SEPTEMBER 2008

There is still time to plan a 2008 holiday in France. In this issue of the France Bound newsletter we offer a tempting selection of rental availabilities for a fall or winter getaway in France.

Autumn break in an elegant country villa in Provence:

Last minute opening for Sep 27 - Oct 11 at Chez Beatrice - one of our most popular rental properties in Provence. Chez Beatrice is an elegant country villa with 7 bedrooms, huge grounds and a swimming pool, ideally located between Avignon and Carpentras - an excellent and central location for exploring all the attractions of Provence.

Here are just a couple of rental reviews from recent guests at Chez Beatrice:

" We had a wonderful trip. The house was fantastic and Beatrice was a delightful host. The villa is beautiful and was immaculately clean. We felt very much at home and certainly recommend this house and location to anyone wanting a very restful and memorable holiday. We had breakfast at home everyday and then went out on excursions during the day, and returned to the house in the late afternoon to relax around the pool before gathering around the huge table on the terrace each evening to enjoy the fabulous local food and wines. We enjoyed walking along the country lanes and met quite a few of the neighbours, who were very friendly and eager to tell us about the history of the neighbourhood."

" After looking through our photos recently, I feel quite guilty about not letting others know of our exceptional trip. But when one discovers something really great, one doesn't always want to share it with the world! I am referring to Chez Beatrice and the wonderful holiday we enjoyed in the south of France. We were a group of 5 couples, and Kerry at France Bound organized our accommodation, booked the car rental, trains, hotels and recommended all the best things to see and do, and the best places to go. With her recommendations our excursions & activities were easy and enjoyable. We shopped at the most interesting local market towns, tried fabulous food, found great wine, and the suggestions on local points of interest were just perfect. Our holiday at Chez Beatrice was extraordinary and highly recommended."

Chez Beatrice is available Sep 27 - Oct 11, 2008 and Oct 25 on. Price estimate - from 4375 Euros per week. Please click on Chez Beatrice or the photo above to view more details and photos of this rental in France.

^ back to top

Christmas holidays in the Parisian countryside

At Domain Barbizon you can enjoy the endlessly fascinating city of Paris AND relax and explore in the peaceful French countryside. Domaine Barbizon is a professionally decorated French country house near the historic towns of Fontainebleau and Barbizon, and only 45 minutes by train to Paris (hourly service). This is an ideal location to spend the holiday season with family and friends. Domaine Barbizon features a gourmet kitchen, a huge dining table and accommodates 6-12 guests in luxurious comfort.

Domaine Barbizon makes is ideal for biking, walking, hiking, tennis and golf. On all sides there are beautiful country out door markets. Milly la Foret is 10 minutes from the house and has a renaissance market dating from the 15th century. The gourmet restaurants are incredible and many are along the beautiful country roads of the villages.

Recent rental reviews: "my friends and I most thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Domaine Barbizon. What a wonderful way to connect with family and friends over a delicious meal and a glass of wine at Domaine Barbizon - the perfect place to spend a holiday with friends. One day we visited the local market in Milly la Foret and another day we visited the antique show in Paris - how perfect is that?! It has really been a delightful holiday and one whose memories we will always cherish."

"We had a lovely relaxing holiday at Domaine Barbizon - such a wonderful cozy farmhouse, and such a delightful location. We really enjoyed Fontainebleau and Paris, and sometimes we just enjoyed sitting in the garden and reading in the sun. We enjoyed ourselves enormously at this magical retreat. "

"I can't tell you how thrilled my friends and I were with the wonderful farmhouse - Domaine Barbizon. It's so comfortable and we loved everything about it. We had such a wonderful, delightful and marvellous vacation."

Domaine Barbizon was beautiful and very charming for our holidays. Fontainebleau was our favourite place to visit. They had an outdoor ice rink that our children really enjoyed, and we had a great time at all the little shops and eateries. It was a great experience and we have wonderful memories."

Domaine Barbizon is offering a special holiday season price - from 4350 Euros per week. Bonus: price can be adjusted according to the number of guests and bedrooms required. Please click on Domaine Barbizon or the photo above to view more details and photos of this France rental.

^ back to top

A winter holiday in the Alps

Villa Annecy is a stunning chalet overlooking Lake Annecy. Villa Annecy is beautifully furnished and decorated, and with 14 bedrooms it can accommodate up to 20 guests. Annecy is a delightful town with many places of interest and opportunities for sports activities. Villa Annecy also features an impressive terrace with pool, kitchen and hot tub with panoramic views overlooking the lake. Annecy is only 1 hour from Geneva and makes an excellent base for a ski holiday in the Alps. Nearby ski areas include: -La Clusaz-Grande Bornand – ½ hour away – good family skiing.
-Chamonix – 1 hr 15 mins.
-Corcheval-Trois Vallees – 1 hr 15 mins.
-Val d’Isere-Tignes – 1 hr 45 mins – 2 hours.
-Megeve – 45 mins.
Nearby towns:
Annecy – 25 mins.
Geneva – 1 hour.
Lyon   - 2 hrs.
Albertville – 20 mins.
Torino – 2 1/2  hrs.

