France & Belgium Vacation Review: Paris, Burges, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Cooking Class, Beer & Wine Tasting, Seine River Cruise

Nicole was an absolute delight to work with throughout our trip planning process. Her charm, responsiveness, and ability to adhere to our budget were truly commendable. We were highly satisfied with the selection of hotels she arranged for us, which were excellent in every aspect. Overall, our trip was a wonderful experience, and I'd like to share some highlights and lowlights that stood out during our journey.

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. One of the standout moments of our trip was the exceptional cooking class we attended. It surpassed any cooking class I had ever taken before. The experience began with a visit to the local market, followed by a hands-on session where we created delectable dishes using the freshest seasonal produce. The food we prepared was not only visually stunning but also incredibly delicious.

2. Our guided tours of the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay were truly enhanced by our knowledgeable and kind guide, Lourve. Their expertise brought the artworks to life, allowing us to fully appreciate the cultural significance and historical context of each masterpiece.

3. Our travel company surprised us with a delightful beer tasting experience in Bruges. While we thoroughly enjoyed the beers, the highlight was undoubtedly spending time with a local who shared valuable insights about the culture and traditions of the region. It provided us with a firsthand perspective that enriched our overall travel experience.

4. Our hotel in Bruges exceeded our expectations. Its fantastic location, spacious and comfortable rooms, and friendly staff made our stay truly enjoyable. We couldn't have asked for a better accommodation choice.

LOWLIGHTS:

1. Unfortunately, the Seine dinner cruise fell short of our expectations. We were seated in the middle of the boat, which limited our view of the city lights. Furthermore, the quality of food and service aboard the cruise was disappointing. The bread basket that arrived at our table contained three hard rolls, with one of them even having a significant bite mark. The overall experience left much to be desired, and we felt that even microwave food would have been a better option.

2. One of the letdowns during our trip was a private wine tasting experience with a sommelier who failed to show up. We had been eagerly anticipating this experience and were greatly disappointed by the miscommunication between the sommelier and our travel agency. However, we appreciated our travel team's efforts to rectify the situation by providing us with a refund for the experience.

3. It would have been preferable to receive our final travel documents earlier than just four days prior to the start of our journey. Had we received the itinerary sooner, we could have better planned our free time, especially considering that Monday turned out to be a holiday. Nonetheless, we are grateful for the refund we received for the inconvenience caused.

Overall, despite a few setbacks, our trip was memorable, thanks in large part to Nicole's assistance and the enjoyable moments we experienced along the way.