Attention, food and wine lovers:

this itinerary is worth celebrating.

(P.S. Survey deadline!)

If you caught my mid-December newsletter, you may have seen an article about the city of Bordeaux, with a mention of an upcoming trip to this wonderful region as well as the Loire Valley. Well, the waiting is over and this October 2023 trip opens for bookings this week! We will set sail on Uniworld's elegant S.S.Bon Voyage after having spent several days in the Loire Valley. 

I'll be celebrating a milestone birthday in November, so this will be a festive trip for me. How about you? Have you been putting off an overdue celebration due to the ups and downs of the last three years, or do you have a special occasion you'd love to mark this fall?

For this trip, Mon Voyage is working together with Cuvée Wine Travel, Kim The Travel Queen, Blue Sky Destinations, Smooth as Silk Travel, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises to create a memorable and joyful exploration of the culture, history, and gastronomy of western France. 

We will be surprising and delighting our clients with exclusive events and perks designed just for our cooperative group. Won't you join us?

Set sail along three stunning rivers near the Atlantic coast of France.

Get to know the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde, on one fascinatingly historical and invigorating journey. Explore the country’s breathtaking backdrops, wines and cultural treasures across the region in Bordeaux, Fort Médoc, Cadillac, Blaye, Libourne and more. Wander through archaeological marvels, historic landmarks and magnificent vineyards where you’ll be treated to a sampling of quintessentially French experiences. Don't wait too long, though--inventory on balcony cabins is limited!

But first, spend a few days enjoying the splendor of the Loire Valley.

It was in this very region--when I was a 16-year old summer institute student at the Université Catholique de l'Ouest in Angers--that I bought my first croissants in an actual French bakery. It's also where I first realized that I was a citizen of the world, and that travel would always have a profound grip on my soul. I can't wait to share it with you.

The city of Tours is the heart of the Loire Valley and our hotel is indeed in the heart of Tours. Our days will be filled with visits to several of the most beautiful and historic chateaux, charming Loire towns in the shadow of these castles, and a representative variety of wineries showcasing regional Loire AOCs such as Bourgueil and Vouvray.

This pre-cruise extension is exclusive to our group and the Loire experience is not offered as an add-on by Uniworld. I have engaged top local Loire Valley suppliers for your traveling pleasure—a highly-regarded, locally based tour provider and an intimate five-star boutique hotel with only 21 exquisitely outfitted rooms.

We have seven rooms only!

While there are several dozen staterooms currently available on the S.S. Bon Voyage, the same cannot be said about this exclusive Loire extension. Normally Mon Voyage SGTs have a limit of 12 to 14 participants. In this case, I have not increased the size of the group—but the clients of my colleagues who are taking part in the cruise will be invited to book into this extension. 

Naturally, I’d love it if my own wonderful clients occupied most or all of the spots, so don’t wait to book or those spaces may vanish! The size of the Loire extension group absolutely cannot be increased beyond the capacity of the seven rooms I was able to block.

I welcome the clients of my accomplished fellow travel advisors to join Mon Voyage for this pre-cruise Small Group Trip to the Loire Valley. But just between us, I hope it's YOU who will be occupying one of those seven rooms. 

In addition, we will be holding a LIVE info session via Zoom on Thursday, January 26th, at 5:30pm Central Time. Please reply to this email if you would like to join this virtual event and I will be sure you get a link.

In the meantime, or if you're anxious to claim your spot right away, click below:

RED ALERT!

The 2024 Small Group Trips survey deadline is rapidly approaching. Your input is the main ingredient in determining where we travel. Why not take a couple of minutes now, before you forget?

I can see trends developing, but will they hold? Will responses gathered this last week surprise me and change the outcome? Your votes might make the difference, so don’t forget to complete the short questionnaire by this Sunday, January 22nd.

Our rich experiences on these trips are highlighted by the excellent company of a limited number of fellow travelers, and it is frequently those same clients who have influenced the final choice of destinations. Be part of the excitement by participating in the annual survey at the link below.

We also have other Small Group Trips percolating in the background for 2023. Click each for further info.

Irish Country Idyll (May 2023): One or possibly two rooms are still available for a scenic wander through Dublin, Galway, and the rugged Irish coast. Booking deadline is approaching rapidly, as I will be required to release the extra rooms by early February. Speak now or forever hold your peace!

Celebration of Classical Music on the Danube (April and November 2023): Scenic river cruise highlighted by special itinerary additions for the music lover, with optional extension packages for Vienna and a Hungarian wine tour (the latter in November only). 

Vietnam and Cambodia (January 2024): This trip has at its center an unforgettable Mekong River cruise. Note that category C cabins are now sold out. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months, but reach out if you would like to secure your place while three other categories still available.

Private (FIT) planning for 2023

If you’re thinking of making an independent/private trip in the future and would like me to design and book that trip for you, now is the time to reserve your place in my planning calendar for Q3 and Q4 of 2023 (and into 2024). Keep in mind that "Skip the Line" requests (for travel less than 120 days out) are accepted on a space/time available basis only. I'd love to help you with that dream trip but my board is filling up fast!

Exclusive event for DFW clients coming soon

Watch your inbox for an invitation to my Second Annual Wine Tasting Event at Stoney's Wine Lounge in Lakewood. In addition to providing info and answering questions for 2023 travel, I will reveal the survey results and offer a sneak peek at our Small Group Trip destinations for 2024.

Whew, that's a lot. But it's a New Year and we've got a lot of territory to cover out there!