Lodging Information & Room Reservation
For our Creative Renaissance retreat, we’ll have exclusive use of a beautifully restored 19th-century townhouse in the historic heart of Blois, one of the most important royal cities of the Loire Valley.
Perched above the mighty Loire River, our private maison offers:
Sweeping views over the river and valley from the back of the house and garden
A short walk to cafés, markets, shops, and the château of Blois
A peaceful, artful interior filled with French antiques and curated details
The feeling of staying in a private home, not a hotel
It’s elegant yet cozy — a French, artistic, welcoming space that feels like stepping into a story… and making it your own for the week.
We have the entire house reserved just for our small group. This is truly your Loire home for our Creative Renaissance.
Blois is a historic Loire city with “human” scale — big enough to be interesting, small enough to feel walkable and welcoming.
From our maison, you’re just a few minutes’ walk from:
The Loire River
The Royal Château of Blois and old town streets
Local bakeries, cafés, and shopping
Blois has been an important site since prehistoric times and played a pivotal role in French royal history. Today, it’s a vibrant working city, filled with locals, artisans, students, and families. You’ll see:
Medieval timbered houses
Elegant 19th-century homes
Everyday modern French life
You’ll have the chance to wander cobblestone streets, compare noble châteaux with everyday homes, and truly feel the layers of history under your feet... François I and other kings and queens once walked here, too.
When you want quiet, you can retreat to our garden or the art studio. When you want to explore, you can simply slip outside and be in the heart of Blois within minutes.
Our private house in the Loire offers a thoughtful balance of comfort, inspiration, and space to create:
Private house, just for our group
We have exclusive use of the main house during the retreat.
Artful shared spaces
A gracious dining room, two salons/living rooms, and a library-like atmosphere for reading, journaling, or simply enjoying a cup of tea together.
Dedicated creative studio space
A designated area for art-making where you can spread out with your journal, collage, and supplies at any time of day.
Private garden with Loire views
Step through the back doors to a terrace overlooking the river valley, a formal garden that softens into a more natural landscape, a stone fountain, and quiet corners for sketching or reflection.
Multiple outdoor sitting areas
Trellised seating areas and nooks that offer shade, views, and a sense of retreat.
Atmospheric architectural details
Parquet floors, wood moldings, fireplaces, and tall windows create an environment that feels both historically rich and artistically inspiring.
Quiet technology
There are no televisions in the rooms, encouraging rest and creative presence. High-speed WiFi is available throughout the property.
This maison is a lovely match for the retreat: calm, inspiring, beautiful, and human in scale — perfect for a small group of creative women.
Example of Varied Rooms on our Creative Renaissance Tour
We have five en suite bedrooms, each thoughtfully decorated and filled with natural light. All rooms include:
A queen bed (one bed per room)
Modern en suite bathroom
Organic cotton bathrobes
Environmentally friendly, all-natural toiletries
Fresh linens and towels
Radiant heating
Wardrobe / storage space
Fiber optic WiFi
There are two room categories, all at the same price:
Cozy, light-filled rooms overlooking the garden, river, and valley. Think:
Views over the Loire
French windows framing the landscape
Soft fabrics, antique details, and a feeling of retreat
These rooms are slightly smaller in floor area (appx. 240sq. feet), but feel spacious due to the views and light. If you love waking up to a view and feeling surrounded by the landscape, this is a wonderful choice.
More spacious rooms facing the quiet residential street. Think:
High ceilings
Elegant wall coverings and curated antiques
A comfortable sitting area or extra space for spreading out your journal
These rooms offer more square footage (appx. 300sq feet) and a feeling of airy grandeur, while still being calm and restful.
Important: All rooms have one queen bed and are priced per person, single occupancy.
If you are interested in sharing a room (and sharing a queen bed) with a friend or partner, please email me directly to discuss shared-room pricing and availability.
You will indicate your preferred room category (River View or Street View) when you make your deposit. Room views are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis within each category. Exact individual rooms cannot be reserved in advance.
Total retreat price (including lodging + experiences):
5,650 € per person
This includes:
7 nights in our private maison (single occupancy, queen bed)
All creative sessions and art journaling guidance with Betsy
Daily breakfast + most lunches and dinners (as outlined in the main itinerary; 1 lunch and 1 dinner are on your own)
Group excursions to 6 historic châteaux and gardens
Local transportation for all scheduled retreat activities
A dedicated floral workshop with a local florist
Custom designed travel journal + printed creative materials
Use of extra art supplies for journal making
A small, curated group experience (only 5 rooms)
Not included:
Flights to and from France
Transport to and from Blois (train, taxi, etc.) - appx 1.5hr from Paris
Travel insurance
Personal purchases, extra snacks, and unscheduled activities
Any optional extra excursions you choose to arrange on your own
To reserve your room and your place on the retreat:
Deposit amount: 1,000 €
Balance due: 4,650 €
Balance due date: April 15, 2026
An invoice reminder for the remaining balance will be sent to you by email around April 7, 2026.
