Overview |
France is the centre of any European tour. Other countries can argue -- they will -- but for the sheer staggering wealth of tourist attractions France is, in Europe, the lead country. It stands between Italy, Spain and the countries of central Europe. It is about the size of Texas, slightly larger that California. Within that compass it is a diverse country -- diverse in scenery, living styles, food, wine, and sport. And yet all combined with a style which is definitely and frequently defiantly French yet difficult to pin down.
(A small pointer to the French style. A heart specialist was asked about what is known as the French Conundrum. That is, the French drink wine, eat food which frequently contains fat, do not exercise as much as they should and yet enjoy one of the lowest death rates from heart attack in the world. His explanation? "God loves France.")
The French have left their mark throughout the world from the tragic nonsense which was Rainbow Warrior in New Zealand to the great restaurants of the world. It is a society that is rapidly changing. Before the Second World War about a third of the people of France were engaged in farming of one sort or another. The current figure is under three percent and declining.
France is far less expensive than most people imagine. Yes, there are the three star Michelin restaurants where you take out a mortgage before you have a meal. But they are the exception, not the rule. You can eat better in France for a reasonable sum of money than almost any other country in the world. Yes, the price of petrol approaches high farce but the train system is one of the best in Europe.
Even in Paris it is possible to stay in great comfort at a reasonable price provided you use the Metro to get you out to your hotel from the heart of Paris where, understandably, hotels are not cheap. Understand clearly that it is possible to enjoy Paris without being able to see the Eiffel Tower out of your bedroom window.
You can have almost any style of holiday you want in France. Possibilities range from sunning it on the Riviera, skiing in the French Alps, exploring the chateaux of the Loire, building up your tan on the Cote d'Azur or enjoying the intellectual life of the sidewalk cafes in Paris. Make a choice and it is available.
And think not that France is just cities joined together with high speed rail and auto routes. Consider one simple fact. One fifth of the country is still covered with forests and national parks are a major part of the scenery and are, indeed, being expanded.
Top
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Facts |
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Climate
France has a temperate climate with four basic climatic zones.
West of a line drawn between Bayonne and Lille the zone is humid, being near the sea, and has cool summers.
In Alsace-Lorraine and in the mountain areas -- the Alps, Pyrénées, Massif Central -- there is a semi-continental zone with cold winters and hot summers.
In the North, the Paris region and the central region there is an intermediate zone with cold winters and hot summers.
Finally there is a Mediterranean zone in the south of France with mild winters and very hot summers. Top
Communications
Up until ten years ago the French voice telephone system was
truly
woeful. It has since improved beyond measure. But France still uses a
telephone jack which is like no other you have ever seen. Seriously
weird. If you are trying to use a computer to get to the Internet you
will need a converter.
Note that some hotels will slap a major percentage on to any call
made from a hotel bedroom. 400 percent has been recorded. Before you
make any calls from a hotel check the rates. Better yet, take your
digital mobile phone with you. It will work in most of France except
the very rural areas.
To call abroad from France first dial 00, then the country code,
then the phone number. To place a call within France just dial the
ten
digit number. Note carefully that all telephone numbers in France are
ten digits. This new number of digits came in October 1986 but you
will still see the old numbers sometimes used. Unless it has ten
digits it is not correct and you need to find the new number.
Roughly 01 was added for the Paris region, 02 for the north-west
of France, 03 for the north-east, 04 for the south-east, 05 for the
south-west. But how do you know where one region ends and another
starts? You don't. So it if the number is not ten digits you need to
check.
There are telephone kiosks -- cabine -- from which you can
call most anywhere including overseas. Most of them now take phone
cards -- télécarte -- which you can buy from Post Offices.
(Interesting point. At the bottom of the Champs Elysee at the other
end from l'Etoile is a street market which trades only in used
telephone cards. Make of that what you will.)
In the early eighties France Telecom started what it likes to
think of as a precursor to the Internet, Minitel. This replaced
telephone books and gave more than 6 million homes and countless
government agencies access to 22,000 databases and services. Provided
they paid. The only free service was the telephone directory and some
publicity for France Telecom. It is a sad reflection on human nature
that some 80 percent of the revenue derived from the rest of this
service was from advertisements of a, ahem, delicate or perhaps
indelicate kind. This was known as Minitel Rose.
The service was started by France Telecom giving everyone a
terminal. As a marketing idea that takes some beating and Minitel
became essential equipment in every home.
France Telecom has kept hammering out propaganda that this was
the
original Internet. It has done this without telling the people of
France that, in fact, Minitel was a massively overpriced messaging
system well past its use-by date but a nice little earner for France
Telecom. And had nothing to do with the Internet whatsoever.
Having said that it is still the most amazing tool for collecting
information. Almost every hotel has it and if you ask where is, for
example, a shop selling paint for decorating silk in Paris -- this is
an example taken from life -- it will print out not just the name and
address but the sort of products sold.
Now France has realised that it has been deprived of the Internet
by France Telecom and that Minitel, although in its day a giant of
communication, is no longer world class. The self-serving actions of
France Telecom have left France considerably behind the rest of the
world in the Internet stakes. Now France is starting to catch up but
there is still a long way to go.
Rightly, France fights against Americanisation. If you put up an
Internet site in France it must be both in French and English.
You will find cybernet cafes throughout France where you can log
in and get your email. And from many two and three star hotels you
can
connect using the hotel's telephone system although for a long
session
this can be costly. You will not see advertising in France carrying
Internet site addresses to any great extent although this is changing.
In France a post office is normally called a Bureau de Poste or
PTT. They are open normal office hours but you can by stamps from
what
are called tabacs -- government-run tobacco shops. You can also buy
phone cards at the same place. You can tell a tabac because it will
have a sign which will be a red or orange elongated. Do not be
confused if it is contained in a café or news-stand. That is often
the
case.
Post boxes areyellow and are set into the wall of post offices.
The delivery system is good to excellent. If you get it a letter into
the mail before the last collection it stands a pretty fair chance of
being delivered anywhere in France the next day. Overseas is one to
five days depending on the destination which is pretty much the same
as most other countries.
There is a 24 hour post office in Paris at 52 rue du Louvre,
7500l. Take the Metro and get off at Louvre station. Full of hopeful
young Americans hoping Mom has sent a cheque.
French post offices are very good at helping you to get stuff
home. This stops you paying excess baggage and lugging stuff all the
way around France. Most post offices sell yellow shipping boxes with
fastening systems and that is the way to do it. You may be subject to
duty on the goods when they get home.
If you are using an overseas telephone calling card from a pay
phone you will need to put in one franc to get the dial tone to get
on
to the system. If it does not have a coin slot then you will need a
prepaid French card as well. Many of the French phones will not,
under any circumstances, use an overseas telephone calling card. The
one at the Picasso Museum in Le Marais does not. This has been shown
by actual test. Top
Dangers & Annoyances
The amount of crime in France is not high. The only time it will
affect the tourist normally is through pick-pocketing. This is true
of
every country in Europe. Often the pickpockets are gangs of children
and they are immensely adept at distracting your attention while
rifling your pockets.
Follow some simple rules and you should not have problems. Ladies
should carry their handbags in the French style so the strap goes
across their bodies. This is especially true in the Metro. Men should
either use a money belt or keep their wallet in an inside pocket
which
is closed with a large safety pin.
Never carry large amounts of cash and do not wear flashy
jewellery. Wearing a large gold Rolex watch is like hanging out an
invitation sign.
Use the safe in the hotel to hold your important papers. Do not
carry your passport with you except when it is actually needed. If
anyone hails you from a car stand well back on the pavement before
replying. Do not walk up to the window to engage in conversation.
In cases of loss or theft, you must fill in a statement of loss
or
theft and present it to the specific authorities:
For a lost or stolen passport go first to the nearest police
station and the nearest Consulate to get a 3-month temporary
passport.
For a credit card you must ring the emergency service and make a
statement at the police station.
American Express: (0) 1-47-77-72-00.
Eurocard-Mastercard: (0) 1-45-67-84-84.
Visa: (0) 4 42 77 11 90
Diner's Club: (0) 1-47-62-75-00.
The French police come in many different flavours but there are
two main groupings -- the Police Nationale and the Gendarmeries
Nationale. For a visitor they can effectively be regarded as all the
same.
In France you can be stopped anywhere and asked to produce an ID.
Some guides suggest you carry your passport at all times which seems
a
damn silly idea. Mostly the police will accept a driving licence as
proof of identity if it has a photograph.
The French police have no sense of humour and being facetious
will
get you nowhere. Nor will threatening to call your ambassador. Be
polite, be quiet, respond reasonably and all will be well. Top
Currency
French currency is the franc, which is divided into 100 centimes
and comes in notes of F20, 50, 100 and 500, and coins of F1, 2, 5 and
10, and 5, 10, 20, 50c. You can change money at a bank but at
provincial banks you will get a terrible rate. The best rate is
nearly
always with an ATM. Do not try to pay for things in foreign currency.
