Travel Journal

Behind the Scenes: How We Create Our MFCH Day-to-Day Itineraries

A little look behind the curtain at how our itineraries come to life and why they’re so personal to us.

December 9, 2025

Whenever we create a new itinerary, it feels a bit like opening a door into our own lives. Each member of the MFCH team has a corner of France they know by heart; a region they’ve lived in, return to every year, or simply can’t stop exploring. So when we sit down to write an itinerary, we’re not just listing places on a map. We’re building a day you could genuinely spend with us: the cafés we always go to, the gardens we recommend to our closest friends, the antique shops where the owners know us by name.

These itineraries are meant to be used, of course; printed, folded, slipped into a bag, checked over breakfast before heading out. But we also want them to feel like a reassuring companion. Something personal, curated, and warm. The kind of guidance that helps you relax into a place rather than worry about missing something.

So… how does an MFCH itinerary come to life?

It usually starts with Maddy, Nicola, or Olivia sitting in front of a big blank page (and a bigger cup of coffee). Each of them has “their” region, the one they’ve lived in, spent every summer in, or know like the back of their hand because they’ve dragged their family there every single year.

Someone usually says something like:

“Okay, if I only had one perfect day in Provence, what would I do?”
“But wait, do we put lunch there or there?”
“No, trust me, that cafe has the best tart, we’re not negotiating that.”

And that’s basically how the process goes.

One person builds the skeleton.
Another jumps in with “hang on, I know a little place in that village that nobody ever talks about…”
Someone else remembers a shop, a garden, a château, a designer friend, or a perfect route that avoids crowds.

And slowly, the days start to take shape; not as a checklist, but as a real day, the kind we would actually want to live ourselves.

We only add places we personally love.

This is important.

These itineraries aren’t built from Google searches or tourist lists.
They’re built from years of actual exploring; the hotels we really book for ourselves, the streets we’ve walked, and the corners that feel like home.

Some of us have lived in these regions.
Some spend every summer holiday in the same village.
Some are always scouting new spots for future tours.
We all have our “I’m telling you, you have to try this place” moments.

The result is a little bit messy behind the scenes… but very personal on the page.

Who are the itineraries for?

For people who want to explore France at their own pace,
but with a little guidance from locals who actually know where they’re going.

For travellers who want a beautiful day laid out for them: where to start, where to wander, what to see, where to eat, how to make the most of the hours.

For anyone who has ever thought:

“I just want someone to tell me what to do, but not in a touristy way.”

That’s exactly what these itineraries do, they hold your hand without controlling your experience. They’re meant to feel like having a well-travelled French friend whispering tips in your ear all day.

And why do we keep creating more of them?

Because France never stops surprising us.

There is always a new garden, a new exhibition, a new café, a new brocante, a new hotel opening in some little corner of the country.
And every time someone from the team comes back from a weekend trip or a summer holiday, they walk into the office and say:

“Okay, we need to make another itinerary.”

That’s how they keep multiplying.

A Few of Our Latest Itineraries

If you’re looking for inspiration for your next trip, here are some of the itineraries we’ve recently created, each one built the same way: with personal tips, favourite addresses, and plenty of local insight.