how Evelyne Dufau works

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Travel to the Southwest of France  Travel to the Southwest of France   Travel to the Southwest of France

What do you do?

I am a trip planner specialized in the Southwest of France, my region of birth. I custom-design trips for discerning individuals and small private groups. My clients are families, couples, groups of friends, and like-minded travellers who share common hobbies or passions.

A trip typically includes an extended stay in the French Basque Country region as a home base, a strategic location from where you can indulge in a variety of activities, cultures and sceneries. From that home base, you can also take day trips to the Spanish side of the Basque country, the Landes region and the Pyrénées mountains. Some of you might extend your stay and explore nearby regions for a few days, such as the Bordeaux wine region and Arcachon, Dordogne, and the Spanish Rioja wine region. Or you might opt for overnight hiking trips in the Pyrénées. Then, there are also situations where a stop in Paris or the exploration of other French regions are high on the list. I assemble your trip like an artisan, finding the best partners in France and in Canada, to deliver quality experiences in a cost effective fashion. Here are the services I offer:

  • custom itineraries and carnet de voyage (travel log) for the Southwest of France
  • carefully selected and inspected accommodations in rented villas or apartments, hotels and B&Bs in the French Basque Country, Béarn & Landes
  • a wide range of personalized hosting services: from basic logistics (food delivery, catering, childcare etc...) to activities & outings rich in local content and interactions
  • a local host for welcome, on-demand assistance and emergencies
  • special interest vacations for small groups ( foodies, golfers, learners of the French language, cultural festival goers etc..)
  • trip extensions into the Bordeaux, Dordogne & Spanish Rioja regions or fully outfitted hiking trips in the Pyrénées
  • in Paris & other French regions: all transportation and accommodation logistics, and guided tours for a trouble-free stay
  • event planning for businesses in the Southwest of France
  • car rental or lease
  • overseas & domestic flights
  • travel insurance

My clients look for authenticity when travelling. They opt for my expertise and savoir-faire for the sake of time and peace of mind. 
 

Are you a travel agency or a tour operator?

Certified France Travel Agent

Neither. I am a trip planner and France specialist.
I keep my business small in terms of geography but focused on knowledge, quality and service. I share my intimate knowledge of a region I love and unique contacts I have made. I travel and sojourn in the Southwest of France frequently for extended periods of time with my own family. I indulge in the pleasures of this beautiful region and old world culture but I also work hard when I am there. I visit and inspect private homes, boutique hotels and B&Bs. I meet with local tourism representatives, as well as villa owners, local artists, sport professionals, chefs, winemakers etc.  I interview potential business partners and select the ones with the best fit. Business partners, friends and family keep my knowledge relevant and current on the area. With respect to other French regions, I have local partners who share my business approach and quality standards. I work with them to design add-on travel experiences. Neither the internet nor a North American travel agency focused on France at large will be able to give you this level of intimacy and comfort in the Southwest of France.  I also frequently work and do research in Paris to be an insightful purchaser of services as Paris is a such a natural stop.   

Who are your partners?

I select the best partners to deliver high quality tailored trips in a cost effective way. 

In Canada, I work with an established Ontario-registered travel agency: TTI Canada (  Retail registration #4411872). My company, Expérience Authentique, operates as a division of TTI Canada,  under the trade name Expérience Authentique at TTI for all travel services purchased in Canada and regulated by TICO. Thanks to its TICO travel agency registration, TTI Canada  provides clients, with financial protection as per the Travel Industry Act and the Ontario Travel Industry Compensation Fund. TTI  Canada offices are located at 35 The Esplanade, Suite 200, Toronto, ON     M5E 1Z4  Tel: (416) 369-3213 x280.

In France, I have carefully selected licensed agencies, expert in their field as destination management companies. They carry liability and financial insurance to ensure total peace of mind. They also offer my clients the benefit and comfort of having a local contact when traveling. 

I am only looking for trip planning help

 You value my expertise, but you prefer to do the final assembly of all the logistics and service providers. If we were to make a food analogy, you are looking for the ingredients and the recipes from me, but you cook your own trip. Typically plan to hire a minimum of 6 hours of my services to consult with you, then receive a custom-designed itinerary that includes suggested activities that flow well with your schedule and location, accommodation recommendations & reservations and the Expérience Authentique carnet de voyage. Help with transportation logistics is covered as well. Give me a call to discuss your needs.

Final advice: do not underestimate the time required to coordinate the final logistics. It is a labour of love similar to the work of an artisan. It takes time and dedication to produce a good vacation.Back to Top