Our expectations were quite high when we booked the trip but the experience far exceeded them. From the fantastic work you undertook in developing the barge and the exceptional results to the planning of the week, the excursions, the meals (feasts!). Both of you deserve our praise and appreciation.
H&D Stanley Calgary, Canada.
What a wonderful week we have had aboard beautiful Bonheur! It was a true vacation for us all – many thanks for everything, it was all perfect.
A&C Conway. Santa Barbara, CA
This has been a dream come true. I could never have imagined a more wonderful fulfilment of my “Bucket List” dream trip. It was beyond perfect.
L&B Pompei. USA
Your mission was accomplished; we relaxed completely and enjoyed everything. It wasn’t just who you are, it is also what you do and you do it all so well. Thank you.
P&S Drew. CA
Many thanks Paul & Annie for the most relaxing vacation/adventure of our lives! After Paris, this adventure complimented our 3 week dream trip with your very gracious TLC. Your English/French charm has been contagious.
I didn’t know what I expected, but this was beyond what I expected because of you two.
K&R Bainbridge. CT.
It has truly been a delight and joy to experience a week aboard BONHEUR; total “happiness” indeed! Your gracious hospitality, delicious meals and attention to every detail have been extraordinary. We will treasure our memories of this special trip.
R&K Kromann. Edmonds, Washington.
Little did we realise what a splendid decision it was when Beth recommended we spend a week with you two delightful hosts on the Bonheur!
The itinerary (with special emphasis on the wines of Burgundy - Paul) and “low calorific” culinary presentations by Annie certainly have caused us all to anxiously peer around the corner for the next pleasant surprise.
N&D Williams. Newport Beach, California.
Thank you so much for a fantastic week! Bonheur is beautiful & your attention to detail is amazing – from the cut flowers to the wine pairing and heated plates! I bought a fair bit of wine and will remember you both when we enjoy them. Paul, I will think of you whenever I have a Rully Blanc or Santanay Rouge.
Song & Wai Lin, Siena and parents. Singapore.
Merci Beaucoup for everything! We are so impressed with your seamanship, care and love of your boat and interest in everything concerning the canals and towns through which we passed, We appreciate you sharing your knowledge of wine-tasting and everything French – we feel so smug that we were able to have a first-hand experience with Jean-Claude as well as the other tastes of Burgundy to which you treated us.
We’ll always remember your beautiful boat and the care with which you maintain it, the wonderfulmeals ( Annie – what a cook you are!) and attention to every little need and want we may have had.
The “Bonheur” is aptly named – we were all happy even when it was raining!
B&P Bowman USA
Your boat is an amazing piece of ship restoration and craftsmanship. Paul’s knowledge of Burgundian wine is impressive and he is an excellent seaman. Annies cooking was the best we had in France.
Paul is a good and conscientious guide to the local area. We thoroughly enjoyed our time on the Bonheur. We wish you and the Bonheur the very best in the future.
We look forward to seeing you in the American south west some time.
J & D Gibbon. Albuquerque. USA
Where to start? The barge, the accommodation, the attention to detail, Annie cooking, the itinerary, Paul’s knowledge of local history and of course wine which is impressive and extensive. As owners of a B&B we can appreciate the effort you have both gone to on our behalf and came to realise that while there are many great barges on the canals of Burgundy the most special asset the Bonheur possesses is the two of you.
We have travelled extensively and want you to know that this is unqualifiably the best vacation we have ever had...... ever.
J & C Betz USA
Merci – merci – merc for Bonheur souvenir (good time memory). Bon appétit our three star floating Michelin cuisine. Everytime Annie came out with her tray of our meals was like having a page of my Larriose cook book come to life. Your hospitality was above and beyond the call of duty, lovelly.
Merci beaucoup.
A & D Dixon. Panama
Of all the barges to choose from, we were fortunate to select the Bonheur. It is obvious that you love what you do, and take great pride in treaing your guests like royalty. It’s so wonderful to see you follow your dream and we wish you much success in the future. Annies cooking was “da bomb” and you are the sweetest thing ever. We loved sharing time with Paul on the fun excursions and really appreciated his extensive knowledge of the area and the local wines!
We loved getting to know you both and hope you will look us up when you visit southern California.
Thanks for a great week that we will remember forever!
P & K Jensen. California. USA
The website does not do the Bonheur justice. Your renovations are done with such quality, style and great taste. This trip was so beyond our wildest imagination on all accounts. The accommodations are extremely comfortable. The food is well thought out, delicious and is presented beautifully. We came with close friends but feel we have made 2 more.
Paul’s appreciation for art, history and wine was an unexpected addition to an already well planned option for discoveries. Being able to get in some excercise while admiring the scenery made my day.
