France vacation tips

Enjoy a vacation in France and you're almost certain to pass beneath the elegant Arc de Triomphe as you travel through Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napolean as a tribute to the French army and was completed in 1836 after 25 interrupted years of construction under the combined guidance of architects Chalgrin, Joust and Blouet.

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The Arc de Triomphe follows the style of Roman designs but is much larger. The monument, which is 50 metres high and 45 metres wide, stands at the end of the Avenue des Champs Elysees and is the center of the Place de l'Etoile, a hub formed by the intersection of 12 radiating streets.

Traffic surrounding the base of the arc is chaotic and dangerous if you are sightseeing without paying attention. Access the monument through passageways under the roads.

There is a small historic museum inside the arc, which also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and a Flame of Remembrance that is relit in a touching ceremony at 6.30pm every evening by a group of servicemen. Entry tickets in 2004 were about US$8.50. It's worth it as the view of Paris from the top is spectacular.

Paris is a European pivot for dozens of international airlines and direct flights are available from just about everywhere, with discount ticket bookings available to and from most points on the globe.

International airports are also located in the cities of Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Strasbourg and Toulouse.

Domestic airlines provide links between most major towns and cities in France and air ticket prices have fallen substantially since the industry was deregulated.

There are cheaper ways to travel through France but even budget travellers might find it worthwhile at least checking some of the domestic air fares if your vacation in France involves travel from one end of the country to the other.

Travel tip ... if you're in a hurry you should be aware that the high speed TGV trains can transport you between several cities at more than 300kmh and often get you there faster than by air.

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Youth hostels provide about the cheapest holiday accommodation for single travellers enjoying a vacation in France on a tight budget. A dormitory bunk can usually be booked for as little as US$20 per night.

Plenty of motels can be found on most major routes and on the outskirts of cities and towns, a bed alone costing as little as US$30 per night in 2004. Bed and breakfast accommodation is plentiful in even the most obscure locations and expect a room in a guesthouse to start from around US$270pw.

France has three different hostel associations (Federation Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse, Ligue Francaise pour les Auberges de Jeunesse, Union des Centres de Recontres Internationales de France) and plenty of independent hostels.

Long bus journeys can be slow but they are usually the cheapest way to travel so you can save a few dollars on your tickets during your holiday in France.

However, a train pass such as Eurail can save even more dollars during your vacation in France if you intend covering a lot of territory.

Holiday travel through France is very enjoyable by train on the country's 32,000 kilometres of rail line, about half of which is electrified.

France has the most extensive rail network in western Europe (although Brittany and Normandy are exceptions so a bus might be better for travel through those areas).

The French domestic train service (SNCF - five languages) is among the fastest, most comfortable and efficient on the planet and is a great way to enjoy fairly cheap travel during your vacation in France.

If you have enough money for the ticket, a TGV very fast train service connects the large cities at more than 300 kilometres per hour.

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Travel tip ... tourists from the UK should note that although the Eurostar train can very comfortably whisk you via the Eurotunnel from central London to central Paris in less than three hours, the ticket price is much more than flying and the booking conditions on the train can be inconvenient.

The domestic French bus and train network is integrated and your SNCF (5 languages) train ticket will in many cases also let you travel on a connecting bus.

Various group and long distance return discounts are also available so it's worth closely studying the timetables and ticket packages before you head into the next step of your vacation in France.

The quickest way to drive around France is on the autoroutes, although they're not particularly scenic. The speed limit in France is up to 130kmh.

Autoroute toll fees are also expensive. For example, a 200 kilometre journey from La Rochelle to Bordeaux cost 11 euro (US$13.86) in 2005, and petrol prices are very high by international standards.

Travel tip ... it's cheaper to take the slower National Route (N) and Departmental (D) roads.

It's smart to hire a small rather than a big car for your French vacation because many of the roads around country villages are cobblestone laneways from centuries past and a small vehicle is easier to manoeuver.

If you want to travel through France by car, beware that car rental rates and motorway tolls are expensive with traffic and parking problems in the cities that can make the whole exercise a waste of time and money.

However, there are still plenty of well-maintained backroads criss-crossing the countryside - many with superb sightseeing - and you can cut the cost of private car travel if you're happy to avoid the motorways during your holiday through France.

If you decide you want your own steering wheel, beware that French driving habits are fairly aggressive.

Most villages and towns you drive through in the French countryside will have several prominent signs pointing to "chambres d'hotes", which is French for Bed and Breakfast. The average price for two in 2005 was US$102 per night. It's vital that you book ahead in the summer holiday months of July and August, when prices are generally higher.

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France has plenty of ferry and hovercraft links to England from ports such as Calais, Boulogne, St-Malo, Roscoff, Brittany and Normandy.

Numerous sea services can also be found for a voyage to Ireland, Italy, North Africa, Sardinia and the Channel Island.

Most islands off the French coast can only be reached by ferry. It's worth booking your travel and holiday tickets ahead if possible.

A cycling holiday in France is highly recommended as the country has an extensive network of cyclepaths in both rural areas and cities.

Uninsured bicycles can be rented for US$10-15 per day.

If you base your France vacation in Paris or in most of the other major French cities, you'll find there's a fairly convenient metro network to whisk you around, running from 5.30am to 1am. Metro ticket prices in Paris are on a par with other cities.

Travel tip ... budget for travel expenses around US$60 per day and you'll be able to find a comfortable private bed, adequate meals plus trips to tourist venues a few times a week. To travel in France on such a small budget, you'll probably need to buy your food in local markets rather than restaurants.

It's possible to travel in France on survival rations costing as little as US$30 per day for supermarket food and accommodation, but you'll be doing so little during your holiday that you may as well not be there.

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Note: H5N1 bird flu was detected in February 2006 in the town of Joyeux but this should not upset the travel plans of tourists.

Although France is better known for its intelligentsia and cultivated lifestyle, the country offers numerous outdoor activities and holiday locations because of its diverse geography and climates.

Cycling and hiking are popular ways to slowly travel through France so you can more fully absorb the intimacies of the culture.

With a choice of two mountain ranges, France is also a mecca for ski holidays. Cheaper ski facilities are mostly in the Pyrenees.

Good swimming and aquatic sports can be enjoyed up and down the west coast and on the holiday beaches of the Mediterranean.

It's worth noting that beach sands along the Atlantic coast of France are fine and white, while many of the Mediterranean beaches have pebbles or rocks.

Travel to France and you'll spend your holiday buying things with the euro, which replaced the franc in 2002.

As usual, banks and bureaux de change mostly offer better currency exchange rates than hotels and shops.

Travel through France is easy with traveller's cheques and credit cards.

Enjoy a vacation in France and you should get used to giving a tip to almost all service providers including restaurants, hotels, cafes, cinemas, hairdressers and taxis.

Restaurants and accommodation providers in France usually add a 10-15% service charge to your bill but tips are still expected if the quality of the service was acceptable - although there's unlikely to be a scene if you decline or forget to tip.

France information

Vacation tips for Paris

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