Testimonials/Reviews from 2012
Read here what our clients have to say about Discover Provence Tours 2012
December 3rd 2012 - 3 Day Tour 'Provençal Cooking Day, Vineyard Day, Mediterranean Sea Day'
We recently went to France for our 25th wedding anniversary and had a four day stay in Aix-en-Provence. We were introduced to Sarah by Michael the host at our guest house. It was absolutely serendipitous! I had meant to book a cooking class in France before we left Canada but never got around to it. Sarah not only booked the class but picked us up and delivered us to a lovely home in the countryside. The class was just what we were looking for and the instructor Christine drove us back to our guest house at the end of a very filling and informative afternoon. Next day Sarah picked us up and off we went to tour two different wineries. It was wonderful to be able to sample all the different wines and not have to worry about driving. On our last day with Sarah we went to Cassis on a boat tour and slow meander through the small quaint fishing village. At the end of our tour Sarah drove us up a long and winding road to a spectacular vista where we got some amazing photographs of Cassis. Sarah was a wonderful hostess and it was nice to have someone with intimate knowledge of the South of France show us around. As a complete added bonus she secretly recommended a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris to my husband so he could take me out to celebrate our anniversary in a truly memorable fashion.
Charlene & Grant, Toronto, Canada
November 8th 2012 - 'Luberon Village Full Day Tour'
I have recently returned from a wonderful few days with friends in Provence. We were able to fully explore the beautiful Provencal villages in an extremely relaxed and informative way thanks to Sarah and her wonderful knowledge of this area. She was efficient and very passionate about Provence. We also took a trip with her along the coastal road to Cassis, again allowing us to thoroughly relax and enjoy the trip with Sarah's expertise. I would definitely recommend Discover Provence. We have returned with wonderful memories of the beautiful Provencal region.
Joanne, Cambridge, UK
November 6th 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Half Day Tour'
Wonderful day trip from Aix-en-Provence to the historic fishing village of Cassis on the Mediterranean. A short drive from Aix, you enter another world where you see the beautiful, historic, Mediterranean town of Cassis nestled next to the water, its port surrounded by stunning white stone cliffs. Traditional, still-in-use, small fishing boats are in the port, and shine with color and obvious care. You can take a tour boat out from the port and travel through the Calanques, or watery byways, that shoot off from the port at intervals and are surrounded by the white stone cliffs. There's a fascinating history that goes with their formation. Our guide, Sarah Pernet, picked us up in Aix and accompanied us throughout a half-day tour including the tour boat ride through eight Calanques (Sarah translated the story told by the tour boat guide to English as we went); and later, a walk on Cap Canaille, a well-known cliff with stunning views of the port and town below. Olive trees and a very fine small vineyard also add the the beauty of the place. Highly recommended.
Sarah - thank you so much for all the great touring and wonderful activities you shared with us. It was excellent.
Linda, Seattle, Washington State, USA
November 2nd, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Luberon Villages and Wine Tour'
Sarah did an absolutely wonderful job showing my husband and I around on our day tour. She created a custom day for us and it became our favorite part of our trip to France. She offered to pick us up at our hotel and take us to the train station which made everything very easy. I highly recommend this wonderful personalized tour to experience Provence!!
Jenni & Nick , Washington DC, USA
October 27th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Les Baux de Provence'
Our day with Sarah couldn't have been better! It was if my Mom and I were traveling with one of our best friends. Sarah took us to Le Baux de Provence and we toured the beautiful town and had a lovely lunch overlooking the stunning landscape below. We went to a fantastic winery and olive oil mill in the valley and also had time for a visit to a Gaugin and Van Gogh exhibit as well as the monastery where Van Gogh spent time and painted some of his most famous works. I would recommend Sarah to anyone spending time in Provence, she is knowledgeable and has a lovely personality.
Julie, Florida, USA
October 26th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Luberon Villages'
"This was a perfect day! We drove to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue from Aix and my friends and I spent the morning finding unexpected, beautiful treasures in the antiques market. After lunch, we wandered the cobbled streets of gorgeous villages in The Luberon. I've never seen such magical cities and such intriguing shops. Thanks to Sarah, this memorable day was filled with perfect moments."
Susan, Seattle, Washington State, USA
October 25th, 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
What a lovely afternoon! Sarah is very knowledgeable and passionate about Provence. We met in Aix and traveled by van for the afternoon. We stopped a two wineries, the first had great wine but even more beautiful garden. The second winery delicious organic wines. It is also an art gallery. We walked through a quaint town in the luberon. The group was very friendly. I would highly recommend any of Sarah's tours.
Katie, New Jersey, USA
October 15th, 2012 - 'Cruise Ship Compatable Tour - Cassis '
We had booked Sarah Pernet based on the reviews we had seen online. She proved to be everything we had hoped for and more!! She was absolutely wonderful with my parents who were traveling with us. Our only regret was that our day had to be cut short due to the weather. It only prompted us to realize that we would have to come back to the area, and with out a doubt, would use Sarah for several different day trip options. We could have spent the whole week with her. She is truly a lovely person with a true passion and love of the area.
Anita, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
October 14th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour - Moustiers St Marie & the Gorge du Verdon '
I booked a custom tour with Sarah for me and my parents during a recent visit to Provence. Since we had previously visited the area and already seen Aix, wine country and beach locales, I requested a custom tour of Moustiers Ste. Marie and the Gorges du Verdon area. Sarah did a fantastic job showing us this new part of Provence. She was sensitive to my parents' (late 70s) needs -- allowing breaks and rests along the way as needed and during the drive, she shared interesting facts about history and culture of this region that we all enjoyed greatly. Don't hesitate to contact Sarah for a tour -- she will make your vacation even better with her knowledge and thoughtfulness.
