Some Of Our Client Reviews
Thanks so much for organizing our visit to Burgundy with A Scenic Road. The variety of sites and wines was great. We will want to return at some point to see the regions we missed. The tour was so good, that I hope we could get the same guide again for the area south of Beaune, which we did not see. But I liked that you focused on the region in the north, these are more familiar to me, and I learned a lot.
One of the most interesting tours was at Domaine Drouhin because of the history and story of the Domaine around WW II. We had a very good tasting, with a surprise Premier Cru (thank you Xavier Cabanne), and some good wines. The restaurants that you arranged for us were all fantastic. We enjoyed Lameloise, I think one of the best meals we had in France. But we also enjoyed the other two, particularly Ma Cuisine where we had some fun people to sit with. Thanks so much again for your help in organizing our tour.
Darlene, California
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I can’t say enough about the wonderful family vacation we had in France due to the expert guidance and help from Xavier Cabanne at A Scenic Road. My family spent two weeks touring from the Rhone Valley, to Paris and to Burgundy.
Xavier helped us find a lovely Chateau just outside Annonay; a home that could fit our extended family of 20. From this wonderful spot, we took many day trips to surrounding villages and were able to get a real sense of country living in central France.
Xavier also helped arrange a fantastic 3-day visit to Paris, complete with a bike tour and recommendations for sightseeing and restaurants. The bike tour was certainly a highlight, as we were able to see quite a bit of Paris in a short time, and with two boys, a tour with a little bit of physical activity and adventure was perfect. The hotel Xavier arranged was in a great location, making it easy to walk to sites as well as get to public transportation. His restaurant recommendations were great – we never lacked for a terrific French meal.
The highlight of the vacation was a 2-day visit to Burgundy. Xavier arranged for tours of three terrific wineries, including Maison Joseph Drouhin, a winery we had long wished to visit. We also had a tour of Maison Veuve Ambal, where we saw how Crémant (Sparkling Wine) is made. The hotel Xavier arranged was lovely and hosted a very nice wine tasting in the evening. Our dinner in Beaune was also fantastic, as was walking around the city in the evening.
I can’t say enough about how easy it was to work with Xavier and how professional he was in handling our vacation planning. I would not hesitate to recommend A Scenic Road to anyone looking for help in planning a trip to France.
Bill & Family, California
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We spent two and a half days in Bordeaux this spring, arranged by Xavier Cabanne of A Scenic Road, where we stayed at a Chateau just outside of the strikingly beautiful St-Emilion village. The chateau was the highlight of our Europe trip and our point of departure for two and a half days of Bordeaux winery tours. Our guide and driver was superb, with 3 visits and lunch each day, covering the regions of St Emilion, Pomerol, Medoc, and Graves. The private tours of the chateaux and vineyards were distinctive, varied and educational. This was a tour well-thought out and planned by Xavier.
Paul, California
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I recently had the good fortune to participate in a tour of Paris beautifully organized by Mr. Xavier Cabanne, president of A Scenic Road. From my initial contact with his organization six months prior to my trip and through its conclusion just days ago Mr. Cabanne was professional, organized, detailed and efficient in all his dealings with me.
As a newcomer to Paris I received his guidance and support as we formulated an itinerary to my budget and time specifications. The goal of my trip was to enjoy Paris as a cultural hub and reunite with childhood friends and travel companions. I wanted a taste of Paris, so to speak, and he provided several ideas and suggestions to achieve this goal. Mr. Cabanne selected several hotel options asking for my feedback and I was pleased with my accommodations in the Latin Quarter which provided numerous dining options, a local metro station, and easy walking accessibility to many sights including Notre Dame, Sainte Chapelle and the Seine. Set events included a champagne tasting, a bike tour of Paris and a farewell group dinner at a lovely historic restaurant.
