have you toured the french countryside yet? if not, get a michelin green guide and rent a car. travel from one 3* site to another. stay in B&B's.

my wife and i have not yet finished doing the countryside. we have done about 24 weeks of it. still have about 10 weeks of travel to get to all the rest.

countryside is great, not so crowded, very much less expensive, very nice people(don't know about new bush era).