My wife and I visited the Loire Valley for the first time last week. We set up a tour with ACCO-DISPO Tours for a day long tour. Pascal picked us up at the tourist office in Tours (yes, the city of Tours!) and we set out. We were the only people on the tour so this was really personal service! Pascal provided some great insights on the region as well as the sites we were going to see. We visited Clos Luce, Amboise Chateau and Chenonceau. We had ample time at each location and had lunch (on our own) in Amboise across from the Chateau. It was a very good tour and Pascal's commentary made it excellent!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3057 posts
Acco-Dispo Tours has received great reviews over the years which is why reserving well ahead is a must —they run out of room to accommodate everyone who wants to join a tour.
Posted by
1 posts
We had a wonderful day trip with Pascal. He was efficient and knowledgeable. We were able to see Chenonceau, Cheverney, and Chambord in one day. Pascal was able to help us navigate the entrances and provide suggestions about the best route to take through the chateaux to make the most of our time. We would highly recommend Acco Dispo for a chateaux tour—efficient, great value, and an enjoyable day! Merci M. Pascal!
Posted by
Chicago
1577 posts
For solo travelers, be aware that ACCO-DISPO and similar companies need a legal minimum of 2 travelers before a "join-in" (shared) tour can run. (My understanding is that a "private" tour can be booked by a solo traveler at higher rates, but I didn't take Acco-Dispo up on this option.) The minimum-of-2 notification is on the bottom of the booking pages, such as here: https://www.accodispo-tours.com/reservation/departure-from-amboise/booking/full-day-chenonceau-cheverny-chambord-46.html?program=fullDay
My experience as a single traveler last fall 2024 was that, since I was the only traveler requesting a tour on my chosen date, I was out of luck. I called the company to check on other options as I had several dates available. They were quite professional and called me back to offer me a tour when there was a booking on one of my available dates. All communication - emails and phone - was done in English. The tour they were running was not to a location I wished to visit, but I appreciated the company's efforts and professionalism.
I do plan on using ACCO-DISPO again, but next time, I will have a travel partner with me.
Posted by
Chicagoland
703 posts
As a frequent solo traveler, I find the 2 person minimum booking to be common with most tour companies. But, I've had success being added to a tour by contacting the company directly. With some flexibility on my part, I've been able to visit places I wouldn't otherwise have seen.
Posted by
Chicago
1577 posts
Jean - lucky you!
Not my experience with Acco-Dispo or the tour company I tried in Edinburgh (Heart of Scotland) last month.
I also always contact a company directly - email or phone. I always have alternative plans which have sometimes included paying for private transfer. I’ve had about 50 - 50 luck on solo bookings through the past decade or so on multiple continents.
The best are those companies that commit to offering their tours to one traveler. I often check this direct with a company before leaving the US so I know what I might be facing.