Private Barge Cruise in the South of France via Lufthansa First Class
Jun 16, 2015, 11:51 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Another great TR SFO777... ^ I'm glad that dinner at 114 Faubourg was a success again, as former chef Eric Desbordes has left the restaurant since your last visit for another Oetker Collection property, the Eden Rock St Barths. Next time you should go and try 114 Faubourg's big brother, amazing three star Epicure. They serve a lunch menu for a reasonable 145 euros and sitting on the terrace on a sunny summer day with no other sounds than the birds and the fountain is a magical experience.
Ah, apparently I just missed you and Mrs SFO777 ... you were flying into Paris from Frankfurt on LH the morning of Saturday 6/13 not long before I departed CDG that same morning for Dubai on EK. The two of you should have traveled a few weeks earlier so that I would have been able to take advantage of your most recent Paris travel and dining insights. C'est la vie.
nice!
although if youre a burgundy fan - next month >
http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-fra...days/grand_cru
one FlyerTalker booked a cabin, normally that barge is charter only
https://www.facebook.com/brownelldis...52702561301022
as of apr 1 there were 2 cabins left (out of 4) for july 12 departure
a charter grand cru review >
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored...-burgundy.html
hmm - from a travel provider brochure >
would be nice if it is every year, brings cost down compared to private charter
although if youre a burgundy fan - next month >
http://www.belmond.com/afloat-in-fra...days/grand_cru
one FlyerTalker booked a cabin, normally that barge is charter only
https://www.facebook.com/brownelldis...52702561301022
as of apr 1 there were 2 cabins left (out of 4) for july 12 departure
a charter grand cru review >
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored...-burgundy.html
hmm - from a travel provider brochure >
would be nice if it is every year, brings cost down compared to private charter
LOL. Good luck on the finals. Thanks echen1024.
Jun 17, 2015, 1:04 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
Excellent report as ever.
It is a shame you didn't get upper deck seats on the TGV, the views are certainly better from up there. I did London - Paris - Nice a couple of years ago and the scenery is beautiful south of Paris. You can really see the landscape changing from the rolling fields of the Rhone to scrubby Provence and then finally the blue of the Mediterranean.
You get a real sense of having travelled somewhere on such a journey, which is not so much the case if you just hop on a shorthaul flight.
It is a shame you didn't get upper deck seats on the TGV, the views are certainly better from up there. I did London - Paris - Nice a couple of years ago and the scenery is beautiful south of Paris. You can really see the landscape changing from the rolling fields of the Rhone to scrubby Provence and then finally the blue of the Mediterranean.
You get a real sense of having travelled somewhere on such a journey, which is not so much the case if you just hop on a shorthaul flight.
Jun 17, 2015, 2:18 pm
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: IAD/DCA
Posts: 31,797
incredible photos, and great to hear re food and wine, thanks!
forgot to quote this >
BRITINJAPAN3, Bretteee - i dont think OP worries too much about sponsorships and awards (which is nice vs some reports)
not only would the current generation of Drouhins join us that night on board, but we were invited for a private dinner with Christine and Philippe Drouhin-Laroze at their home in Gevrey-Chambertin the following evening – and we would help to cook it using local produce...
Every one of that final, exceptional night’s Grands Crus would qualify as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. Richebourg, Bâtard-Montrachet, La Tâche – and the undisputed king – La Romanée-Conti, it goes without saying that these are stellar wines, and well-nigh impossible to secure. Yet all were poured with the generosity that made this trip so amazing.
Every one of that final, exceptional night’s Grands Crus would qualify as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. Richebourg, Bâtard-Montrachet, La Tâche – and the undisputed king – La Romanée-Conti, it goes without saying that these are stellar wines, and well-nigh impossible to secure. Yet all were poured with the generosity that made this trip so amazing.
Jun 17, 2015, 6:15 pm
#38
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: In thin air
Programs: UA
Posts: 293
Your photography gets better every trip. I just can't wait for smell-a-vision to really take in all that great food we see.
Just a weather note: now that you are gone we had sun and 82F today with more sun and the 90's for the weekend.
Sorry about our Cavs' NBA loss. Your two trip reports on the Cavs' games were outstanding.
Just a weather note: now that you are gone we had sun and 82F today with more sun and the 90's for the weekend.
Sorry about our Cavs' NBA loss. Your two trip reports on the Cavs' games were outstanding.
Jun 17, 2015, 7:52 pm
#39
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
The barge looks amazingly awesome. It is my 10 year anniversary next year. Might be an option for me and the wife if I can rob a bank between now and then.
Out of curiosity did you know the other couple on the barge?
Out of curiosity did you know the other couple on the barge?
But I could never laugh about it......
Jun 20, 2015, 11:05 am
#42
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Hope you guys have a great tip, thanks for the TR ^ First time on a 748i - did you find it amazingly quiet in F? I was stunned how quiet it was, when I was on one.
Jun 20, 2015, 8:16 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
When I flew LH bz class to FRA from WAS on the old 747, row 1 was the best for sleep and silence and privacy. The main problem is during take off, it is like being on the last seat of a tour bus. Each bump gets magnified and you also feel the nose twitch a bit during turbulence.
