Champagne, croissants and camembert – all delicious food and drink we associate with France, our nearest neighbour. There was a time when booze cruises to France were the norm, to pick up gorgeous wine from France. Nowadays many people fly there for their holidays as there are major airports scattered throughout this large country.
Just across the English Channel
Being so close to France is a real advantage because it does not take long to pop over the English Channel to visit the vast variety and wonderful culture of France. It has spawned many artists, writers, philosophers and medieval architecture that all still have their place in society today.
Taste the many flavours
France is rich in wine growing regions, with the grape and vine being worshipped here since pre-Roman times, though it was the Romans who cultivated the vineyards and spread the message throughout the rest of France. The most famous wine regions in France are probably Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, and the French are vigilant about protecting these precious names.
Transportation through France
If you are travelling long distances in France, the auto route is the way to go. You do have to pay the tolls but it is worth it if time is of the essence. Alternatively the French are very proud of their rail network with the TGV running on high speed lines and an experience in itself.
Places to visit
But where to go in France? For chicness, luxury and star spotting, try Cannes or St Tropez; if you want a beach holiday with the children, Argeles-sur-Mer south of Perpignan is a fun place full of sun; or if rural life is more to your liking, the landscapes of Alsace and Lorraine on the German and Swiss border offer pretty half-timbered houses.
Elegant chateaux along the Loire valley in France give an insight to how the haves, rather than the have-nots, lived during the Renaissance and some now offer accommodation so you can really indulge yourself by staying in one.
Closer to Britain are the regions of Normandy and Brittany with the D-Day beaches, delightful fishing ports and one of the most mesmerising sights in France - Mont-St-Michel, an abbey on top of an island just off the coast of both regions.
French cuisine
Often, one of the main reasons people visit France is for its food – succulent seafood along the coasts, garlicky snails, freshly baked baguettes, and classic dishes such as Boeuf Bourguignon, Coq au vin and Crème Brulee. It is enough to make your mouth water just thinking about it!
Have fun in France
That, along with traditional games such as boules, which can be played by anyone old enough to throw a metal ball, vast fields of sunflowers swaying in the breeze, and entering a cold, dark yet enchanting church sum up France.
Hopping on a plane to France couldn’t be easier. If you land in Paris, there is a huge network of roads from there to take you on your way to the rest of the country. Flying with BudgetAir will give you the deals and confidence you need to keep coming back and enjoying more of France each time.
Destinations in France
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