Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Girard-Gervois.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Julia, I was born and raised in the South of France, and moved to the U.S. in my early twenties to work as an au pair in Alexandria, VA. That year was a pivotal moment in my life, as I never moved back to France.
Afterward, I spent a few years as a private French tutor before launching my travel company TripUSAFrance in 2015. We started with just one itinerary in the South of France, the region where I grew up, and it was such a joy to introduce American travelers to the places I love most. From iconic sites like Avignon, Arles, and the Pont du Gard to the small hidden gems you’d never stumble upon on your own.
As we grew, we added Normandy, which was a natural extension since my father’s family is from there and he’s also part of the company. Normandy’s deep connection to the U.S., especially through WWII history, made it a meaningful addition, but we also include beautiful places like Mont-Saint-Michel, Honfleur, Rouen, and Monet’s garden in Giverny. All spots that we personally cherish. Eventually we expanded again with tours in the Dordogne and Bordeaux, one of my absolute favorite regions to visit. It’s a magical area full of medieval villages, prehistoric caves, rivers, and amazing food and wine.
At the heart of TripUSAFrance is the idea of traveling the way you would with friends or family. This is very important to me, so we keep our groups small (14 to 18 travelers) to truly connect with our guests and share our favorite places in a personal way. I don’t guide as much anymore, but I’m fortunate to work with amazing tour leaders who’ve been with us almost since the beginning, as well as my father, who’s been part of this adventure from day one. In the end, our goal is simple: great food, comfortable hotels, meaningful experiences, and genuine connection.
Today, I travel frequently between France and the U.S., and as a business owner, my schedule is incredibly busy. It’s now been ten years since we started, and my business partner Peter and I are excited to keep growing with more custom itineraries. Having traveled extensively across the U.S., especially the national parks in the West, I’m now planning tours for French travelers who want to discover America through a local lens. At the same time, we are developing new itineraries in France, like the Loire Valley and Alsace, and even a Greece itinerary, since that’s where Peter’s family is from. It’s an exciting time for TripUSAFrance, with lots of new adventures and itineraries on the horizon.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been easy, but I’ve enjoyed the journey, and I’m very happy and thankful for where I am today 🙂
Moving to the U.S. came with a ton of paperwork, time, and expense, which kept me busy from the start.
Learning a new language was another big challenge. I had terrible grades in English at school, so I was essentially starting from scratch. I had to push myself to get comfortable speaking English, broken as it was. It was scary at first, I worried people would judge me, but on the contrary, people have been incredibly kind and helpful all along.
The funny thing is, after almost 15 years in the U.S., the opposite is now happening… I’m starting to forget my French, which is terrifying! I still speak it, of course, but slang and little expressions sometimes escape me. English often comes first, and when I go back to France, people say I speak with a funny accent: a mix of a Southern French and American. (Yes, the South of France has a very specific accent!) It’s interesting to realize that I’ll always have an “accent,” both when speaking English and when speaking French.
Being far from my family and childhood friends is also difficult. Luckily, I get to return to France often and spend time with them. I’m also fortunate to work with my father, which makes the distance more manageable.
In my professional life, launching TripUSAFrance came with its own challenges. Earning our travelers’ trust was difficult at first, they were understandably nervous about sending money and showing up in France not knowing what to expect. On top of that, we had to compete with the big companies that everyone already knew.
Over time, our guests have shown their trust in us, and our reviews speak volumes. We’ve been so fortunate to have many repeat travelers; some have done all three of our itineraries and are excited to see what we come up with next. That support makes all the hard work worthwhile. We worked hard to establish a name for ourselves, and today we have a strong online presence that makes it easy for people to find us.
In my experience, the foundation of any strong business is authenticity, integrity, and confidence in what you offer. When you treat customers with care and operate honestly, trust follows, and that’s what success should look like.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about TripUSAFrance?
As you have seen, my business is a large part of my life.
The funny part is that TripUSAFrance was inspired by a disastrous tour I once took.
I was in London and booked this England day trip online. At first, it looked great: all the destinations I wanted to see, the price was good, and the pictures looked wonderful. But the way it was presented did not reflect the actual experience.
It was a large bus with at least 40 people. We started the day by driving around the city to pick everyone up from different hotels, which immediately set the tone and ate up a significant amount of time. After that, we attempted to fit Windsor, Stonehenge, and Bath into a single day. I didn’t know any better then; I hadn’t checked the travel distances and trusted that the itinerary had been thoughtfully planned.
By the end of the day, I wanted to cry. I was exhausted, hungry (we were given only a small ham sandwich and a bag of chips), and, most of all, deeply disappointed. There was no guided tour, just brief explanations on the bus. I learned nothing, felt rushed all day, and all I remember is sitting on the bus for hours. I kept wondering how anyone could travel like this and how any business could offer such a poor experience.
When I created our first itinerary in Southern France, I thought about all the things I disliked on this England day trip. In the end, it was a blessing in disguise, as it motivated me and allowed me to create a successful tour. For example, on the South of France tour, we decided to stay 8 nights in the same hotel and take day trips each day. Our travelers love not having to pack and unpack every single day, it makes the experience so much more relaxing. We try to keep the driving to 2–3 hours per day maximum, compared to the 6-hour drive I had in London.
I strongly believe in focusing on a smaller area and creating a more immersive journey rather than trying to see everything in a whirlwind “12-day Europe tour.” Seeing fewer places allows you to truly experience the area, soak in the culture, and appreciate the moments. I understand that many people might not have the chance to return to Europe soon, so creating one memorable trip where you really connect with a region I believe is much more rewarding than rushing from place to place and returning home feeling tired and overwhelmed.
We also make sure to include group lunches with amazing food. I remember being dropped off in Bath with just an hour of free time and no recommendations. When you’re on site and time is limited, you shouldn’t have to waste it researching where to eat. And that’s exactly how I ended up with a very average pizza.
Another key part of our tours is the guided walking tours, which are often the highlight of the trip. Learning about the history, culture, and traditions of a place truly brings it to life!
These are the foundations of our tours: small groups, authentic experiences, and knowledgeable local tour leaders. The difference between them and us is that we want our travelers to come back for another itinerary!
As of 2026, we offer three small group tours:
– 8-day South of France tour
– 8-day Bordeaux & Dordogne tour
– 7-day Normandy tour
Available at https://TripUSAFrance.com
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a big fan of historical reading, especially novels set in medieval Europe that focus on remarkable women. Some favorites include The Summer Queen by Elizabeth Chadwick, the first in her Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy, and The Confessions of Catherine de Medici by C.W. Gortner. I also enjoy exploring all periods of history, both for personal interest and to prepare for the walking tours I lead, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, which tells a powerful story of courage and resilience during WWII is an excellent read.
For podcasts, I love The Happiness Lab, which dives into the science of well-being and provides practical tips for living a more fulfilling life. Recently, after attending a Japanese Zen Buddhism retreat, I’ve been listening to the Buddhist Books Podcast: Zen Buddhism, which has been a wonderful way to reflect and incorporate mindfulness into my daily routine.
As for apps, I frequently use Merlin Bird ID. It’s an awesome tool that can identify birds simply by recording their sounds. I’m not sure if this app helps me “do my best in life” but I really enjoy it and the technology behind it 🙂 I also use Strava to track my mountain biking adventures.
Pricing:
- 7-day Normandy tour: from $3,850 pp
- 8-day South of France tour: from $4,789 pp
- 8-day Bordeaux & Dordogne tour: from $4,895 pp
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tripusafrance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tripusafrance
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tripusafrance/
