Holidays in France

France is a unique and diverse country, which many different types of landscapes from dramatic coastlines and green countrysides to busy and vibrant cities. France also caters very well for families, with many well-run campsites and self-catering complexes, and plenty of activities for adults and children including theme parks and adventure sports.

The South of France (known as le Midi) has a lovely warm climate for most of the year, and with its stunning sandy beaches and luxury hotels and villas it is a hotspot for the rich and fabulous. The Cote D’Azur is well known for its glamorous lifestyle and fantastic food, and there is plenty to do from shopping and fine dining, to just relaxing with friends in one of the many busy seaside cafes and bars. If you are on a tight budget then further along the coast is Languedoc-Roussillon region, which has some slightly less desirable beaches, making holiday prices more reasonable.

Accomodation can vary, so there should be something availble to suit all budgets, but do check hotels out carefully before you book as some of them are well past their prime. Languedoc-Roussillon also borders Spain, and this is an excellent opportunity for you to visit this charming country for a day or two whilst you are away on holiday, and experience its unique culture which is suprisingly different from France despite their close proximity.

If you are thinking of booking any villas in France, then there are some lovely examples of old French farmhouses and cottages availble in some really beautful locations. Many villas have been modernised so that they include a pool, and this can make a great addition if you have children, as some beaches in France do charge people to use them, and this can get expensive if you want to enjoy swimming everyday.

Subscribe to this blog's RSS feed

When you are planning a holiday for you and your family, it is easy to forget to include meals and drinks into your budget, and deals that may seem cheap to start with soon end up costing you more than you anticipated.

When you are booking a hotel, you will need to check to see what meals are inclusive (usually only breakfast) and also check the surrounding area to see if there are any reasonable cafes and restaurants for you to get your other meals from, and whether they are suitable for children. Most of the time it is much cheaper for families to book self catering holidays, and then they are free to cook food for themselves and not tied to eating out the whole time they are away.

It can also be easier to plan your holiday activities if you are on a self catering holiday, as you will not be tied to returning to your hotel in time for dinner service, and you will have kitchen facilities available in which to prepare for spontaneous picnics or beach barbeques. If you have very young children eating out each night can be more of a chore than a pleasure, and having your own space to prepare food you know your children will like can be much more relaxing for all of you.

There are some reasonable self catering holidays available in Europe, and this can be very convenient for those living in the UK as you can take your car over on the ferry or Channel Tunnel, so that you have your own transport whilst you away. The company Eurocamp offer an excellent range of self catering holidays in France, Spain, Germany and many more European countries, and you should be able to find something that will suit your budget and family lifestyle.

Eurocamp also offers special discounts if you book early (around 15% off) and reductions if you book with friends. Also in off peak months you can often get a free 7 nights when you book 14 nights, so three weeks for the price of two.

To find out more about all of the European self catering holidays available from Eurocamp you can visit their website and either browse the online catalogue or request a PDF copy to be sent to your email address.

Spain is a vibrant, passionate country and there is no better way to experience all of its wonderful scenery and historic culture than creating your own backpacking tour. Backpacking is a very independent way to travel, and gives you a unique insight into the real everyday life of the country you are visiting, and setting your own agenda means that you can please yourself and are not tied to any particular city or hotel.

When you are planning a backpacking tour in Spain there are a couple of points you will need to consider before you leave:

• Language – if you are backpacking, you will need to be able to organise spontaneous transport, hotels and meals so it is advisable that you learn some basic Spanish before you leave, so that you can communicate your needs quickly and efficiently. Never assume there will be someone to translate or speak English for you, especially if you are travelling in more remote regions. You can find lots of resources to learn Spanish online, such as at Speak7.com, which has free tutorials and also some helpful cultural notes
• Culture – take time to find out more about Spain’s rich cultural landscape, as this will give you more idea of what to expect as you travel through the country, and will also give you ideas for places to visit. Research some of the local customs, as this will help you interact with people more successfully as you travel, and will help you avoid making any obvious faux pars.
• Transport – Travelling by train is relatively easy, but prices can vary depending on the journey you are making. The high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Seville is the quickest way to travel across the country, but other local services may actually be slower than the buses. The bus system is extensive in Spain and is the only way to get to some of the more remote areas if you do not have a car. It is also very reasonable and much cheaper than trains, and services are usually very reliable. If you do want to rent a car for part of your trip then there are plenty of places to do this throughout the country, but remember that many European hire car companies will only accept bookings via credit card and not cash, even if you book in person.
• Luggage – as the term backpacking suggests you will be carrying your own luggage around for most of the time, so it is important to pack only essential items, and also safeguard your gear at all times. Try and limit yourself to just two pairs of shoes, one pair for walking and a smart pair of sandals you can wear for going out and also on the beach. You may be sleeping in some less than first class hotels and hostels, so make sure you have a good warm blanket or large shawl, which is also handy for when you are travelling overnight on trains and buses. Also make sure you have a small first aid kit, torch, sunglasses, hat, good rainproof coat and a small range of clothes to meet all potential changes in climate.

Happy Journey Spain

Burgundy is one of France’s largest rural regions. With a rich culture and beautiful scenery, it is the perfect place to spend a relaxing vacation and sample the sights and sounds.

Burgundyeye.com is an online magazine that gives travelers all the information they would ever want about the Burgundy region. It was created by David Cogan, a long time resident of the region with an expertise in the wine trade, and is regularly updated with news and information on events within the region.

Burgundyeye also allows reviews to be submitted by viewers, so you can see what is popular and comes highly recommended, which is particularly helpful for arranging accommodation, with contact phone number and email addresses provided for all hotels.

Daily updates and articles keep you informed about what it is like to live and work in the region of France, and you can sign up for the company’s newsletter.

The heart of the region is, of course, its wine production, and an entire section is devoted to the subject. There are articles teaching you about everything from Chablis to Mason, so you when you get there you can appreciate the wine tours and tasting events as a connoisseur rather than a layman. A detailed break-down is also given of each type of wine grown and which wineries produce them, so for those with a particular and specialized interest, they can quickly locate where to spend their time.

At the bottom of every page of Burgundyeye is an Accuweather 15 day weather forecast, which allows you to plan your trip around the weather for different attractions. All in all, a fantastic website for any English speakers who want to become acquainted with this region, or visit.