+33 6 07 32 20 77

About
us

A bit about our founder

Louis, our founder, was born and raised in Paris. He spent seven years abroad after completing his university studies, including four years working for a global travel company in Africa & the Middle East. Feeling homesick, he returned to Paris and embarked on a one-year journey to rediscover his country, exploring various regions of France. Along the way, he realized that France has so much more to offer than the typical tourist attractions that are often advertised. With his knowledge of the French market and a keen understanding of the needs of travelers, Louis decided to create The French Route, a boutique travel agency that showcases both the iconic sites and the hidden gems, and authentic experiences that make France truly unique.

Louis Badea, The French Route Founder & Travel Expert
Louis Badea, The French Route Founder | © Original content / The French Route

Why

The french route

Inside the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, 
a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983
Inside the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983

We do believe that France offers a wealth of experiences beyond the typical tourist attractions. While a visit to the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower may be essential, we also strive to provide our clients with unique and authentic experiences that showcase the lesser-known regions and hidden gems of France. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular to France, we offer a curated mix of must-see highlights (such as a private tour of the Louvre) and off-the-beaten-path adventures, such as a few days exploring the quiet region of Brenne with a private tour of the Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe.

We’ve created several itineraries that serve as inspiration for your travels. As we understand that each traveler is unique, we take pride in offering 100% customizable trips tailored to your specific interests and preferences. Our approach to trip planning involves finding the perfect balance between our recommended activities and your personal preferences, resulting in an exclusive and unforgettable travel experience. Contact us today by filling in this form or via email, phone, or WhatsApp to start planning your dream trip to France.

Our

Partners

At The French Route, we are committed to providing our clients with an unparalleled travel experience in France. To ensure that every aspect of our trips meets our exacting standards, we have personally curated a portfolio of partners who share our passion for excellence.

From luxury hotels and restaurants to expert tour guides and transport providers, our partners are carefully selected for their exceptional service and attention to detail. Our founder has established long-standing relationships with each partner, ensuring that our clients receive a warm welcome and special treatment throughout their journey.

As a registered tour company with Atout France, the official tourism development agency of France, we adhere to the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct in the travel industry. 

Saint Victor La Grand' Maison in Berry, a beautiful manor where our customers love to stay
Saint Victor La Grand' Maison in Berry, a beautiful manor where our customers love to stay

Sustainable Travels

The Loire River, near Chaumont-sur-Loire
The Loire River, near Chaumont-sur-Loire | © Original content / The French Route

We are deeply committed to sustainable travel practices that minimize our impact on the environment. We believe that responsible tourism not only benefits the planet but also enhances the travel experience by immersing our clients in the authentic and natural beauty of France.

To this end, we carefully select partners who share our commitment to sustainable practices. For example, we prioritize working with winemakers who use environmentally-friendly methods, ensuring that our clients can taste the finest French wines without compromising their environmental values.

We also encourage our clients to choose train travel over car travel whenever possible, taking advantage of France’s extensive and efficient train network.

What Our Clients Says About Us

Our reviews come from The French Route's Google reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we do. As of late September 2023, due to high demand, approximately half of our partner hotels are fully booked. However, the remaining half still has a few rooms available. We also have two off-market Airbnb listings available. Please feel free to contact us here, and we will respond promptly.

While bed bugs can be a concern in some places, you can rest assured that none of our clients have reported any bed bug infestations so far. We conduct regular checks with our partner hotels before each check-in to ensure that they have not been affected by bed bugs. To date (9th of October, 2023), we haven’t received any positive reports of bed bug infestations in our partner hotels.

You can get in touch with us through our inquiry form or via email at bonjour@thefrenchroute.com, or via WhatsApp or phone call – +33 6 07 32 20 77. Once we have a few essential details about your trip (number of people, travel dates, etc.), we will send you a proposed itinerary. We’ll then iterate via phone call or email till you are satisfied with your personalized itinerary.

We will send you a confirmation of your itinerary. Within the month before your travel dates, you will receive from us your detailed itinerary and recommendations for your trip such as the best bakery close to your hotel or our preferred restaurants for a lunch between two activities. We can also mail you a paper version if you wish so.

All of our itineraries are completely customized from scratch. Those on our website are there to provide inspiration, and to give you a sense of what we can arrange for you. After our initial phone conversation or email exchange, we will start tailoring an itinerary around your request.

All our trips are private, meaning that you will not travel along with other people who have booked with us. However, in case you want to lower your costs, and only for some specific activities within your trip – for instance, a wine tasting – we can propose a group activity on demand.

Once you’re happy with our proposal, we will request you to pay a 30% deposit. The final payment will have to be made within 2 months before your arrival date in France. You can pay us either through bank transfer or virtual credit card. Our payment policy is detailed here.

We don’t. However, we often have friends and people in our network who are looking to resell / giveaway their tickets as they can’t make it to a concert, sports event, etc. Feel free to reach out to us to find out – you never know.

In addition to organizing personalized trips for individuals, The French Route also plans trips and retreats for companies. For instance, we can ask a qualified sommelier to organize a wine and cheese tasting in a conference room. We can also plan for a one or two-day trip to the Champagne region. Possibilities are endless.

We can do it if you wish so. Should you want us to do it, let us know and do not forget to give us any airline loyalty card you may have. Regarding your travel in France, in case your itinerary includes domestic flights, we will book them and they will be included in the total price.

We do! If you’re here only for one or two days, we can plan activities such as a wine-tasting or a cooking-class. Why not learn how to cook coq au vin at with a Parisian host?

We are! Should you want to travel with children, we will ensure all accommodation and activities are child-friendly.