Thanks for making this the dream vacation we could not have planned.
L & J Strand. Texas USA
I have dreamt for 20 years of an excursion on a canal in France. What amazing “Bon Chance” that we found Bonheur. The boat is beautiful, the food delicious and excursions interesting and educational – but it is you both that have made this a trip we will never forget!
We hope we will get a chance to pass this way again but if not, we have memories to last a lifetime – Merci Boucoup!
J&J Hickman. Texas.USA
You could not have looked after us better on your lovely barge which you converted with attention to every detail.
Annies cuisine was outstanding and merited several Michelin rosettes.
Many thanks to you both from us all – we could not have enjoyed ourselves more.
B&L Buscall. A&B Robertson. England
Life on the Bonheur is a metaphor for a fine Burgundian wine, ( about which paul tried so valiently to educate me ). The outcome is something which has been nurtured with much love and thought, producing a product which is balanced, enjoyable and memorable.
During our time in France we have enjoyed plenty of good food but nothing has surpassed Annie's culinary delights. A good meal however needs more than just good food. It also requires fine wines, a relaxing ambiance and good company. On the Bonheur there was an abundance of all.
Our entire experience on this holiday has been one of pleaseure.
P & L Stevenson E & J Connolly NSW Australia.
Thank you for a marvelous cruise. We will have wonderful memories of Burgundy and most importantly of your wonderful hospitality. We wish you 'Bonheur' forever.
J & H Macro Co. Limerick Ireland
We had one of the most relaxing and enjoyable weeks ever. The unique - for us - experience of barge cruising, the wine tasting, the sightseeing day trips, the marvelous meals were perfectly complimented and executed by the charm and hospitality of you two. Thank you for a totally wonderful week.
M & D Weaver NM. USA
Thank you so much for an absolutely wonderful cruise! The area is beautiful and the whole week was so relaxing! We felt totally pampered. Annie's cooking was wonderful and we eagerly waited for our next meal. The barge is perfectly appointed and so cosy and comfortable. The excursions off the boat were wonderful but we always loved getting back on the barge. The whole trip was perfect.
B & P Snow USA
Life on a barge is quite sublime - on the Bonheur the pace - the hospitality - the food is truly a treat and we have enjoyed it all enormously.
J & P York Canada
Thank you for an amazing experience. How lucky we are to have a lifetime dream fulfilled and surpassed.
We are grateful for your kindness & thoughtfulness - taking care of us in a truly replenishing way.
We will always cherish the beautiful scenery & sights; the delicious food; the beautiful barge. Most importantly, we will cherish the time we spent with you.
R & B Anolik. Philadelphia.
Well, what can I say! We have had such a fantastic week which has been beyond all expectations! The attention to detail in the treatment of your guests, the set-up of your barge, and the cuisine which is served is wonderful.
We have felt so welcome here and have loved every minute of our holiday on the 'Bonheur'
M Harrison Australia
There is neither enough time nor words to express adequately our thanks and appreciation for this unforgettable week in France aboard your beautiful Bonheur. Barging has been a brand new experience for us, but we can’t imagine how it could be any better. You both have been ideal hosts-charming, helpful, patient, organised, efficient, knowledgeable, generous of heart and spirit, and fun!. We can’t say enough wonderful things about your cooking Annie-one perfect meal after another-all the ‘special touches’ ( the fresh flowers for instance), and your ‘mi casa es su casa’ approach with always open bar and kitchen we especially enjoyed. Paul, we thank you for the land tours, bicycles, good taste and advice, and expert navigation. We leave you two thoroughly spoiled and we won’t hesitate to recommend you 110% to our friends and relatives back home- merci, merci, merci.
P&B Heath Denver, Colorado.
Your great attention to detail and your charming approach to hosting have made for a perfect vacation. Annie provided us every day at every meal with 3 star cuisine produced seemingly without effort and with a great deal of grace. Paul guided the barge and us on excursions with expertise. His knowledge of the waterways and the history and culture of France gave us all that we had hoped for on our barging adventure.
B&L Mrachek Florida USA.
Sometimes there is no superlatives left to describe an event. This 6 day journey on the barge Bonheur has been an adventure beyond my expectations. After 6 weeks of travelling this has to be the ‘relaxer’ before travelling home. This has been an unforgettable 6 days. Your attention to detail is almost beyond belief. The cuisine was just the ‘bestest’. Thankyou both for a wonderful time.
P. Lupi Eumundi. Australia
Thank you for such a wonderful week! We couldn’t have asked for anything nicer. Your barge is absolutely beautiful and the attention to detail amazing.
Your hospitality and graciousness will not soon be forgotten.
Norris family USA.
