My first group of Americans this season came to stay at Chateau Lalinde this past week -- and what a pleasure they were! Bad weather, rain, too short days and too fast clocks never once had any one of them complaining -- on the contrary -- it has been a long time since I have seen a group of people enjoy and appreciate the beautiful Dordogne more, or benefit as much from every one of the many diverse and interesting things the region has to offer. If this is the new face of American Tourism, let's make them feel so welcome that they will come in plane loads to visit our little corner of paradise!
Not hard to do? Of course not! BUT -- if we want the Americans to bring their tourism to our region -- despite the weakened dollar and the strengthened Euro, we have to first make sure that the travel agents on the other side are doing their job as they should!
My current group was having so much fun, that two of the group decided to stay one day longer. And it was when I went to the local train station to change their tickets (from Lalinde to Bordeaux and on the TGV from Bordeaux to Paris) that I made a shocking discovery.
These visitors had bought their train tickets in the USA through a travel agent -- Rail Europe tickets --- looking, as we all do, for the best deal, and thinking they had found it. BUT -- the tickets' prices are more than double of what they are quoted as here. The tickets are also first class tickets which, I am sure seasoned travellers -- even well-heeled seasoned travelers will agree are NOT necessary -- especially on the newly refurbished (designed by Christian Lacroix!) TGV and most certainly not on the little "Train d'Esperance" from Bordeaux to Lalinde/Sarlat! The Euro/Dollar exchange rates make travel to Europe for all Americans -- and everyone else in fact, so expensive now, that they should all get every bit of help we can give them. The French trains are so well maintained and attractive that it is a waste of good (shopping!) money to go spend extra on a first class ticket -- second class is just as comfortable and good!
(Photo Credit:ModernFollies) My suggestion is to everyone here in the Dordogne Perigord tourism business -- when you have any contact with Americans who are thinking about visiting France and in particular our beautiful Dordogne Perigord, make sure that you give them all the necessary local knowledge they need to prevent them from being ripped off by crooked travel agents who will look for every opportunity to make a quick buck, and be prepared with the information and details of the best deals available to visitors to France!Click on Link:
Chateau Lalinde : The perfect venue for your event
