Blog
In this section, you’ll find all the Oliver’s France posts: regional destinations, travel tips, France-wide activities, language tools, food, and much more. To go directly to regional destinations, click on the Regional tab on the menu, or click on one of the photos in the regional section on the home page. If you have something particular you want to find, there’s a search bar on the right side of the menu. And for a listing of all categories and posts, click HERE.
French Etiquette for Travelers
French Etiquette for Travelers Etiquette is culturally important to the French. It’s ingrained in their upbringing and daily lives. This is, of course, true for most cultures. But when you travel to France, it’s helpful to know these things, like a secret code to get...
Travelers with Handicaps in Paris: A Practical Guide
Travelers with Handicaps in Paris: A Practical Guide If you are a traveler with a handicap, with or without a wheelchair, Paris is not off limits! Many years ago, Paris wasn’t so easy to navigate in a wheelchair. But Paris has made tremendous strides in making their...
Delicious Specialties of Brittany France
Tasting Brittany: Discover the Specialties of Brittany In the magical region of Brittany, as in other regions of France, there are food and drink specialties that are woven into the history and culture of the place. To visit and enjoy Brittany is to try, learn...
Guérande: A Place and a Taste
Guérande: A Place and a Taste Guérande is a walled town on the edge of the Grande Brière marsh, west of the city of Nantes. It is on the southeast edge of the Brittany peninsula. There’s something special about Guérande: Salt. Earlier than the 16th...
Dinan: A Treasure Revisited
Dinan: A Treasure Revisited The Brittany town of Dinan so impressed me that I posted on this town twice over the years. Well, it’s time for an updated post, since I just visited again this year. (My third visit… What does that tell you?) Although...
Vannes, Fun in Southeast Brittany
Vannes The Gallo-Roman town of Vannes was the second-to-last stop on my Brittany Road Trip. A highly recommended stop! Of course, you can always extend your trip further west if you have extra time. Check out this blog post for ideas on destinations. ...
Saint-Malo: An Updated View
Saint-Malo Revisited Saint-Malo is my new favorite place in Brittany, though it's really a tie with Dinan. I posted on Saint-Malo a few years ago, but this is a recent take on the beautiful jewel of Brittany. I was so glad to visit there again during my road trip this...
A Cooking Vacation in France
Ever think of a cooking vacation in France? This updated for 2025 post will give you the low-down on a variety of options of Cooking Vacations in France. There are a variety of formats, regions, menus, and lengths of time, from a few hours to a whole...
Updated French Train Savvy
FrenchTrain Savvy Updated 2025 Increase your French Train savvy! This complete and updated post will tell you what you need to know. Pros and Cons of French Train Travel (Mostly Pros) Traveling by train in France has many advantages. First, it is...
France Travel Changes and Industry Trends 2025
Travel Industry Trends and France Travel Changes Updated Summer 2025 Each time I visit Paris and other areas of France, there are little tweaks here and there. I've just come back and will share what I observed and learned. First, there is no more physical...
Rennes, Gateway to Brittany
Rennes, Gateway to Brittany (but worth a visit for itself too!) Brittany, France is on my radar. Is it on yours? Some people aren’t sure where Brittany is, like a woman I spoke to just today about France. In the past, Brittany wasn’t on my radar as much...
On the Road in Brittany
On the Road in Brittany Each year when I travel to France, I have a theme. Last year, it was Provence, and the year before, I went to Alsace. (And Paris is always in there too.) This year… it’s Brittany in northwest France. Brittany touches the English Channel...
