Europe & Beyond

Be Romantic for a Day in Paris

Paris is a dream come true. It is chic, romantic, cosmopolitan and it is guaranteed to enchant you. Getting to the French capital is easy as there are three main airports which serve the city: Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly and Paris Beauvais. The most important airport is Charles de Gaulle and easyJet low cost airline offers flights to and from this airport. Paris Beauvais is around 50 miles north of Paris. Despite the distance, it is well connected with the city centre of Paris by bus.

A day in Paris should start off by a good breakfast, either in your hotel or in a typical Parisian bistro. Then you should set off to discover the city.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is usually busy all day, but getting there early is a good idea if you want to visit other tourist attractions in the afternoon. There are two restaurants located on the first and second levels of the tower…perhaps the perfect venue for a romantic lunch. Having visited the Eiffel Tower, why not take a walk around Champs de Mars Park. Here you can relax and take artistic photographs of the Eiffel Tower from another perspective.

Other Attractions in Paris

Visit other attractions such as the Sacré Coeur, Champs Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe during the day. Enjoy a romantic Seine dinner cruise by night or evening entertainment at the Moulin Rouge. Sample the romantic lifestyle during your stay in romantic Paris – the French capital.

St Tropez Villa Hire Information

A St. Tropez villa hire in the South of France presents you with the ultimate in luxurious relaxation, in one of the most breathtakingly scenic spots on earth. Prices for luxury villas in St Tropez can be high during the height of the busy season, but there ways to get around paying exorbitant costs for your ideal vacation getaway. You can travel to the Cote d’Azur in the off season, or in the autumn, “before Christmas” season, and experience huge savings on your villa rental. The after holiday season in the springtime can also avail you affordable rates on villas in the South of France. But, if money’s no object for you, then you’ve got your pick of the litter when it comes to vacation villas in St. Tropez.

St. Tropez enjoys marvelous weather nearly year-round, along with an array of things to do, including 5-star dining, shopping, beachcombing, yachting and sailing, sports and recreation, and most of all–relaxing by the pool with a martini as a lazy mistral wind licks off of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a good place to do nothing but enjoy the sun on your skin and the good life, and a St. Tropez villa hire is just about the best way to perfect the fine art of living. Getting your family or a group of friends together to share the rent on a villa is a good way not only to save a few Euros, Pounds, or Dollars, but also to have a family reunion or friends’ holiday in one of the loveliest spots on earth.

St Tropez villas are notoriously expensive, especially at the holidays and at the height of summer. There are villas that can run as high as $50,000 per week in the height of the busy season! But there are also ones that run as low as $4,000 or less per week. The typical villa on the Cote d’Azur is characterized by a Mediterranean style of architecture with sprawling grounds, and lots of amenities, such as security systems, multiple car garages, large pool areas, close access to beaches, and 180 degree vistas of the Mediterranean Sea. It’s not uncommon for St. Tropez villas to have 5, 6, 7 bedrooms or more, sleeping 10-15 or more people.

Splendid, marvelous, stunning…these are commonly used adjectives to describe the priceless experience of staying for awhile in style on the Côte d’Azur of France.

St Tropez Sights

Sightseeing, and other adventures include a visit to the Musee d L’Annonciade, which houses one of the Riviera’s finest modern art collections by post-Impressionist masters. Much of the art on hand–including works by Paul Signac–depicts the port of St. Tropez. Of course, there are plenty of Roman ruins along the Cote d’Azure, within a short day’s drive. If you’re in a shopping state of mind, then you can go hunting for the latest fashions, or for gifts, or antiques at Choses, Galeries Tropéziennes, or Jacqueline Thienot. The nightlife in the area of your St. Tropez villa hire also includes bars and pubs such as Café de Paris, Café Sénéquier, the gay and lesbian bar Chez Maggi, and Les Caves du Roy.

Visit Paris – A Short Guide

The French capital is one of the world’s most alluring travel destinations, probably because it satisfies our appetite for many of the things that motivate us to travel. It promises great architecture, beautiful people, quaint cafés, leafy parks, grand boulevards, upmarket restaurants, endless cultural pursuits and a gripping history. And while many cities would struggle under the weight of such heavy expectation, Paris rarely seems to disappoint the 45 million tourists that visit each year. It’s easy to see why proud Parisians believe they live in the greatest city in the world.

