We are pleased to announce that Absolutely Southern France has become Tour with Absolutely. Emma Gély is the new owner and Nancy McGee, former owner of Absolutely Southern France will continue to be a part of Tour with Absolutely.
In 2022, Emma Gély decided to take a sabbatical leave from her day job as a nurse to travel, immersing herself in new cultures, exploring new landscapes, and living new experiences. This year off made her realize what truly brought her joy: the travel industry. Fueled by youth and ambition, she yearned to elevate her professional life and live her dream leading her to shift her focus towards pursuing a career in the travel industry. That’s when a close friend of hers connected her with Nancy McGee, Director of Absolutely Southern France Travels.
Nancy McGee had an outstanding career in the event industry before making a bold decision to establish her own travel business in 2011. With her professional eye for detail, she always finds the perfect angle to make each tour special. What truly set Nancy’s travel business apart is a unique and niche concept, exclusive small group tours with best-selling authors.
After their initial meeting, Emma was offered the opportunity to do an internship which made her realize more than ever that this is what she wanted to do. That is also when Nancy informed her that she was planning on retiring. It felt like the stars had aligned for them ! Since then, they have been meticulously preparing for the takeover, ensuring a smooth transition for the business and our clients.
Absolutely will continue to provide visitors with meaningful travel experiences, while actively supporting women or family-owned businesses and developing a more personal relationship with individuals in the cultural community. We’re committed to respecting the host countries by adopting eco-friendly gestures and to making a difference in the travel industry. We are proud to be among the first to support travel with authors by promoting their works and celebrating their contributions to literature.
With its new name, new team and exciting new destinations on the horizon, we are pleased to share with you the 2025 tour collection with our celebrity authors.
New York Times best selling author Steena Holmes‘ sweet tours are drawing a growing audience of “sweet” fans with three small group tours for women scheduled in 2025 : Belgium for Chocolate and more chocolate, Vienna Austria for the Easter Festival, Paris and Strasbourg for the Christmas markets.
Marrakech was such an appealing destination in 2024 that cookbook author and James Beard award winner Cheryl Alters Jamison will be heading back for the second edition of this popular culinary tour.
After 6 years travelling with her readers to the French Riviera and Provence, best selling author Patricia Sands will be settling into a stunning villa in Provence with a small group of women for a one week Dreamy Provence tour during lavender season in June. She can hardly wait!
We are honored to welcome two new talented authors to our team.
Best-selling author, Toby Neal, a natural beach lover with roots in Hawaii, found herself drawn to the shores of the French and Spanish Basque Country. for a small group tour for women in April. With its of endless beaches, beachcombing in this region was an irresistible pursuit for her.
Janine Marsh, editor of the immensely popular The Good Life France magazine, author and writer, is excited to take a lucky few readers on her one of her Perfect Paris small group tours.
