Planning and preparing well for your trip to France makes all the difference in maximizing your visit. PLANNING Plan the “skeleton” first. The most time-sensitive tasks, then you can fill in the rest. If you are only just beginning to plan your trip and you’re doing it yourself without the help of a tour company First, Plan your flight or flights Second, book your hotels. Lock these in at least 4 months in advance for the best choices and prices Third, book…
If you are heading north from Paris to Normandy, you shouldn’t miss the historic and charming city of Rouen (pronounced Roo-on, with a nasal n.) This mid-sized town sits on the Seine River. Rouen is crisscrossed with medieval streets, dotted with half-timbered houses, and bulging with history and art. By car, you pass it on your way to the D-Day beaches or Normandy beach towns, Le Mont Saint Michel or as you head over to northern Brittany. By train, you can…
Among the islands that bask in the sun of the Mediterranean Sea, the 4th largest is Corsica, a stunning natural paradise. It’s no wonder it was nicknamed the Island of Beauty. Corsica lies 100 miles from the French coast. Although the island is closer to Italy, it has been French since 1768. Despite its French identity, most of the town names and the vibe of this rocky island are distinctly Italian. Two-thirds of the island is mountainous, with 20 mountain…
Happy New Year! You might need ideas for your next trip to France, since you’re planning (or dreaming about) about it in 2019. I thought it would be a great time to bring up helpful previous posts you might read (or read again) to give you ideas! Here are 10 of them. (Just click on the link!) Eastern and Northern France Try Annecy, with its pristine lake and lovely canals. Annecy, Jewel of the Alps. In the Bourgogne region, head…
In the southwest of France there’s a happening place… In fact, it’s the 4th largest city in France (but has kept many charming aspects) and has the most booming economy of the country. Where is this city? Toulouse, otherwise known as the Pink City, named for a special rosy-colored terracotta stone used for many of the buildings. Why is Toulouse so popular? The climate is nearly perfect. It’s under 100 miles away from the Mediterranean and not much further from…
In France, the word “champagne” means two things. First, Champagne (capitalized) is a sizeable province in the northeast of France. It lies between Paris and Belgium. Within this area lies the champagne wine region, the second meaning, for which the area is known around the world. Wine has been produced here since the middle ages, and it’s the only place in the world where you can find real champagne. Any other sparkling wine has to have another name. In other parts…