Susan, Boulder, Colorado, USA
October 11th, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Medieval and Olive Oil Day '
We flew in from the other side of the world and rather than drive ourselves around Aix en Provence for the short time we had there, we arranged to do some trips with Sarah Pernet. We highly recommend her. She is very knowledgable , plans the days to suit individual interest and at the same time ensures that the essence and pleasures of Aix are experienced.
We did the Medieval and Olive Oil day plus a trip to Cassis . Both were fabulous days , well organised and well paced . We saw many things we probably would not have known or thought of, without Sarah's local knowledge . We would happily use Sarah's services in future.
Robyn, Sydney, Australia
October 10th, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Vineyard and Luberon Village Day '
We were referred to Sarah by an ex-pat local, and we thoroughly enjoyed the two days we spent on tour with her. Her groups are small, her vehicle comfy, her manner under-stated, and her knowledge and local contacts impressive. I liked the custom aspect to each outing, and the extra time and effort Sarah puts in to make sure everyone in the group comes away happy. A great find and a decent value in an area not exactly known for "deals."
Chris, Boston, MA, USA
October 6th, 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Day Tour'
This is an absolute must if you are travelling to Provence. Sarah Pernet offers several amazing tours, but we opted for the Vineyard Tour. It was absolutely breathtaking. Sarah took us to 2 local vineyards.
We had a tour and then an extensive wine tasting, which was not only delicious but also very informative and enlightening. She also gave us the history of the wineries as well as information about the areas we visited. It was such a wonderful day, and her tours are kept to 6 people maximum so we felt very taken care of and also got to meet great people from around the world. We are already planning our trip back next year, and will definitely be taking one of Sarah's tours again.
Shannon, Los Angeles, California, USA
October 3rd, 2012 - 'Medieval and Olive Oil Day Tour'
Recommended by Maison d'Aix, Sarah provided us with a fabulous tour of Les Baux, St Remy and surrounding area. We were going to rent a car and drive as we did once before but after rental car mix-up we decided to take hotel recommendation. No more rental cars for us! Next time we just book Sarah in advance. We had a wonderful day and Sarah not only knows the region but will custom design a day to fit your needs. Kudos to her and thanks for the wonderful day.
Pat & Dottie, New Jersey, USA
October 1st, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Medieval and Olive Oil Day Tours'
Recommended by a friend, we soon found that Sarah Pernet was one of our best Provence discoveries. Well informed, prompt, reasonable, pleasant the list goes on. We found Sarah to be more than just another tour guide, she helped us with our total experience in Aix. Schedule your dates with here while you can, she is going to be one busy lady!!!
Thank you Sarah for everything,
Joe & Nancy , Connecticut, USA
September 29th , 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
Sarah was the most anyone could have asked for. She was very prompt and knowledgable when it came to visiting the region. Our tour could not have been more pleasurable. She is from the UK and has lived for a long while in France. She is well versed. Thanx Sarah.
Steve, Denver, Colorado, USA
September 27th , 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
Sarah,Thank you for a lovely day in Provence, Alex and I both had a lovely time today.
Good luck with the business in the future, we will definitely recommend you to any of our friends that come to Provence.
Paul, Melbourne, Australia
September 19th , 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day' Cassis
I cannot say enough nice things about Sarah. When my apartment in Aix got cancelled (for emergency repairs) just days before we were to leave for France, she offered immediate assistance! Her kindness was so appreciated. We had booked the day to visit Cassis. What a wonderful experience! She is well informed and provided a wealth of information. Our boat ride to the calanques was delightful...even with the "sea spray" on one turn! She made reservations for us for lunch at a wonderful restaurant overlooking the Mediterran. When mistral winds prevented us from traveling up the mountain, she offered us a short visit to two wineries for some wine tastings. She even offered to make dinner reservations for us at a local restaurant for the following evening. Everyone was thrilled with the ride, the arrangements, and mostly with her sweet, professional manner. If you need any sort of travel assistance or guided tours in Provence, I strongly recommend contracting her.
Karen , Massachusetts, USA
September 13th , 2012 - 'Walking Tour of Aix & Medieval Day Tour
'We had an absolutely marvelous time with you in Provence! Thanks so much for the wonderful tours and helpful hints that made our vacation all the more pleasant! We look forward to another lovely tour someday when we return! We would highly recommend you to any friends traveling in Aix! '
Marella , California, USA
September 12th , 2012 - 'Custom Made Full DayTour '
I have just returned from a holiday in Provence with a small group of friends. We wanted to enjoy the region to the full and I am so grateful we chose Sarah from Discover Provence to show us round. Without the benefit of her knowledge and ease of conversation we would have missed out on the true spirit of Provence.
With the help of Sarah we organised a tailor made excursion starting with breathtaking views over the coast of Cassis followed by a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence, including a gentle stroll around the market stalls. She introduced us to a charming local restaurant and assisted us in translation enabling us to sample the most delicious local cuisine. In the afternoon we absorbed the beautiful rural countryside from the comfort of an air-conditioned car whilst travelling to the Luberon villages to soak up the Provencal atmosphere. Having Sarah with us enhanced our experience, in her informative, gentle, unassuming way she guided us through the most interesting parts of the rural hilltop villages. We even stumbled on a local wedding and later, whilst resting at a local cafe, music filled the air and much to our delight, local couples took to the pavement to perform a slow tango! Mesmerising!