I achieved every desired goal on this trip and its success was due entirely to A Scenic Road‘s professional and knowledgeable president, Mr. Cabanne. In addition to his ability to listen to a client’s goals, work within a given time frame and budget, and offer certain perks, enhancements and recommendations which fit into a client’s initial concept is an asset rendering his business more highly capable than most travel professionals and organizations I’ve dealt with in the past.
I was highly satisfied with A Scenic Road and have already discussed with Mr. Cabanne planning a return trip to France next year to visit other destinations including the Burgundy wine region, about which Mr. Cabanne is a fourth generation expert.
Aviva, New York
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My recent trip to Paris, organized by A Scenic Road and Mr. Cabanne, was a thoroughly enjoyable experience from start to finish.
Last winter my travel companion and I decided to meet for a week in Paris this July to reunite and enjoy the sights and ambiance of Paris. We wanted a touch of Paris as the backdrop for our reunion and meetings with other friends who lived in the vicinity. Mr. Cabanne listened to our ideas about sites of interest, personal accommodation preferences, price limits and then offered us appealing choices within these guidelines. At every point through the planning process he offered support and feedback and was always available for questions, concerns and confirmation of reservations for our hotel and a wonderful bicycle tour of Paris. Many times he reached us before we inquired to update us on details he had already addressed.
The level of confidence and reassurance he provided was exceptional and this was a worry-free experience on all counts. I would highly recommend A Scenic Road and Mr. Cabanne’s expertise for anyone wishing to arrange a personally-designed trip to Paris. You’ll be in good hands!
Elizabeth, Poland
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From start to finish, our experience with A Scenic Road was filled with a variety of cultural experiences. The trip offered us a unique window into the deep historical and cultural roots that make traveling in France so unique.
PARIS
Our time in Paris was delightful. We stayed at a small, boutique hotel in a lovely area on the edge of St. Germain, a few blocks behind Musee d’Orsay. Although very French, the hotel cared well for its English speaking clientele. In addition to booking the hotel, A Scenic Road was able to recommend a selection of guided tours, and suggest ones most appropriate for our family. We chose a walking tour through the Marais, which provided an excellent mix of history, art, architecture, storytelling and, of course, fabulous food. We also took a motorized bike tour, aptly named, Charms & Secrets. Our intelligent, charismatic guide led us to many places just behind, next to, or in between the more famous tourist spots. He then narrated the historical background in a way that engaged our kids as much as their parents. We experienced a part of Paris that we could never have dreamed of doing on our own.
BURGUNDY
Our stay in Burgundy was fascinating. From Roman temples to 19th century chateaux, our interest in the history of the region was well served. Fortified hill towns, such as Flavigny and Brancion, allowed the entire family to “time travel” through the 8th, 11th and 19th centuries. At every turn, we found ourselves immersed in history, rich and emblematic of the region. So, too, were we exposed to the long tradition and excellence of the region’s wines and foods.
From field to table we learned not only to taste and savor, but also to sense the Burgundian “Terroir.” We toured by foot, car and bicycle through a countryside gifted with the ability to grow exceptional grapes, while sustaining a population dedicated for centuries to the art of producing fine wines. All facets of the table were included in our stay. Mustard, cheese, wine, market days, and an exceptional cooking class filled our senses with all the promise and delight one could hope to gain from traveling in Burgundy.
From Flavigny to Beaune, Volnay, Santenay and beyond, we experienced fine wine, delightful countryside and a rich history. Most importantly, we did so in a way that was just right for our family of four. A Scenic Road provided us with an exceptional guide, tailored to our needs and travel style. Our guide not only offered us multi-levels of information, she provided companionship and a love for the region. Her passion for Burgundy was expressed admirably, and her ability to fine tune our outings was greatly appreciated. We have come home with a strong desire to return to Burgundy; a true measure of success.
Thank you to A Scenic Road!
Ruth & Peter, Vermont
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Xavier Cabanne at A Scenic Road saved me from panic, stress and hassle, when I needed to plan a trip to Paris in height-of-tourist-season June and didn’t start until April. I’m forever grateful! He quickly found a couple of great hotel options that matched our criteria: close enough to walk to things we wanted to see, safe neighborhood, guest room for a mother and teenage son to move around in, friendly staff who like American tourists and reasonable rates.
