“When we arrived at the train station in Beaune, she was there waiting for us to start our day in Burgundy. I knew she was an American living in France, but it soon became apparent how well Diana was received by the locals. She was one of them, she spoke the language fluently and had cultivated deep relationships. Her knowledge of the history, the wineries and ways of Burgundy were invaluable. I felt as if I had known Diana my whole life. We couldn't of asked for a more enjoyable and relaxing day. Her charm along with her expertise made for a special day. “
M. Manookian
San Francisco, CA, April 2012
"Having taken other small group luxury tours for years, traveling with The Hidden France team takes the experience to another level. Diana Williams and her associates always put their clients first. Staying in only the best places (which are sometimes off limits to other groups), eating in restaurants before they are discovered, and having exclusive wine tastings with some of the outstanding wine makers, only tells a part of the story."
B. Harwood
Maplewood, NJ, May 2012
“My husband and I spent a beautiful summer day touring Burgundy with Diana. She is extremely knowledgeable in Burgundy's rich history, culture, wine and the wine making process. We really enjoyed learning the nuances of the region, and having a local expert to guide us was critical to get the most out of our short visit. Diana went out of her way to make our trip a memorable one and completely customized our day to our interests and truly took us off the beaten path. We couldn't have been more pleased with our experience and have highly recommend Diana to friends.”
M. and O. Shumacker
Chicago, IL, May, 2012
“We LOVED having you as our guide/mentor/new friend/go-to person! I am recommending you and your services to everyone I know who is talking about going either to France or Italy. Our trip was absolutely seamless - even though you had so many people with individual problems and dietary restrictions! You are so organized, informed, creative (great photos and slide show - and you did it so quickly!) You acted as if everyone in the group was an old friend, instead of a stranger; but, at the same time, never forgot your professionalism and leadership role. I truly look forward to our next trip with you - wherever and whenever that might be.”
S. and G. Kraft, Sous-Commanderie des Chevaliers du Tastevin
Boston, Massachussetts, June 2012
“Our trip with Hidden France was perfection; no detail was too trivial for Diana to resolve. She thought of everything, and we felt thoroughly indulged and rested.”
S. Fiennes and J. Tenison
Wales, June 2012
“Hidden France is exactly as it's name describes; Diana knows every secret there is to be known- from what to order at the best local restaurant to which wine maker will spend an hour sharing their best Grand Crus. We wanted a quiet weekend away to celebrate a big anniversary and Diana set it up such that we had as much time as we wanted to ourselves whilst also having this amazing guide wherever or whenever needed. We are already planning another trip which we will ask her to lead and may take a group of friends so that they can enjoy Hidden France's amazing hospitality. We have been fortunate enough to have guides take us to many places and none have come close to the thoughtfulness, professionalism and enjoyable company. Worth absolutely every penny for what feels like a 'behind the scenes' VIP tour of Burgundy.”
C. and H. Bentinck
New Jersey, August 2012
We were in Beaune for a weekend wedding and wanted to take a tour of the wine region. Diana was wonderful! Even though our plans were constantly changing, she was ready with options and ideas to maximize our time. We shared wine and a wonderful lunch and couldn't have been happier. Diana was knowledgeable and patient with us. I felt like I'd known her for years We'll definitely make another trip!
N. and D. Borden Boston,
Massachusetts, August 2012
From our first contact with Diana it was clear that she was committed to making sure that our trip to Burgundy was everything we wanted it to be without compromises. While in Burgundy no request was too much. When we met in Dijon we immediately felt that this was going to be an experience quite different from other biking and multisport trips we had taken in the past. Diana was extremely flexible and able to accommodate with ease any request and change of plans. The high point of our first day of biking (Alex was able to bike with us that day) was our 4-hour lunch at a remote farmhouse. We started out as clients and ended the lunch laughing, swearing and drinking wonderful wines with Diana & Alex, coloring the rest of our trip. When we left Burgundy we not only gained appreciation for such a beautiful area of France, but we also gained two very dear friends.
J. Brochstein and A. Styles
Chappaqua, NY, September 2012
“I wanted to let you know that the two days we spent with you touring the Cote d’Or was the highlight of our trip. Your knowledge of Burgundy and winemaking is impressive, and you are a skilled guide in sharing that knowledge with your clients. In addition, your personal friendships with many Burgundian winemakers provided us access to people and places we never would have had the opportunity to experience if not for you. More importantly, our two days together was more like an outing with a friend than a commercial tour. Your selection of lunch spots was superb, and time seemed to fly by. Our ramble through Chambolle Musigny with one of Alex’s wines was a charming conclusion to our visit.”
D. Gatchell
St. Louis, MO, September 2012
“Visiting and biking through the Burgundy region has always been on our bucket list. Unfortunately we only had one day to spend with Diana. She sent us the agenda and we were ecstatic. Riding through the vineyards and small towns was a real treat. We would periodically stop and she would explain to us the history of the region, the winemakers, the grape varietals and the timing of the harvest. We had a fabulous lunch with wine at La Montrachet. Then we rode back to Beaune on a different route. We also were able to visit the Alex Gambal Winery for a tasting and tour and that was delightful. Her hotel and restaurant recommendations were very helpful. We can not wait to get back to the region and have Diana schedule a more elaborate and extensive stay.”
Peggy and Conrad Rafield
Birmingham, Alabama Sept. 2012
“My husband and I spent a wonderful day with Diana. After explaining our interests and knowledge, she tailored a special day exploring the Côte d'Or. Diana truly understood our sensibilities. She taught us about the rich history of Burgundy and introduced us to some delicious wines. Our lunch was incredible and the company even better. We are looking forward receiving the case of wine we purchased to continue remembering this great day in Burgundy.”
C. and M. Black
San Diego, CA, September 2012
“We are confessed Hidden France junkies. We are so fortunate to have had the marvelous pleasure of traveling with Diana Williams, Hidden France’s founder, on each and every one of her well researched, fun filled, remarkable trips in some of the most beautiful places in France and Italy.
Each adventure was filled with unique experiences. Every day was most carefully planned, no detail too small or overlooked, with lots of room, too, for spontaneous whims and chances to dig deeper into our explorations both of the paths along which were traveling but of ourselves too.
. We had dozens of opportunities to meet with local wine makers to taste and learn about their amazing wines. And the histories of their vineyards and their winemaking families and cultures.
We shared meals at restaurants that are small, intimate and serving local meals using the incredible bounty of the local markets and Michelin starred restaurants that are famous to each region. And were so lucky to have stayed at some of Europe’s most wonderful hotels that pampered us with great service, wonderful rooms, stunning views…we never wanted to leave.
But each day brought a new anticipation of another great experience, a chance to feel that we were part of the countryside, town or village whether we were biking through the vineyards in Burgundy, walking in the foothills on the ancient pilgrims’ paths in Tuscany, or stopping for a quick cappuccino or glass of wine with a view overlooking the hill towns in Provence. It was always breathtaking and so incredible that we had to only reach out, lift our glasses and drink it all in. Never will we forget each experience, each day that was so well crafted, that leaves us begging for more. Diana, encore une fois, merci beaucoup, c’etait magnifique!”
J. and D. Sherman
New York, NY, May 2012 |
