Sample Perfect Week Itinerary - Family .pdf - Hosted Villas

Saturday
The Perfect Week of Family Fun in the Dordogne
Meet private driver and/or airport greeter
Navigating through airports and train stations with children can certainly be a challenge. To help
make the arrival process smoother and stress-free, Hosted Villas offers two easy methods of
arrival. If you are picking up your rental car at the airport, we will provide an airport greeter to
meet you as you come out of the baggage claim area and they will get you to your car rental
agency and out of the airport in no time. Or, we can organize a private driver to meet you at the
airport and take you directly to your villa. Once at the villa you will find your rental car/s for the
week. Your driver will be waiting for you as you exit the baggage claim area and will have a sign
with our logo and your name.
Arrival at the Villa
Welcome to your Villa! Check-in time is at 4:00 p.m. If you are coming on your own from the
airport you can find directions/GPS coordinates to the villa in your Handbook and your Local
Host will meet you there. Please don't hesitate to phone if you have any trouble with directions, or
to let them know you're running late.
Arrival Buffet
For your enjoyment this evening, a light arrival buffet will be laid out for you by your Local Host,
composed of regional favorites and delicacies that have been chosen with you and your kids’ tastes
in mind. Please note that this is sufficient for a large snack and that exact foods will vary
depending on the season. Enjoy this buffet of food while you settle into your home-away-fromhome
and start to fall into life in France.
Sunday
Visit to a Local Market
This morning you will delve right into French life and enjoy the sights and sounds as you explore
the local items available in the Dordogne region. Upon arrival to the villa, your Local Host will
provide you with more information on the different markets and vendors available today and will
make sure to guide you to the one that best suits your needs that morning. Enjoy this cultural
experience at your own pace and learn (and taste!) all that Perigord has to offer.
We suggest you do a quick tour of the market before buying anything; get your bearings then go
round again to buy the best of what you've seen. Don't be afraid to ask the vendors how to
prepare an unfamiliar vegetable, or if you can sample the olives or strawberries. Ask to taste the
cheese or saucisson before you buy; most vendors will be happy to oblige.
These visits are best done in the morning, as the crowds are small, and the best finds are readily
available. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, bring a sun hat and lots of small bills to
bargain with.
Rocomadour & The Padirac Caves
This afternoon, soak up the sights and sounds, history and culture of some of the Dordogne’s most
beautiful and historical towns. Start your day at Rocamadour, an ancient pilgrimage center in a
unique canyon setting. After a stop for lunch (your Local Host will give you suggestions and make
any required reservations), you will visit the Gouffre de Padirac, where you will descend 75meters
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The Perfect Week of Family Fun in the Dordogne
into a cave system to explore underground caverns full of extraordinary rock formations. Once in
the cave you will travel through the tunnels aboard a riverboat, admiring the stalagmites above.
Please Note: this tour is not suitable for young children – discuss with your Travel Advisor and
Local Host to determine if this would be an appropriate activity for your family.
Monday
Bike Tour
Today you will discover some of France’s most beautiful landscapes with a guided Bike Tour.
Cycling the calm, traffic-free country roads surrounding the Dordogne Rive is a safe and fun way
for the entire family to discover this region. Your children’s age, skill level and interests will be
matched with a customized tour that is designed to meet the experience levels of all guests,
allowing your whole family to enjoy the great outdoors together.
There is truly nothing like road riding in Europe, especially in France. The roads are quiet and
scenic. The drivers are respectful. And every few miles there is a shop, cafe or restaurant where
you can get supplies or a bite to eat. If you wish, it can be arranged so that your last stop is a
vineyard. Your Local Host will join you there with a picnic: baguettes, cheese, foie gras, olives,
fruits and vegetables and you can sit with your family, taking in the magnificent views of this very
special region of France.
Cooking Lesson at the Villa
After a busy morning of biking you will return home in the afternoon to relax by the pool while
the kids splash around. In the late afternoon, you will have the honor of learning some tasty
secrets of authentic French cuisine from an expert chef in your own home! Gather around the
kitchen for the lesson and then most importantly, to sample the finished product! Come with a
pen, a good appetite and a curious mind!
This is an event that can be organized for any age group and any type of food preferences. We
have a handful of wonderful local cooks and a few choice France chefs to please every palette.
Tuesday
Medieval Castle Visits
Often referred to as "le pays de 1001 chateaux," the Dordogne boasts more then 1000 castles
tucked amongst the natural beauty of the region and perched on the edge of stunning hill-top
villages. Are the little Princes and Princesses of the group interested in learning about the knights
of the Middle-Ages or the grand chateaux of the Renaissance? Castle visits ignite imaginations,
young and old.
Your Local Host will provide you with directions and information for a tour of two of the
Dordogne’s most spectacular castles: Chateau des Milandes and Chateau de Castelnaud
The Château de Castelnaud displays the art of warfare in the Middle-Ages with a private
collection of arms and armor, as well as furniture from the period. Outside, you will find
reconstructions of war machines, such as siege catapults in their actual size.