The shops do not like it and show their displeasure by charging an
extortionate exchange rate.
Banks are generally open from 0900 to 1600 or sometimes 1700. In
smaller towns and cities banks may close from 1200 to 1400. Bear in
mind that on the eve of public holidays, banks often close early.
Exchange rates will normally be on display but note there are
agents commissions and these can vary tremendously. Check before you
change your money.
The Euro will eventually replace the franc. But not yet awhile.On
theother hand, you will now invariably find that all prices are
quoted in both euros and francs. The euro will be in small type. It
will be interesting to guess in which year this will change. Best bet
is 2002. Top
Credit Cards
Most of the major restaurants and night-clubs and gas stations
will accept the major credit cards. But not always.
In some parts of the south of France they are now using credit
cards with a chip built in. They do not have the magnetic strip. This
can lead to problems where the machine no longer accepts credit cards
with magnetic strips. In which case you may have to use cash or a
traveller's cheque.
Note that very few establishments will accept a traveller's
cheque
if it is made out in anything else but French francs. Unlike any
other
in the world, France does not like covers cheques made out in US
dollars. This can be extremely inconvenient. In the near future you
will be able to use the Euro. But not yet.
ATM machines are known as guichets automatiques and are
available everywhere in France. They typically offer the best
exchange
rates.
Pretty well all ATMs in France will accept Visa and MasterCard,
and many are linked to the Cirrus and Plus systems. Unlike anywhere
else in the world in France you may sometimes be asked for your PIN
when paying with a credit card at hotels and restaurants. Which means
that you have to remember your PIN which some may find quite
difficult. Top
Economy
France is a very prosperous country and it is growing at a
reasonable rate of 4 percent with inflation being kept down to 2
percent. It is very much part of the European Union and is a great
supporter. It is very probable that the use of the Euro will be more
advanced in France than anywhere else. The GDP is $US1.32 trillion
which works out at $US22,700 per head of population. Top
Electricity
You can now work on the basis that France is totally 220-230
volts
AC. But until a few years ago there were places running at
110-115volts and it is just possible that you might find examples out
in the depth of the country. The shape of the sockets is slightly
peculiar and you will need an adapter. Top
Food and Drink
The French are very serious about the food that they eat. Even
if it is the plainest meal it will be prepared carefully. The concept
of the TV dinner is not popular in France.
You could think of the food of France as dividing into four
levels. The first is haute cuisine which is very rich and prepared in
a most elaborate way. Its high priest was Escoffier who was not the
first nor, perhaps, the best practitioner. But he wrote recipe books
which became best-sellers.
Coming down a bit in style, but not in flavour of the end
product,
we find cuisine bourgeois. This is the style of cooking which was
best
publicised by Elizabeth David in England.
She was remarkable in that she could not only write about food
and
give the essential recipes -- she could do so in style and with
grace.
To such an extent that her books were and are immensely readable to
people who are not interested in food.
In the United States the same job was done by Julia Child.
Although, as a writer, she was not in the same league has Elizabeth
David she had a wider audience. The two together transformed the
world's attitudes towards French cooking.
Then there is nouvelle cuisine which started in the 1970s and
seems to be more concerned with the way in which the food looks
rather
than the way which it is cooked. In fact, that is not quite fair.
What
it does is emphasise fresh ingredients mixed and matched in new and
interesting ways so that the original flavours and aromas can come
out.
What you now get served in France is in fact a mixture of these
three -- haute, bourgeois and nouvelle. It would take a brave person
to be definite where one ends and the other begins. Together they
provide a culinary experience which cannot be matched anywhere else
in
the world.
One hesitates to discuss the fourth level of food in France. That
has been imported from United States and is le quick snack
taken on the run. Sadly this has become popular especially in Paris.
But not, all Gods be thanked, so popular that it has diminished the
French interest in good food and superb cooking. It does not matter
how restricted your budget you will still eat better in France than
you will any where else in the world.
If you want to eat cheaply there are street stalls where you will
get snacks which you can browse. But perhaps the best way to get an
inexpensive meal is to shop in a series of places -- charcuterie,
boulangerie and so on -- and build yourself a phenomenal picnic for a
very small amount of money.
A brasserie is like a restaurant only quicker and normally
cheaper. The name brasserie technically means brewery and you will,
indeed, be able to buy a beer at the bar. Brasseries normally open
until very late and offer snacks until they close. They tend to be a
bit rougher than cafes and the food is not always of the highest
French quality. Check the menu outside -- every establishment always
has one -- before wandering in to make sure it serves the style of
food you would like.
A bistro is quicker still -- the name comes from a word meaning
quickly -- and even less expensive.
Before entering a restaurant, brasserie or bistro check the menu
displayed outside for price or you may have a most nasty shock to the
wallet.
In many, perhaps in most, restaurants, the menus are only in
French. If they are in English then the restaurant is catering for
tourists and you should not be there. It is perfectly possible to
assemble a crib sheet and carry it with you to check what unusual
phrases on the menu mean. An easier, and more cost-effective way, it
to always go with the special of the day. It will always represent
excellent value for money.
A French meal is always served with bread and accompanied by wine
and water.
It is now the law that restaurants must have non-smoking areas
and
you can be asked to be seated there. Sadly, you may find some of the
other restaurant guests do not observe this rule but complaining will
only result in an incident and it is best to leave well alone.
Odd tip. When you are ordering coffee in a bar or café remember
that un café or un express is black; un crème is
with milk; un grand café is a large cup. In the morning, ask
for café au lait - espresso which is coffee in a large cup or
bowl with hot milk.If you can get the bowl -- true in most low to
medium price hotels -- this is the only way to go. A bowl such as
this will set you up for the day.
There is considerable debate as to whether this café au
laitis available in the traditional soup bowl from cafes. Yes it
is. But not as widely as it should be. Just keep trying. It is
wonderful when you get it. Forget tea which the French have perfected
as the final revenge on the English. In reply, England has done the
same thing with coffee
Every bar or café displays a full price list for drinks at the
bar
-- au comptoir -- which is the cheapest way to do it. If you
want to sit at a table inside -- la salle -- it will be
slightly more expensive. And more expensive yet will be the terrace
outside where you can watch the world go by. Note that if you buy a
coffee or whatever no one is pressing you to gulp it down so the
comparatively high cost should be balanced against the amount of
space
you are taking for a period of time. Be warned that in some places --
Ile de la Cite in Paris is a good example -- a large Coke can cost
FF80 which is astounding. But you are not so much paying for the Coke
as renting desirable table space. However, in tourist areas always
check before ordering a drink in a cafe in a very high traffic
tourist
attraction. The price will make you choke.
Wine is important in France but do not be overawed. A recent
survey of fifty clarets, wines of Bordeaux, by an impeccable
independent authority in Britain, found 49 of the 50 bottles total
rubbish. French wine is going through a bad patch at the moment
especially with the chateau-bottled -- read over-priced --- plonk.
The easy and the best option is to order the house wine which
will, at worst, be very drinkable, and at best, will be a sublime and
affordable experience. In Paris the reputation of the restaurant
rests
on being able to provide a reasonable house wine. In the wine regions
there is great local pride in providing something which reflects the
quality of the region.
Unless you are on an unlimited budget and you are having the meal
of a lifetime in a three star Michelin restaurant, stick with the
house wine.
In most restaurants wine will be offered to you by the bottle as
the house wine -- vin de table or vin ordinaire or by
the glass -- un rouge or un blanc. In some restaurants
you will be offered un pichet which is a small jug -- say two
large glasses -- of a superior wine at a low price. This is great
when
you can get it.
If you must drink beer stick with Belgian or German. French beer
is not great.
Note that although the French regard the vintage of a wine
important they are totally unimpressed by great age in the bottle.
That is an English, and to a lesser extent, Australian, affectation.
The main wine regions of France are:
Bordeaux which lies between the Dordogne and Garonne rivers. Can
be either red or white and can range from quite ordinary and dreadful
to magnificent. Often within a few kilometres. Suggestions that thin
crops are increased by the importation of tankers of gut-rot from
Algeria and Morocco should be disregarded as lies propagated by
disgruntled wine growers of other countries. There is also no truth
in
the rumour that some of the producers of the lesser brands eat the
grapes first. No truth whatsoever.
Burgundy produces red wines which have body, presence and,
normally, strength rather than subtlety. The best known would be
Beaune which at its best is transcendental. One wine writer, very
pretentiously, said you can hear the clash of steel upon steel in its
depths. But, as it happens, it is true. This area also includes wine
from Chablis. It is interesting that the bold wines of Burgundy
perfectly complement the more robust cuisine of that area.
Champagne. There is no such thing as French champagne. Sounds
daft
but it is correct. If champagne is not French then it is sparkling
white wine or sekt or whatever. Champagne is champagne. Not
French champagne. The name champagne stands on its own two feet.