Your deposit will be made through PayPal, a secure online checkout.
During checkout, indicate your room preference in the notes:
River-view (cozier rooms, Loire-facing)
Street-view (larger rooms, town-facing)
Room categories are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and we will do our very best to honor your preference. Exact room selection within each category is not possible.
If you would like to inquire about sharing a room, please email me before booking your deposit: betsy@wanderlustdesigner.com
Below is detailed booking information and common questions. Please do not hesitate to reach out by email if you have other questions.
Your 1,000 € deposit reserves:
Your place on the Creative Renaissance Loire Valley retreat (May 23–30, 2026)
A room in our private maison (single occupancy, queen bed)
Priority for your chosen room category (river view or street view, based on availability)
Once your deposit is received, you’ll receive a confirmation email and, shortly after, a welcome packet with next steps.
Your remaining balance of 4,650 € is due by April 15, 2026.
You’ll receive an invoice reminder around April 7, 2026 with simple instructions to complete your payment.
Note: Payments are made in Euros (€) in accord with doing business in France.
If you cancel before April 15, 2026 (before the balance is charged):
If you find someone to take your place and they pay in full promptly:
→ You receive a 100% refund of your deposit (minus a small 15% admin/restocking fee if needed for banking/processing).
If no replacement is found:
→ You receive an 85% refund of your deposit; 15% is retained as a restocking/administrative fee.
In either case, you are not responsible for the remaining balance.
If you cancel on or after April 15, 2026 (after the balance is charged):
Because all payments to our lodging and local partners will have been made, we’re unable to offer refunds unless a replacement guest is found who can pay in full immediately.
If a replacement is found and fully paid:
→ You may receive an 85% refund of your total payments (deposit + balance), with 15% retained as an administrative/restocking fee.
If no replacement is found:
→ There is no refund available.
We strongly recommend that you carefully review your travel insurance options (see below).
This policy allows us to keep the retreat pricing as accessible as possible while honoring commitments to our local partners.
Yes, we strongly recommend travel insurance.
Life happens — illness, weather, flight disruptions, family emergencies, and other unexpected events can make travel difficult or impossible. Travel insurance can help protect your investment in the retreat if you are unable to attend or need to change your plans.
You are welcome to use any provider you wish. My tour partner Travellur often works with World Nomads, which offers flexible, straightforward coverage for many travelers.
Yes, shared-room arrangements may be possible.
Important details:
All rooms have one queen bed
If you share, you and your roommate will be sharing that bed
Shared-room pricing and availability are different from single occupancy
If you are interested in sharing a room, please email me before placing your deposit so we can discuss details and confirm availability:
betsy@wanderlustdesigner.com
This retreat is designed with a balance of:
Easy walking in town, at chateaux and in gardens (note: there may be some stairs and cobblestone streets.)
Time on your feet during excursions
Quiet time at the maison for resting, journaling, or simply being
Some locations do require walking on cobblestones, stairs, and standing during tours. If you prefer less walking at times, we can suggest alternate options, such as:
Taking a taxi/ride share (not included in retreat price) to a meeting point
Skipping a walk and enjoying quiet time at a café or at the maison
If you have specific mobility concerns, please reach out so we can help you assess whether this retreat feels right for you.
After your deposit is received, we’ll send a brief questionnaire about:
Food allergies
Dietary restrictions
Preferences
We will offer group meals at the lodging (not individual restaurant-style orders), and we will make sure they are aware of everyone’s needs to the best of our ability. At our restaurants you can order to your food preferences/needs.
Our maison is within walking distance of historic Blois, so you’ll have easy access to:
cafés and shops
the château
the Loire River
In general, the broader Loire region is not easily accessible without a car or hired driver. If you’d like to plan personal excursions beyond our group itinerary, we’re happy to point you toward resources and ideas, but we’re unable to organize individual tours or logistics, since our focus will be on the curated group experiences.
We’re committed to creating a considerate, respectful environment for all guests.
If you feel unwell during the retreat, we ask that you rest and take care of yourself, being mindful of our small-group setting.
Masks are welcome if you prefer to wear one; we honor each person’s comfort level.
In the case of major unforeseen global events (for example, natural disasters, political unrest, or other force majeure situations), we may need to adjust the retreat dates, itinerary, or location. If that happens, we will communicate options as clearly and compassionately as possible.
If this Creative Renaissance in the Loire Valley feels like your next chapter, I would be honored to welcome you. Have questions or want to talk through details? Email me anytime: betsy@wanderlustdesigner.com
We’ll spend a week together in a beautiful French home, exploring history, journaling our adventures, and celebrating your creative renaissance — and this lodging page is where that journey quietly begins.