And why it might be exactly the women's retreat in France you're looking for. Let's talk about Provence for a second. When most women start researching a retreat in the south of France, they picture lavender fields. Rosé at noon. A farmhouse with shutters the color of a faded sky. Maybe a market or something where someone is selling you soap that smells like the entire region smashed into a single bar. That Provence exists. It's lovely. It's also exactly what everyone else is

Four years ago, Maison d'Amies was a sentence I said out loud to my hubby: "I want to start a small-group travel company for women, in France." That's it. That's all it was. And to his credit, he (as always) encouraged me to do the damn thing. Fast forward to today where I get to announce our full 2027 season: five retreats across France and the French Caribbean, each one built on the same belief that's carried this business from the beginning: that we deserve travel that fee

People sometimes ask me how I design a retreat experience that feels so personal. How does it feel like someone actually knows you, even on the first trip? The honest answer isn't a system or a checklist. It's relationships. Years of them. Carefully tended ones, on both sides of the experience, with the women who travel with me, and with the remarkable local people who make what I do possible. That web of relationships is the real infrastructure of each Maison d'Amies wom

I have a confession to make. I've spent years taking women to France...to Provence, Normandy, to Avignon and beyond. I know France the way you know a place you keep returning to year after year. And it keeps giving me something new every time I visit. And somehow I didn't even think about another huge part of France. Martinique is an overseas region of France. Not French-influenced or inspired by France. France. The currency is the euro, the language is French (which I actual

There's a version of a day trip to Châteauneuf-du-Pape that most people get. They drive in, take a photo in front of the castle ruins, buy a bottle at the first cave they see, and leave within two hours feeling like they've done it. Yeah, we're not doing that. But we are doing this . You wake up knowing the day has exactly one job: to be enjoyed. Today there aren't any museums keeping us on track with their timed entries. We don't have a single reservation we're rushing to ma

Published under: Maison d'Amies | The Philosophy Series Let me be honest with you about something. You don't need me to take you to Paris. I mean that sincerely, and with love. Paris is one of the most well-documented cities on earth. There are books, blogs, apps, and entire industries built around helping you have a wonderful time there. You can find the best croissant in the 7th arrondissement with a single search. You can book your own train, reserve your own bistro, nav

There are places you visit once and remember fondly, and then there are places that quietly claim you. Avignon is the latter for me. I’ve returned to this region more times than I can count, and each visit feels less like a trip and more like coming back to myself. It’s where Maison d’Amies began, long before it had a name, rooted in shared meals, wandering streets, and the belief that travel should be savored, not rushed. Avignon isn’t a destination you conquer with a checkl

Quick Answer: September is the ideal time to visit Avignon, France. You'll experience perfect 75°F weather, 60% fewer tourists than summer months, authentic local culture, and peak harvest season, all while enjoying more available restaurant reservations. There's a particular quality to the light in Provence in September that's impossible to describe until you've experienced it yourself. The air softens. The shadows grow longer and more golden. And the summer crowds that pack

For many travelers, Normandy is a place you pass through. A day (or two at most) anchored around the D-Day beaches, a museum visit, maybe Mont-Saint-Michel if you’re ambitious. And while its history deserves reverence, Normandy is so much more than a chapter in a history book. It’s a region that reveals itself slowly, generously, and best over time. I fell in love with Normandy not because of a single landmark, but because of how it feels when you stop rushing. The quiet lan

I don’t want to take the same vacation every time I travel. And I don’t expect our guests to want that either. That’s why I’ve intentionally chosen not to anchor Maison d’Amies to a single vacation home or a one-size-fits-all retreat model. While repeating the same structure would certainly be easier, it would also mean sameness, and sameness isn’t indulgent.

There’s a quiet moment that happens at the end of every year, usually when the inbox slows, the suitcases are unpacked, and the photos finally make it out of my camera roll. It’s the moment when I stop moving long enough to see what actually happened. 2025 was that kind of year. Not flashy. Not rushed. But deeply grounding. This year taught me that growth doesn’t always look like expansion. Sometimes it looks like trust (in my vision and in myself). It looks like taking a min

There’s something truly enchanting about rising early among the chalky vineyards. The day feels soft and golden, and all that awaits is curated just for you. A trip to the Champagne region offers this magic, which is precisely why we created our Champagne Edition retreat in collaboration with The Cultured Somm . If you’ve ever pictured yourself sipping bubbly in France, wandering quiet lanes between vines, or dining under the stars with new friends, this is your sign to make

Thanksgiving has always been a moment to pause, take a deep breath, and look around at the life I’m building. This year, that reflection feels deeper than ever, because Maison d’Amies (once just a fragile little dream) is now something real, something rooted, something I’m profoundly proud of. When this journey began, it was simple: I wanted to see more of France and share my love for travel, culture, food, and the slower rhythms of life with other women. I imagined intimate

There’s something I need to say. Something I’ve been holding in for quite a while, something that makes me want to gently shake the shoulders of all the well-meaning travelers I've planned trips for over the years. Here it is: Normandy is not a two-day destination. It’s not a quick detour. It’s not a box to check as a quick add on to your Paris itinerary. And the truth? It breaks my heart that so many people treat it that way. Every time I meet someone who says, “Oh yeah, I w

Traveling solo in France is one of those experiences that’s equal parts grounding and exhilarating, kinda like taking a deep breath of morning air in the French countryside. I’ve done it myself: wandered cobblestone streets with no plan, eaten way too much cheese, and fallen completely in love with how effortlessly beautiful this country is. If you’re dreaming of a trip that feels independent but still deeply connected, you’re in the right place. I’ll share the real stuff (ti

If your dream getaway involves flaky croissants, cheese boards that could feed a small army, and wine flowing like it’s part of the landscape… welcome to Savor Avignon . Happening September 2026, this women’s culinary retreat in Provence, France is is for women who are done just dreaming about their best life and are ready to actually live it. This isn’t a polite nibble-and-scroll trip. This is a Provence food retreat where indulgence is mandatory, laughter is guaranteed, and

Traveling alone in France is like opening a book filled with charming stories, delicious smells, and unexpected adventures. As someone who has wandered the cobbled streets and sunlit vineyards solo, I can tell you - it’s a journey worth taking. But before you pack your bags and brush up on your bonjour , let me share some insights that will make your trip not just enjoyable but truly unforgettable. Embracing the Spirit of Solo Travel Tips France Solo travel in France is a dan

If you’ve been searching for a women’s retreat in Europe that blends history, culture, and rest, allow me to welcome you to Normandy . This region of northern France is celebrated for its beaches and wartime history. However, I fell in love with Normandy's softer side. A Hidden Gem of Normandy Imagine apple orchards, half-timbered villages, and seaside markets. The warm-hearted French people I met during my travels made my time in Normandy unforgettable. Each moment spent he

Why Group Travel Often Falls Flat When most people think of group travel, they imagine crowded buses, fixed itineraries, and experiences...

O ne of the most common questions I hear from women who are curious about Maison d’Amies retreats is: “But how does it all actually...