Everyone asks me how I got into the business of specialising in French tourism, and they all say what a lucky job I have! But, as I say, there is no luck involved!
My family used to have a company which was involved in the manufacturing and marketing of industrial plastic products, the manufacturing of timber products (medium density fibreboard) and many other “interesting” products which were sold all around the world. This business went very well, but it killed my dear father who worked too hard. As well, I experienced some sides of business which I frankly did not enjoy and did not need. So I decided that at the age of 33, with two young children and gorgeous wife, if I didn’t take control then I may go the same way as my father – which frankly didn’t excite me! So I decided to quit the lot and start a business which was based on my loves and dreams. France-The French Way was born.
After starting my commercial involvement with France in 1993, I’m thrilled to say that my dream is now being lived. I adore France, and every time I jump behind the keyboard to help plan someone else’s holiday I truly buzz with excitement! It’s great! My wife and children often travel with me to France for long periods to do more canal boat trips, to stay in more houses, to enjoy more charming hotels, and to fall in love again with this wonderful country and way of life!!
As the years continue our involvement gets even greater. Now we own a glorious apartment in the heart of Paris, which we happily share with other travellers. My daughter Sarah who could only just walk when she started travelling to France is now 20 years old and living in Paris, and is comfortably bi-lingual. My business France-The French Way has truly shaped the lives of my family and the way we live our lives. I hope through this Blog we can share some of our experiences and knowledge with you.
If you ever have any queries about travelling to France then please don’t hesitate in contact me on john@france.co.nz or at www.france.co.nz.
If you are still interested you may be interested in this article:
Hi John.
Loving your blog! Great your using Sarahs emails, very funny!. As for David Abbott that would have been amazing!!!
Here is a link to Neutra Design’s Blog.
http://neutradesign.wordpress.com
Thanks for dinner last night!!
Regards
Ryan
Wow, an apartment in the heart of Paris and you earn your living helping others enjoy France. I can think of few better ways to live!
Cheers
Jools
Hi there John,
My name is Dale Davidson, and I’m an employee of BootsnAll, a resource for independent travelers. I am responsible for building relationships with other awesome travel sites. While looking for these awesome travel sites, I came across blog.france.co.nz. It’s great that you made the decision to leave your old business and start a tour company in France. Few have the courage to act on their dreams.
In any case, I wonder if http://www.BootsnAll.com would be worthy enough to be listed as a resource on your site? BootsnAll has been around for over a dozen years, offering travellers a place to research, connect and book. If so, the link text of ‘BootsnAll Independent Travel’ would be excellent (and a little more descriptive for readers). The sites below may be particularly useful to your visitors:
France Airfare Search: http://air.cheapticketlinks.org/france.html
BootsnAll Main Site: http://www.bootsnall.com
WhyGo France Travel Guide: http://www.francetravelguide.com/
BootsnAll is also looking for authors to submit travel stories for publication. If you’re interested, you can read more about it here: http://writers.bootsnall.com (and naturally we’d happily include links to your site). Maybe you could write a piece about starting your own tour business?
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
Dale
—
Dale Davidson
BootsnAll Travel Network
http://www.BootsnAll.com
Dale, thanks so much for your message. Of course I know BootsnAll! I’ll link through to you straight away, and would love to prepare an article for your use. Cheers!
(Also sent to your messages in FaceBook)
Hello John,
I stumbled upon your blog while researching images to accompany an article written on the Cathars for my magazine, IntrepidMag.com.
I read your blog, “Carcassonne – I was there in the year 1209,” and would like to see if you’d be willing to allow me to reprint it in my magazine.
My background… Intrepid Mag is a digital magazine I launched earlier this year after leaving my position as editor-in-chief of TAPS ParaMagazine, the official publication of SyFy Network’s “Ghost Hunters.” Intrepid has an eclectic focus on American politics, Science, Fring Science, Metaphysics, Ufology, and Paranormal phenomena. I am also the author of “The Rollicking Adventures of Tam O’Hare (Morgan James), and the soon-to-be released “The Rise and Fall of the Nephilim” (New Page Books, 2/22/12).
One of my regular contributors happens to also be an “old, orthadox Catholic” priest, Father Jack Ashcraft. He submitted an article to me on the Cathars, and i despite my enjoying a lot of what he writes, I was set a little off by some of the things he said about the Cathars, the Inquisition and some points of history. I won’t censor his article, but when i run into these situations with my contributors, i sometimes try to offer “gentle” but differing points of view.
I thought that your blog would be a wonderful, subtle approach to this, when you speak of the (apparition?) you met in the church, and his personal stance in defense of his people.
Intrepid is a publication yet in its infancy, and I could not pay you anything for use of your article, but I would be more than happy to advertise your business. And I would most certainly give you the right credits.
Please visit my magazione’s official website, and you can even download a PDF version of the free preview issue (located on the lower right column of the site’s main page), to give you an idea of what we are all about.
Thank you for your consideration.
Cheers
Scotty Roberts
(651) 468-8115
http://www.intrepidmag.com
You’re definitely involved in a unique field, John! I look forward to keeping up with your adventures and will definitely reference back to your blog whenever I visit France.