We picked the Royal Hotel and were delighted. We could see the Arc de Triomphe from one of our balconies, were comfortable in the larger-than-usual-for-Paris room and the price was right. The neighborhood, right off of the Champs-Elysees, was safe enough for me to take a long, evening jog from the hotel to the Louvre and back. We enjoyed a fresh buffet breakfast in the hotel each morning with a variety of favorite American (protein) and French (croissants!) items, stocked by out-of-their-way-charming, efficient staff. The nicest surprise about the hotel was, though, the cordial, patient, English-speaking staff at the front desk. Each one was patient with our endless questions, moved our heavy suitcases and was always eager to serve.
Just across the street from Royal Hotel was a currency change office, run by two dry-witted French gentlemen, that offered excellent Dollars-to-Euros rates. We had our first Parisian lunch in a popular, neighborhood bistro, where we enjoyed our croque monsieurs as well as instructive people watching.
A Scenic Road arranged for our safe, comfortable transport to and from the Royal Hotel with a prompt, responsible driver—so reassuring to us when traveling and tired. I’m glad we took him up on that.
Being a Frenchman, Xavier Cabanne advised us to plan only one event or excursion each day and to allow plenty of time to walk and explore neighborhoods, art, architecture and shops spontaneously—welcome and excellent guidance. He made it simple for us to skip the first line at the Eiffel Tower by getting us Skip-the-Line Passes. I wished we had planned much further ahead, so we could have had similar passes for the Catacombs.
A bike tour that A Scenic Road proposed was one of the most fun things we did in Paris. For hours one sunny afternoon, we rode electric bikes for miles right on city streets, led by our enthusiastic, native Parisian (but English-speaking) guide. We visited lots of intriguing places in a condensed span of time, learned bits of history and mystery and saw several things that tourists usually don’t see, such as the oldest landmark in Paris and a picturesque home in an exclusive, wealthy neighborhood.
We can’t say enough good things about Paris, Xavier Cabanne and A Scenic Road! Our advice: call him.
Cheryl, California
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This really was a wonderful trip! A Scenic Road paid a lot of attention to detail and I felt very well taken care of. I felt like the choices made with us in mind really freed me up to just relax and go with the flow. The dinner at Maufoux was a trip highlight due to the tone and atmosphere. There was a lot of laughter, people were enjoying one another, and it was just pure fun. The setting was wonderful – a beautiful room in a place with a lot of history.
I would quite happily go on another trip planned by A Scenic Road, and I’ve told my friends that they should consider it too.
Suzanne, Illinois
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[Our guide] Colette is very charming and animated and she has a wealth of knowledge about Burgundy. The Clos Napoleon [for lunch] was really fun and very ‘typique’ of the region. Le Montrachet was GREAT! Probably my favorite meal in Burgundy. We had a lot of fun at the Olivier Leflaive wine tasting lunch and it was nice to have a choice to add in a wine or two that we wanted to taste. I loved the Maufoux house! I could have spent more days there!
Thank you A Scenic Road!
Sue, Illinois
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Our visit to France was the “trip of a lifetime,” and we enjoyed every minute. A Scenic Road did a spectacular job of planning a “custom” trip that exceeded all our expectations. Our hosts were wonderful at every stop, and we truly loved the various activities and visits planned for us.
We highly recommend A Scenic Road to any traveler wanting to experience France and its many charms.
Rod & Susie, Kansas
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We will never forget our time in France. We truly appreciated our guide Paulo during our stay in Burgundy. He was fun, knowledgeable, flexible, and very helpful. We enjoyed our week with him. We would highly recommend that you utilize his talents for future tours.
Thank you A Scenic Road for a fabulous experience and planning the best trip that we have ever experienced!
Jeanne & Larry, Kansas
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