Flights to Paris

Flights from the UK to Paris take about 1 hour 10 minutes.

Most flights to Paris from the UK fly to Charles de Gaulle airport, the city’s largest, 14 miles northeast of the city – but many flights are also available to two other airports: Orly, which is only 9 miles south of the city, and therefore very convenient; and Beauvais-Tillé, which is about 60 miles north of Paris, and rather inconvenient – despite some low-cost airlines advertising it as ‘serving Paris’.

Some international airlines offering flights to France include Air France, KLM, Etihad and British Airways, often from London airports. In addition, budget airlines such as easyJet, Ryanair and Flybe offer budget flights from various regional UK airports such as Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.

Top sights

The iconic Eiffel Tower is a good place to start your exploration of the city, because from the top you enjoy a panoramic view of Paris which can help you to get your bearings and decide which sights you most want to visit. If you use the Métro system you can get around Paris very quickly and easily, but if you’re only there for a weekend’s sightseeing it’s better to focus on a few of the city’s 22 arrondissements (districts) rather than stretching yourself and packing in too much.

Look out for the Musée Carnavalet. the Hôtel de Sully, and Place des Vosges, where you will find the Maison de Victor Hugo. Explore the quaint district of Montmartre, an arty and bohemian area of art studios, stalls selling paintings, and street artists sketching portraits and funny caricatures. You can also enjoy some people-watching from one of the many cosy cafés, then trek uphill to visit the great Basilique du Sacré-Cœur.

Of course Paris is a city for lovers – associated with romance and passion – so what better place to shop for special gifts from France – perfumes, pottery and of course fashion.  The shops offer haute couture from leading designers along with stylish lingerie and accessories.

If modern art and architecture is more your thing, however, take the Metro to la Défense where you’re surrounded by imposing modern buildings. Take a ride in the lift at the Grande Arche de la Défense for an amazing view of the city.

Paris also has scores of museums to suit just about every taste – from internationally-renowned collections such as those at the Louvre, to bizarre exhibits such as those at the Musée des Arts Forains, which showcases some colourful fairground memorabilia.

No trip to Paris is complete without a trip on the River Seine, either, whether you choose a daytime trip or an evening dinner cruise. Other eating options include the lively Quartier Latin, a great place to eat and hang out, with a studenty atmosphere and plenty of fairly inexpensive bistros thanks to the various educational establishments in the area.

Camping in Brittany: fuss-free family holidays in France

The French know better than anyone how to camp in style, and increasingly many campsites are well-geared towards ‘glamping’: the upmarket alternative to traditional camping. Brittany is a particular popular camping destination amongst British families because of its proximity to the UK, its fantastic camping facilities, and the wide range of things to do when you get there.

Brittany’s tourist attractions

The unspoilt coastline tops the list of attractions, with many of the most popular beaches and resorts located on the south coast of the peninsula, including La Baule, Belle Île and the Gulf of Morbihan. On the wilder north coast you can escape the crowds, and the photogenic pink-tinted Côte de Granit Rose is one of Europe’s most unusual coastlines.

Brittany also has many interesting sights, from the mysterious megalithic standing stones scattered across the peninsula to old fortified towns such as Saint-Malo (Sant-Maloù), which has one of the highest concentrations of seafood restaurants in Europe.

Travelling to Brittany

Traditionally UK families have driven to the south coast ports and taken their own cars accross the English Channel on the many ferry services that operate cross channel. With the continued rising prices of fuel and some would say excessive farescharged by ferry companies during school holidays more and more people are seeking alternative economical ways to get to Britanny and booking car hire france in advance

Since the opening of the Channel tunnel travellers can get a train direct from London to Lille and change to continue onto Brittany – choosing stations with convenient location de voiture offices throughout Bretagne which has opened up the region for families to explore.

