THE EXCUSE
The creative retreat you’ve been waiting for:
A reason to finally do the damn thing.
Various dates in 2027 | All around France 👀
Reserve your spot for just $100
WHAT IS THE EXCUSE?
Dust off your book in progress, podcast concept, painting practice, newsletter idea, side business, screenplay, artistic hobby, or any other passion project or creative practice you've been putting off.
It’s finally here: The Excuse to make your dream real—with a dedicated creative retreat.
❋ Open-ended structure
Plenty of intentional time to work on your project for a whole week straight.
Surround yourself with supportive folks who are in the same boat with low-pressure opportunities for group sharing.
❋ Community support
When you’re not diving deep into your own project, participate in optional activities to spur your creativity and maintain your momentum at home.
❋ Inspiring activities
Just show up. A comfy room, peaceful accommodations, and nourishing, chef-prepared food will be provided for you! (In a beautiful setting, to boot!)
❋ Zero mental charge
A 5-day retreat in the French countryside to kill your creative procrastination, once and for all.
Maybe your project is something you've always wanted to start, or maybe you started years ago and life got in the way. Whatever it is, this creative retreat will allow you to leave with progress on your project or practice, renewed creative energy and tools for keeping up your momentum, and the confidence that comes from finally beginning (or beginning again).
CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED DATES
Pick from a variety of upcoming dates, and reserve your spot for a $100 deposit. If multiple options work for you, you can reserve those spots simultaneously by letting us know your preferences when you complete your booking.
Our retreats calendar
| Dates | Minimum enrollment |
Enrollment deadline |
|---|---|---|
| April 19 - 24, 2027 | 5 participants | Feb 19, 2027 |
| Sept 20 - 25, 2027 | 5 participants | July 20, 2027 |
| Nov 29 - Dec 4, 2027 | 5 participants | Sept 29, 2027 |
| Check back! | Check back! | Check back! |
SEE YOU IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE
RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY
Deposit & rates
To reserve your spot, we ask for a $100 USD deposit with the remaining balance due as the retreat dates near. It’s refundable until the minimum enrollment is met. This deposit allows us to note your sincere interest and plan ahead for a perfect property and experience for you and others.
Retreat rates
$3,499 USD
Solo room
$2,999 USD
Double room
Once minimum enrollment is confirmed for your chosen dates, we will ask for the full retreat rate payment made in two installments, with the final installment due 28 days in advance of the retreat.
OUR LOCATION PROMISE
Our retreats don’t have set locations this far in advance. We know it’s unusual to commit to a trip without knowing the exact destination. Our promise to you is that every location we book will meet the following requirements:
Chosen a minimum of 8 weeks before the retreat start date
In the picturesque French countryside
A straightforward train ride from Paris
Your own private room, unless you’ve chosen to share
Indoor and outdoor communal spaces
You can see the high standard of properties we’ve booked for past retreats in our photos and videos. We’re picky!
What’s included ✅
Housing for 5 nights in a private room (unless you’ve chosen to share)
All meals on the premises, made from scratch by an onsite chef
Group transportation to and from the property and a designated train station
All scheduled activities and programming
Organizer fees
What’s NOT included ❌
Travel costs and logistics, e.g. flights to and from France, trains from Paris to the local station, etc.
Any specialized materials for your project, e.g. art supplies, video equipment, etc.
Meals/shopping in the nearby villages
Any additional activities not listed our official programming
WE’RE CURIOUS CURATORS. OF SPACE, TIME, AND PRESENCE.
Kevan & Shannon design and host your experience.
Over the past year, we've hosted intimate gatherings for founders, marketers, strategists, creatives, and professionals seeking rest, reflection, and renewed inspiration.
Our retreats have brought together participants from across Europe and North America for experiences that combine meaningful conversation, beautiful settings, wholesome food, and thoughtfully designed programming.
While The Excuse is less structured and more project-focused than our previous retreats, it is built on the same philosophy:
Beautiful environments help people think differently.
Small groups create meaningful connections.
And sometimes the most important thing you can do is give yourself permission to step away from everyday life and focus on something that really matters to you.
Meet your hosts
Shannon Deep,
Co-Founder @ Bonfire
Shannon came up in theater and the arts, later transitioning into branding and marketing for influential agencies and startups small and large. Now, she brings a producer’s eye and a storyteller’s vision to crafting memorable retreat experiences, designed with intention and connection at the forefront.
Kevan Lee,
Co-Founder @ Bonfire
Kevan is a journalist-turned-marketer who built teams for a handful of successful technology startups. His background in brand-building and people managing helps inform the way he shows up for Bonfire retreats: creating safe spaces where people can feel free to be their true selves.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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By assessing interest for different dates first and then renting a property, we can offer more date options and find the best locations for a particular group size. As soon as your chosen retreat hits the minimum enrollment, you’ll be notified that the retreat is confirmed.
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When running our past retreats, we’ve rented properties many months in advance to give folks enough time to plan. But that locks us in to a particular week before we know if there are enough people available to come!
Also, 8 weeks in advance is the minimum notice time on the exact location. As soon as your retreat hits minimum enrollment, we book the location ASAP! See our Location Promise for more details about the properties we choose.
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If we don’t hit the minimum number of folks for a retreat, you can either:
Get your $100 deposit back
Transfer your reservation to a different date
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Just let us know when you reserve your spot(s)! You’ll have the option to select multiple dates and indicate your #1 choice. Please keep in mind that reserving a spot is a commitment to attend the retreat if it hits minimum enrollment, but you don’t have to commit to multiple retreats if they all hit the minimum!
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Before your chosen retreat hits minimum enrollment: You can cancel your reservation at any time for a full refund of your $100 deposit.
After your retreat hits minimum enrollment: We cannot refund your $100 deposit.
Between retreat confirmation and 28 days before: We will refund you 75% of your balance paid to date.
Less than 28 days before retreat start: We will refund you 50% of your balance paid to date.
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We require full payment before the start of the retreat, but we are happy to work with you through extenuating circumstances if the payment structure isn’t doable.
WANNA STAY IN THE LOOP?
Maybe you can’t make these dates, but you’d like to keep in touch. Join mailing list to get notified when we announce new dates for The Excuse, and other retreat news!
“What a life-affirming week—one that I didn’t even know I needed.”
— C.C., 2025 Retreat Participant