What a memorable day! Without doubt I would recommend taking a trip around Provence with Sarah. On a practical note, she took all the worry and decisions out of the trip and organised the tour based around our preferences. She's bi-lingual so took all the stress out of the language differences and was able to give us excellent local advice.
Julia, Cotswolds, UK
September 10th , 2012 - 'Luberon Village Full DayTour '
My husband and I spent a day tour with Sarah in the Luberon Region. It was fantastic! We were travelling without a car and had very limited French language skills, so exploring this area would not have been possible without Sarah. She was an excellent guide - very friendly and easy going with professionalism and much local knowledge. Sarah planned the day around what we wanted to see and was more than happy to adapt plans to ensure we saw as much as possible. She was also a great help with educating us on the possible options! We saw the L'occitane factory, a winery, gardens, and several villages. Sarah even helped us with shopping for our dinner in a local store, where we found local delicacies to eat at our accommodation. Whatever your preferred pace, Sarah is happy to accommodate! We would highly recommend 'Discover Provence'. Don't hesitate, just book!
Lani, Melbourne, Australia
August 11th, 2012 - 2 day tour - Cassis- winery and kayaking , Luberon villages
We took a 12 day trip to the Riviera and Provence. The last 3 days we stayed in Aix en Provence. On the final two days we planned to relax from our own driving and itinerary and let a tour guide show us around. We had driven all through the south of France on our own and this was a wonderful way to be led in the right direction. Although we enjoyed touring on our own, we frequently took so much time figuring out where to go, and focusing on the winding roads that we didnt get to see all of the sights in a relaxing way. This tour allowed both my husband and I to kick back, relax and take it all in. We custom tailored the tour to be private, and to include a Kayaking tour which Sarah had not planned in the past. On one day we visited Cassis, the surrounding area's gorgeous view points, a winery, lunch at the port, and did an awesome trip kayaking in the Calanques. Sarah went out of her way to organzie the kayaking tour with an English speaking guide for us, and researched to make sure the group was licenced/certified, unlike many groups. The kayaking was very fun, exhillarating, and allowed for gorgeous views from the water. For those interested, we are beginners, in our late 30's, having kayaked 1-2 x before in calm waters. We are not exactly tri-athletes, and I actually had back surgery a year ago. The Calanques are calm, however to navigate from one to the next you do need to enter the open waters and you will be faced with larger waves from the many boats touring that area. It was tough paddling through that area, but certainly if I can do it most could. The kayak guide was very attentive, and spoke multiple languages, translating for everyone. My husband is strong and he found it mildly challenging, but we both would definitely do it again. We also visited a small winery that day which was unplanned and Sarah did everything she could to accomodate our last minute interests. The following day we relaxed with a tour of the Luberon area going to some villages, seeing beautiful views, and enjoying the culture. Sarah made lunch reservations for us both days, and really helped us in translation, making sure we had a great table, and really helping us with those that did not speak our language. She was extremely kind, and helpful--she even ran back to the car in the heat, for me b/c I left my sunglasses behind accidenatlly, and was about to start the Kayak tour--Sarah really was great, and has a good knowledge of the region, having lived there for approx 20 years. Her car is large, air conditioned, and comfortable, and she speaks perfect English having come from England. Finally, her rapid responses to emails was extremely helpful in planning this trip. Finally, I wanted to be sure I knew the names of where we went, and sure enough, the day I got home (1 day later) I got an email detailing where exactly we went, even what the names were of the movies filmed at one of the sites. Discover Provence was wonderful and I recommend Sarah highly. Next time I will tour the lavender fields and get a private cooking lesson!
Lori, Randolph, New Jersey, USA
August 10th, 2012 'Vinyard Day Tour'
Sarah Pernet, the proprietor of Discover Provence, is a charming, patient and well-informed guide about the beauties of the Provence region. Although we only had a half-day, we saw two lovely wineries and a beautiful garden, both near Aix-en-Provence, and enjoyed a few hours that were relaxing, informative and fun. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sarah most highly to anyone looking for a guide to the region. We look forward to coming back ourselves.
Eric, Vancouver, Canada
August 8th, 2012 'Vineyard and Luberon village Tour'
This tour was one of the best experiences on our vacation! Sarah is a wonderful, personable guide who is extremely knowledgeable on the region. We emailed Sarah in advance and told her what we were interested in and she planned the perfect day! We visited 2 wineries and she took us to a couple of local villages. Sarah even followed up afterwards to ensure we knew where we had traveled while on the tour. We wanted to experience the "real" Provence and Sarah delivered. Her knowledge coupled with her easy going personality makes her the perfect guide. We could not have asked for a better day in Provence! Discover Provence is a perfect 10!
Shannon, Miami, USA
August 4th, 2012 'Vineyard Day'
I chose Discover Provence after reading the tripadvisor reviews and we were very happy! We wanted to visit a couple vineyards in Provence but we had no idea where to go. Sarah chose two incredible places for us to visit and arranged private wine tastings in English. Visiting these two vineyards was the highlight of our week! They were both very unique and gorgeous places; we feel very fortunate to have been able to visit them.
We were travelling with my 1 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son and Sarah made sure to take us to vineyards that were child-friendly. We were 30 minutes late to meet her but she was able to adjust the schedule several times to accommodate us.
