If you haven't yet made the trip of your dreams and just aren't quite sure the best way to plan it, think, "Tour Companies."

There seem to be a plethora of tour operators out there waiting for you to open your wallet, and it is difficult to decide whether it's worth it.  It is.  We've recently returned from our second trip with one.

We met our tour group in Nice, France, where a representative met us at the airport, navigated us through the city, and carried our baggage to the front desk of the convenient and well-appointed hotel.  Our tour guide, friendly, polite, and very knowledgeable about his home country, met us with suggestions for places to dine.  The next day, he led us on an orientation tour of that beautiful city on the Cote d'Azur so loved by Matisse and other artists for its unbelievable light. (See WE's book review "A Journey into Matisse's South of France")  With an easy map to follow and good suggestions by our guide, we wandered the ancient city, sampled luscious strawberries from the famous market, strolled the beach populated by sun bathers, and topped off our visit with a "choo choo" ride to the top of the city for its incredible views.    

We were off by bus then to board our river boat in Arles.  On the way, we paid homage to the more than eight hundred American soldiers who died in August 1944 as they liberated southern France from the German occupation. This impressive American cemetery in Draguignan is certainly one we would not have known about on our own. We tend to think only of the Normandy invasion and forget that many other heroes died to keep France free.  The French have not forgotten.

At the Rhone River we delighted in unpacking for the week in a spacious and charming cabin.  The top deck featured a hot tub and comfy chairs for lounging.  A window-walled observation area provided an alternative spot to view the countryside as we glided by on cool days or wet.  A gracious dining area promoted meeting new friends at table and the chance to enjoy French cuisine from the kitchen of our capable chef.  Escargot was available for the adventurous; other traditional French dishes were enjoyed by all.  Did I mention crepes and pain au chocolat--those delectable croissants filled with chocolate to delight at breakfast?

In Arles, a walking tour led us past a Roman coliseum and some of the scenes which Van Gogh frequented and painted.

Here, too, we had free time to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the open market.  Fascinating displays of heaped-up spices from the Provence or curry or peppercorns made their own art. 

Filled bowls of assorted kinds of olives--spicy, garlic, tiny ones, big fat stuffed ones, all tempted one to buy.  Later, on the boat, our guide offered an assortment of flavored olives at the cocktail hour.

We sailed upriver to Avignon where our fine spring weather disappeared as the winds from the Alps channeled down the river valley bringing a cold day for touring.  These winds are one thing a tour company can't control, but they were part of our education about this region.  At Avignon, we viewed the imposing Pope's Palace and the storied bridge (see WE's "Poppying out of Provence" by the Wandering Freditor) but were glad to retreat to the comfort of our boat out of the wind and rain.

If you were touring on your own, you could never experience this highlight of our trip.  We were guests for dinner in a typical French home.  Prepped in the language and etiquette of the country by our guide (including how many times to kiss the air), we went off in small groups to practice our new skills in French as we got to know our gracious hosts.

Along the river, we glided past villages, farmlands, tiny chapels, and imposing chateaus.  We were entranced by the fourteen locks encountered on the rivers.  Roaming the streets in a typical French village, we climbed through impossibly narrow streets to the highest elevation where the inevitable chateau was placed. 

On optional tours, some of us visited other villages to see vineyards with thousand-year-old wine cellars or the operations of a working goat farm where the owners provided samples of chevre cheese and wine.  A favorite spot was the village of Oingt where the buildings are constructed of golden stone, limestone with a high content of iron, which absolutely glows in the sunshine.  Cluny Abbey impressed us with its size and history.  It was largely destroyed first by French Revolutionists who tore down parts to build houses and stables for horses.  Later, bombing wreaked more destruction. Had we opted to do so, we could have relaxed on the boat or wandered the river towns on our own.

Lyon welcomed us in her bridged city between the Rhone and the Saonne Rivers.  Here we had two days to explore and learn about her silk-making history.  A demonstration on board educated us on the process; roaming the old town with its hidden passageways for transporting the silks helped us live the history.  After ur stay in this bustling city, we were treated to a night time cruise under the beautiful lighted bridges as we made our way to the Saonne to complete the river tour.

Macon was our last stop on the river.  Our guide led us past a timbered house with original wood from the Middle Ages and a cathedral still half-destroyed by bombs but blessed with blooming cherry trees beside it.  This town, filled with blossoms, wins awards for its flowers.

We journeyed by bus towards Paris, but the long trip was broken by our guide's planning.  In Beaune, where the city is built over hundreds of wine cellars, we used our new-found skills in ordering at cafes.  We traveled the Cote d'Or, the wealthiest area of France where this narrow stretch of land produces the finest of all Burgundy wines.  Incredible scenery and an education in the art and science of wine-making: all included in our bus ride.

The City of Light. . .Paris!  Our included tour led us back and forth across the Seine to view all the must-see sights and to orient ourselves to this amazing city. With instruction on the metro system, a good map, and our budding acquaintance with the language, we were off for two full days to explore.  A personal walking tour with our guide led us through neighborhoods not usually visited.  On Palm Sunday we thrilled to see a mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. 

The next day we opted to view the impressionist masterpieces at Musee d"Orsay.  On our last evening, we took the requisite sunset cruise on the Seine to see La Tour d'Eiffel turn a magical gold under its lights and then, on the hour, sparkle as if its girders were covered with diamonds.

Had we attempted touring France on our own, we surely would have seen some of these sights, but we would never have managed them all.  Nor would our trip have been as relaxed and comfortable as it was when we didn't have to worry about arrangements or whether the hotel had lost our reservations. We had already had that experience in a foreign land where we didn't speak the language. Had we had the bad luck of breaking a leg, as one of our group did, or falling ill as another did, our guide would have accompanied us to the hospital or took compassionate care of us just as he did those unfortunates.  Joining a reputable tour company's tour makes the whole experience worry-free.  

One couple in our group was on its twenty-ninth tour!  We're currently deciding what will be our third.  Bon voyage.