Another option for those who have access to regional airports is to take flights to Paris and either take the TGV train which runs almost hourly from Paris Montparnasse to Rennes, Brest and Quimper.  More recently these French regions now have scheduled flights to London and other regional airports which we hope will be a follow up article

Brittany’s campsites

Brittany’s well-equipped campgrounds are another good reason to holiday there. With many providing pre-erected tents, separate bedrooms and other extras such as decent camping stoves, families can enjoy a fuss-free holiday abroad under canvas without carting their own equipment across the Channel. You even get to sleep in your own bed at night, so you wake up feeling refreshed rather than with a crick in your neck after a night on a lumpy rollmat.

Many camp grounds also have all the facilities you’d expect from an apartment complex or a hotel, such as hot showers (albeit a short walk away from your tent), indoor and outdoor swimming pools, on-site restaurants and bars, and even kids’ clubs.

And if you like the idea of staying on a camp site, but you’re keen to avoid the inconvenience of midnight trips to the toilet block, you could go for the slightly more expensive option of a chalet or mobile home, instead of sleeping under canvas.

You can find great campsites for a spot of ‘glamping’ all over Brittany, but here’s a few to get you started:

Le Ty Nadan (Route D Arzano, Locunole, Brittany, 29310)

Nestled in quiet, wooded Breton countryside, Ty Nadan has fantastic facilities for active families including three outdoor pools, an indoor pool and spa, an impressive waterslide and waterchute, indoor badminton courts, and a rock climbing wall. Despite all this, reviews suggest it’s still a relaxing setting, with direct access to the sandy banks of the River Elle. The surrounding area is known for its year-round festivals, too, including Fête de la Morue in May in the pretty port of Binic, celebrating the local fishing industry.

Domaine Le Bohat (Sarzeau, Brittany, 56370)

Surrounded by an old Breton farm, this award-winning campsite offers pre-erected tents and plenty of on-site facilities. There are outdoor and indoor swimming pools with slides, and there’s a restaurant, games room, bar, shop and kids’ playground, plus internet access and horse riding.

Le Cap Horn (Port Lazo, Plouezec, Brittany, 22470)

For a lower-key option, this campsite deserves a mention – mainly for its great location with direct access to the sea and lovely ocean views. There’s a seasonal heated pool, a bakery, a grocery shop, a children’s play area, an evening snack bar, and French bowls. The site lies within the picturesque Côtes-d’Armor region, with a gorgeous coastline, lovely walks, and great bike rides.

Brittany – Camping in pre-erected tents

Visit ukcampsite.co.uk for a list of campsites in Brittany, and look on each individual campsite page for the icon highlighting those offering ‘pre-erected tents’.

Paris Va Va Voom

Eiffel Tower clinches, candlelit bistros and scantily clad showgirls – Paris was made for lovers. Time to unleash your inner va-va-voom

Cobbles and rose bushes frame the grand Musée Rodin (79 Rue de Varenne) www.musee-rodin.fr housing the sculptor’s works. The Kiss is here but La Porte de L’enfer (The Gates of Hell) is the one that will leave you breathless – the intricately carved doors feature lots of nudity and groping.

This beautiful poem titled Kiss is worth a visit on the Tate website
After shopping in the streets of Le Marais, retreat to elegant tea house Mariage Frères (35 Rue du Bourg-Tibourg; www.mariagefreres.com). Waiters in white jackets serve myriad tea varieties (try Rooibos tea flavoured with candied chestnuts) alongside plates of scallops and perfect madeleines. Feel the passion brewing.

Paris’s oldest market, Le Marché des Enfants Rouges, on Rue de Bretagne (closed Mondays), is filled with tempting treats. L’Estaminet (00 33 1 4272 3485), in what used to be the market storeroom, serves food from the producers – pop in for a platter of oysters (six oysters and a glass of wine £10).

The 18th-century Lapérouse, (00 33 1 4326 6804, www.laperouse.fr) was a former favourite of politicians and their mistresses (the little private dining rooms upstairs used to lock from the inside). Go for roasted Brittany lobster and pâté-soft steak.

Next morning, climb the steps to La Promenade Plantée. This 4.5km-long, elevated railway track is now a pretty lavender-, shrub- and bamboo-lined pathway. Start your walk at the access point near Bastille, find a bench and watch passers-by on the streets fanning off below – only the odd jogger will disturb the pleasure.