Sarah was so lovely and I will definitely contact her again when we return to Provence.
Chelsea, Geneva, Switzerland
July 18th, 2012 'Country Picnic Day' with Christine from Discover Provence
'Christine, Just a quick note to say thank you again for a lovely day. My sisters, mother and I really enjoyed our time with you - the cooking lesson was totally enjoyable and the picnic was the perfect ending to the session. To your credit the day that we spent with you was actually one of the hightlights of our trip to France. Thank you!
Our visit to Provence was fabulous. In retrospect we likely should have stayed there longer - there is so much to see and enjoy'
Kim ( + Lisa, Kathy and Katherine ) Calgary, Canada
July 11th , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day' & 'Roman Day Tour'
A terrific two days in Provence on Sarah's tours. Day 1 was a half-day trip from Aix to the coast at Cassis, in Sarah's very comfortable people carrier. There was time to wander around this very attractive port, than a one-hour boat trip along the spectacular coast west of Cassis, with the boat sailing into a number of deep 'calanques' (narrow coves with high cliffs). This coast is breathtaking. On the way home, a couple of stops to take in the coastal views from the tops of some of the highest cliffs in the region, then delivered back to our holiday apartment in Aix. Day 2 was a visit to the remarkable Roman village of Glanum near St Remy de Provence, then to nearby St Paul de Mausole, the hospital where Van Gogh spent a year producing many of his works - a chance to see at first hand the famous views that VG painted. Finally a visit to an amazing series of caverns where there was a spectacular sound and light show featuring the works of Gaugin and Van Gogh projected on to the cavern walls to music - difficult to describe- it has to be experienced (and what an experience!). Another memorable day!
Sarah is an excellent and informative guide, and is very flexible in adjusting itineraries to a traveller's needs, as well as providing a door-to-door service. And she was available to deliver us back to the airport at Marseilles at the end of our holiday.
Roy, Wales, UK
July 5th, 2012 'Lavender Day Tour'
Now back in England and just printed out photographs of our lovely holiday in Provence.One of the highlights was a wonderful ,half day,trip to the lavender fields we took with Sarah.I was travelling with my "middle aged"(79!) parents and it was perfect.Sarah's style was that ideal balance between organising everything whilst tailoring the tour to our needs exactly and making it all very relaxing.She is extremely knowledgeable and shares that in a very unforced and friendly way.I would highly recommend a trip in Sarah's company.
Carol, Grassington, UK
July 1st, 2012 'Roman day Tour'
My daughter and I wanted to see some ruins during our visit to Provence last week. We were fortunate enough to schedule time with Sarah for a half day visit to the Roman ruins followed by a quick walk over to the monastery where Van Gough recovered after his unfortunate ear accident. Sarah is really knowledgeable about the whole Provence area and kept my daughter and I informed about the surrounding landscape while on our drive to the ruins. She provided exactly the right amount of information during our walking tour of the ruins and monastery, gave us space to look ourselves and answered all of our questions in a very quietly confident manner. Sarah's personal interest in history along with her people skills resulted in the best tour I have ever experienced.
Liz, Seattle, USA
June 30th, 2012 'Luberon Village Tour - cruise compatable'
If you are English speaking and want a personalized tour for a reasonable price , Sarah is the answer! English, living in Provence , Sarah ascertains your desires and plans the day accordingly. We arrived in Marseille via a cruise and wanted a local tour not with the hordes from the ship. Sarah found her way to our ship and was waiting for us. Our day included several small villages, a little shopping for those items of Provence, lunch picked up at a market, and a winery tour. She is very aware of the time and adjusts day so you will arrive back to the ship in plenty of time! What a wonderful day!
Kipp & Linda, Asheville, NC, USA
June 1st , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day'
This delightful tour encompasses the best views of the Mediterranean in the area
of Cassis and a remarkable boat tour of the rugged coast. Sarah is a fantastic
tour guide, combining local knowledge with a very comfortable manner. The small
group tour was perfect for our needs and half a day was enough to capture a
glimpse of this beautiful part of the world.
Robyn, Melbourne, Australia
May 29th , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day' & May 30th , 2012 'Tailor Made Day - Roussillon'
'Of all the tours I've ever taken abroad, this was by far the best experience! Sarah is a wonderful
guide. I took two of her tours while I was in Provence - Cassis/Calenques, and the Rousillion. I highly recommend both. She is absolutely delightful, informative and also very flexible in her touring style.
She took me to the most picturesque locations and made the excursions relaxed and enjoyable.
And she provided a lot of valuable travel tips including hotel recommendations prior to my trip, and also restaurant suggestions. I am looking forward to visiting Provence again, and taking another one of Sarah's wonderful tours'
Laurie, California, USA
We recently went to France for our 25th wedding anniversary and had a four day stay in Aix-en-Provence. We were introduced to Sarah by Michael the host at our guest house. It was absolutely serendipitous! I had meant to book a cooking class in France before we left Canada but never got around to it. Sarah not only booked the class but picked us up and delivered us to a lovely home in the countryside. The class was just what we were looking for and the instructor Christine drove us back to our guest house at the end of a very filling and informative afternoon. Next day Sarah picked us up and off we went to tour two different wineries. It was wonderful to be able to sample all the different wines and not have to worry about driving. On our last day with Sarah we went to Cassis on a boat tour and slow meander through the small quaint fishing village. At the end of our tour Sarah drove us up a long and winding road to a spectacular vista where we got some amazing photographs of Cassis. Sarah was a wonderful hostess and it was nice to have someone with intimate knowledge of the South of France show us around. As a complete added bonus she secretly recommended a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris to my husband so he could take me out to celebrate our anniversary in a truly memorable fashion.
