You've booked a luxury rental in France or Italy, and now you have no idea where to begin. How do you choose which cultural attraction to see in the span of a 10-day vacation when even a lifetime might not be enough time to see it all? There's at least one helpful way to do so: book a tour in a prominent part of the country, and let the expert guides do the rest of the work.

Here are some great regions of France and Italy that are the perfect spots to explore on your vacation:

Provence
If you're one of the lucky travel planners to find available villas in France, and more particularly, the Provence region, then prepare for a thrilling cultural ride. Kathy and Charley Wood, a couple who spent a six-month sabbatical in the gorgeous French locale, were so inspired by their own trip that they decided to launch a tour company to show others what they found so spectacular about Provence. Some of the treasures that they'll show you include lunch at Domaine Faverot, a family-owned winery, and a tour of a goat farm near Saignon that produces savory cheeses. The region is filled with unique agricultural gems, including lavender farms, and all it takes is chatting with some seasoned experts to determine which spots are must sees.

Tuscany
Even if you haven't seen "Under the Tuscan Sun," you can probably imagine the lesson in luxury you'll be given by staying in Tuscan villas, which are often equated to living out a fairytale. When you're looking for some sort of comprehensive tour in this particular locale, you better have developed a taste for wine. The region's wine and cuisine are out of this world, and to give visitors an idea, dozens of renowned tour excursions take travelers on a whirlwind adventure to try and learn as much as possible about the gastronomy of Italy's Tuscany.

If you're looking for a comprehensive tour of one of the best wineries in the country, you should consider visiting Siro Pacenti, just outside the busy part of Montalcino. It boasts an utterly satisfying Sangiovese with powerful fruit and spice flavors, all of which are harvested from grapes on several hectares of land in the quiet town.

Are you interested in luxury vacation rentals?  Contact Villas of Distinction today at 800.289.0900 where a qualified villa expert will help you explore which luxury villa best suits your lifestyle.