Champagne comes from the region around Reims -- a most marvellous
place to visit. There are far more makers of champagne than you would
ever believe. Most of the champagne vintage is drunk in France and
not
exported. About four percent of the different styles leave the
country. Visiting Reims is an absolute eye opener as you test great
champagne after great champagne. And all from houses -- cuvees -- of
which you have never heard.
From the Loire come some superior white wines. From the Côtes du
Rhône -- this includes Beaujolais -- a selection of fascinating red
wines. Provence has its rosé while Alsace has sweet whites which are
almost Germanic in their style and quality. Top
History
France is history. It is all there and exploring it would take
many lifetimes.
Start with the Romans. Julius Caesar wrote De Bello
Gallico
of which the first words were Gallia est omnis divisa in partes
tres -- Gaul is divided into three parts. In fact Gaul existed
long before the Romans. There are prehistoric paintings on the walls
of caves in the south-west which shows the area has been occupied
since the Middle Palaeolithic Age, about 90,000 to 40,000 years ago.
Originally the settlers were the Celts -- and they are still
there
in Brittany. The Greeks tried to take over in 600 BC and managed to
establish a small colony in Marseille.
Then came Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars -- 58-51 BC. The
Roman
army was considered totally invincible in that it could not be beaten
on the field of battle.And so Pax Romana brought two
centuries
of peace and, as it happens, Christianity to Gaul. Then the Roman
empire started slipping and by the 4th century the Franks, the
Vandals
and the Visigoths -- not generally regarded as nice chaps -- started
invading. Clovis, King of the Franks, became a Christian and brought
unity to Gaul.
By the end of the first millennium France was basically a loose
group of feudal lordships. But bit by bit France struggled towards
nationhood even though England thought it owned large chunks. In 1309
Philippe IV managed to lean on Pope Boniface VIII and his successors
to move the papal court to Avignon.
The English were still keen on claiming France as their own and
this led to the start of the Hundred Years War in 1337. In 1429, Joan
of Arc rallied the troops at Orléans and drove the rotters back. At
the time she was17 years of age. She was betrayed, turned over to
the
English, convicted of heresy and burned at the stake in Rouen. Soon
after the English were finally expelled.
Between 1562 and 1598 France had its Wars of Religion. Basically
Catherine de Medici against the Huguenots. She ordered the St.
Bartholomew's Day Massacre. In 1589, Henri IV became the first
Bourbon
king of France and converted to Catholicism in case Catherine de
Medici decided to do it all again. He then enacted the Edict of
Nantes, which guaranteed religious and political rights to the
Huguenots.
Thus we come to the 17th century when France comes to glory. It
was then that Louis XIII and Cardinal Richelieu together grasped the
reins of power and France became an Absolute Monarchy.
Louis XIV, the Sun King, took over at the age of five and was the
most powerful and opulent monarch Europehad seen. He bankrupted the
nation to live in a style undreamed of. This was the start of the
fall
of the monarchy. On July 14, 1789, a Parisian mob stormed the
Bastille. Then came the Declaration of the Rights of Man with
Liberté,
Egalité and Fraternité and the emergence of the radical Jacobins, led
by Robespierre, Danton and Marat.
The Terror regime of Robespierre and his Committee of Public
Safety used the guillotine to bring to an untimely end the lives of
royalty and sundry hangers on. (Odd note. Dr Joseph Ignace Guillotin
had proposed his device -- based on a Scottish invention -- as a
humane way of ending life. He was horrified when it was used by the
Terror to lop off countless heads.)
At the end of the Revolution came Napoleon Bonaparte who was
crowned First Consul at the age of thirty and was, undoubtedly, the
military genius of his age. Hebecame emperor in 1804. He nearly
conquered the whole of Europe but made a major strategic error in
attacking Russia. The Russian winter effectively destroyed his
chances
and much of his army. Wellington beat him again at Waterloo in 1815
but even Wellington admitted it was a damn close run thing.
Napoleon was replaced by Louis XVIII who was overthrown by
Charles
X who wanted a return to the old days. No one wanted this and in the
July Revolution of 1830 he was seen off. Then followed an elected
King, Louis Philippe, the Duke of Orleans. Followed by Louis
Napoleon,
nephew of Napoleon I, who was in 1948 who was elected the first
president of the Second Republic. In 1852, he was proclaimed Emperor
Napoleon III.
1870 saw the start of the Franco-Prussian war in which France was
hammered by the Germans and in the peace treaty lost Alsace and
Lorraine.
In 1914 came the First World War in which Germany was beaten. At
the Treaty of Versailles the Allies demanded generous restitution and
payments from the Germans which were unpayable. This led Germany to
destitution and into the arms of Hitler and the Second World War.
In 1940, the Germans invaded Paris and occupied the north and
west
parts of France until 1944. The rest of the country was theoretically
under the Government of Vichy led by Marshal Petain but it was, in
fact, a German controlled puppet government.
Soon after the American, British and Canadian military invasion
on
the Normandy Beaches on June 6, 1944, Charles de Gaulle entered Paris
to head the new government of the Fourth Republic.
The French after the war recovered very rapidly and went
seriously
high tech. At the same time it still saw itself as a colonial power
and was somewhat upset when it lost Vietnam and then Algeria. But
since the 1950's, French people have enjoyed the benefits of mass
culture and consumerism. It has a standard of living which can be
compared with that of the Untied States. Top
Government
France is a republic but the President of the Republic, although
by no means a dictator, has far more powers than, say, the prime
minister of Australia or of Britain. The president is chosen by
direct
election and keeps the office for seven years so once elected can
stop
worrying for a while about politics and think, instead, of the future
of the country.
The Assemblee Nationale has over 500 members who are like
members of parliament. There is an upper house, the Senate, but its
members are even less effective than the British House of Lords. The
321 members are all good at making long speechs and they serve for
nine years.
Actually running the county is the President and the Council of
Ministers who are appointed by the president but are, at least in
theory, responsible to Parliament. It depends who is president. When
Charles de Gaulle -- Le Grand Charles -- was in charge the
parliament danced to his tune.
(An odd story. When Charles de Gaulle retired he held an
interview
at which his wife, whose command of English was not of the best, was
present.
An interviewer asked Mme de Gaulle what she most looked forward
to now her husband retired.
She smiled and said very clearly, "A penis."
There was a pause and then Charles de Gaulle lent forward and
said
to his wife, "I think, my dear, you mean 'appiness.")
The President resides in the Palais de l'Elysee in Paris and is
also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Thus when Charles de
Gaulle gave orders regarding Algeria and the paras refused to obey
they were technically committing a mutiny and were, indeed, treated
as
mutineers.
The prime minister, however, tends to take care of domestic
details while the president decides whether France should recognise
China or murder the crew of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow
Warrior
or whatever is occuring abroad.
It is very much a French arrangement and it works pretty well. Top
Language
The language of France is French and don't you forget it. The
French are very touchy on the subject. They do not want
Franglais, that bastard mixture of French and English, to take
over their language. It is illegal to create an Internet site in
France unless it is done in French. You can also provide the
information in English but it must be totally available in French.
The French people are, perhaps, less than totally helpful to
foreigners trying to speak their language. Parisians, especially, can
be very uptight on the subject. In most cases just speak in English
and smile a lot. This breaks down most barriers.
Top
Medical Services
You must have medical insurance before you travel or you are
a fool to yourself.
Under the French social security system every hospital visit,
doctor's consultation and prescribed medicine is charged. If it is
not
an emergency a fee will be demanded before treatment. In an emergency
it all works as it should.
The numbers to remember for an emergency are police 17; ambulance
15; fire 18.
To find a doctor ask at your hotel or any pharmacy. All
pharmacies, incidentally, are equipped and able to administer first
aid . . . for a fee.
Doctors will give you a Statement of Treatment -- Feuille de
Soins -- so that you can claim back what you have paid. Most
French doctors are inclined to prescribe medicine to be taken as
suppositories. This is not always effective. For all the good some of
them do you might just as well stuff them up your arse. Top
Politeness, social etiquette and customs
The French tend to be somewhat formal. Not stand offish --
formal.
Therefore when they meet each other everyone shakes hands. And they
shake hands again when they leave. You will not get into the
complexities of when to use tu rather than vous -- when
in doubt use vous -- unless you learn to speak French. But you
should learn that the French always shake hands. And, as well, the
French tend to dress up rather than down. A little formality helps
oil
the wheels.
The French habit of kissing cheeks varies with the region and
with
the relationship between the kisser and the kissee. What you are
doing, in fact, is kissing air.
In Paris it tends to be three kisses, in Lyon it tends to be
two.
Watch first and then follow suit. Mothers kissing their children make
it one. Old friends who may have been slightly more than old friends
might go as far as four. This deserves a learned treatise.
There is a lot of flirting goes on between the sexes. That is not
to say it ends in sex. It does not. But flirtation is considered
part,
a highly enjoyable part, of life. Do not think that flirting is
always
a come-on or you may have a sad experience.
The French do not have the Anglo-Saxon hang-up about nudity and
going topless on the beaches of the Riviera while not actually
mandatory is pretty commonplace.
