With a population of 65 million France is a vast country with a huge variety of holiday options on offer. France is renowned for its architecture, art, cinema, cuisine, fashion, literature, music and wine.

The most significant attraction in France, and for that matter Europe, is the unforgettable city of Paris. It exudes ambiance and style. Further south, on the Cote d’Azur, Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo are perennial favourites, with an excellent climate, wonderful cuisine, sightseeing and nightlife, and an unbeatable choice of hotels.

The climate in France varies, but moderate winters and mild summers for the most part of the country, especially in Paris. The Mediterranean and southwest enjoys mild winters and hot summers. Brittany in the northwest enjoys mild winters but plenty of rain and cool summers.

The German border has cool winters but hot summers. The Mountainous regions like the Alps, Pyrenees and the Auvergne have cold winters with plenty of snow.

Car
France has a well-developed system of highways. Most of the freeway (autoroute) links are toll roads. Roads vary from narrow single-lane roads in the countryside to major highways. You must drive on the right. Note that most of the leading car hire companies operate from the airports and it is advisable to book your car hire in advance.

Train
Trains are a great and easy way of getting around France. If you plan a long distance travel you should use the TGV (Train a Grande Vitesse which is a High-Speed Train). Reservations are compulsory and there are two different booking types available for two classes: première classe (first class) which can be around 50% more expensive than the deuxième classe (second class). You must beware that your ticket has to be punched by an automatic machine ("composteur") to be valid.

Bus
France does not have a national bus service and therefore the French government encourages people to travel by train. The buses are usually limited to local transit or regional areas.