Bonjour!
From one side of the country to the other, France has it all.
France is a must see. It has a really relaxed jolly atmosphere in the summers, they just love to make the most of it with endless beauty and plenty of places to enjoy your holiday.
For a cram packed adventure, you can hire bikes, mobile homes, motorhomes/RVs, boats and kayaks for a memorable holiday. There is a lot to offer here, with scorching weather in the summer up to its 40's! October you will find it feeling a little bit like spring- you will be feeling very lucky to enjoy it until November with some kind of sunshine beaming into the afternoon.
France has an awesome atmosphere - even in places far away from the beach.
In summer, they usually spend their time at campsites which you can find yourself in a 'Tranquille' spot or on a lively campsite with full on entertainment. You can find everything you need here. The French generally enjoy the outdoors and its generally an all round nice atmosphere.
What we love about France:
The heat:
For a UK person like me- the first summer I stayed in France hit 42 degrees- a big difference from the grey skies or short summers I was used to. In winter- you always have the option to enjoy a ski holiday and learning how to snowboard in the French mountains. Don't forget in the summer to buy some mosquito spray- I was surprised to find them here - but near waters and lakes, you will need some of that!
French Design:
From glossy Vogue magazines to real life, I couldn't believe my eyes how 'chic' this place really is. The architecture and stunning buildings- Once upon a time, I never had any interest in history until I moved to France. The ancient hotels of grandeur, gothic churches, chateau's hidden in middle of unexpected locations - changed my view on history- so beautiful and inspiring designs. It is worth checking out famous historical locations to visit. You may notice French houses have beautiful designs, colorful shutters and decorated beautifully with flowers and amazing gardens
Outdoor Activities
I found myself on my first camping experience. Everyone staying outdoors and enjoying places near the rivers and lakes. French are very active people. I found so many cycling around of all ages even the elderly. They like to keep themselves fit and you can see it pays off. Maybe it was just where I lived in the UK, i never saw elderly people cycling around with a smile- it was nice to see. France loves their cycling even without Tour de France riding on racers, you will often see a lot of people on bicycles around. #TourDeFrance attracts millions of people travelling from all countries who often rent motorhomes and take bikes with them for the event. Others take their motorhomes for a parking spot at campsites and take their families away between june to october where you will just about find campsites open.
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To immerse yourself in French culture, why not join in as many activities as you can.
You never know, it could be the best day you've had out yet! There are too many places to mention to visit here but most places cater with bike trails with nearby attractions to eat and drink along the way.
On the coastlines of France, you will be surprised to find surfers I thought I would only find in places like Australia ..... but find some great spots like Lacanau (Look out for a blog post 'Lacanau' coming soon for more info) world famous for its surfing competitions.
French Restaurants & Cafes
France is the Cafe lifestyle. There are endless coffee shops to enjoy in the mornings for a pain de chocolat and the best coffees to choose from. You will find in most cities like Paris, you are guaranteed to be never short of them. I can't say anywhere I have been- never been short of them in any part of France unless you visit the countryside wont have as many- but you will definitely find a local one. French are known for good cuisine and well presented dinners. You can enjoy food outdoors with a Vin Rouge and local wines of the area your in.
They usually offer Plat de Jour which is the main meal of the day upon their set choice of menu. In many seaside places they offer their local moules (mussels) and other seafoods you might find the best to date. Fresh and proud of their local produce, your guaranteed to get the best. Ok, some might say restaurants are expensive, but not in comparison to the portion sizes- they are overly generous and the service given is usually polite and welcoming.
If your daring to try the well known French frogs and snails, you will probably find a lot of them on most menus. It is not my preferred choice, but every other restaurant we have been to in France has been well presented and tasty dishes. It might be worthwhile pointing how well done you like your steak before you order, because most French serve it quite raw if you don't ask. Don't speak french? Perhaps get familiar with some of the main things you eat before booking your trip. Not always necessary, you will find a lot of restaurants speak english within high season.
Places to stay In France
The best way is to book your hotel to ensure you have somewhere to stay for the night, I have had experiences I went on spontaneous trips in France to find they are 'complet' (full) to my disappointment. Nevertheless, places to stay are everywhere in France and I have tried a few from budget to what you may call more luxury. Here I recommend a few hotels that in my view have given me everything I need on my travels.
Backpacking in France- from $20 a night
Backpacking is a great way to roam the cities without bothering about expensive hotels. It is a great way to meet people with funny stories on their travels. Open minded, you must be able to share rooms with other people like on bunk beds. The only pitfall I have to say is you cannot make much noise say after a night out but you be very lucky if you friends or family all get the same room. The great news is, you meet new like minded people with a nice atmosphere and the prices are great.
Airbnb
This is more convenient after a long trip, you will be left to sleep in peace. No 10am calls at the door by the femme de chambre (hotel maids) for changeover. Airnb offers apartments for rent and sometimes hosted if you prefer. You can find peace of mind and peaceful stays in a place you can temporarily call your own. Prices vary with your budget and size of property
Stay on a Campsite- Grab your tent/ motorhomes! You can't go wrong with these prices from as little as 20 Euros a night for a pitch, you could do this all summer. They are open from April to October, plenty of time and not a lot of money spent. They offer somewhere to eat and drink in most places and some have shops to get your groceries and a chilled bottle of rose, Great entertainment in bigger campsites that offer lots of singing and dancing- kids love it. If you don't like the idea of staying in a tent or a motorhome, the option is there to stay in a mobile home around £300- 1000 a week.
Budget- Formula 1 hotel- from $50 a night.
Going way on a budget but not too fussed about the look of it?
Me and my partner stumbled along this driving tired on a motorway. They are all over France. I would recommend, they are basic but clean, tidy and the showers are great and warm. We have been to many since, not one complaint. I never had much of a breakfast at these places only croissants and vending machine lemon tea- but I was enjoying the lie in until midday!!
Mercure hotels- from $90 a night
Mercure offers a cosy small room with a nice bathroom and breakfast. Clean and nice bed! Not bad price but I found them very hot in the summer.
Ibis hotels- from $100 a night
Nice comfy beds this place offers a cosy stay with nice bathrooms and crisp white towels with a few extras like hairdryer thrown in great incase you left it back at home. I would say this place is moyen, has everything you need but without the huge expense.
Pullman hotels- from $150-290
I love these hotels they are one of my favorites. I found this hotel when I was exhausted from a flight in Charles De Gaule airport in Paris. So on I thought, for a great rest for a few extra dollars, it might be worth it. It certainly was, but you will find prices a little steeper in Paris. You will find yourself feeling a little treated. Its interior is lovely, the bar feels like a little posh and the seating areas are just so comfortable with sofas all around, it has its own city sort of posh bar theme. Two huge double beds I was able to sprawl out, room service and just relax without a sound for the night. I have to say, it is one of the nicest hotels I have stayed in so far, spotless beyond standard and has a luxurious feel to it. I did not see myself, but it supposedly has a view of the Eiffel Tower, which can be a romantic setting for couples.
If your not afraid of heights, then go ahead and lift off on the Eiffel tower, you be surprised it's not just a monument but has a restaurant and you can enjoy the best wines as your reality sinks in on one of the most famous landmarks.
Chic, beautiful designs, polite manners, and a sense of luxury are some of the reasons you may love this place, but for me, it's now I call it my second home.
Bonne Voyage ! Enjoy your trip
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