France

France is located in western Europe and stretches from The English Channel to the north down to the Mediterranean in the south. France is vast, meaning it shares a lot of borders. It neighbours Spain and Andorra to the west and Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland and Italy to the east.

The capital city of Paris draws in millions of tourists a year, but for those looking for guaranteed sun and fine dining, the south is where they will head.

If you are a keen historian then France should be a place you should consider. There is a long and varied past, from Louis XVI and the French Revolution, Napoleon and some of the deadliest battlegrounds from both World Wars.

So, What's Special?

France covers a huge area and has so much to offer from the south and the French Riviera, to the rugged northern shores.

Some of the most special places have to be the old farm houses and chateaus that produce the finest French wines. Whilst on your trip to France make sure you save a slot for wine tasting.

As you leave the larger cities and travel out into the countryside and smaller villages, it's always a treat to see the little local shops thriving unlike a lot of other European countries. The local butchers, bakers, veg shops and cafes are the heart of the towns. This makes for a really warming feeling as everyone gathers here. The sense of community is strong.

Our Experience

Greg has visited France on a number of occasions, the most recent being the longest period in 2016. We went over for 3 weeks during the 2016 Euro's watching as many games as we could. The trip took us through a number of towns and cities in southern France, where we saw the good, the bad and the ugly, and that was both on and off the pitch.

A few nights in Bordeaux sightseeing and wine tasting in chateaus around Saint Emilion were the highlights. Other beautiful cities such as Nice provided excellent backdrops for relaxing and dipping our toes in the Med.

Charlie has also spent a good amount of time in France, initially spending two weeks in Antibes on the Riviera, looking for work whilst hiking out to old forts, eating amazing food and touring the many ports and harbours around the coast.

He also visited the Dordogne, spending a week canoeing the river and exploring the rural medieval towns of Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, Figeac and Vayrac.

However, neither of us have ever made it to the capital, which is very strange for two travelers, particularly these two, as we both say that you need to visit a country's capital in order to understand it.

Our Advice

The French are a proud nation, especially the older generation. If you learn a bit of the language before you arrive it will go a long way in breaking the boundaries. Whilst the majority speak English they much prefer you try speaking French: and so you should, you're in France. If you try talking french but completely mess it up, they will appreciate the attempt but carry on the conversation in English.

Don't stay in the big hotels, get yourself an Airbnb and live like a local. That way you will have to cook for yourselves. This is an experience to savour: popping down to the local shops, collecting your fresh produce, a good bottle of wine, and a little treat from a patisserie.

France is vast, so travelling around the country can be expensive, particularly by road. The motorways are excellently maintained, but run on a toll system. A trip from Monaco to Paris will set you back over £50 in tolls alone. Don't ask how we know this.

A better option here is usually train: they are comfortable and clean and fairly inexpensive. That said, it can be cheaper to fly between major cities.

To Summarise...

Take a good amount of time to see this beautiful country. Don't just go to Paris, see the small villages and towns dotted around the beautiful countryside. The south has some of the richest areas and probably the most beautiful, but there is something for everyone here.