Charlene & Grant, Toronto, Canada
November 8th 2012 - 'Luberon Village Full Day Tour'
I have recently returned from a wonderful few days with friends in Provence. We were able to fully explore the beautiful Provencal villages in an extremely relaxed and informative way thanks to Sarah and her wonderful knowledge of this area. She was efficient and very passionate about Provence. We also took a trip with her along the coastal road to Cassis, again allowing us to thoroughly relax and enjoy the trip with Sarah's expertise. I would definitely recommend Discover Provence. We have returned with wonderful memories of the beautiful Provencal region.
Joanne, Cambridge, UK
November 6th 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Half Day Tour'
Wonderful day trip from Aix-en-Provence to the historic fishing village of Cassis on the Mediterranean. A short drive from Aix, you enter another world where you see the beautiful, historic, Mediterranean town of Cassis nestled next to the water, its port surrounded by stunning white stone cliffs. Traditional, still-in-use, small fishing boats are in the port, and shine with color and obvious care. You can take a tour boat out from the port and travel through the Calanques, or watery byways, that shoot off from the port at intervals and are surrounded by the white stone cliffs. There's a fascinating history that goes with their formation. Our guide, Sarah Pernet, picked us up in Aix and accompanied us throughout a half-day tour including the tour boat ride through eight Calanques (Sarah translated the story told by the tour boat guide to English as we went); and later, a walk on Cap Canaille, a well-known cliff with stunning views of the port and town below. Olive trees and a very fine small vineyard also add the the beauty of the place. Highly recommended.
Sarah - thank you so much for all the great touring and wonderful activities you shared with us. It was excellent.
Linda, Seattle, Washington State, USA
November 2nd, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Luberon Villages and Wine Tour'
Sarah did an absolutely wonderful job showing my husband and I around on our day tour. She created a custom day for us and it became our favorite part of our trip to France. She offered to pick us up at our hotel and take us to the train station which made everything very easy. I highly recommend this wonderful personalized tour to experience Provence!!
Jenni & Nick , Washington DC, USA
October 27th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Les Baux de Provence'
Our day with Sarah couldn't have been better! It was if my Mom and I were traveling with one of our best friends. Sarah took us to Le Baux de Provence and we toured the beautiful town and had a lovely lunch overlooking the stunning landscape below. We went to a fantastic winery and olive oil mill in the valley and also had time for a visit to a Gaugin and Van Gogh exhibit as well as the monastery where Van Gogh spent time and painted some of his most famous works. I would recommend Sarah to anyone spending time in Provence, she is knowledgeable and has a lovely personality.
Julie, Florida, USA
October 26th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Luberon Villages'
"This was a perfect day! We drove to Isle-sur-la-Sorgue from Aix and my friends and I spent the morning finding unexpected, beautiful treasures in the antiques market. After lunch, we wandered the cobbled streets of gorgeous villages in The Luberon. I've never seen such magical cities and such intriguing shops. Thanks to Sarah, this memorable day was filled with perfect moments."
Susan, Seattle, Washington State, USA
October 25th, 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
What a lovely afternoon! Sarah is very knowledgeable and passionate about Provence. We met in Aix and traveled by van for the afternoon. We stopped a two wineries, the first had great wine but even more beautiful garden. The second winery delicious organic wines. It is also an art gallery. We walked through a quaint town in the luberon. The group was very friendly. I would highly recommend any of Sarah's tours.
Katie, New Jersey, USA
October 15th, 2012 - 'Cruise Ship Compatable Tour - Cassis '
We had booked Sarah Pernet based on the reviews we had seen online. She proved to be everything we had hoped for and more!! She was absolutely wonderful with my parents who were traveling with us. Our only regret was that our day had to be cut short due to the weather. It only prompted us to realize that we would have to come back to the area, and with out a doubt, would use Sarah for several different day trip options. We could have spent the whole week with her. She is truly a lovely person with a true passion and love of the area.
Anita, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
October 14th, 2012 - 'Custom Made Day Tour - Moustiers St Marie & the Gorge du Verdon '
I booked a custom tour with Sarah for me and my parents during a recent visit to Provence. Since we had previously visited the area and already seen Aix, wine country and beach locales, I requested a custom tour of Moustiers Ste. Marie and the Gorges du Verdon area. Sarah did a fantastic job showing us this new part of Provence. She was sensitive to my parents' (late 70s) needs -- allowing breaks and rests along the way as needed and during the drive, she shared interesting facts about history and culture of this region that we all enjoyed greatly. Don't hesitate to contact Sarah for a tour -- she will make your vacation even better with her knowledge and thoughtfulness.
Susan, Boulder, Colorado, USA
October 11th, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Medieval and Olive Oil Day '
We flew in from the other side of the world and rather than drive ourselves around Aix en Provence for the short time we had there, we arranged to do some trips with Sarah Pernet. We highly recommend her. She is very knowledgable , plans the days to suit individual interest and at the same time ensures that the essence and pleasures of Aix are experienced.
We did the Medieval and Olive Oil day plus a trip to Cassis . Both were fabulous days , well organised and well paced . We saw many things we probably would not have known or thought of, without Sarah's local knowledge . We would happily use Sarah's services in future.
