Watching old men play petanque in a small village square; eating steak-frites on the pavement outside a Parisian cafe; enjoying a hot chocolate on top of Mont Blanc before skiing down the mountain or watching the jet-set sun themselves in St Tropez – the very “Frenchness” of our closest European neighbour has always seemed appealing. Though flights to France are just a short hop across the sea, culturally France feels a lifetime away.
But though all recognisably “French”, each region is very different. From the chic and sophisticated urban Paris to the small rural villages in Provence, there is a distinctive feel, and often dialect and food, everywhere you go. And, of course, the cuisine is as good a reason as any to book a flight to France.
Often acclaimed the best in the world, French food is a delight almost wherever you choose to eat. As well as the more exotic snails, frogs legs or foie gras, make sure you try the staples: cheese, crusty bread, wine, soup and meat. Even the vegetables seem to taste better than they do at home…
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For the most part, France has a temperate climate. The northwest has high humidity, lots of rain, frequent westerly winds, and cool summers. The northeast has a classic continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The Alps, Pyrenees, and Massif Central mountains have a semi-continental climate with harsh winters and hot summers. Southern France has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters and very hot summers. This is also the area of la Mistral, a cold, dry wind that blows for about 100 days a year and is particularly relentless in spring.Mid-July through August is when most city dwellers take their vacations to the coasts and mountains, which makes this a quiet, although very hot, time to visit the cities.
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Peak Season:
Spring is a very popular time to visit France (especially Paris) when the weather is usually warm and prices for hotels and flights to France are affordable. Summer is peak season in the South – the beaches warm up from May onwards and tourists flock to the Cote d’Azur.
Wintertime is (obviously) peak season for skiing, both in the Alps and the Pyrenees. You can ski in the Alps from approximately December to March or April. Peak prices are around the Christmas holidays and the February half term. Winter holiday periods such as Christmas are often popular in the major cities as well, especially Paris.
Off Season:
Autumn time generally is off season throughout France. Temperatures can still be warm though the days are quite short. Prices for skiing are lowest before Christmas – though snow is not guaranteed at this time and the temperatures can be excruciatingly cold – and at the end of the season (late March to early April).
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Trains are run by SNCF.They are excellent and speedy throughout the country and cover an extremely extensive network. Small towns without train stations are normally linked to the local station by bus.
The TGV is the high-speed intercity train service. There are also many night trains which travel more slowly than their counterparts in the day so you can go to sleep in one town and wake up in another.
Driving is easy. Wide, well-maintained roads with little traffic run throughout most of rural France. Remember to keep some spare change to hand to pay for the tolls.
Buses are cheaper than trains, but generally a lot slower and less comfortable. It is best to save bus travel for shorter trips.
Domestic French flights are available between major cities. Air France has many domestic flights.
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- There's little you can't find in gay Paris - home to some of the finest art galleries, most beautiful parks and stunning architecture in the world. Parisians are (rightfully) proud of their city, and have something of a reputation for being a bit “spiky”. If you want to immerse yourself in the Parisian lifestyle, rather than just enjoy it as a tourist, it's essential to speak some French. At least appearing to make the effort will open many doors that will remain closed if you just speak in English.
- The summer destination of choice in the south is often Nice and the Cote d'Azur region. Less brash, however, (and less expensive) is Biarritz and the surrounding area of the Basque region on the southwest coast. The beach in Biarritz is popular with the elite (Queen Victoria of England vacationed here many times over the space of 30 years, and there is still a certain hauteur to many of the women who take walks along the beach front promenade) but also with surfers. The annual surf championships are held here every July.
- The Ville Rose, or pink city, Toulouse is a vibrant metropolis with a huge student population. A beautiful, old and historical city, Toulouse is also the hub of the French aerospace industry. Visit the Aerospatiale to see where the Airbus A330 is assembled or the Cite de L'Espace to find out all about space travel.
- Lyon is France's second city and its situation near to the Alps, the Rhone and the south coast makes it the perfect base from which to explore the country. For something a little more unusual in the city itself, visit the Festival of Ancient Music. The festival takes place in the run-up to Christmas every year in the Chapelle de la Trinite.
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Visitors are advised to hold a return or onward ticket and proof of financial means. The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that allows the holder, in principal, to travel freely within the borders of all.
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British nationals must have a valid passport. A visa is not required for passport holders endorsed British Citizen. Visa exemption is for three months for passports endorsed British National (Overseas), British Overseas Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British Protected Person, or "holder is entitled to readmission into the UK", or "holder has the right of abode in UK". In all other cases, a visa is required.
Irish nationals must have a valid passport, but no visa is required.
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