On the other hand no one can ever sit on the grass in a park or,
horror of horrors, lie down. There are, of course, exceptions but in
most parks in Paris, for example, the grass is there for you to look
at.
When dining, the French seem to become more formal. They respect
their food and wine and treat it with some seriousness. Ordering a
Coke with a meal is a bad idea. If you want to have a non-alcoholic
beverage like that, have it before the meal.
The French may appear to eat a large number of courses but if you
watch carefully you will see the portions are very small. And that a
wine glass, sometimes a half full wine glass, seems to last them the
whole of the meal.
If you are eating in a restaurant -- not a café -- the minimum
dress level will be smart casual. You do not seat yourself. You will
be taken to your table by a waiter -- a maître d'hôtel in a formal
restaurant - and you will be given the menu. When you have ordered
and
eaten you will need to ask for the bill.
Meal times are pretty standard with breakfast being served
between
0700 and 0900. This will be a continental breakfast with superb
coffee
in a massive cup and a croissant, bread, butter and jam.
Lunch is served between noon and 1400 and is normally the main
meal of the day.
Dinner runs between 1930 and 2100 and it is better to book then
depend on luck. Top
People
It would be wrong not to mention attitudes towards the French and
French attitudes towards tourists and guests of their country. There
is a widespread belief that the French are stand-offish and difficult
to get on with. This is most certainly not true anywhere outside
Paris. You may find their politics odd -- some of them are to the
right of the late and unlamented Genghis Khan -- and they are very
individual in their views. It is difficult to find a French person
who
truly deplores the bombing of Rainbow Warrior. They deplore
the
fact that the agents were caught but not the death of an innocent
crew
member, not the bombing itself. So they can be very right wing. But
they are very friendly.
Charles de Gaulle in 1951 said, "The French will only be united
under the threat of danger. Nobody can simply bring together a
country
that has 265 kinds of cheese." Wrong. There are at least 365 types of
cheese. And the French can be united, by, among other things, the
Tour
de France, a loathing of imitation champagne and a detestation of all
rugby teams except their own.
So, yes, their politics may be a little odd but outside Paris
they
are warm hearted and friendly and very open.
Paris is a slightly different story. In that New York is not the
United States, so Paris is not France. It is possible that you will,
on occasion, meet with a cold reserve because you do not speak French
fluently and with a Parisian accent. It does happen. But not often
enough to be important.
The fact is that the French get bad publicity because they are
fairly easy to take a swing at.
James Cameron, one of the great journalists of this century,
wrote
in 1954 in the News Chronicle, "The simple thing is to
consider the French as an erratic and brilliant people, who have all
the gifts except that of running their country." Which reads well but
is pretty daft considering it was written by a Scot living in London.
He surely was not suggesting that the British government be held up
as
an example.
Billy Wilder's gag writers had him saying, "France is a country
where the money falls apart in your hands and you can't tear the
toilet paper." Which is funny and did have a ring of truth back in
the
sixties. But not today. France now has civilised loo paper just like
everywhere else.
Perhaps the most useful thing to remember about France is that it
has been said that every person has two countries, their own, and
France. This is true. (There appears to be no formal attribution for
this remark. The French Tourist Office seemsto think it was Benjamin
Franklin. But it is not in the Oxford Dictionary of
Quotations,
nor yet the Bergen Eans collection. Dalbiac's A Dictionary of
Quotations know it not. And even Stokes Familiar
Quotations
has no listing.
A Booleian search of the Internet shows: "Every man
has two countries: his own and France. -- Benjamin Franklin" but no
authority is given. As that was written by Australian journalist
Gareth Powell it is, by definition, suspect. Top
Population
France has a population which is now approaching 60 million. The
last count was on January 1, 1996 when it was 58.3 million. About 10
million of them live in and around Paris. Some of the statistics are
interesting. Only 2.7 percent of the working population are in
farming
and yet they frequently hold the whole economy to ransom. Top
Religion
63 percent of French people consider themselves Roman Catholic
but
you should not take that to mean that they are active Christians.
They
see themselves as Roman Catholic because that is the family
tradition.
In fact, religious observance has dropped in the past thirty years at
a remarkable rate. Now 3 percent declare themselves without religion.
France was a major Roman Catholic country and the result is that
it has some wonderful old churches in almost every town. However,
they
get more tourists visiting than locals worshipping. Top
Shopping
When shopping in France you need to make quite sure you do not
get
carried away. Stand outside a food shop and you realise you want to
take it all back home with you. It simply is not practical. Same
applies to the wine. What you should look for is clothing -- yes, the
French do have more style than the rest of us -- and small objects
which are superbly well designed. The French, of course, occasionally
turn out some horrors, but mostly everything they design and make has
style.
For seriously inexpensive stuff try Monoprix which is everywhere
and is entry level department store shopping. Top
Shopping Hours
Shops are open from Monday to Saturday from 0800 and close about
1900. Some shops open much later. In the provinces there will
probably
be a break between 1200 and 1400. Some shops also closed on Mondays.
Department stores are open from Monday to Saturday from 0900 to
1900. Although almost all shops are closed on Sundays many towns hold
markets on those days.
Museums are usually open from 0900 to 1830 but they all close on
either Monday or Thursday with Monday being the most probable choice. Top
Tourist information offices
There will be a tourist office -- a Syndicat d'Initiative
or SI -- in pretty much every town and village. The quality varies
tremendously but normally the standard is very high. These offices
have all of the local information, listings of things to see, bike
hire and usually free maps. What they are best at is booking local
accommodation where they will do their very best to get you something
which is within your budget and good value for money.
Note that in the tourist season they tend to be open every day
but
in the winter months the smaller ones may close altogether.
There are some amazing free -- good price that -- publication of
which the France Telecom Yellow Pages Guide to Paris is probably the
top of the tree. Every telephone company in the world should try and
follow this wonderfulexample. Top
Water
The water is drinkable everywhere in France but, mostly, the
locals drink bottled water which is available in quantities and
qualities to leave you lost for choice.
Top
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Getting around |
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Paris is the major gateway to France, but many international flights operate to other big cities. However, it is a fair bet that your entry point to France will be Paris.
Paris has two airports, Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle which is some 25km north-east of the city and Orly about 16km to the south. Most probably you will come in to Roissy which was ultra modern but now is getting a little frayed around the edges.
There is a very substantial internal airline network in France although the prices, for the distances covered, are very high. All French airports catering to international trade have shopping centres -- duty free is dead within the EC -- and efficient transport to the town centre. This is almost always by coach.
There are excellent urban bus services throughout France but they do not connect up with each other and with the railway as does, for example, the Germannetwork.
The buses rarely have anything going to areas outside of the rail network -- which is where they are needed. You will normally find the bus station -- gare routière -- next to the train station. But if you want to explore the surrounding countryside in depth you may find the only two viable ways are cycling or hiring a car.
The glory of France for internal travel -- and you should use it when you can -- is the rail network. SNCF runs what is the most extensive rail network in western Europe. The trains are fast and comfortable.
A ride on the ultra-fast TGV -- Train à Grande Vitesse -- is an experience in itself. You will probably never travel as fast across the ground again in your life. You pay a supplement for travelling on the TGV as you would pay a supplement for travelling by Concorde but it is only about F20 and it is worth every centime.
Note you have to book. This is absolutely essential. There is no other way of getting on the train. The number of TGVs keeps increasing and it is making France a very easy country to explore. You may well find that your cheapest option is an Eurail pass which will give you x number of days in a given period. The permutations are almost endless.
For reasons which no one can explain, on many TGV trains the restaurant cars serve disgusting food which rivals British Rail of yesteryear. How you can be offered plastic wrapped sandwiches with mystery fillings on the TGV from Paris to Lyons is a great wonder. Sadly, that is the case.
Regional rail maps and timetables are available free at train stations -- gares SNCF. Pretty much all of the stations have an information desk and coin-operated left-luggage lockers which are called consignes automatiques.
When readinga timetable it is vital to realise that if it says Autocar at the top of a timetable column it means you will not be going by train but on an SNCF bus. Not that this is a bad thing in itself but it is not the train.
Never hire a car to see Paris. You will never find a parking spot -- legal or illegal. Strangely enough the idea that the traffic is appalling in Paris is incorrect. Apart from the rush hours it moves quite freely. The problem is the parking.
There are dotted road markings to indicate parking spaces. But they are never vacant, ever. Those marked Payant are where you pay, unmarked spaces are free. These latter have cars that have been there since the Liberation. You will see that they are covered in dust.
Regard carefully any car in Paris and you will see that it is also dented front and rear. This comes from the Parisian practice of parking by ear. It is not accident of fate that rubber car bumpers were invented in France.
When a Parisian sees a potential parking spot it is full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes. It is not unheard of for a French driver to reverse at speed down a pavement in order to get to a just vacated parking space.
For the rest of France a hire car is not a bad idea.