Sure it’s soppy, but you have to be photographed in front of the ‘Je t’aime’ wall in Montmartre’s Place d’Abbesses. The blue tiles are covered in ‘I Love Yous’ scrawled in more than 300 languages. With any luck, the pretty busker in the red duffle coat will be singing Edith Piaf’s Hymne à l’amour.

Getting to Paris from UK

Eurostar (0870 518 6186, www.eurostar.com) has returns from London St Pancras and many regional airports offer convenient scheduled flights to Paris for low fares if booked well in advance.

Where to Stay

A sultry colour scheme and macaroons await you at Hôtel des Académies et des Arts (00 33 1 4326 6644, www.hotel-des-academies.com) in the arty heart of the city. Or, slightly out of the way but with a fabulous cocktail bar and eccentric decor, is Mama Shelter (00 33 1 4348 4848, www.mamashelter.com).

The beaches, history and luxury of St. Tropez

If you are holiday on the Côte d’Azur, France, St. Tropez is a must-see stop. Whether you stay for a day, or rent a villa for a week, St. Tropez is an excellent escape from the busy pace of modern life. Spend time sunbathing on the glittering white sandy beaches, or discover the fascinating history of what people generally think of as the playground of the rich and famous.

With shopping and nightlife to rival Hollywood, dramatic landscapes, and charming villas, the wealthy and famous have flocked here since the late 1950s. During the winter and spring off-seasons, St. Tropez is not crowded, but the traffic becomes heavier in the summertime when the beach weather is perfect.

St. Tropez has been known as a haven throughout its history. In the 1920s, international fashion stars escaped to this stunning destination, which also became a beach landing site during World War II. In the 1950s Brigitte Bardot made it known as a luxury holiday destination.

Now this modern version of a medieval town has many events all year to draw visitors to its shores. Set on the sparkling Bay of Saint-Tropez, St. Tropez hosts an internationally renowned regatta, Les Voiles, at the end of September each year. The International Polo Cup takes place in July and the Gold Cup is held in the autumn. A vintage car rally, Rallye des Belles, is held each May. Also in May is the St. Tropez Bravade, a military parade in honor of the town’s patron saint.

The best beaches are a car ride away, however there are a few near the center of town. The largest collection of beaches is the Pampelonne-Ramatuelle Beaches just 3km south of St. Tropez. The Plage de Tahiti, just southeast of town is another popular destination. Many nude beaches dot the area as well.

If you need a break from the sun, visit Musee de l’Annonciade. Housed in an abandoned chapel, this museum has a rich modern art collection, including works by Signac, the first Parisian artist to settle in St Tropez. The Citadel, built between 1590 and 1607, is a well-preserved hexagonal fortress. Inside the Citadel is a Museum of Shipping and Local History. Three defensive towers – Guillaume Tower, Portalet Tower and Jarlier Tower, offer spectacular views of the bay.

Spend time meandering down the small winding streets and stop in one of St. Tropez’s many terrace cafes. The old town is just west of the Citadel and is filled with boutiques and restaurants. If you walk on Rue du Portail-Neuf, you can visit the Italian Baroque 18th century church in which stands a bust of St-Tropez. Northwest of the church you can see the Hotel de Ville (Town Hall) and the palace of Pierre-André de Suffren, an important French admiral who participated in the War of the Austrian Succession.

From here, wander over to the Mole Jean-Réveille, a man-made pier enclosing the harbor from the north, and enjoy a spectacular view of the town’s seafront, yachts and luxury St Tropez Villas.

Place aux Herbes is the most bustling of the town’s squares. You can buy all the vegetables, flowers, and fresh meats that you could wish for here. The St. Tropez tourist information office is located here. If you would like to see some of St. Tropez’s traditional street entertainment and a game of boules, head to Place des Lices, where you can also enjoy the most casual dining in town.

St. Tropez even has some hiking. A 12km coastal footpath begins at the Portalet Tower of the Citadel and takes you across gorgeous coastline all the way to Pampelonne Beach.