French Travel

France is a place where you will find luxurious and grand hotels, restaurants, and shops. This might probably be the reason why people equate "France" with luxury and wealth. This doesn't mean, however, that you can't enjoy this country if you are not rich. There are actually ways on how to get a chance to spend your holiday vacation in France even when you are on a budget.

France travel guide: benefits of traveling during the off-season

You can opt to travel to France during the off-peak season. In this time of the year, less tourists go to France. In order to boost the tourism industry, many hotel owners and travel agencies offer discount fares and lower hotel accommodations prices. You have to take advantage of this.

France travel info: last-minute booking deals

Shopping for a last-minute booking deal can also help you save money. Discount fare rates for accommodations are included in certain last-minute booking deals.

Aside from these, you can also find accommodations in the less tourist-ridden spots in France. In this way you will be able to explore and enjoy the country without paying much for the accommodations. You have to hire a travel agent specializing in trips to France to help you find a deal that would be right for your budget.

If you think going on a French holiday is very expensive, then think again. It's actually possible to travel to France even when on a budget. Check out these budget-saving finds when planning a French holiday:

French holiday travel packages

To make the most out of your budget, look for French holiday travel packages online. There are many online travel companies that offer discount travel packages for group visitors.

Discounted French hotel rates

Aside from discount travel packages, you can also surf the Internet for discounted French hotel rates. You can simply visit the official site of a French hotel and check out their latest promos and offerings.

Last minute booking French travel deals

Some travel companies offer great exclusive deals for last-minute bookings. This is perfect for late holiday planners who want to snag some discounts and lowered rates.

If you're on a budget but you want to see the streets of Paris or gaze at the priceless collections featured at The Louvre, keep these tips in mind. By doing a bit of research, youi'll find a good deal for your needs.

Are you fed up with the common and repetitive environment of most luxurious and refined hotels around the world, particularly in France? Then I guess it's time for you to try a vacation accommodation in a villa and pool resort located in France. I understand that there are times when you get too tired of the very conventional accommodation services of most hotels today. At those times, you should really prefer a more relaxed and fun accommodation environment like a villa or a pool resort.

Yes, even France, with all the luxury accommodation preference of most French folks, also have budget accommodation alternatives such as low-priced villas and budget resorts. If you are looking for a big and fun change in your accommodation preference, choosing a villa over a typical expensive hotel is a prime idea. You will not just save money from your travel budget, but you will also get to experience the fun and enjoyable vacation you are looking for.

France offers a number of holiday homes and villas, so you don't have to worry about another boring and very common hotel experience during your stay in France. In Toulon, you can already rent a villa for one week and the fee is less than 600 Euro. Villas and resorts rentals in Toulon usually include well manicured gardens, spacious living rooms and bedrooms, dining area, a private pool, as well as other accommodation necessities that you need.

Going to France is a universal dream common among honeymooners or simply, travellers from different sides of the world. Whether trips are intended to devouring sumptuous French cuisine, strutting your fashion statement in the walks of Paris or clicking a few snapshots on its ardent treasures- basic knowledge how to speak French is a must. You should do better than "bonjour" (good day) or bon soir(good evening)!

These are some of the most important things to learn for starters. For instance, if you wish to ask "Do you speak English?", you'd rather say "Parlez-vous anglais?". What?! Don't twist your tounges just yet. I'll make it much easier for you, it is pronounced as "par-lay voo zon-glay".

French can be quite a trick to master. As basics I'll give you about five words that are sometimes if not often used by tourists like you. You may first wanna start by being friendly on a foreign turf by greeting "Salut" (sah-loo) instead of hello or "Comment allez-vous?" (kom-mohn tah-lay voo) which means "How are you?".

Perhaps you may wanna ask for a name and say "Comment vous appellez-vous?" (kom-mohn voo-za-peh-lay voo) and you may graciously introduce yourself by saying "Je m'appelle" (juh mah-pell) or "My name is...". Accept the hands of new-found friends conclude with a "Glad to meet you" or Enchante (on-shohn-tay)and "Merci" (mare-see) or thank you.

