Scenic travel itineraries, magical hikes & unique stays — personally tested by our family.
I have to be honest, I totally have a love-hate affair with France.
On one hand I am a complete francophile who loves strolling through the streets of Paris and especially wandering the cute alleys in the South of France.
On the other hand, I can get extremely annoyed with some of the customs that go hand in hand with visiting France.
Nevertheless, I will always keep on returning to this beautiful country and I am actually dying to see more of it in the upcoming years. For me it’s a super easy destination to get to cause I can simply hop in my car and start driving.
Wether it’s spending a week along the French Riviera, living it up in St. Tropez or walking along the cliffs in Étretat. There’s something about France and its beautiful towns that keeps me drawing back in. Or it’s wonderful lavender season in the Provence!
Another event you definitely shouldn’t miss is visiting the Christmas markets in the Alsace Region. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped into a fairytale and the houses almost look like they’re made out of gingerbread.
But more importantly, indulge in the croissants, taste as many wines as possible and enjoy your baguette with some french stinky cheese! Non, je ne regrette rien!
The absolute best place to stay in Villefranche-sur-Mer is the beautiful Welcome Hotel. Situated at the boardwalk of the historic town all rooms come with a balcony offering incredible views of the bay.
They offer in-room breakfast, which you can enjoy from your private terrace, while looking at the sun glistening on the turquoise water.
There’s no restaurant but I highly recommend starting your evening in their signature bar or terrace with a rosé and their charcuterie board. Trust me, the pesto and truffle cheese were to die for!
Pan Dei Palais is a household name on the French Riviera nestled within the colorful streets of Saint Tropez and located on 5 minutes walking from Place des Lices.
With just 12 rooms this hotel will serve as your private oasis in the heart of Saint Tropez. Steeped in charming history since 1835, the hotel was originally a private residence built as a romantic gesture for Indian royalty, Princess Bannu Pan Deï,
Four our 1 week in the Provence we chose to stay near the town of Eygalières at a beautiful country house called Mas du Bonheur with a big garden and an outdoor pool.
The domain itself is shared with the owners but our terrace and house were completely private.
Hotel de la Comtesse is located right next to the Ecole Militaire behind the Eiffel Tower and offers one of the best views of the Parisian monument.
If you decide to stay here ask for a room on the 5th floor since these are the only rooms that come with a balcony!
When planning a trip to Paris you’ve most likely dreamed of staying near the Eiffel Tower. La Clef Tour Eiffel is the perfect answer to that.
The Eiffel Tower is only 10 minutes walking from your room and bonus, the Arc de Triomphe is only 20 minutes away!
Hotel Spa Genovese is right in the middle of Bonifacio, with alleys full of secrets and appeal. The hotel is made of only 15 rooms and is the perfect boutique hotel to stay when visiting Bonifacio.
Renovated in 2018, rooms are situated in the Genovese’s main property, while the suites are in a separate port-side building. Each guest room has a modern décor with air-conditioning and satellite TV.
La Plage Casadelmar is first and foremost about the beach. It is also a hotel with a holiday home feel nestling in an unspoiled natural setting. It comprises four villas and a main building, a swimming pool and a sand beach.
The hotel exudes an atmosphere of absolute refinement, but La Plage Casadelmar’s greatest luxury is its location.
Let me start by saying, there’s no bad time to visit France! It all depends on what you want to do and where you want to go!
Do you want to see the magic of the Christmas markets in the Alsace region? Then you should go at the end of November and December.
Do you want to stroll through Paris and catch the autumn foliage or spring blossoms? Then you should visit the City of Light either in October or March.
Or would you prefer to explore the French Riviera and sip on rosé in one of the fabulous beach bars? Then do try to avoid July since that’s the absolute busiest month! Instead June is a much better option and if you go at the end of June you can also travel to the Provence to see the world famous lavender fields.
Language – The official language is France is French. The French are very proud of their language and especially in more remote places you’ll find that people won’t speak much English.
Currency – The official currency of France is the EURO
Credit Cards & ATM’s – Most restaurants and stores will accept payment by credit card, especially VISA and Mastercard. American Express is harder to find actually around the country but an ATM is always easy to find.
Plugs – The plugs in France are Type C and E. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Safety – France is in general a pretty safe country to visit. However do beware of pickpockets in the bigger cities and keep your belongings close to you, especially when riding the subway in Paris.
Restaurants – Restaurants in France operate according to set times and are usually open between 12pm and 2pm and open again in the evening around 7pm.
It’s huge – A lot of tourists go to France, only to visit Paris. Big mistake, HUGE mistake! While Paris is indeed one of the most beautiful cities in the world there’s a lot more to France than just its main capital.
Tipping – Tipping isn’t necessary in France because a service charge is already included in your bill. At some restaurants, there are separate prices for a “sur place” and “emporter.”
Toll roads – There are a lot of toll roads in Paris and if you’re traveling between big cities by car and on the highway, chances are very high you’ll encounter them.
Phrases to learn in French:– Hello ( Bonjour)- Excuse me ( Excusez-Moi)- Thank you ( Merci)- I am lost ( Je suis perdu)- I don’t speak French ( Je ne parle pas le Français)- In English, please ( En Anglais, s’il vous plaît)
When it comes to choosing a rental car company things can get a little confusing cause there’s a lot of companies out there ready to rip you off.
Horror Story: In South Africa the rental car company that I booked with actually copied my credit card details and 1 day later my card was blocked. So there I was, in the middle of South Africa and without a credit card. Luckily we would switch to a different company the next day for the further duration of our trip but you really don’t want this to happen on your holiday.
You also don’t want any hidden costs added to your bill.
A good rental car company should include the following in your rental price: unlimited mileage and a fair fuel arrangement, third-party insurance of at least €7.5 million, damage insurance, theft insurance, towing cost if your car breaks down and cancel or change your reservation without any hassle.
For my road trips I always prefer booking with SunnyCars. Here you can already rent a car for as little as €27 per day and every single cost is included upon check out. Oh, and all of the things that I mentioned above that should be included are also included with them!
💡 TIP – Sometimes the local rental company will try to make you pay for additional insurance. This is in no way necessary cause SunnyCars offers you full coverage.
CHECK OUT THE RATES AT SUNNY CARS
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