Cars for hire in France tend to be manual gear box with a small engine. This is simply because of the cost of petrol which will stun you between the eyes when you first buy a tankful. If you want automatic you must reserve it in advance and be specific.
The French delight in driving very small cars with very large engines so that they can play at boy racers. Parisian drivers are also are congenitally incapable of telling the difference between the brake pedal and the horn. Sounding your horn is illegal in Paris which means many Parisians are criminals. Especially for some reason, on a Sunday, when in the streets of Paris you sometimes here cars having horn battles.
If someone is flashing their headlights into your rear mirror, get out of the way. It will be a car with a driver who believes that God gave him the right to overtake. Mr Toad is alive and well and living in France.
Note that the smallest cars hired simply cannot cope with a load of adults and luggage. Certainly not on long journeys and not up mountains passes. You need to make sure the car you hire is up to the task you have in mind. Something in the mid-range would be about right with a Peugeot 306 being favourite. Air conditioning is not standard on hire cars and is rare on the small compacts.
All car rental charges are based on 24-hour cycles which start when you sign the rental agreement. You get 59 minutes grace at the end but that is it. A few minutes over and you will be paying overtime which typically will be another 24 hours.
You will pretty much always get better rates by hiring from outside the country rather than waiting until you get there.
All cars, regardless of size have a legal maximum passenger limit of five passengers. After that you need two cars or a mini-bus.
Overseas drivers' licences are valid in France although you may care to get an International one from your local motorists association.
(Note on the Internet there is a lot of Spam mailing offering International Licences for silly prices. These are, of course, all utter nonsense and should be ignored. They suggest that if you lose your normal licence for some reason -- too many points -- you can drive on an International license. Only if you wish to end in prison.
When your licence is suspended your right to driveis revoked. No other licence over-rides the court's revocation of your right to drive. If you want an International licence they are easy to obtain through all motorists' organisations and are very inexpensive. But, by international agreement, they are only valid for one year. In most cases you do not need one.)
You should also carry your vehicle registration document and insurance papers which will be provided for you by the higher companies.
France has a series of autoroutes for which there is a charge. You can pay by swiping a credit card as you go on to the autoroute and at intervals thereafter. Because there is a charge, these autoroutes do not attract local traffic and you can cover very long distances in a day.
By actual test it can be shown that you can drive from Calais to Macon in time for lunch.
When working out the time to drive a given distance find outhow much of the way is autoroute. If you are driving the back roads then 150km a day might be more than enough. This is a holiday, not an endurance test. Include autoroutes and it could easily be four times that amount.
The autoroutes can work out to be fairly expensive and some guides recommend you use the older N or D numbered roads. (N is Route National which can be a highway but can be just two lane. D is Routes Départementales which will be a country road -- interesting but not wide and safe.) The problem is that a lot of local trucking companies have come to the same conclusion about using N and D roads and avoid autoroutes. For the extra it costs autoroutes are much better and safer and more comfortable.
Priority on the right exists although it is slowly being superseded and minor roads have a yellow diamond sign to let drivers know that priorite a la droite does not apply in this case.
In rural France the message still has not got through and if you see an old tractor on the right entering a main road work on the basis that the driver still believes he has absolute right of way. This can lead to interesting and exciting moments and an exchange of hand and finger signals which may not be mutually complimentary.
Speed limits are 130kph on highways, 110kph on major roads, 90kph on other roads and 50kph in towns. In fact, on the autoroutes the speed limit is rarely observed. However the police can fine you on the spot and will only accept cash for which you get a receipt.
The minimum fine for speeding is F1300 but if, right at the beginning, you make it clear you are a tourist, you may well be excused. This will not happen if you are stopped for drink/driving. At the least you will be fined F2,500. But you may well be taken off to durance vile and face even stronger fines. Don't drink and drive. Ever.
On the highways there are emergency phones every 2km. Or, if you are on a mobile, you can call Automobile Secours Service which is 05-05-05-24. On the autoroutes there are service stations which are like no others in the world. They are practically villages with shops, children playgrounds, nurseries, foreign exchange offices and frequently tourist bureaus.
You can get up-to-date information on the cost of tolls, total mileage, restaurants, service stations, hotels situated along the autoroutes on http://www.autoroutes.fr. This has travel between any of the 3,600 towns listed.
Possibly because of the influence of the Tour de France, cycling is popular and safe. Cars give bike riders a wide berth and parking your bike is always easy. Bikes go free on trains. Railway stations will rentyou a bike which you can return to another, specified, railway station.
In Paris and most cities you can take a taxis. Parisian taxis drivers in the last five years have improved beyond belief. The cabs are now clean and the drivers know where they are going. It was not always thus. There are said to be 14,900 taxis in Paris alone with 470 cab ranks. You can hail cabs in the street or pick one up at a rank. The Metro is always and ever a far better bet simply because of cost.
The Metro is another glory of France. Contrary to popular belief it is not just in Paris. There is also a Metro in Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Toulouse and Rouen. It works like a dream being both quick and cheap. The Metro is mainly for city centres. Once you are out in the far suburbs it is buses instead.
The Metro starts around 0530 and stops about half an hour after midnight. Do not worry if you miss atrain. There will be another one along in two minutes or so. You can but tickets for each trip but it is more cost efficient to buy a book of ten which is called a carnet. You can get them at metro stations -- ticket counters or automatic ticket machines -- or at tabacs.
You can tell a Metro station because it has a yellow M outside. Some of them still have the glorious old signs in a sort of art nouveau script but these are sadly, slowly but surely being replaced. Top
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Seeing the sights |
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.SUGGESTED ITINERARIES
One Week - Spend your time in and around Paris. It’s also worth while heading into one of the nearby regions, such as the Loire Valley, Champagne, Alsace or Normandy. Two Weeks - As above, plus one area in the west or south such as Brittany, the Alps or Provence. One Month - As above but spending more time in each place and visiting more of the west or south (eg Brittany or the Cote d'Azur). Two Months - As above, plus hiking in the Pyrenees or Alps; hanging out at one of the beach areas on the Mediterranean or Atlantic Coast; spending some time in more remote areas (e.g. the Basque Country or Corsica).
PRINCIPAL TOURING AREAS OF FRANCE
Alps - The French Alps are mighty in stature and mighty in tourist-attracting powers. There’s good reason for this latter factor, as here you’ll find some of Europe’s most sensational scenery. The Alps are busy year-round – in winter skiers and snow bunnies come for the snow and in summer mountain climbers and hikers visit to “bag a peak” or two. The major resorts here include Corcheval, Gap, Tignes, Digne, Aix-lex-Bains and Chamonix. Auvergne - This area in the heart of the Massif Central Mountains is France’s major spa centre. The mineral springs are well known for their remedial properties. The main health spas are in Le Mont Dore, Royal and Vichy. The landscape around Clermont-Ferrand and Le Puy is notable for the fascinating its volcanic rock formations, which make it look like the surface of the moon. Basque Country and the Pyrenees - Here in the Pyrenees, where southern France and Spain merge, lies one of the most attractive regions of France, with Atlantic beach resorts, such as Biarritz and Hendaye, and scenic mountainous areas that hide old villages and medicinal springs. The Basque people, in their berets and red cummerbunds, are famous for their fandango dancing, carnivals, poetry, pelota playing and campaigning for status as an independent nation.
