A-la-carte services

 

  cooking party in Biarritz in a chef's home surfing in the basque country hiking in the pyrenees


Choose from a menu of activities and services that can enhance your vacation experience or simplify your day to day logistics.  From a cost standpoint, prices are finalized once the number of guests and timing is known.

Simplifying the day to day logistics at your vacation home:

  •  Home chef service to enjoy cooked meals in the comfort of your home: possibility for one time chef visit with up to 3 meals prepared for your party,  ready to go ( no shopping, no prep, no cleaning). This option is very economical when feeding a group of 8 guests or more vs dining out. The catering service can be enhanced by added services ( musicians, décor, cooking workshop etc… ) for a special occasion.
  • Rental bikes delivered to your home upon arrival to live like a local or indulge your hobby if you are a serious cyclist.
  • Grocery shopping & home delivery service to your home on demand during your stay
  • Childcare and additional housekeeping help
  • Mini-van chauffeur service with insider knowledge to explore the prettiest country roads of the area when you do not feel like driving

Food & Wine oriented activities

  • Market outing in the AM followed by a same day festive cooking party with bilingual chef
  • Private cooking class showcasing local food specialties (Basque cuisine, tapas)  in the comfort of your vacation home, or in a kitchen restaurant
  • A local expert joins you to take a scenic one day drive inland along la Route Gourmande des Basques in the valley of Les Aldudes with pre-arranged stops at different farms and small producers of local food specialties:  Irouleguy wine, foie gras, Jambon de Bayonne cured ham, Ossau-Iraty ewe cheese, gâteau basque (the traditional Basque pastry) etc… Meet the farmers and small business owners. Alternatively, kick back and consider using the services of a driver-guide to enjoy your day with no worry.
  • Bar hopping with insight in the streets of San Sebastian in Spain on a quest to find the best pintxos in town (pintxos is the Basque word for tapas)
  • Bookings at Michelin starred-restaurants

 Cultural activities

  • Private guided tours of historical towns in the Southwest: Bayonne, Saint Jean de Luz, Biarritz, Pau, Oloron, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Fuentarrabia, San Sebastian, Bilbao all deserve a visit with the insight of a guide.
  • Tickets secured in advance for possible events of interest  that require an advanced purchase: concerts, choral/film/music festivals etc, Basque pelota games…
  • Visits of local artists in their studio, home, gallery scattered in the French Basque country
  • Within one hour and a half train ride, the majestic city of Bordeaux is within reach. Explore with your own guide this  jewel of 18th-century architecture and gateway to the eponymous vineyards. Possibly add some wine tasting in wine bars or at the wine museum.

Hiking PLUS something else with a local host-guide

  • Hike various trails in the Pyrénées, close to the coast and stop for a picnic or at one of those traditional mountain inns, called ventas, for a casual fare that always tastes amazing after an effort and in such a neat setting
  • Hop on the coastal train linking  France to San Sebastian in company of your host and get off for a  2 hour scenic coastal walk to eventually enjoy pintxos (tapas in Basque) and drinks in the lively resort city of San Sebastian before hopping back on the train
  • Hike in nearby Spain along the Jaizkibel cliff overlooking the ocean with a picnic of fine regional products and wrap the evening with pintxos in historical Hondarribia
  • Opt for a scenic one day trip with a local host into the Haute Soule province, the furthest inland and the wildest Basque province on the French side. Get some insight on St James of Compostella paths at some selected historical stops, hike  along the Holzarté bridge high up in the gorges, indulge a good local restaurant in a remote village.
  • Aim for a simple hike around Sare & Zugaramurdi with a visit to the caves in this Spanish village: your host will tell you everything about its witches. 

Linguistic activities

  • Private or semi-private tutoring sessions given by teachers specialized in teaching French as a second language. Take the class where your interests reside as the teacher will customize the learning process to the real life situations of your liking: markets, museums, restaurants, sport venues etc…
  • Join small group classes at a Biarritz language  school, 2 week commitment is required in this case with lessons in the AM. Separate programs are offered for young people and for adults. 

Sports oriented activities

  • A private surfing initiation course in English for 7 to 99 yr old, with good swimming ability
  • A basque pelota initiation workshop: discover the Basque athlete in you!
  • Golfing pass to the many golf courses &/or lessons at the international training center
  • Horse-back riding in the Pyrénées mountains or at a renowned national riding club in Biarritz
  • Many hiking possibilities with a trained guide through the mountains, with a possibility to focus the route on destinations & educational info that appeals to various age groups. 
  • Registrations at sailing and surfing group programs
  •  A family white-water outing; minimum requirement is to know how to swim, the technical level of the river is easily accessible
  •  A 4X4 crossing of the Pyrénées through mountains paths to eventually reach the surprising desert of the Bardenas ( overnight stay is required); Pamplona is not too far!
  • Registrations at a low key kids beach club in St Jean that operates as a half day Summer camp in July & August for 3 to 12 yr old.  

Well-being

  • Thalassotherapy ( ie. based on by-products of the sea) spa treatments
  • Yoga instruction and massage services in the comfort of your home 

 Transportation & outside-the-Southwest logistics: 

  • Assistance with domestic transportation arrangements: flight, train, car rental
  • Design of custom itineraries in the regions surrounding the French Basque country where you are staying: Bordeaux wine region, Dordogne, Spanish Basque country, Rioja wine region, Hautes-Pyrénées
  • Hotels & transportation logistics in Paris, personalized day by day itinerary with options for private guided tours of museums, neighbourhoods, markets, French lifestyle workshops with local experts ( fashion, baking, cheese & wine tasting, art, antiques, personal shopper etc…)
  • Hotel accommodation and guided services in other parts of France