Ideas for France
Guides/Booking
Le Guide du Routard (a guide book in French)
http://www.routard.com/guide_continent/0-france.htm
http://www.expedia.fr/
http://www.tripadvisor.fr
For example, Paris: http://www.tripadvisor.fr/Hotels-g187147-zff6Paris_Ile_de_France-Hotels.html
Google the name of the town, you want to visit and find the “site officiel de
l’office du tourisme”. Often they will have an English version. There is a lot
of information there.
Rick Steves: I don’t have anything against Rick Steves but if you use your
recommendations, there is a great chance you’ll find yourselves surrounded
by compatriots…
Housing
The cheapest: find someone who lives in France
Les Gites de France (a room in a farm)
http://en.gites-de-france.com/
Hotel Ibis
http://ibisbudgethotel.ibis.com/gb/home/index.shtml
Home Exchange
http://www.homelink.fr/
http://www.trocmaison.com/
Office du Tourisme
If you are in a town look for the “office du tourisme” (tourist information
center), they will help you find a place. They may make reservation for you.
“Camping”: Campgrounds are OK but don’t expect the comforts of US
campgrounds. Avoid them in the South of France, they are crowded and
overpriced with no amenities.
Traveling within France
If you are not into biking like Saul, take the train. You can book your tickets
online if you are sure of the dates you are traveling. Most everyone benefits
from a discount (young, old, couples, companion travelers, etc) except solo
travelers so find a friend. Be careful on some ticket, the price is very low but
it’s a use it or lose it situation. You cannot change the date. The French
railroad system is called SNCF. You can book online and print your own
ticket.
http://www.sncf.com/en/services/tickets-bookings
You want to pick a train that says TGV: it’s the fast train.
If you are not afraid of losing your ticket. You can look for “Prem’s” tickets.
You can book 90 days in advance (the earlier and the more choice you
have). They are not be exchanged or refunded.
France is more than Paris. Check out other regions:
http://us.franceguide.com/destinations/france/regions/home.html?nodeid=1
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Brittanny: a bit like the PNW, beautiful rocky coasts, a bit rainy
http://www.brittanytourism.com/
What to do: beach combing, hiking, cycling, visiting castles, sailing, eat a
“crepe” and drink cider.
Normandy: a bit similar
http://www.normandie-tourisme.fr/normandy-tourism-109-2.html
What not to miss: Visit Mont Saint Michel (http://www.otmontsaintmichel.com/index.htm?lang=en), D-Day beaches
Alsace: very hilly, lots of vineyards, reminds of Germany
http://www.tourisme-alsace.com/en
What to do: Drive or cycle through charming villages, visit wineries
(Riesling, Gewürztraminer), visit Strasbourg, eat “choucroute”, drive to
Germany.
Quaint: visit for history buffs : La Ligne Maginot (http://www.tourismealsace.com/en/coverage-and-trip-ideas/line-maginot-alsace.html)
underground tunnels that the French built to protect themselves from the
Germans.
Champagne-Ardennes:
http://www.tourisme-champagne-ardenne.com/
What to do: go on a Champagne tour, hike, visit historic buildings
South of France:
My personal opinion: avoid the overcrowded, overpriced, snob Nice and
Cannes (there I said it)
http://www.tourismepaca.fr/
What to do: visit an old fashioned Provence village
http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/home.html
Visit coastal small towns. My favorite Cassis http://www.otcassis.com/en/the-village/
Hike (trail GR 51) or boat “les Calanques”
http://www.calanquesdecassis.fr/en/activites/randonnee/ and if you are
brave hike the GR20 trail, a tough hiking trail on the Corsica Island
(http://www.corsica.forhikers.com/gr20)
Ride a horse in Camargue http://www.saintesmaries.com/en/
Dance the night away on July 14th (Bastille Day) almost anywhere
Finally if you insist Paris…
Paris and cheap is an oxymoron…
For housing, refer to the housing section. I found this website, I haven’t
looked into it but you can try some of the ideas there. Again, there is a lot of
material online. You’ll also find the major attractions in guide.
http://www.parislogue.com/travel-tips/cheap-paris.html
Tips & tricks:
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Museums are free on the first Sunday of the month (expect crowds but
make significant savings)
If you are going to be in Paris for more than a day, look into buying a
3 day or 7 day Metro (subway) pass. You can take the Metro or buses
as many times as you want.
Live like a Parisian (cheaply)
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Go to a café, sit on the street, and watch the world go by.
Walk, walk, walk: there is a lot of architecture to see and it’s free.
Walk the Champs Elysees for example or around Montmartre.
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Go to a posh café and have a glass of wine (much cheaper than in the
US)
Go to a supermarket buy cheese or meats. Buy a fresh baguette and
pastry in a “boulangerie”. If you can buy a bottle of wine. Go sit in a
park (my favorite: Le Jardin du Luxembourg
http://equipement.paris.fr/jardin-du-luxembourg-1793) = cheap
dinner
If you are looking for a good restaurant, avoid the tourist traps around
monuments, walk a little bit further and pick a small place with a lot of
French people. It’s guaranteed you’ll have good food. If a restaurant is
empty, run… Don’t forget , the French have dinner 7:00-9:00pm.
Take a bus that crosses town and enjoy the view while you rest.
Window shop, buy a cute French pair of shoes (Cute does not mean
comfortable)
Go to the movies (lots of movies are in the original language)
Go have mint tea and pastries at the Paris Mosque (http://www.lamosquee.com/htmluk/entreeuk.htm)... Hmmm
Find a classical concert in a church
Walk your dog… or the neighbor’s dog (watch where you wlak)
Get out of town: hope on a TGV train and spend a weekend
somewhere else. You can be in the South of France in 3.5 hours for
example or in London in 2.5 hours from Paris.
Great times to be in Paris: June, September. Avoid July and August if you
can (all you’ll see is tourists). Make an exception for these 2 days:
Fete de la Musique (French music festival): free music everywhere in the
streets. Usually at the end of June (21 June 2013 this year)
July 14th (or sometimes the night before) Bastille Day: free music and
dancing all around the country.
Beaujolais Nouveau: 3rd weekend of November is the release of this light
red wine (like a sort of coastal wine) and is very popular. Find a friend
and go to a café.