Jun 20, 2015, 10:13 pm
#44
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Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
After a peaceful sleep, we awoke to birds chirping along the canal and a beautiful morning in Languedoc-Roussillon.
Breakfast, Chef Joe's special scrambled eggs.
Including fresh local pastries every morning.
And then off in our accompanying van with Olivia to tour the old picturesque town of Pezenas.
Twenty minutes back to the Alouette and we continue our 4 km/hour cruise up the canal.
Lunch time... Chef Joe's amazing salmon dish.
All types of boats on the canal, some nice, some not so nice.
Later in the afternoon, we headed off in the van to visit a local olive and olive oil co-op.
And back to the Alouette.
For happy hour and then another amazing dinner.
Tonight's starter... the most amazing foie gras ever!
And perfectly prepared, delicious sea bass.
An amazing meal and beautiful sunset to finish the evening.
Breakfast, Chef Joe's special scrambled eggs.
Including fresh local pastries every morning.
And then off in our accompanying van with Olivia to tour the old picturesque town of Pezenas.
Twenty minutes back to the Alouette and we continue our 4 km/hour cruise up the canal.
Lunch time... Chef Joe's amazing salmon dish.
All types of boats on the canal, some nice, some not so nice.
Later in the afternoon, we headed off in the van to visit a local olive and olive oil co-op.
And back to the Alouette.
For happy hour and then another amazing dinner.
Tonight's starter... the most amazing foie gras ever!
And perfectly prepared, delicious sea bass.
An amazing meal and beautiful sunset to finish the evening.
Last edited by SFO777; Jun 21, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Jun 21, 2015, 12:02 am
#45
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Sorry for the delay in updating. Cell-based Wifi system was pretty anemic most of the cruise. Then again, you're are supposed to relax so I guess that's the trade-off.
Thank you BahrainLad. Belmond booked the TGV as it was included in the cruise price, so we didn't have any say in the seating. But the countryside is indeed picturesque. And with the speed and efficient of the TGV's, it is much nicer than a short haul flight.
Ha. Thanks BRITINJAPAN3. Nah, just love LH, even when things go wrong. We are actually stuck in Munich this morning after our TLS-MUC flight was delayed and we missed yesterday's MUC-ORD flight. IRROPS handling for F pax can't get much better than this. FCL rep met us plane-side on arrival, escorted us to the FCL, and had already rebooked us on today's MUC-LAX flight. She also gave us the option of going to FRA last night and doing FRA-ORD-DEN this morning.
Thank you Bretteee. The problem with using any LH *A partner is that LH will not release F seats to partners before T-14 at the earliest and more like the last week or even few days. The only consistent way to get F seats is using M&M, which we did for this trip. We booked these flights with M&M 6 months ago.
Thanks so much Kagehitoriki.
Thank you lgts for your kind comments.
Thanks Skipcool3. We didn't know what to expect but cruising the Canal du Midi surpassed our expectations.
Thanks very much Thor3. Yeah, looks like the weather is really heating up in Denver. Indeed, a disappointing end to the season. Glad we were in France and couldn't watch games 5 and 6 as Wifi was so slow that streaming wouldn't work. "Watching" the game on ESPN Gamecast was bad enough.
Thanks apodo77. Yes, we knew the other couple and planned the trip together. Even better when you can do it just with friends.
Thank you Madone59. I really enjoyed the 748i. The nose is indeed very quiet. Just a wonderful plane and an enjoyable experience.
Thanks ffI.
Excellent report as ever.
It is a shame you didn't get upper deck seats on the TGV, the views are certainly better from up there. I did London - Paris - Nice a couple of years ago and the scenery is beautiful south of Paris. You can really see the landscape changing from the rolling fields of the Rhone to scrubby Provence and then finally the blue of the Mediterranean. You get a real sense of having travelled somewhere on such a journey, which is not so much the case if you just hop on a shorthaul flight.
It is a shame you didn't get upper deck seats on the TGV, the views are certainly better from up there. I did London - Paris - Nice a couple of years ago and the scenery is beautiful south of Paris. You can really see the landscape changing from the rolling fields of the Rhone to scrubby Provence and then finally the blue of the Mediterranean. You get a real sense of having travelled somewhere on such a journey, which is not so much the case if you just hop on a shorthaul flight.
Thanks so much Kagehitoriki.
Your photography gets better every trip. I just can't wait for smell-a-vision to really take in all that great food we see.
Just a weather note: now that you are gone we had sun and 82F today with more sun and the 90's for the weekend.
Sorry about our Cavs' NBA loss. Your two trip reports on the Cavs' games were outstanding.
Just a weather note: now that you are gone we had sun and 82F today with more sun and the 90's for the weekend.
Sorry about our Cavs' NBA loss. Your two trip reports on the Cavs' games were outstanding.
The nose in all 747s is very quiet, as is the front of the upper deck before the exit doors. When I flew LH bz class to FRA from WAS on the old 747, row 1 was the best for sleep and silence and privacy. The main problem is during take off, it is like being on the last seat of a tour bus. Each bump gets magnified and you also feel the nose twitch a bit during turbulence.