Articles Index

Christmas Gift Ideas for Travelers

Here are Christmas gift ideas featuring French gifts and travel gifts, filled with some of the top gifts for travelers, francophiles and foodies. The guide also includes buying advice for choosing travel guidebooks as gifts, how to create a French gift basket, as well as tips on giving the gift of travel.

French Diet

The French eat rich foods, drink lots of wine and smoke. So why are they so thin and fit? Find out about the French diet, and the secrets to why it works.

Sex at Pigalle Place

Get naughty during your next visit to Paris by visiting the notorious Pigalle Place, an epicenter of sex shops, peep shows, strip clubs and general adults-only, X-rated adventures.

Euro vs. Dollar

As the U.S. dollar dips in value and is worth less in euros, American travelers will have to fork over more cash for hotels, dining and shopping while in France and other European nations. Any trip to France means considering the issue of euro vs. dollar for American travelers.

Beziers, France

Man has lived in Beziers, a charming small city on Southern France, for over six millennia for a reason. Stroll along the café-lined and tree-lined Allées Paul Riquet. Gaze up at the majestic Cathedrale Saint Nazaire, which can be seen on its hilltop perch from almost anywhere in the city. Marvel at the rose-tinted wrought iron balconies.

Fall Foliage Travel in France

Fall is an ideal time to visit France, and autumn leaf peeping is one of the finest activities here. As if France weren't charming enough, seeing this country's cities and villages blazing with autumn colors is simply breathtaking. This is also the grape harvest season, and there are numerous festivals and activities around the country.

Villefranche sur Mer

Nice and Cannes lie just to the west and Monte Carlo is just to the east, but nicely undiscovered is the charming small beach city of Villefranche sur Mer. With a sandy shore, small medieval village and relaxed atmosphere, Villefranche sur Mer is a lovely escape from the bustle of bigger Cote d'Azur cities mere minutes away.

Sete France

Sete, France is a lovely fishing city which has much allure, from its beaches to its port lined with buildings painted rich ochres, rusts and azures. This is the spot to sample some of the world’s best seafood, usually prepared from the morning’s catches. Several canals wind their way through the city. Find out about travel to Sete, France.

Carcassonne Travel Guide

Here are all the basics for planning your trip to Carcassonne, Europe's largest fortified city still standing today and one of France's major tourist draws.

French Keyboard

If you visit a cyber cafe in France, you may be surprised to find letters in all the wrong places on the keyboard. That's because the AZERTY French keyboard layout is different, which can really slow you down (all the while you are paying by the minute to go online). Prepare yourself before you get there.

Cell Phone in France

The cell phone you use every day at home just might work while you're visiting France. It has to fit various standards first, however, and the roaming fees might be insanely high. Or it's possible you can get onto a French network for far less money. Find out how and if you can use your cell phone in France.

Luggage Weight

When you are packing, one of the biggest challenges is squeezing everything in (especially with strict regulations on luggage weight). Find out which items you can pull out when your luggage is getting too heavy.

Laptop Travel

Bringing your laptop to France? Unless you plan ahead, it might be a worthless piece of equipment you end up lugging around. Be sure you have everything you need to travel with your laptop.

Montsegur

Monstegur somehow has the power to cast a spell on its visitors. On paper, it is hardly remarkable. It’s a small town with a few streets, a couple cafés and a museum. In reality, though, there is some intangible allure here that draws people back again and again.

Getting Around Southwest France

Southwest France may not be the hot spot that some European destinations are, such as London and Paris. But there are several airports serving this region, a comfortable and affordable rail system, cheap bus systems with extensive routes, and rental cars are easy to find. Here is a comprehensive guide to getting to Southwest France.

Exchange Euros

If you visit France, one thing is certain: you will be spending money. Make sure you get the most bang for your euro by following these DOs and DON'Ts to exchange euros.

Lourdes, France

Lourdes, France is a bustling Pyrenees village, best known for famous Virgin Mary sightings, that is central to several other great cities and attractions. Lourdes is second only to Paris in the number of hotel rooms available in a single city in France.

Cote Vermeille

The magnificent vistas of the Cote Vermeille have inspired some of the world’s most famous artists—indeed, they sparked an entire style of painting. It’s easy to see why. As you stand at one of several overlooks, the Mediterranean crashes several stories below. Craggy mountains pierce the sea. Steeply sloping vineyards speckle the landscape and crowd the coastline. Spain’s rugged shore, the Costa Brava, can be spotted just to the south.

Finding Romance in Versailles

While we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Paris, mostly spent trekking from site to site in an effort not to miss anything, it was clear the famed “romance” of the city was getting lost on him. Determined to experience some French romance, I had pinned all my hopes on our final destination of the trip: Versailles.

Argeles-Gazost

Argeles-Gazost, France might be a bit small, but it has a lot to offer. It has a cute and compact downtown lined with shops and cafés, a thermal spa and a casino. It is close to ski slopes, a medieval abbey, several lakes and numerous mountain peaks. Nestled in the Pyrenees Mountains just a short drive south of Lourdes and close to skiing, this makes an excellent getaway spot for nature-lovers who also prefer to be based in a civilized and charming town.

Camping in France

Camping in France is an inexpensive and at times surprisingly comfortable accommodation. Quite popular with European tourists, there are campgrounds sprinkled throughout the country. Some of the four-star versions even offer wonderful amenities like pools, fine dining and on-site grocery stores. Find out more about camping in France.

Cannes Film Festival 2009

Cannes Film Festival 2009 is from May 14 - 25. Each year, celebrities and tourists alike swarm this upscale French Riviera city for a celebration of the film industry. Follow coverage of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, or Festival du Cannes, find out about the film festival's history and learn more about visiting Cannes, a gem of the Cote d'Azur.

Cannes Film Festival Photo Gallery

Take a virtual tour of Cannes during its ultra-hip and happening film festival with this photo gallery.

Cannes Film Festival for Tourists

A visit to the Cannes Film Festival allows for great sun-bathing, shopping and celebrity-spotting. Although the official film screening is reserved for filmmakers, actors and the media, regular tourists can still get a taste and even watch some of the films in the selection.

Mother's Day in France

Think one Mother's Day a year simply isn't enough? American moms can get a second dose of attention by celebrating France's Fetes des Meres a few weeks later. A French tradition that was made official by Napoleon, a day honoring mothers dates back to Ancient Greece.