Brittany - The most important aspect of the Bretons’ lives is the sea, and this understandable given that the region is fringed by 1200 km of midwestern coast just below Normandy . The coastline is resplendent with a jagged line of rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. Fishing villages, folklore, prhistoric megaliths and interesting churches and cottages give the region a Celtic feel, and if you’ve ever been to Ireland you’ll see why. As you travel along the coast you’ll come across pretty towns, including La Baule, Benodet, Concarneau, Dinard, Dinan and Quiberon. Larger centres include Nantes, Rennes, Quimper and, on a rocky Atlantic island, St Malo. Lorient, with its many sports facilities and fine seafood restaurants, is a good place to base yourself while touring the region. Burgundy - The ancient province of Burgundy in central France is renowned for incomparable wines and wonderful food. September and October are grape harvesting months. From May through September Burgundy is alive with concerts, wine, fairs, festivals, plays and art exhibitions. Dijon, the ancient capital of the Burgundian dukes, holds an annual Gastronomic Fair in November. Autun, once compared by Caesar to Rome, is one of France's richest cities in terms of museums and art. Macon produces many high quality wines; Saulieu is a popular summer resort; Tulle boasts interesting period architecture, and Vezelay, a shrine of the Middle Ages, contains the Church of the Madeleine. Champagne and Alsace-Lorraine - Between Alsace-Lorraine and Paris in northeastern France, Champagne hardly needs an introduction for its famous sparkling wine. But wine isn’t this region’s only drawcard, and if you have time its worth visiting the Gothic cathedral in Reims. Alsace-Lorraine, on the eastern border of France, has a very German feel about it. Again, alcohol is the focus of industry here, and the region is well known for its beer, white wines and rich, distinctive cuisine. Here is Strasbourg, with its great rose-coloured cathedral; Mulhouse, a major printing and textile centre; and the resort towns of Gerardmer and Vittel. Dordogne and The Landes - The Dordogne is one of France’s longest rivers, and throughout this region you will find a landscape of thickly wooded valleys, limestone cliffs and prehistoric caves. Fortified towns, such as Domme and Monpazier, recall the medieval struggles between France and England for the sovereignty of Aquitane, which extends to the Atlantic Coast in the southwest. Here,
between the River Gironde and the Basque coast, lie the Landes, a vast area of pine forests, lakes, sand dunes and beaches. The Landes are noted for oyster beds, the yachting marinas of the rcachon Basin and the vineyards around Bordeaux. Ile-de-France - In the corner of northwestern France is the centre from which ambitious kings extended their realms, conquering duchy, and province until a nation was formed. Great feudal castles, ancient forests, peaceful villages and scenes seemingly taken from the pages of French classics are everywhere. The palaces of Versailles, Fontainebleau and Malmaison, the Cathedral of Chartres and the art village of Barbizon are some of the famous sights. Jura Mountains - The Jura Mountains form a 230 km barrier between France and Switzerland and make up a region of great natural beauty. Swift mountain streams course between lofty peaks, green valleys and placid lakes. The mountains are at once a challenge to those wanting to rough
it and a haven to those seeking solitude and tranquility. Bourg-en-Bresse, a striking combination of old-world and modern cities, is at the foot of the Jura Mountains. You’ll also find the industrial centres of Champagnole and Dole, the home of Louis Pasteur. Nearby Divonne-les-Bains, is a popular resort. Loire Valley - The magnificent chateau country to the south of Paris attracts many visitors; the countryside here is as beautiful as the multi-turreted castles straight out of fairy stories that were built by the French aristocracy. The centres of Blois, Cheverny, Amboise, Chinon and Saumur, as well as medieval Chaumont and Montargis, are particularly worth visiting. Normandy - Normandy, in the northwest of France, draws hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors each year. It is one of the country’s better known regions, and with good reason. Fertile farmlands, sandy beaches and comfortable resorts can all be found here. Rhone Valley, Languedoc and Provence - The assets of these regions are almost too many to list, but some of the highlights include Roman ruins of the Rhone Valley. Here you will find the arena and baths of Nimes; the paved streets, mosaics and theatre of Vaison-la-Romaine; and the great amphitheatre and pagan burial grounds of Arles. The ancient province of Languedoc is another area for unusual historical excursions. Toulouse, foremost city in southern Gaul for many centuries, and the medieval walled city of Carcassone should be on any visitor’s must-see list, as well as such hilltop villages as Manosque, Mejanes and Meyragues. Riviera and Corsica - These areas are best avoided if you have an aversion to pretentiousness and crowds – for both will be found here aplenty. The French Riviera, or Cote d'Azur, is a crushingly busy stretch of coast along the Mediterranean. The major resorts La Napoule-Plage, Cassis, Eze, Le Lavandou, Miramar, Theoule-sur-Mer, Ste-Maxim and St Tropez. For a change of pace, enjoy the rugged mountainous beauty of Corsica, the third largest island in the Mediterranean. Ajaccio the seaport capital of Corsica, and Bastia, a medieval port, are accessible by either air or sea.
SCENIC RAIL TRIPS Chamonix-Vallorcine-Chamonix - Good mountain scenery on this
short ride. Duration: Chamonix-Vallorcine - about 30 minutes. Limoges-Toulouse-Limoges - Beautiful mountain scenery. This trip can be done as an easy one day return trip between Limoges and Toulouse or as a section of the Paris-Toulouse route. The trips takes about 3 1/2 hours. Marseille-Grenoble-Marseille - More marvellous mountain scenery. The trip takes about five hours.
Marseille-Nimes-La Bastide-Clermont Ferrand - On this trip, the train follows a beautiful river valley between La Bastide and Clermont Ferrand, and takes about 6 1/2 hours. Marseille-Genoa - This trip follows the Ligure coastline of the Mediterranean, and takes about 7 hours. Narbonne-Carcassone - Outstanding farm and vineyard scenery. Easy to make as a one-day roundtrip or can be covered in the short route from Narbonne to Toulouse and Bordeaux. The trips takes about 45 minutes. Nice-Cuneo - Spectacular scenery through the Alps and the Roya Valley. The tripes takes about three hours. Lyon-Torino (and Rome) - The Culoz-Modane portion of this trip offers outstanding lake and mountain scenery. On this route the train goes through the Mont Cenis Tunnel, about 14 km long and built in 1871. The trip takes about four hours.
Top
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Accommodation |
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.Hotels - Hotels in France are graded from one-star to four-star – and at the upper end of the scale you may have to sell the family jewels for a room. At the bottom end of the scale you’ll probably have to share a bathroom. There are big differences between quality in each of the classes, and usually you’ll pick up better deals booking from home than from arriving unannounced and hoping for the best.
Chateaux-Hotels de France - These converted chateaux, covering the whole of France, are an expensive but worthwhile romantic alternative. Ask at local tourist offices about what’s available in the particular region you want to visit. Some of these genuine, old-time stagecoach inns. Logis de France and Auberges de France - Logis de France and Auberges de France are government-sponsored hotels, often outside towns, many with character and charm. Logis are in the one and two-star bracket; auberges are smaller, simpler establishments. Pensions - Pensions can be small hotels or guest houses. They are usually family-owned and provide meals. Gites de France; gites raraux - These are B&B-style accommodation and are highly recommended, both for their comfort and for their price in a country notorious for being budget-breakingly expensive. House Rental - Local tourist offices, Sydnicats d'Initiative, can recommend agencies with complete lists of houses and apartments to let. You need to get in early for a booking.
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Maps |
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Click here for a printable map
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Destination Links
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Great Festivals:
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Recommended viewing:
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France links
Globalfest: French Festivals in France
Comprehensive database of festivals in France. Searchable by date and
festival type.
Worldwide links
Festivals.com
A guide to festivals all over the world. Festivals for Arts, Music,
Sports and Children can now be found in one spot. Plus more!!
The Film Festivals Server
Welcome to the Film Festivals web site. The Film Festival Server
takes you to the heart of film festival action through interviews,
news updates, film synopsis and photos. holiday activities.
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Restaurants:
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Worldwide links
Dine Online
Expansive guide providing "independent reviews and news about wining,
dining and gourmet events". Extremely detailed reviews and feature
articles.
Diners' Grapevine - Worldwide Restaurant Guide
The Premier On-Line Dining Guide - Your worldwide restaurant
resource. Simply select all your desired dining features from
location, cuisine, price range, ambiance, to specific types of
entertainment. Enjoy looking through photos, menus, and maps and
unique special detailed information, then let the Grapevine pick your
perfect place to eat from nearly 8,000 restaurants.
Sally's Place - Worldwide Dining Directory
An internet site for food, beverage and travel enthusiasts. We're
taking you to the Dining Directory (worldwide) but there
is much more to this site.
The Sushi World Guide
Welcome! This database of Japanese Restaurants has been set up for
all those who want to enjoy Japanese cuisine throughout the world.
You can use this database to search for restaurants in your
neighbourhood or to check if the city you are planning to visit has a
sushi bar you simply can't afford to miss.
Welcome to Restaurant Row
Covering 35,000 restaurants in 22 countries, this site provides
detailed information on Cuisine, Ambiance, and special features. You
can also view visitor reviews at some locations.
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Worldwide links
Welcome to Theatre Direct, International
Let Theatre Direct International be your guide to the exciting world
of Theatre. Surf away for show descriptions, juicy gossip and
virtually everything you need to plan an unforgettable trip to the
theatre.
Western States Ticket Service
Western States Ticket Service is a ticket broker in the business of
buying and selling tickets. Tickets on sale include sports, theatre,
shows, and other events. Any event. Any time. Anywhere.
Worldwide Nightlife Guide
The Worldwide Nightlife Guide has received many, many requests, from
around the world, for individual city listings of clubs, nightlife,
concerts and events...so here's the beginning of Worldwide Nightlife
Guide.
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Sports Recreation:
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Worldwide links
Adventure: Specialty Travel Index
The Specialty Travel Index is a directory of adventure vacations and
special interest travel worldwide. Browse through the site, via
interests and activities, location or just look over the 600 tour
operators.
Adventure: Wild Dog Adventure Travel
Camel trekking in Morocco? Wildlife safari in Alaska? If that's your
kind of holiday, then this stylishly-designed directory with nice big
print and simple navigation makes life much easier. Choose your
activity and area and get brief decriptions with links to specialist
companies.
Biking International Biking Guide (GORP)
This website contains information on where to go biking on road and
off across the US and around the world.
Birdwatching: Worldwide Guide (GORP)
This website provides information on where to go birding around the
world.
Golf: Global Golf
Definitely one for the golf enthusiasts. Where to play and where to
stay on the internet. Other information includes where to dine, tour
operators and holidays and much more.