Now, isn't that quite simple? Hopefully this will guide you to "French-ship"! And lead you to a much exciting travel.

The only thing I regret about traveling is that I cannot stay for as long I want in one tourist spot all because the tour guide says so. Another thing is that the city will not welcome unregistered visitors. Oh well, I guess I will have to bear the burden for as long as I travel. Just recently, I planned to visit the Alps in France. I thought for a moment and decided to avail of the week-long travel package.

Currently, the range of mountains, ice-peaked alps, in France holds the record for the most beautiful, spectacular in the whole wide world. I had a glimpse of these white mountains over the Internet, and even though I have not yet set foot on it, I am already convinced that it is indeed a spectacular sight. Also, I would rather have a fun hiking activity there. Yes, it might also be dangerous, but there are available hiking tours. I am not that good in hiking, but at least, I can try climbing this icy highlands of France.

It is very cold in the Alps. I guess a week-long vacation is enough. I do not think I can handle the weather. But, if the information I got is correct, there are restaurants at the foot of the mountains that are ready to serve hot chocolate drink or coffee. I would like to try some of that. There are skiing and cycling areas that will definitely heat things up.

When asked just where in France could we really enjoy a great winter holiday, my uncle answered Val D'Isere. He saw me raise my eyebrows, and after a while, he dared me to visit the place and enjoy it myself. After a week, we were already heading for the ice kingdom in France. Stepping on to the lodge, carrying my skiing gears on one shoulder, while pointing on to the most beautiful ice-peaked mountain with my right index finger. I was dumbfounded with what I have discovered, and only hours after that, I was gliding down the glacial course.

Unknowingly, I am enjoying a great skiing experience in the best skiing resort in all Europe. I must have been jaded with the best of Paris that is why I overlooked the other holiday destinations in France. The glacial resort has a lift system that allows skiing enthusiasts to travel from one point to another while sitting comfortably at the lift and have a top-view glance of the resort.

When the night fell, we took the chance to dine in some of the finest restaurants in town. I was glad that most them serve gourmet dishes. Also, when we grew tired of skiing, we took the underground train to travel to Tignes, another ski resort. The whole place is so huge that a week-long of stay there would not even enable me to complete the skiing experience.

There are not so many provincial cities in France that are visited by tourists. If you ask me, I prefer to go to the least visited ones. Why? Because I hate crowded tour buses or long lines. Besides, I would not want people to know that I am a tourist, although I cannot keep the map and digicam away from me. Anyway, I was lucky enough to have been welcomed by a travel agency that offered me a two day travel package to Moulins in Auvergne.

Moulins has just recently opened its doors for tourism. Here, almost a quarter of the 40,000 residents work for the tourism department. The city lies in the river Alliers and is surrounded by hills and lush vegetation - a proof that Moulins is not yet spoiled. Moulins is almost a century old, and has been associated with the origins of the monarch in France.

The most recognizable attractions in the city is the clock pillar. It rings every quarter, and thanks to that, I was able to catch my flight. Most of the establishments in Moulins were built during the great Renaissance period, so expect magnanimous castles and churches. Although they look old, they are still open for the public. I am already fed up with museums so I did not even bother to enter the archeological and theater museums in Moulins. But, I took the chance to take a cab and pass through the bridge called Reges-Morte which was reconstructed after World War II with a mixture of egg whites and mortar. Now, that is astounding.

A tip to all those who would want to travel to France: know your destination. This is plain and simple - a protocol that must be done whenever a traveler plans to go to other parts of the world. Based on my experience, I have seldom suffered the consequences of an undesirable trip all because I did not do my assignment of learning just what my destination has to offer and what it expects me to give to it in return.

