Travel Journal

The My French Country Home Way of Travelling

A little look behind the scenes of our journeys, and the questions we’re most often asked.

July 28, 2026

One of the nicest parts of our work is receiving emails from people who have been following My French Country Home for years and are thinking about joining one of our tours for the first time.

Almost every conversation starts with the same questions.

“What is a typical day like?”

“Do many people travel alone?”

“How much walking is involved?”

“What makes your tours different?”

They’re all good questions.

After all, booking a journey is about much more than reading an itinerary. It’s about knowing who you’ll be travelling with, what the pace will be like, and whether you’ll feel comfortable.

So we thought we’d answer some of the questions we’re asked most often, and give you a little glimpse into how we create our journeys.

©MFCH – Paris Antique Buying Tour

Travelling Alone Doesn’t Mean Travelling Alone

One of our favourite things about our tours is seeing how many guests arrive on their own.

In fact, most do.

Some have never travelled solo before, others have been doing it for years. By the end of the week, it usually doesn’t matter who came alone and who came together. Meals are shared, conversations flow naturally, and friendships often continue long after everyone has gone home.

If you’re wondering whether you’ll fit in, the answer is almost certainly yes.

©MFCH – Provence Tour

We Don’t Rush

People often ask what a typical day looks like.

The answer is… quite relaxed.

We’ll enjoy breakfast together before heading out for a visit or two, stop for lunch somewhere we’ve chosen because we genuinely love it, and continue our day at a comfortable pace.

Some afternoons finish with a garden visit, others with time to browse a village or simply enjoy where we are.

You’re on holiday, after all. We don’t believe in racing from one place to the next just to tick boxes.

©MFCH – England Tour

It’s Always About the People

Of course, you’ll see beautiful gardens, elegant châteaux and lovely villages.

But what most people remember are the people behind them.

The owner who opens the gates to their private garden. The artisan who explains how they have spent decades perfecting their craft. The perfumer, the winemaker, the antique dealer who shares stories you would never hear if you were visiting on your own.

Those conversations are often the moments that stay with us the longest.

©MFCH – Normandy Tour

Why We Keep Our Groups Small

We deliberately keep our groups small because it changes everything.

It allows us to visit private homes, enjoy long lunches around one table, ask questions, and spend time getting to know the people we meet.

It also means there is room to be flexible.

Nothing ever feels rushed or anonymous.

The Hotels Are Part of the Journey

Choosing where we’ll stay is never an afterthought.

Sometimes it’s a family-run hotel we’ve returned to for years. Sometimes it’s a beautifully restored château or an old priory surrounded by gardens.

We look for places with warmth, character and a real sense of place.

When you arrive back after a day exploring, it should feel like somewhere you genuinely want to spend the evening.

©MFCH – Provence Tour

Around the Table

If you’ve travelled in France before, you’ll know that some of the best conversations happen over a good meal.

That’s why every restaurant on our tours has been chosen for a reason.

They’re places we know well, places we return to ourselves, and places where we know our guests will be looked after.

Some lunches stretch a little longer than planned.

Some dinners finish with everyone swapping stories around the table.

©MFCH

How We Choose Where We Go

Every itinerary begins in the same way.

Not with a map.

With people.

Sometimes it’s someone Sharon has known for years. Sometimes it’s a garden we’ve been hoping to visit for ages. Sometimes it’s an artisan we’ve only just discovered and can’t wait to introduce to our guests.

We don’t try to include everything.

We simply choose the places we’d genuinely recommend to a friend.

Why So Many Guests Return

One of the nicest surprises has been seeing how many people travel with us again.

Some have joined us in Provence, then returned for Normandy.

Others come back every year to discover a different region.

We think it’s because the journeys are never just about seeing somewhere new.

They’re about spending a week with curious, like-minded people who enjoy gardens, beautiful homes, good food and discovering the quieter side of France.

And somehow, by the end of the week, it often feels less like a group tour and more like travelling with friends.