Hanggliding / Paragliding Links: Landings
Loads of worldwide links to all things to do with Paragliding and
Hanggliding. If your into these sports then this site is definitely
worth a visit.
Hiking: Places to go Hiking
Hiking: Trekking & Walking
If you are interested in trekking and walking you have plenty to
choose from here - from all over the world! Also includes bicycling
trips.
Horseback Riding Worldwide - Hidden Trails
An excellent site offering horseback riding vacations worldwide.
National Parks Around the World - GORP
This site includes information on National Parks in Africa, Asia,
Australia/New Zealand, Latin America and Europe. A good site with
some helpful information.
Sailing: Welcome to charternet.com®
Welcome to charternet.com, the world's largest marine website. You
will find over 40,000 listings for every type of marine product
available, including charters. You can travel the world for Sailing,
Fishing, Diving or Boating charters, buy the boat of your dreams,
find that hard-to-get part or service, accessorize your boat, or just
check the weather. Bookmark this site because its updated regularly.
Snowboarding: Board the World
Different strokes: Dedicated to the dudes who prefer the single
plank, "Board the World" is maintained by a team of snowboarders who
selflessly circle the planet in the name of their sport. The site has
several useful features, such as advice on choosing a snowboard, but
its forte is the critical appraisal of the world's snow resorts from
a snowboarder's perspective.
Snowboarding: SkiCentral
Comprehensive information on snowboarding.
Surfing: Beachcomber, Beaches of the World
Your online guide to shore communities throughout the world.
Surfing: Beaches:Surf & Sun - Worldwide Beach Guide
Surf and Sun has hundreds of beach destinations around the World. You
will find helpful information from Sports & Recreation to Travel and
Vacation Guides. So, put on your swimsuit and take a virtual tour of
beaches all over the world.
Surfing: Global Oceanic Surf Links
This is an international directory that includes the most
comprehensive list of surfing addresses from every corner of the
earth.
Western States Ticket Service
Western States Ticket Service is a ticket broker in the business of
buying and selling tickets. Western States Ticket Service can
provide excellent seating for professional sporting events. Any
event. Any time. Anywhere.
Whitewater Rafting - Riversearch
Whitewater Rafting has never been easier to find worldwide. Using
continent maps you will be able to find the greatest whitewater
rafting rivers of the world and the leading outfitters who run them.
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Worldwide links
Adventure: Real Adventures
What do you want to do? Click on the destination or activity of your
choice and begin the adventure of a lifetime!
Biking: IMBA
IMBA International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a non-
profit, public-supported organization. The mission of IMBA is to
promote mountain bicycling opportunities that are environmentally and
socially responsible.
Biking: Wildcat Bike Tours
An adventure bike company based in Scotland, Wildcat offers tours to
many parts of the globe.
Golf.com - Travel and Courses
Golf.com is a comprehensive site with information on all that's
happening in the world of golf. We're linking you to their travel
pages.
Golf: PGATOUR.com and GolfWeb
Sailability Homepage
Sailability is a non-profit organisation dedicated to increasing
sailing opportunities for everyone, regardless of age or disability.
Sailing Alternatives, Inc.
Sailing Alternatives Inc. providing sailing opportunities to people
with disabilities including everything from local recreation to
international racing.
Sailing Web
Sailing options for people with disabilities. A great resource with
information on Clubs, Competitions & Regattas, Sailboats and more.
Sailing: AquaSafaris- Worldwide
Time to plan your ultimate yacht vacation then have a look at this
website.
Sailing: Moorings - The UK home page
The Moorings have 23 locations worldwide. If you are interested in
chartering a boat with or without a crew then check out this website.
Sailing: World Wide Marine
Welcome to World Wide Marine! This informative website features the
finest sailing yachts in the world for sale and charter. Enjoy your
visit!
Sailing: Yacht Charters International
Worldwide fleet of sail and motor charter yachts, crewed and
bareboats, in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Bahamas, Greece, Turkey,
Pacific, Mexico, and Florida.
Scuba Diving - Moray Wheels
Non-profit SCUBA club made up of able-bodied and physically disabled
divers.
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Trade Shows:
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Tech Calendar
This site lists schedules of nationwide tradeshows and conferences
for a number of fields, including computer, publishing and
communications industries. You can also retrieve stock quotes,
company profiles, product reviews and business-related news articles.
TSNN - The Trade Show News Network
This powerful search interface will help you to locate and compare
trade shows by any combination of industry, city, month and show
name.
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Worldwide links
Reed Exhibition Companies
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Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Online
This site is brought to you by Arthur Frommer, one of America's
foremost travel authorities.
Britannia
Lots of links to anything Britannia. Links to hotels, theatres,
clubs, museums, restaurants, pubs, etc. It's a great place to start
exploring Britannia.
Business Traveller
This is the online version of the Business Traveler Magazine, one of
the world's leading business travel magazines.
Cities.com
A database of links to 4295 city guides in 147 different countries.
CNN - Travel Guide
This is a fabulous travel site loaded with lots of links to help you
plan the trip of a lifetime.
Discovery Online -- Travel Channel
Welcome to the Discovery Online Travel Channel website. For all you
travellers and would-be travellers who are interested in finding out
what wonders await you check out this interesting site. There's
everything from the water-filled caves of the Caribbean to the "Lost
City" of the Tairona Indians in Colombia.
Escape Artist
For Escaping Americans, Expatriates, Overseas Job Seekers,Tax Exiles,
Adventurers & Freedom Seekers.
Expedia Destination Guide
Great information on destinations worldwide.
Fodor's Personal Trip Planner
Your Personal Trip Planner allows you to build a customized miniguide
to scores of destinations around the world. Just indicate your choice
of destination and what you want in the way of hotels, restaurants,
travel info, etc. then click to find the results.
Geographia Homepage
The information contained at this site reads like a favourite guide,
bring you the best of the region accessed.
Global Access for Disabled Travellers
Travel is for everyone, but most guidebooks and web sites simply
aren't designed for disabled adventurers. Global Access wants to help
fill that information gap, and facilitate travel planning by
providing a site where disabled travellers can share their
experiences.
HotWired: The Rough Guide
The Rough Guide is one of the most comprehensive travel resources on
the Web today and it continues to grow
Latinworld Magazine - Contents
This online magazine features articles that concern Latin American
countries.
Literate Traveller Homepage
Here at your fingertips are over 1,000 travel-related narratives,
guides and mysteries.
Lonely Planet online
Lonely Planet have been travelling the globe for over twenty years
and their travel guides are one of the most popular
National Geographic/Traveler
National Geographic Traveler is a magazine to set you dreaming.
You'll find dazzling feature articles and inspiring photos.
Open World City Guides
The Open World City Guide project aims to produce detailed and
informative guides to 100 of the world's most visited cities. Each
guide covers everything a traveller needs to know when visiting a
city. From what to pack and when to go, to how to get from the
airport into town and much more.
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door web site will help you make
the most out of every mile, minute and dollar on your next European
adventure!
The InfoHub WWW Travel Guide
The InfoHub WWW Travel Guide is probably the most comprehensive
travel guide on the World Wide Web. It's a great starting place for
seekers of travel information.
TravelASSIST
The Travel Assist travel magazine is very informative and it contains
lots of valuable information for the traveller. At the site you can
also access an index to back issues. Just click on the country of
your choice.
Travelocity Destination Guide
The Travelocity Destination Guide gives you an insight into some of
the world's top cities.
Welcome to Sidewalk
Sidewalk is aiming to become the definitive urban Internet guide
series and it is off to a great start. So far all it has is several
major American cities and Sydney, Australia but if you stick around
there's going to be more.
Where to get online tourist information
To get the address, phone number, and links to on-line tourist info
for over 150 countries and all states of the US and provinces of
Canada click on this web site.
World Travel Guide
Business travellers, holiday makers, travel agents - whoever you are,
you'll find the new World Travel Guide Online invaluable. With this
system the entire planet is available on your screen, at your
fingertips - now!
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Facts
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Flight Arrivals:
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Worldwide links
BAA Live Flight Arrivals
Live flight information for London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London
Stansted, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.
Flight Arrivals.com
Arrival and departure information for all commercial airline flights
over the US and Canada.
Melbourne Airport - Flight Information
Online Flight Search Engine for Melbourne Airport. Flight
information updated every 5 minutes
Sydney Airport Flight Information
International and Domestic Arrivals and Departures information for
Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
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AllExperts.com
Allexperts.com is a free Question & Answer service featuring
thousands of volunteers who are experts in their field. Search for
an expert by topic (ie your destination) or click on Travel and ask
any question on a particular destination.
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Worldwide links
EmbassyWorld - Embassy & Consulate Directory - Worldwide
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Health:
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Worldwide links
Online Health Guide
travel.com.au's excellent online database on health travel
requirements
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Worldwide links
CDC Home Travel Information Page
Especially for travellers heading for the third world, health is a
major preoccupation, and the US Government's Centre for Disease
Control and Prevention has a web site with area specific medical
guides for travellers. The information gives simple and valuable
precautions.
