Centre-Val de Loire
Meet the Local Experts
Your on-the-ground insiders. The ones who know the enduring favourites, the quiet corners and what’s worth your time.
Anna
Paris, Deauville +13
I’m a true “slasher”, driven by curiosity and a wide range of experiences that blend international cooperation, human resources, management, education, technology and tourism. Travel has been part of my identity for as long as I can remember. After growing up in a family of travelers, I started exploring the world on my own at the age of 14. Since then, I have embraced many different ways of traveling : volunteering, woofing, road trips, city breaks, shaolin immersion program, cruising, bike tours, wine expeditions, professional workshops, hiking, bivouacking and even canoe and boat trips, and much more are coming. For me, travel is not only about discovering new places; it is an opportunity to reinvent yourself, gain new perspectives, and grow through meaningful encounters. For the past two years, I have been working as a travel coordinator, designing, leading and facilitating groups around the world with one mission : creating exceptional human connections through adventure. My life is an adventure, come join me !
Douglas Arthur
Paris, Versailles +8
5.0(1)Parisian and American both, I am a tourism professional with a decade of experience. With a rich, varied background and extensive education, I craft unique cultural experiences and tours for individuals and 5-star hotels in Paris. I am the founder of Vendôme Circle, a culturally-focused brand that offers connoisseur-level tours and experiences in Paris and beyond. My love for Paris began as a child, when I immersed myself in French cuisine, history, culture, and language. I have lived on the Left Bank near the Luxembourg Gardens since 2013. My path has been an adventure. I received a classical education in literature, philosophy, mathematics, art history, music theory, and ancient languages. I then entered seminary and was ordained a Catholic priest, serving as vicar of a large parish – where I oversaw and facilitated the growth of the Hispanic community – and as part-time chaplain at a Catholic high school. I later moved to Paris to pursue a Master's in Biblical Studies at the Catholic University of Paris. While here, I realised the priesthood was not for me. I left to start my life over, this time in Paris. As academia was still beckoning, I earned a Master's in Contemporary Philosophy at The Sorbonne, where I also pursued doctoral research on Jean-Paul Sartre and began a dissertation. It was during my time at The Sorbonne that I created my first walking tour of the Latin Quarter in 2017: a success that set me on my current path and ultimately led to the founding of Vendôme Circle. Beyond guiding and travel planning, my passions run deep and inform everything I do. I am an organist and pianist, a devoted foodie who has been cooking French cuisine since the age of nine, and a serious wine enthusiast. I am also a fine art photographer working exclusively in film, and a collector of antiques and porcelain with an intimate knowledge of the Paris market. I look forward to helping you put together a trip you will never forget.