daily markets, and cooking and tasting a wide array of foods. The house was ideally located for getting to know Aix, and convenient for touring around Provence. We really loved our vacation at Chez Soi Aix.
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Maison Aix review:
Our stay at Maison Aix was excellent, and the location in the heart of Aix en Provence was perfect. The house was charming, comfortable, and exceeded our expectations. The layout was ideal for 3 couples, giving us lots of space and privacy. The pool and terraces at Maison Aix are so amazing it was hard to tear ourselves away. There was lots to see in Provence, and our guided excursion to Monaco was a highlight. View this property

Aix Garden Apartment review:
Our trip to France was wonderful, and the apartment in Aix en Provence was perfect. We were delighted with the accommodations and all the travel arrangements. We had spent our junior year in college in Aix en Provence, and we were thrilled to be back. This time, we spent a lot of time cooking, and relaxing in our private garden retreat. It was all wonderful, and we had a great time in Aix! View this property

Bouches du Rhône: There are many advantages to a stay in the Bouches du Rhône department, the most important of which may be its location at the heart of Provence. Visitors can explore all corners of Provence from a central base in the Bouches du Rhône. Highlights in the area include the daily markets of Aix en Provence, the Roman ruins at Arles, the medieval citadel of Les Baux, and the stunning Calanques with contrasting white cliffs and turquoise waters.

Villa Venelles review:
We really enjoyed the location of Villa Venelles, which is situated in the countryside just 10 minutes north of Aix en Provence. Our daily routine began with morning visits to the markets in Aix, afternoons exploring the charming villages of the Luberon, and evenings dining on the terrace enjoying the views of Mont Ste. Victoire and the surrounding vineyards. The house is very nicely furnished and comfortable with lots of room and privacy for a group of friends.
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The Côte d'Azur is known for its glamorous cities and famous beaches, but the lesser known hill towns of the arriere pays are also charming places to discover near the coast. Several villages are particularly interesting for their unique crafts and products such as the parfumeries of Grasse, the glass blowing studios of Biot, artisan shops of Tourrettes sur Loup, and the ceramic ateliers of Vallauris. All are worth visiting during a stay in the area.

Villa Grasse review:
Villa Grasse is a stylish and well-equipped house perched on a hill overlooking Grasse. The pool, terraces, and summer kitchen were fabulous. After busy days exploring the area, we appreciated the cool and quiet villa and pool in the late afternoons and evenings. The house was spacious and comfortable for a group of friends, and we had a great holiday.
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Antibes Apartment review: France Bound suggested the perfect apartment in Antibes for our family holiday. The location was ideal. We were only a short walk from cafés, shops and the outdoor market of old Antibes. We had a pool, and a beautiful beach was nearby. Our apartment had a private roof-top patio with a hot tub and a view of the marina. Mornings were spent at the market and cafés, and evenings dining in restaurants. In the afternoons we explored the area, or relaxed at the pool or beach. Antibes was the perfect combination of a Provencal town and a coastal resort. View this property

Normandy: is an excellent location for a holiday in France with easy access from London and Paris. The coast of Normandy offers many historical places of interest to discover, and the scenic Norman countryside is a haven of peace and tranquility. The people are friendly, the villages are charming, and the leafy lanes and clear streams are an ideal setting for visitors to relax and rediscover the joys of nature.

Ver sur Mer review:
Maison Ver sur Mer was terrific for our group of families, providing very good living and dining space. There was a big kitchen table, plus a large outdoor dining table in the lovely garden. The delightful village had everything we needed (bakery, butcher, groceries etc.), and no tourists. Normandy was beautiful: the
D-Day beaches were fascinating, we really enjoyed the museums, and the birth place of William the Conqueror at Falaise was a highlight. Exploring the small roads through the lovely countryside was a favourite activity!
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TRAVEL & RELOCATION SERVICES

To help you organize your visit to France, we offer a variety of travel services including hotel and B&B reservations, car rentals and leases, train tickets and passes, Paris transportation and museum passes, cell phone rental, and customized itinerary and relocation planning.

Hotel recommendations: Take advantage of our insider's knowledge of friendly boutique hotels throughout France. We can recommend the perfect place to stay, often at better rates than the Internet, and we take care of all the reservation details for you. Your hotel or B&B confirmation includes a destination package filled with local maps, guides and recommendations to help you get the most from your visit to France.

Paris hop-on/off buses are a convenient way to become familiar with Paris and to visit the attractions. The independent sightseeing buses are ideal for families and jet-lagged travellers who arrive too early for hotel check-in. The two day pass offers great value for unlimited transportation on buses that arrive every 10-30 minutes at more than 50 hop-on/off stops at prime locations and major attractions. Each passenger receives personal earphones for informative commentary in the language of your choice. We recommend taking the full tour on the first day to get an overview of the city and major places of interest. On the second day, use the bus as convenient transportation directly to the sites and attractions that you wish to visit.

Explore France by car. France Bound offers competitive rates for car rentals in France, and we take care of the reservation arrangements for you. Your car rental confirmation includes driving tips, maps, directions and tourist guides to make your driving experience in France enjoyable and stress-free.

Drive Europe in confidence. If you need a car for more than 30 days, a guaranteed buyback program may be best for you. The convenient tax free program for tourists features a brand new car; a comprehensive no-deductible insurance package; round the clock roadside assistance; and unlimited mileage. France Bound is an authorized representative for the buyback programs and we offer competitive rates. Call us for an estimate.

See more of France by train. Travelling by train is a convenient and relaxing way to see more of France, and there are a variety of rail passes to make travelling by train an economical transportation choice. For example, the France Rail Pass special is only $273 Cdn for 3 days of unlimited first class train travel in a one month period. Contact us for train fares, tickets and passes.

Stay connected while visiting France. With a local cell phone you will avoid expensive roaming charges associated with taking your domestic GSM cell phone abroad. France Bound offers cell phone rental with free incoming calls, voice mail, and a local number in France. You select the amount of call time to purchase with various denominations of local pay-as-you-go calling cards.

Relocation and travel consulting: Take advantage of our first hand knowledge and expertise of living and travelling in France. We offer customized consulting for travel and relocation planning. If you are considering a long stay in France, we can help you to arrange long term housing and schools, to prepare immigration procedures, to reserve a long term car lease, to organize financial and administrative affairs, and other essential preparations for a successful move to France.

Visit francebound.net for more information about rental properties, travel and relocation services.