Robyn, Sydney, Australia
October 10th, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Vineyard and Luberon Village Day '
We were referred to Sarah by an ex-pat local, and we thoroughly enjoyed the two days we spent on tour with her. Her groups are small, her vehicle comfy, her manner under-stated, and her knowledge and local contacts impressive. I liked the custom aspect to each outing, and the extra time and effort Sarah puts in to make sure everyone in the group comes away happy. A great find and a decent value in an area not exactly known for "deals."
Chris, Boston, MA, USA
October 6th, 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Day Tour'
This is an absolute must if you are travelling to Provence. Sarah Pernet offers several amazing tours, but we opted for the Vineyard Tour. It was absolutely breathtaking. Sarah took us to 2 local vineyards.
We had a tour and then an extensive wine tasting, which was not only delicious but also very informative and enlightening. She also gave us the history of the wineries as well as information about the areas we visited. It was such a wonderful day, and her tours are kept to 6 people maximum so we felt very taken care of and also got to meet great people from around the world. We are already planning our trip back next year, and will definitely be taking one of Sarah's tours again.
Shannon, Los Angeles, California, USA
October 3rd, 2012 - 'Medieval and Olive Oil Day Tour'
Recommended by Maison d'Aix, Sarah provided us with a fabulous tour of Les Baux, St Remy and surrounding area. We were going to rent a car and drive as we did once before but after rental car mix-up we decided to take hotel recommendation. No more rental cars for us! Next time we just book Sarah in advance. We had a wonderful day and Sarah not only knows the region but will custom design a day to fit your needs. Kudos to her and thanks for the wonderful day.
Pat & Dottie, New Jersey, USA
October 1st, 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day & Medieval and Olive Oil Day Tours'
Recommended by a friend, we soon found that Sarah Pernet was one of our best Provence discoveries. Well informed, prompt, reasonable, pleasant the list goes on. We found Sarah to be more than just another tour guide, she helped us with our total experience in Aix. Schedule your dates with here while you can, she is going to be one busy lady!!!
Thank you Sarah for everything,
Joe & Nancy , Connecticut, USA
September 29th , 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
Sarah was the most anyone could have asked for. She was very prompt and knowledgable when it came to visiting the region. Our tour could not have been more pleasurable. She is from the UK and has lived for a long while in France. She is well versed. Thanx Sarah.
Steve, Denver, Colorado, USA
September 27th , 2012 - 'Vineyard and Luberon Village Half Day Tour'
Sarah,Thank you for a lovely day in Provence, Alex and I both had a lovely time today.
Good luck with the business in the future, we will definitely recommend you to any of our friends that come to Provence.
Paul, Melbourne, Australia
September 19th , 2012 - 'Mediterranean Sea Day' Cassis
I cannot say enough nice things about Sarah. When my apartment in Aix got cancelled (for emergency repairs) just days before we were to leave for France, she offered immediate assistance! Her kindness was so appreciated. We had booked the day to visit Cassis. What a wonderful experience! She is well informed and provided a wealth of information. Our boat ride to the calanques was delightful...even with the "sea spray" on one turn! She made reservations for us for lunch at a wonderful restaurant overlooking the Mediterran. When mistral winds prevented us from traveling up the mountain, she offered us a short visit to two wineries for some wine tastings. She even offered to make dinner reservations for us at a local restaurant for the following evening. Everyone was thrilled with the ride, the arrangements, and mostly with her sweet, professional manner. If you need any sort of travel assistance or guided tours in Provence, I strongly recommend contracting her.
Karen , Massachusetts, USA
September 13th , 2012 - 'Walking Tour of Aix & Medieval Day Tour
'We had an absolutely marvelous time with you in Provence! Thanks so much for the wonderful tours and helpful hints that made our vacation all the more pleasant! We look forward to another lovely tour someday when we return! We would highly recommend you to any friends traveling in Aix! '
Marella , California, USA
September 12th , 2012 - 'Custom Made Full DayTour '
I have just returned from a holiday in Provence with a small group of friends. We wanted to enjoy the region to the full and I am so grateful we chose Sarah from Discover Provence to show us round. Without the benefit of her knowledge and ease of conversation we would have missed out on the true spirit of Provence.
With the help of Sarah we organised a tailor made excursion starting with breathtaking views over the coast of Cassis followed by a walking tour of Aix-en-Provence, including a gentle stroll around the market stalls. She introduced us to a charming local restaurant and assisted us in translation enabling us to sample the most delicious local cuisine. In the afternoon we absorbed the beautiful rural countryside from the comfort of an air-conditioned car whilst travelling to the Luberon villages to soak up the Provencal atmosphere. Having Sarah with us enhanced our experience, in her informative, gentle, unassuming way she guided us through the most interesting parts of the rural hilltop villages. We even stumbled on a local wedding and later, whilst resting at a local cafe, music filled the air and much to our delight, local couples took to the pavement to perform a slow tango! Mesmerising!
What a memorable day! Without doubt I would recommend taking a trip around Provence with Sarah. On a practical note, she took all the worry and decisions out of the trip and organised the tour based around our preferences. She's bi-lingual so took all the stress out of the language differences and was able to give us excellent local advice.