We can’t believe our good fortune in discovering the ‘Bonheur’ ( and you too). We have spent many holidays afloat – France. This was the best. Everything you did for us was perfect. See you again next year!
R&G Ramsden England
This has turned out to be one of the very finest holidays that we have ever enjoyed. From the moment we arrived we knew that it was right. Congratulations to you both; you can feel justly proud.
T&L Farrington UK.
Firstly I would like to say what a wonderful cruise you gave us.
Everything was superlative, from the barge, the planning and the hospitality to the food and wine.
It was perfect for Patrick to start his new life and Delene enjoyed it fully as well. As for Marlene and myself, it was a wonderful treat that was made all the better by the care and attention that both of you bestowed upon us.
We felt very spoilt.
Thank you both.
C & M Higginson. France.
Hope you're both well. I just wanted to tell you how much we enjoyed our time on Bonheur. The Tison family is in complete agreement - the Bonheur was the highlight of our month-long French holiday. We wished we had booked more time!
We were so impressed by the beautiful job you've done with the barge - it was pure luxury, from the two lovely en-suite bedrooms to the comfortable living areas. You were both very pleasant company and you looked after us soooooo well. The girls really enjoyed Annie's attention - her food was delicious! We loved the lazy days just oozing along the canals, walking on the pathways alongside the Bonheur or into the villages, and cycling in the mornings and evenings.
You've put a lot of effort into creating a beautiful boat and a wonderful experience on the canals. We would definitely like to do another trip with you next time we're in Europe.
Tison family. Australia
Paul and Annie have asked me to share our experience on their barge last month. Well, it's almost not fair. Here we are at home thinking every day about our experience on the barge and how much we
miss the slow, lovely, warm days of barge travel and Annie's cooking.
Where to begin? First of all within a few hours we all became "family". The couple we traveled with are friends and Paul and Annie became friends right away. We had to be responsible for nothing except enjoying the scenery, the sun, the food, the wine and the companionship. The barge is set-up with a huge expanse of deck space on top withtable, chairs and lounge chairs. We spent lots of time up there enjoying the endless views of country and color. In the evenings when it was cool we enjoyed the living room area below decks
which was very comfortable and conducive to conversation, reading or whatever. We really got to relax.
I keep coming back to the food. After only a day or two we all wanted Annie's recipes. The food was not fancy (an advantage for us) but PERFECT. Every meal was beautifully planed and executed. Several courses every meal and again - perfect. Think of the barge pulling off to the side of the canal so Annie could purchase greens, etc. from the folks that we watched pulling up radishes and cutting lettuce out of their garden on our approach. EVERY morning Paul went into the local village to purchase fresh goodies for breakfast. Paul
enjoys wine and we took full advantage of his knowledge - it's a wonder any stock was left on the barge when we ended our journey. Although Paul and Annie had a travel agenda they were very willing to
alter things to suit our whims. If you have any more questions or want more information, please do
not hesitate to e-mail me. As you can tell, we are completely biased but that is all as a result of our wonderful time with Paul and Annie.
Susanne and Paul Walker USA
Dear Annie and Paul, it's been some time since we left Bonheur and had to start taking care of ourselves again, but this does not mean that we have already forgotten our trip aboard Bonheur! We have very much appreciated your hospitality, the lovely meals, and being on board such a comfortable and beautifully restored ship.
Now it is back to business, but what would a lazy holiday mean if there were no contrast with everyday life?!
D Samson Holland
Dear Paul and Annie: We finally have readjusted to our lives back here and I am happy to write you a brief message about our time with you.
We had a absolutely wonderful time aboard Bonheur. From the moment you picked us up at Le Cruesot, we were well taken care of. The barge is wonderful and in tip top shape and beautifully painted and furnished. Our quarters were ample and the décor was very bright and cheery. The trip itself through Burgundy was interesting and picturesque. The side trips to Beaune and Atun were interesting. The dinners and luncheons prepared by Annie were extraordinary, and the wine and the cheeses were simply fantastic. The best part, of course, was the way we were treated by Paul and Annie. We had previously done the same route on a hotel barge but the level of service provided by the Roberts was quite superior and exceptional. We felt so special and so well taken care of and we had a lovely time. We look forward to a repeat trip in the future.
Thank you for a lovely time
M&D Bruhl USA
Herewith a copy of my book as a small present for the unbeatable and unique holiday you gave us aboard your superb barge “ Le Bonheur “. The internal comfort and design are truly amazing, having spent a great deal of my life on boats, it replaces any well-thought-out maritime luxuries I have ever known. The exterior too is not only beautiful but equally practical.
What a joy the whole 7 day experience was led by your cheerful and happy attitude which hid a massive local knowledge.
Thank you both again for our joyful and faultless vacation.
H&A Millais ENGLAND