Recent rental reviews: "We have had the great pleasure of visiting Villa Annecy three times in the past three years.  Each time, our visit has surpassed our expectations.  The house is exquisite.  It contains every convenience combined with old-world charm.  The bedrooms are beautifully decorated, spacious and each has either an updated ensuite or adjacent bathroom.  We love the main floor of the house.  The dining room is perfect for entertaining, the sunny and bright breakfast room is great for family meals and the large fireplace nook is our favorite place to relax.  The grounds are spectacular, as is the location.  Up on the mountain, overlooking Lake Annecy, you feel like you are floating in the clouds when you are having dinner on the patio or swimming in the pool.  My husband and I love Villa Annecy and recommend it highly to anyone lucky enough to get to spend time there."

"This past summer our family had the good fortune to stay at Villa Annecy. The house is beautifully decorated with a lovely mix of old world charm and modern amenities. The sunny breakfast area is lined with windows, the dining room is large and inviting, and the fire place in the great hall is a great spot to congregate and relax. Each bedroom is charming and tastefully decorated. The views overlooking Lake Annecy can only be described as postcard perfect.  We spent many happy lunches enjoying the dramatic mountain ranges and stunning views from the infinity pool, hot tub, and outdoor kitchen/patio area. A great house and location for a family holiday. There are great walking trails provide plenty of amusement right outside the door, and there is an unlimited array of hiking, climbing, biking, paragliding, and water sport activities located in the area.  We loved it so much, we are coming back this winter to enjoy this magical place again!"

Villa Annecy is available most dates for the 2008 fall and winter season, and throughout 2009. Price estimate from 11,250 Euros per week for 20 guests. Please click on Villa Annecy or the photo above to view more details and photos of this rental in France.

^ back to top

2009 RENTAL SEASON

For 2009, we have selected an exciting selection of new rentals to add to our portfolio of personally inspected private rental villas, houses, & apartments throughout France. We are now booking reservations for 2009 and availability is beginning to fill up at some of our most popular rentals, and rentals that offer the best locations, the best amenities, and the best values. Large rental properties are also in high demand and limited in quantity, so it is important to reserve as early as possible to get the best selection.

France Bound rentals are carefully selected and personally inspected to ensure that the rental and the location meet our high standards for quality, charm, comfort and reliability. We work directly with the local rental owners, managers, and tourism professionals to ensure that you will enjoy an exceptional level of friendly & helpful hospitality during your stay. France Bound specializes in matching your individual requirements to the most suitable rentals and locations to ensure that your visit to France will be successful, memorable, and exceed your expectations.

Booking with France Bound includes valuable insider travel information, and important consumer protections. As France specialists, you receive the benefit of our personal recommendations for the best places to go, what to see, what to do, where to shop, and where to enjoy the best food and wine. We provide destination guidebooks, local tourist guides, maps & more. France Bound also offers reservations for car rentals, train tickets, hotel reservations, sightseeing and transportation passes, private chefs & drivers.

Booking with France Bound also offers important consumer protections. France Bound is a licensed, registered & bonded Travel Agency, and we maintain trust accounts for all customer payments. In addition, we contribute annually to the B.C. Travel Assurance fund for the protection of consumers' travel payments.

As France destination specialists, we provide unique first-hand knowledge and expertise for rental accommodation, travel and tourism in France. Please visit us at www.francebound.net

^ back to top

France Bound News

France Bound owner and president Kerry McKeen has been appointed to the International Advisory Board of Maison de la France, the official French Government Tourism Organization. As the BC representative, Kerry is looking forward to her role as ambassador for France Tourism, and advisor to the board. Kerry was selected for this role based on her experience as a France specialist and travel business owner, along with her unique knowledge and understanding of Canadian expectations for tourism in France. Please feel free to contact Kerry if you have comments or suggestions about France Tourism.

Visit www.francebound.net to view our 2009 selection of villa, vacation, and apartment rentals in France.

Consult new rental reviews and comments from recent France Bound travellers, posted on the francebound.net testimonials page.

For personal assistance in selecting the ideal rental in France for your next vacation, contact France Bound to speak with your France vacation rental and travel specialist - info@francebound.net

^ back to top