Julia, Cotswolds, UK
September 10th , 2012 - 'Luberon Village Full DayTour '
My husband and I spent a day tour with Sarah in the Luberon Region. It was fantastic! We were travelling without a car and had very limited French language skills, so exploring this area would not have been possible without Sarah. She was an excellent guide - very friendly and easy going with professionalism and much local knowledge. Sarah planned the day around what we wanted to see and was more than happy to adapt plans to ensure we saw as much as possible. She was also a great help with educating us on the possible options! We saw the L'occitane factory, a winery, gardens, and several villages. Sarah even helped us with shopping for our dinner in a local store, where we found local delicacies to eat at our accommodation. Whatever your preferred pace, Sarah is happy to accommodate! We would highly recommend 'Discover Provence'. Don't hesitate, just book!
Lani, Melbourne, Australia
August 11th, 2012 - 2 day tour - Cassis- winery and kayaking , Luberon villages
We took a 12 day trip to the Riviera and Provence. The last 3 days we stayed in Aix en Provence. On the final two days we planned to relax from our own driving and itinerary and let a tour guide show us around. We had driven all through the south of France on our own and this was a wonderful way to be led in the right direction. Although we enjoyed touring on our own, we frequently took so much time figuring out where to go, and focusing on the winding roads that we didnt get to see all of the sights in a relaxing way. This tour allowed both my husband and I to kick back, relax and take it all in. We custom tailored the tour to be private, and to include a Kayaking tour which Sarah had not planned in the past. On one day we visited Cassis, the surrounding area's gorgeous view points, a winery, lunch at the port, and did an awesome trip kayaking in the Calanques. Sarah went out of her way to organzie the kayaking tour with an English speaking guide for us, and researched to make sure the group was licenced/certified, unlike many groups. The kayaking was very fun, exhillarating, and allowed for gorgeous views from the water. For those interested, we are beginners, in our late 30's, having kayaked 1-2 x before in calm waters. We are not exactly tri-athletes, and I actually had back surgery a year ago. The Calanques are calm, however to navigate from one to the next you do need to enter the open waters and you will be faced with larger waves from the many boats touring that area. It was tough paddling through that area, but certainly if I can do it most could. The kayak guide was very attentive, and spoke multiple languages, translating for everyone. My husband is strong and he found it mildly challenging, but we both would definitely do it again. We also visited a small winery that day which was unplanned and Sarah did everything she could to accomodate our last minute interests. The following day we relaxed with a tour of the Luberon area going to some villages, seeing beautiful views, and enjoying the culture. Sarah made lunch reservations for us both days, and really helped us in translation, making sure we had a great table, and really helping us with those that did not speak our language. She was extremely kind, and helpful--she even ran back to the car in the heat, for me b/c I left my sunglasses behind accidenatlly, and was about to start the Kayak tour--Sarah really was great, and has a good knowledge of the region, having lived there for approx 20 years. Her car is large, air conditioned, and comfortable, and she speaks perfect English having come from England. Finally, her rapid responses to emails was extremely helpful in planning this trip. Finally, I wanted to be sure I knew the names of where we went, and sure enough, the day I got home (1 day later) I got an email detailing where exactly we went, even what the names were of the movies filmed at one of the sites. Discover Provence was wonderful and I recommend Sarah highly. Next time I will tour the lavender fields and get a private cooking lesson!
Lori, Randolph, New Jersey, USA
August 10th, 2012 'Vinyard Day Tour'
Sarah Pernet, the proprietor of Discover Provence, is a charming, patient and well-informed guide about the beauties of the Provence region. Although we only had a half-day, we saw two lovely wineries and a beautiful garden, both near Aix-en-Provence, and enjoyed a few hours that were relaxing, informative and fun. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Sarah most highly to anyone looking for a guide to the region. We look forward to coming back ourselves.
Eric, Vancouver, Canada
August 8th, 2012 'Vineyard and Luberon village Tour'
This tour was one of the best experiences on our vacation! Sarah is a wonderful, personable guide who is extremely knowledgeable on the region. We emailed Sarah in advance and told her what we were interested in and she planned the perfect day! We visited 2 wineries and she took us to a couple of local villages. Sarah even followed up afterwards to ensure we knew where we had traveled while on the tour. We wanted to experience the "real" Provence and Sarah delivered. Her knowledge coupled with her easy going personality makes her the perfect guide. We could not have asked for a better day in Provence! Discover Provence is a perfect 10!
Shannon, Miami, USA
August 4th, 2012 'Vineyard Day'
I chose Discover Provence after reading the tripadvisor reviews and we were very happy! We wanted to visit a couple vineyards in Provence but we had no idea where to go. Sarah chose two incredible places for us to visit and arranged private wine tastings in English. Visiting these two vineyards was the highlight of our week! They were both very unique and gorgeous places; we feel very fortunate to have been able to visit them.
We were travelling with my 1 yr old daughter and 3 yr old son and Sarah made sure to take us to vineyards that were child-friendly. We were 30 minutes late to meet her but she was able to adjust the schedule several times to accommodate us.
Sarah was so lovely and I will definitely contact her again when we return to Provence.
Chelsea, Geneva, Switzerland
July 18th, 2012 'Country Picnic Day' with Christine from Discover Provence
'Christine, Just a quick note to say thank you again for a lovely day. My sisters, mother and I really enjoyed our time with you - the cooking lesson was totally enjoyable and the picnic was the perfect ending to the session. To your credit the day that we spent with you was actually one of the hightlights of our trip to France. Thank you!
