Travel with Conscience

Several years ago we left our lives in the US to see the world with our young children. Basing ourselves in Provence, France and Costa Rica, we built a luxury villa rental business, (www.francevacationvilla.com) assisting travelers from all around the world explore the wonders of these beautiful regions. Over the years we learned a great deal about how people travel and what they are looking for when they explore. More and more we are noticing a genuine interest in going beyond simply seeing the traditional sites. Travelers are seeking interpersonal exchanges with local people and a greater understanding of a region’s culture.

Our own personal travel had us visiting the wonders of other places - to India, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Morocco, Thailand, often with our young children in tow. We too were affected by our journeys, not only by the inspiring sights we saw, but by the lack of basic needs in many of the communities surrounding these famous places. We realized that it was a shame to visit these fabulous destinations without seeing them in the context of their communities and the challenges they face. Within travel lies a wonderful opportunity to open ourselves up and share our resources with those who are working towards self-sustainability. We felt motivated to help others link responsible travel with giving.

• Travel Expertise: Our primary focus is creating a seamless travel itinerary based on your unique travel style. We do this by partnering only with the most knowledgeable, qualified personnel on the ground in each region. Together we make sure that you have a safe and comfortable trip, from the minute you are picked up at the airport, to the moment you leave.
• Travel Unique to You/Special Interests: As individuals we all have unique interests. Visit a region or country with these elements at the core – culinary, biking, wellness, archeology, environment, textiles, history, family-oriented travel…the list is infinite. What ever your passion, we will do our best to create a trip based on who you are.
• The Best in Accommodation: Only the highest quality accommodations are offered, be it smaller Boutique Hotels or 5 star Resorts and Spas. You won’t see a plethora of choices because we have narrowed the list for you to include only those that meet our strict criteria of excellence and service. We favor Hotels that practice Sustainable/Responsible Tourism, some of which stand out by putting community development and environmental responsibility at the very core of their businesses.
• Responsible Travel and Giving: We assist you in traveling responsibly, minimizing the negative effects tourism can have on host destinations, while supporting the preservation of local heritage and encouraging social and economic development. Come away having had the deep and meaningful experience of helping, person to person. While some initiatives are established charities and others are grassroots efforts, each and every one is playing a significant part in empowering local communities to stand on their own.

In sum, we are inspired by staying one step ahead, organizing, selecting, and paving the way for trips of a lifetime. Your job will then simply be to go and experience it all…

If you have suggestions or contacts that you feel would be helpful in expanding this endeavour, please email us.

While Provence does not face as many social, economic or environmental challenges as other areas, it is a place that helps us understand the value of simplicity in life, in food, culture and time. Understanding and preserving this is important in a world that has become so fast-paced. We continue to manage travel there and we encourage you to visit our site if it is place you plan to go: www.francevacationvilla.com

• And it was Supposed to be a Year en Provence
• Old Stones in Provence
• The Ultimate Entertainment
• A Glimpse of Heaven in India
• An Evening in Marrakesh
• Falling for Isabelle - a Chinese Adoption Story
• Admiring Angkor
• A Summer in Costa Rica
• Difficult Decisions
• The Birth of Travel with Conscience