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The Perfect Week of Family Fun in the Dordogne
Le Chateau Des Milandes is a Renaissance chateau with a wonderful panorama onto the valley of
the Dordogne. Les Milandes is forever linked to the extraordinary personality of Josephine Baker,
its renowned former owner. Come here to discover Josephine's life and her incredible destiny.
Navigate the Dordogne River
The best way to discover the vast Dordogne valley is by canoe or kayak. Canoeing is hugely
popular in the Dordogne and there are rental outlets at just about every twist in the river. It's best
to take at least a half-day or longer and simply cruise downstream. Let the children captain the
‘ships’ as you navigate your way through the ever-changing scenery, where each sight is as
remarkable as the last: green valleys, untamed gorges, limestone cliffs, magnificent castles and
secretive caves abound.
Dinner at the Villa
After being out all day, for dinner tonight why not take it easy at home with a ready-made meal
from the local catering shop? Your Local Host will arrange and place the order for you to pick up
upon return. Or if you prefer a full-service meal, your local host can arrange for a cook to come
to villa and have dinner prepared for you when you return from the castles.
Wednesday
Sarlat Town Visit
Start your day off with a trip to the Sarlat market (approximately 20mins from your villa) to stock
up on some fine French delicacies, beautiful souvenirs (soaps, baskets and fabrics) and shopping
list items. Get the entire family involved and have the kids pick out the best-looking basket of
strawberries or practice their French while choosing a loaf of bread. Local craftsman have lots of
beautiful trinkets – kids can spend the morning searching for a special souvenir to bring home as a
memory of their trip. Be sure to start early so as not to miss out – the market closes at 1pm!
Sarlat, the capital of the Périgord Noir, has been awarded the exceptional three star classification
by the Michelin Guide, marking it as one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Stroll through the
cobblestone streets and stop into an ice-cream parlour for an afternoon treat, or relax on the
terrace of a café while a local street artist sketches caricatures of the kids.
For families with older children, partake in an English guided tour to discover the hidden gems of
this exceptional medieval town full of gastronomic and cultural pleasures.
Font-De-Gaume Cave Tour
This well-known prehistoric cave is the last original painted cave open to the public. The
paintings (of bison, elk and other wildlife) were done around 17,000BC and after the inhabitants
left, the cave sat empty and unexplored until it was discovered in 1901. Travel back in time as you
enter these secluded caves and let your imagination run wild as you admire the paintings all
around you.
Your Local Host has arranged your tickets for your exploration of the Font-de-Gaume Prehistoric
Painted Cave ahead of time. After the tour, you will enjoy a picnic on a private historic site. Feast
on a prehistoric meal of grilled deer and sanglier, wild food salads, game pies and patés. This
meal is to be eaten as it would have been thousands of years ago -- with flint knives and wooden
platters.
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Thursday
The Perfect Week of Family Fun in the Dordogne
Le Bournat Village/Theme Park Visit
Today you will embark on a visit to Le Bournat Village. A unique site in the Dordogne, this
village/theme park offers visitors of all ages a glimpse into rural life of the 1900s and undoubtedly
will create some unforgettable memories. Here, local craftsmen bring history back to life with
songs, stories and legends of yesteryear, for the delight and enjoyment of adults and kids alike.
Meanwhile, a fun fair, traditional fairground attractions and games of the past will make presentday
children roar with laughter.
Dinner At Local Restaurant
This evening, your Local Host has arranged for childcare so that the adults can enjoy an evening
to themselves! Your Local Host will arrange for a reservation and transportation to a local
restaurant of their suggestion (and your choosing), allowing you to enjoy some precious time
alone.
Friday
Day at the Villa
In a one-week vacation, much of your time is spent out and about, taking in the local scenes and
culture. We suggest that you have at least one day where you can enjoy your villa and after a long
week of sightseeing and tours, the day before departure is ideal.
If pampering is what you need, your local host can arrange for in-house masseuses and
estheticians to come to the villa for a special day of indulgence. For art-lovers, a local artist could
provide a private painting lesson from the comfort of your villa terrace. Foodies might enjoy a
hands-on pizza or pasta-making lesson, while everyone will benefit from a dip in the nearby
thermal spa. This is the day to take it easy and truly enjoy the European villa experience.
Private Chef Dinner
This evening, one of our Regional Chefs will arrive at your villa to begin preparing your authentic
French meal. Sit back and relax as plate after plate of delicious French fare is brought before you.
Our years of experience with hosting guests in this region has given us an advantage in being able
to find the perfect chef for your family’s needs.
Take some time to relax this evening together as a family and reminisce over the wonderful week
you have spent in the Dordogne.
Saturday
Departure
Time to pack up and say "Au Revoir" to your Local Host, the villa, and the French countryside.
Departure from the villa is at 10:00AM.
Contact one of our Villa Specialists today to discover the perfect villa and start planning your
week of activities in France.
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