Newsletter - May 2018

Greetings from Robbi and Jim

A warm welcome to all of the members of our Aroma Tours Newsletter in over 30 countries around the world.

Robbi and I will be embarking shortly for the start of this year's Aroma Tours adventures with our guests from around the world. Beginning in the beautiful Spanish spring with our Flavours of Spain Tour and Spanish Gourmet Pilgrimage

After 24 wonderful years, as we contemplate throttling back on the number of tours that we will be offering, Robbi and I feel truly blessed to once again be sharing our passion for the fabulous places and experiences that we love, with delightful people from around the world.

This year is all set to be another fabulous tour season with all of our tours now either sold out or down to the last few places!

• There are still a few places available for our beautiful tours in Provence and Italy and if you would like to "seize the day" and journey with us this year, we invite you to visit our tour information page for more details or our make a reservation page to reserve your place.

Aroma Travellers Our Thanks

Without doubt, the main reason that we have grown and flourished over the years, is the on-going support we have received from our past Aroma Travellers and we are thrilled to see that they continue to make up over 65% of our guests!

We would also like to give our heart-felt thanks to all of you who continue to support us with your kind words and referrals.

Robbi and I also greatly appreciate the wonderful words of thanks we have received over the years and have added a new compilation of Guest Comments to our site.

Our Home in Provence

Of all the wonderful regions that Robbi and I visit, Provence has a special place in our hearts.

"To be in Provence is to be in a joyful dream full of beauty and delight." ~ Jean Moreau

It is where our Aroma Tours began over two and a half decades ago and where we first fell in love with another land.

Returning to our second home in Provence is always a delight and it is our passion to share the many wonders and hidden gems of this beautiful region with our guests during our Heart of Provence, Essential Provence and Treasures of Provence tours.

Please join us in this beautiful land and it will be our great pleasure to share the wonderful places, people and experiences that we love with you.

• For more details please visit our tour information page and if you would like to share a wonderful adventure with us in beautiful Provence, you can reserve your place via our make a reservation page

Our Current Booking Status

Reservations for our 2018 season are continuing to go wonderfully well with all of our tours either sold out or down to the last few places.

The current booking status for our 2018 season at the time of this newsletter is:-

Several of our 2019 tours are filling fast, especially our Spanish tours and Bali Women’s Retreat. This is due to those who missed out this year or those planning ahead securing their places early.

The current booking status for our 2019 season at the time of this newsletter is:-

• For detailed information about any of our tours please visit our tour information page and if you would like to join us please visit our make a reservation page.
• If you would like us to hold your place(s) so that you have time to comfortably make your other arrangements please let us know at [email protected]
• It is our pleasure to assist you with any questions you may have and we invite you to get in touch with us at [email protected].

Please note

• Our up-to-the-minute booking status is available via our calendar page
• If the tour you would like to attend becomes fully booked, please let us know if you would like us to add you to the waiting list for that tour in case a place becomes available due to a cancellation.

Italy in Autumn - Bellissimo! ( nuovamente )

Italy in autumn is a magnificent kaleidoscope of colourful landscapes, beautiful hilltop villages, ripe grape vines, celebration and joy for life.

During our Aromas of Tuscany and Flavours of Italy tours we absorb the passion of the Italian lifestyle and savour the delightful flavours of the land's bounty, along with the rich cultural heritage evident in the art, architecture, historical sites, festivals, fashion, design, craftsmanship and unique approach to living.

Those of us who journey here are all destined to be transformed by the magic of Italy - feeling more joyful by the moment, speaking more enthusiastically, smiling broadly and even indulging in a bit of emphatic arm waving!

• If you would like to join us this year to explore the "Dolce Vita" in Bella Italia, we invite you to visit our tour information page for more details or our make a reservation page to reserve your place.

The Tour de Jim

Before each tour season I spend a significant amount of time on what I like to call my "Tour de Jim"; travelling about checking all of the particulars for our upcoming tours, including finalizing the menus at the beautiful restaurants we enjoy during our time together.

It is one of my great joys to visit our restaurateur friends to chat about arrangements, catch up on the news and maybe share a glass of wine; knowing that their skills and hospitality will soon be shared to tantalize our guests.

I also love exploring new gastronomic possibilities, especially the "up and coming" or undiscovered jewels that may become a lovely new experience for us all to enjoy.

Here are a few images from my recent gastronomic adventures ( I love the unreadable label on the bottle being presented to me above - it was a very lovely white Cote du Rhone ).

There is quite a constellation of Michelin stars on display here and Robbi and I hope that we will have the pleasure of sharing some of these amazing gastronomic experiences with you.

For more details please visit our information request page and if you would like to reserve one of the remaining places please visit our booking request page

Travelling Solo in a Group

As well as couples and friends travelling together, we are regularly joined by solo travellers - mostly women, who appreciate being able to journey with liked minded people from around the world, without the need to do all the planning and take on the daunting task of touring by themselves.

Joining one of our small group tours is easy and we have already made all of the arrangements on your behalf to ensure that you have a delightful, stress-free holiday with the focus on having fun.

Having a ready-made group of friends to travel with, and us to take wonderful care of you is the way to go!

• There is no extra charge for solo travellers who are willing to share a room with another same gender guest from our group.

We have carefully crafted off-the-beaten-path itineraries that are the perfect balance of structure, experiences, details and free time to enjoy in your own way.

There have been a significant number of guests over the years who and have joined us multiple times, some of whom have become dear friends.

• Mona Smith, pictured at the beginning of this snippet, holds the record for the most tours attended by a solo traveller - she has journeyed with us 10 times and this year will be her 11th!
• Susan Troxell from NYC is a close second and has joined us 9 times with a 10th coming next year.

Our Invitation

Robbi and I look forward to welcoming you to one of our delightful tours or retreats as we continue moving towards our retirement in the next few years.

• For detailed information about any of our tours please visit our tour information page and if you would like to join us please visit our make a reservation page.
• As always if you have any questions or if you would like us to assist you personally with advice about your travel arrangements or with any other details please contact us at [email protected]

Warmest regards,

Jim and Robbi