Our visit to Provence was fabulous. In retrospect we likely should have stayed there longer - there is so much to see and enjoy'
Kim ( + Lisa, Kathy and Katherine ) Calgary, Canada
July 11th , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day' & 'Roman Day Tour'
A terrific two days in Provence on Sarah's tours. Day 1 was a half-day trip from Aix to the coast at Cassis, in Sarah's very comfortable people carrier. There was time to wander around this very attractive port, than a one-hour boat trip along the spectacular coast west of Cassis, with the boat sailing into a number of deep 'calanques' (narrow coves with high cliffs). This coast is breathtaking. On the way home, a couple of stops to take in the coastal views from the tops of some of the highest cliffs in the region, then delivered back to our holiday apartment in Aix. Day 2 was a visit to the remarkable Roman village of Glanum near St Remy de Provence, then to nearby St Paul de Mausole, the hospital where Van Gogh spent a year producing many of his works - a chance to see at first hand the famous views that VG painted. Finally a visit to an amazing series of caverns where there was a spectacular sound and light show featuring the works of Gaugin and Van Gogh projected on to the cavern walls to music - difficult to describe- it has to be experienced (and what an experience!). Another memorable day!
Sarah is an excellent and informative guide, and is very flexible in adjusting itineraries to a traveller's needs, as well as providing a door-to-door service. And she was available to deliver us back to the airport at Marseilles at the end of our holiday.
Roy, Wales, UK
July 5th, 2012 'Lavender Day Tour'
Now back in England and just printed out photographs of our lovely holiday in Provence.One of the highlights was a wonderful ,half day,trip to the lavender fields we took with Sarah.I was travelling with my "middle aged"(79!) parents and it was perfect.Sarah's style was that ideal balance between organising everything whilst tailoring the tour to our needs exactly and making it all very relaxing.She is extremely knowledgeable and shares that in a very unforced and friendly way.I would highly recommend a trip in Sarah's company.
Carol, Grassington, UK
July 1st, 2012 'Roman day Tour'
My daughter and I wanted to see some ruins during our visit to Provence last week. We were fortunate enough to schedule time with Sarah for a half day visit to the Roman ruins followed by a quick walk over to the monastery where Van Gough recovered after his unfortunate ear accident. Sarah is really knowledgeable about the whole Provence area and kept my daughter and I informed about the surrounding landscape while on our drive to the ruins. She provided exactly the right amount of information during our walking tour of the ruins and monastery, gave us space to look ourselves and answered all of our questions in a very quietly confident manner. Sarah's personal interest in history along with her people skills resulted in the best tour I have ever experienced.
Liz, Seattle, USA
June 30th, 2012 'Luberon Village Tour - cruise compatable'
If you are English speaking and want a personalized tour for a reasonable price , Sarah is the answer! English, living in Provence , Sarah ascertains your desires and plans the day accordingly. We arrived in Marseille via a cruise and wanted a local tour not with the hordes from the ship. Sarah found her way to our ship and was waiting for us. Our day included several small villages, a little shopping for those items of Provence, lunch picked up at a market, and a winery tour. She is very aware of the time and adjusts day so you will arrive back to the ship in plenty of time! What a wonderful day!
Kipp & Linda, Asheville, NC, USA
June 1st , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day'
This delightful tour encompasses the best views of the Mediterranean in the area
of Cassis and a remarkable boat tour of the rugged coast. Sarah is a fantastic
tour guide, combining local knowledge with a very comfortable manner. The small
group tour was perfect for our needs and half a day was enough to capture a
glimpse of this beautiful part of the world.
Robyn, Melbourne, Australia
May 29th , 2012 'Mediterranean Sea Day' & May 30th , 2012 'Tailor Made Day - Roussillon'
'Of all the tours I've ever taken abroad, this was by far the best experience! Sarah is a wonderful
guide. I took two of her tours while I was in Provence - Cassis/Calenques, and the Rousillion. I highly recommend both. She is absolutely delightful, informative and also very flexible in her touring style.
She took me to the most picturesque locations and made the excursions relaxed and enjoyable.
And she provided a lot of valuable travel tips including hotel recommendations prior to my trip, and also restaurant suggestions. I am looking forward to visiting Provence again, and taking another one of Sarah's wonderful tours'
Laurie, California, USA
May 22nd , 2012 'Roman Day Tour'
'We had a fabulous day with you on the Roman tour! Many thanks for
organising everything so well. We enjoyed each place you took us to and your
knowledge of the area made the trip more interesting and memorable. We probably
wouldn’t have ventured out there without a guide and the Roman lunch was
delicious and a lot of fun. The boys are still playing with their Roman
soldiers.'
Sharmini, Sydney, Australia
'We had a fabulous day with you on the Roman tour! Many thanks for
organising everything so well. We enjoyed each place you took us to and your
knowledge of the area made the trip more interesting and memorable. We probably
wouldn’t have ventured out there without a guide and the Roman lunch was
delicious and a lot of fun. The boys are still playing with their Roman
soldiers.'
Sharmini, Sydney, Australia
May 10th , 2012 'Vineyard Day'
Sarah Pernet is an excellent tour guide. My time in Aix-on was very short and she helped me make the most of it. She customized a wine tour into the country side. Along the way she shared interesting culture and charms of the south of France. She made a fun suggestion for a quick stop in town for a taste of french cheeses and bakeries. I highly recommend a tour with Sarah.
Sherre, Wisconsin, USA
Sarah Pernet is an excellent tour guide. My time in Aix-on was very short and she helped me make the most of it. She customized a wine tour into the country side. Along the way she shared interesting culture and charms of the south of France. She made a fun suggestion for a quick stop in town for a taste of french cheeses and bakeries. I highly recommend a tour with Sarah.
Sherre, Wisconsin, USA