So, to make the long story short, let us focus on France. Aside from the fact that the tipping system in this European country is very high, France has the most sophisticated traveling policies. If you do not want to be bothered with your, let us say, trip to the dainty modern Paris, then I recommend that you keep in mind the following suggestions.

I want to share with you a very usual scenario that happens, almost all the time, to foreigners in France. It has got something to do with theft. NO, I do not mean to say that France is full of robbers. I just learned that since foreigners had to rent cars, and rented cars are very distinguishable from owned ones, thieves will likely take advantage of robbing tourists with their gadgets such as camera and phones. To prevent this, I always lock my doors and stay away from uninhabited, unfamiliar streets of the metro. Secondly, I learned that in France, it is better to use a debit card rather than cash. Besides, you cannot find money changers save in Paris. So, avoid traveling agency first. This way, the curator will expect your arrival, thus preparations for security measures could be done.

The highway system in France is very well-developed and every motorist is expected to follow the rules. Most freeway links are toll roads, and some toll stations gives access to a certain section while others toll stations have entrances and exits. Motorists passing through a station are given tickets. They accept credit cards but if your car has a chip equipped, then you have access to the automatic booth. If you loose your ticket, the toll station at your exit will charge your for the longest distance to be careful.

Before 2005, policemen can use your ticket if you've committed a speeding violation. However, a new photo-radar system is currently being implemented in the streets of France. As of the moment, there are only selected major routes that use this technology, most of these are near key cities. An huge brown sign is put up that will warn motorists that they are about to enter an area with automatic photo-radar.

When you enter the area, you will notice that other every other car, especially those owned by French citizens, are going slowly than before. Sometimes policemen install a photo-radar system that is mobile. Although you'll be given a warning, the signs are much smaller compared to the ones found on permanent areas. If you've violated the speed limit, you will be intercepted immediately and you'll have to pay the fine. Although there are different tolerance levels, it is not considered general rules.

An urgent appointment compelled me to fly to Corsica in France. The place is strange to me, since I have not been there though I have been going to Paris for many times now. Anyway, I could say that the island is a wood land. It is rich with lush green fields, and perhaps one of the places to go when one is looking for a quiet time.

The people I met there greeted me in the Italian language. Good thing they could also understand English, so I did have difficulties communicating with them. The roads of Corsica smelt good with citrus plants, pines, chestnuts and myrtle. By the way, the island is not really part of France; rather, it was acquired by the French government when they won various battles. So much for the history, Corsica Island belongs to the territory of the sea of Tyrrhenia some where in Mediterranean. It is not as small as I thought it is because the Corsican people proudly told me that their island is among the three large ones in the Mediterranean with a total area of 8,682 square kilometers. The latest demography, according to the city municipality, is 275 000.

On the lighter side, the weather in Corsica is fairly tolerable. It feels like summer and autumn all year round. There are times when the wind prevails, while there are also rainy days. I observed that the mountains in Corsica divide the island in two regions. Fortunately, I am on the southern part where it is colder. Generally, Corsica experience long summer days. It is a pity that I did see the snow fall there.

7 Ave de Pezenas in Languedoc, France, is a bed and breakfas that will let you feel old France. The place is just 15 minutes away from the Mediterranean Beach.

The house was kept intact and the original structures were maintained for guests to enjoy. Of course, modern conveniences were also installed in this bed and breakfast to suit the living habits of its guests. They have WiFi areas where people can connect to the Internet.

They also offer home cooked dinners and a complimentary drink on arrival. They also offer rooms for couples or families.

Geographically, Champs Elysees is just a street until development came into the picture and establishments were added to the scene. Considered a famous street in the world, Champs Elysees boasts majestic scenery. This avenue has been a great place for walking, jogging, and biking.

In fact, the famous Tour de France ends in this strip. Champs Elysees symbolizes the elegance and Glory of France. Through the years, Champs Elysees has improved from a mere hiking site to a frequent visitor lounge.