Welcome to the Beautiful Western Loire Get to know France’s Pays de la Loire region As the Loire River runs west towards the Atlantic, the traveler enters a peaceable region of lush countryside, vineyards, long sandy beaches and salt marshes, dotted with many small undiscovered castles, manor houses and hunting lodges. Bucolic pleasures are mixed with fascinating cities, stunning artwork and cultural festivities.  Pays de la Loire Highlights Le Mans-Laval: The famous 24-hour car race and “rillettes”, a local gastronomic speciality, have, in their different ways, assured the town’s reputation. Le Mans is a shop window for progress but it is also knows how to maintain its traditions. While speed…

The Grand Est region of France is made up of three historically distinct regions: Alsace, Lorraine and Champagne. The Grand Est is one of the most beautiful regions of France and a perfect place to visit while on a France vacation. Champagne, France. An Appreciation. When 86,000 acres produces 200 million bottles of bubbly, you might say you have a popular product. Champagne is all about luxury and celebration, a tradition that started in the 10th century when it became the official drink at the coronation of French King Hugh Capet. And isn’t it impressive when your drink is so popular and well made they name it after the land? People are…

Welcome to Burgundy, France’s Premier Wine Region The region of Burgundy is located southwest of Paris. It is easily accessible from Paris via high-speed TGV train, modern highways, and a network of rivers and canals.  Burgundy is considered the wine capital of France, and with good reason: the wines of Burgundy set the standard for the world.  Visit Burgundy with us. The Saone River, the Canal de Bourgogne, and numerous other waterways provide a leisurely means for a river boat vacation in France. From behind the wheel of a rented boat you can glide along tree-lined canals, floating along at the pace of a brisk walk (that is about as fast as the…

All about the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region and Bordeaux The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is located in the southwest of France. It is made up of the former regions of Aquitaine, Poitou-Charentes, and Limousin. The capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine is the city of Bordeaux and is roughly 350 miles from Paris. Bordeaux is easily accessible from Paris in just over two hours via high speed TGV rail. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is one of France’s premier wine growing regions. Varieties grown in the region include Margaux, Medoc, Sauterne, and Saint-Emilion among others. A visit to the region is a delight for the wine enthusiast. Nouvelle-Aquitaine is also a region of wide open spaces which includes Europe’s largest untouched…

Travel in the Footsteps of Brittany’s Artists The French Ministry of Culture has designated eight cities in Brittany as national “cities of art and history” for their contributions to the culture and beauty of France. They are: Quimper, Auray, Vannes, Rennes, Fougères, Vitré, Dinan, and Saint-Malo. For more than two centuries, Brittany has inspired artists from all over the globe, and today it remains one of the most popular French regions for artists. Artists founded colonies at Concarneau, Pont-Aven, and Douarnenez. In the 1860s, the American artists Henry Bacon, Robert Wylie, and others traveled from Philadelphia through Paris to Brittany in search of fresh inspiration and established themselves in Pont-Aven.…

Join us on our journey along the Brittany coast If you are determined to see the second most visited site in France, the monastery at Mont St. Michel, you might as well include the Brittany coast, too. That was our logic as we set off via rental car from Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris, me fresh off a coach flight from Los Angeles, husband John with a head start on his jet lag having arrived about 36 hours before. We were in a jaunty 5 speed diesel Renault rental, shockingly roomy inside, and with that awesome heating capability you absolutely need in Northern Europe, even in March. Maybe especially in…

Custom and Private Le Havre Shore Excursions If you are landing at a port of call in Normandy, France such as Le Havre please contact us to arrange a custom tour to the d-day landing beaches or for a special day trip to Paris. Pick-up and drop-off at your dock. Call us before your cruise toll free in the USA at 1-424-386-5222 or email us. Suggested Tour Sites and Destinations from Le Harve: Read our company reviews on Trip Advisor. If you have any other destinations in mind besides the above please visit our Normandy page. One thing to keep in mind when planning Le Havre Shore Excursions is that it…

My Trip to Burgundy and Montreaux Recently, we found ourselves in Montreaux, Switzerland for a travel convention. In Montreaux you are on the shores of pristine Lake Geneva, on the Swiss side Friendly travel tip: Switzerland is on the Swiss franc, not the euro.  But it’s 2019 and we did not trade any money in the age of plastic and chipped cards.   You do get to choose which currency you want to be billed in when they run the card.  I have no idea whether you can save a few centimes doing that.   We literally just alternated the currency choice.  A weird temperature blip/micro-climate allows palm trees to grow along the…

Luxury Hotels in the wonderful South of France Great location, great service, memorable food – all these hotels have that, and more. The list is in no particular order; it made sense to us to let all hotels be viewed as equals. Hotel Martinez had the benefit of being the first hotel we chose for the list this year, so it occupies top slot for no other reason than that. Enjoy! Also, see our “Best Hotels in Paris” and “Best Hotels in the Rest of France” lists. 1. HOTEL MARTINEZ – CANNES Classic luxury in the middle of Cannes The Hotel Martinez has been a presence on the Croisette since…

French hotels and regions worth discovering Great location, great service, memorable food – all these French hotels have that, and more. The list is in no particular order; it made sense to us to let all hotels be viewed as equals. Grand Hotel Barriere had the benefit of being the first hotel we chose for the list this year, so it occupies top slot for no other reason than that. Enjoy! Also, see our “Best Hotels in Paris” and “Best Hotels in the South of France” lists. 1. GRAND HOTEL BARRIERE – DINARD The gorgeous Brittany coast is graced with five stars in Dinard. Located on the Côte d’Émeraude of Brittany, the…