Dentist In A Box
No matter when and where you travel something can go wrong with your
teeth. Dentist In A Box is a Dental Emergency Kit. Find out more by
clicking on this website.
International Traveller's Clinic
Put together by the Medical College of Wisconsin, this site provides
information on diseases and immunisation for travellers.
M.A.S.T.A.
MASTA (The Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad) maintains
a database on over 265 countries and territories around the world
giving comprehensive, up to date recommendations on travel-related
health issues.
Travel Health Consultation
Your health is a precious thing and this is even more true when
travelling. This site's topics include Immunizations, regional
concerns, a traveler's First Aid Kit, sunscreens, insect bites and
much much. Lots of detail!
Travellers Medical & Vaccination Centre
TMVC is one of the largest unified Travel Medical Networks in the
world. An Australian site providing information on health needs for
the overseas traveller.
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News:
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Worldwide links
CNN Worldnews
World news, sport and weather online provided by CNN.
Reuters
World news and sport online provided by Reuters, the world's leading
provider of news to financial institutions, business, the media and
the Internet.
Welcome to Newspapers Online!
Welcome to Newspapers Online. This website provides an easy to use
tool for referencing the world's newspapers.
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Phone Fax:
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Worldwide links
Cybercafes.com
This site contains a database of 3533 internet cafes in 141
countries. You can search by city or country name for a list of cafes
found in that location, or click on a map for quick access to
regional listings.
Faxaway
Faxaway is the world's easiest and most cost effective email to fax
service, allowing anyone with an email account to send faxes anywhere
in the world at a fraction of the cost of conventional faxing.
Text messages to any mobile around the world
Here is a useful site for anyone who wants to send text messages to
any mobile around the world...all good networks are included except
Australian Optus!!
The Cybercafe Search Engine
Find a Cybercafe Near You!
WhoWhere
WhoWhere offers a variety of services that makes searching for people
and businesses on the Internet a quick and easy process. Through a
point-and-click interface, you simply type in a name or portions of a
name, and within seconds you will receive relevance-ranked responses
to your queries.
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Quarantine:
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Getting around
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Air Tours:
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Bus/Coach:
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Europe links
Busabout Europe
For the coolest way to get around Europe, Busabout is the flexible
coach network designed for independent travellers looking for an
economical, safe and reliable way to cover the best sights and sounds
of this vibrant continent.
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Europe links
Eurolines
Eurolines is Europe's largest and best-connected coach operator.
Eurolines connects over 500 cities in 25 European countries and
offers travelers the freedom to explore Europe at their own pace.
Worldwide links
Contiki Holidays: 18-35 Year Olds
Travelling to more than 35 countries, Contiki has more than 80 tours
ranging from 3 to 52 days.
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Campervans:
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Autohome Rentals International
An Australian site offering car hire and motor home rental worldwide.
Here you will find information on car types, terms & conditions,
rates, etc.
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Cruises:
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Europe links
Canal Barging & River Cruises in Europe
For those interested in a European river cruise here is your site. It
covers river cruises in France, England, Holland, Ireland, Germany,
Austria, Hungary, Portugal, Holland, Belgium and other European
destinations.
Worldwide links
Cruise Web Home Page
Preview, plan, price and book your cruise right here on the Cruise
Web.
Cruises: Internet Cruise Travel Network
There are over 100 cruises lines in the world (and counting). The
largest volume of passenger cabins are controlled by only a few
cruise lines. The top six major lines are presented here. Take a look.
mytravelco.com cruises
One of the best sites on the web for cruise information.
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Europe links
Classical Cruises
Classical Cruises
Worldwide links
Cruise Corner
Every day, more and more people are discovering the all-inclusive
pleasures of a cruise vacation. More singles, families, couples,
honeymooners, second honeymooners and groups of friends are sailing
away on the vacation of their lives.
Cruise Guide @ nationalgeographic.com
National Geographic Society's Guide to cruising the Americas
(including Canada, Hawaii, Mexico, Caribbean, Antarctica, South
America).
Cruise News Daily
Get the latest daily information on weather, new ships, cruise lines,
shore excursions, ports of call and more. You can also subscribe to
the free daily ezine "Cruise News Daily" to receive the same
information directly to your email box.
Cruises: Orient-Express
The site is the Gateway to Orient Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises.
Feeling like a bit of luxury, then have a look at this web site.
Cruises: Travel Page's Cruise Page
Welcome to the Cruise Page one of the most comprehensive cruise
destinations on the Web. Check out the sections on Great Cruise Deals
and Featured Ship Profile.
Cruising in Paradise
Elegant Cruises
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Ferries/Shipping:
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Europe links
A2bTravel.com: British Ferry Schedules & Services
At this web site you'll find over 80 ferry timetables for departures
to and from the UK.
Worldwide links
Ferry Guide - International Ferry Operators' Listing
For connections to ferry operators web sites, please visit The
Internet Ferry Guide.
Ferry Travel Guide
Guide to International, U.S. and Canadian ferries.
Shipping: Electronic Guide on the Web
Welcome to ESG, a database of container shipping schedules of over 60
carriers for voyages in and out of the U.S. and Canada, including
import, export, connecting and feeder service
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Europe links
Ferries (Irish) - Ireland's Largest Shipping Company
With standards of service and Irish hospitality no other ferry
operator can match, Irish Ferries is a good choice for travel to and
from Ireland. This site will give you routes, fares and timetbles and
general information on offices and ships.
Minoan Lines
Minoan Lines is the largest coastal navigation company in Greece and
one of the largest in Europe. They ply the waters around the Greek
Islands and also between Italy and Greece.
Scandinavian Seaways
Well over a century of experience has earned Scandinavian Seaways the
reputation "Masters of the Northern Seas". After all, they're just
following in the footsteps of their ancestors, the Vikings, who were
navigating the waters of the northern seas a thousand years ago. For
more information about Scandinavian Seaways pay a visit to this web
site.
Travel Britain - Passenger Ferries
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Rail:
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France links
SNCF (French Railways)
This site gives information on the French Railways - Paris and
suburbs, Main Lines throughout France, Timetables, Train services to
Paris Airports, etc.
Europe links
A1-Deutsche Bahn AG - German Rail
For European Rail Travel - this is the best site
A2bTravel.com: Europe & British Train Timetables
Find out the best train journey for you with the help of the UK Rail
Journey Planner and UK Tube Journey Planner located at this web site.
SNCF (French Railways)
This site gives information on the French Railways - Paris and
suburbs, Main Lines throughout France, Timetables, Train services to
Paris Airports, etc. Also information here for rail travel to and
from other European countries.
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Europe links
Eurail Point-to-Point Tickets
Database of European rail point-to-point ticket prices. Results
displayed are one-way with first and second class prices, connecting
cities and approximate travel time.
Worldwide links
Ground Transport - Mass Transit
The Ground Transport - Mass Transit web site provides information
relating to public transportation systems in various parts of the
world.
Orient-Express
The site is the Gateway to Orient Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises.
Feeling like a bit of luxury, then have a look at this web site.
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Route Maps:
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Europe links
Michelin Route Planner - Europe
Enter your departure and destination points, plus any stopovers you
wish to make, and Michelin's route planner will provide a map,
driving directions and distances for your trip.
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Worldwide links
How Far Is It?
This service uses data from the US Census and a supplementary list of
cities around the world to find the latitude and longitude of two
places, and then calculates the distance between them (as the crow
flies). The map is not available for every country.
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Accommodation
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Accom General Links:
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A1Vacations
Your search for vacation rentals ends at this website. Just enter in
your requirements and this worldwide directory will find your ideal
vaction rental.
Accommodation Around the World-All-Hotels.com
One of the best accommodation sites on the web.
Club Med
Whether you're single or single again. Whether you're a couple, or
just a couple of friends. A big family or a single parent with kids.
Club Med villages are the place where you can do it your way! Select
you Club Med holiday from the Americas, Europe & Africa or Asia &
Pacific.
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France links
French Connections-Holiday Rentals
Europe links
Johansens Luxury Accommodation
Worldwide links
1-2-C Vacation Properties
A good selection of properties worldwide to rent.
ABT - Hotel Listings Worldwide
Accommodation Search Engine
This accommodation web site is for both business and leisure
travellers seeking to find the right hotel, motel, hostel, self
catering flat, bed & breakfast etc. Rather than using the often long
and boring lists or indexes of lodgings provided by hundreds of
separate hotel groups, use this search tool to find just the right
hotel etc. for your next trip or holiday
ase.com Accommodation Search Engine
This search engine will help you find your ideal hotel, b&b, self-
catering property or resort - we have over 90,000 hotels, lodging
establishments, inns, bed and breakfasts, resorts and accommodation
web pages around the world.
Enhanced Technologies Inc
As well as being a directory that covers over 80,000 properties
around the world this web site also has information on dining,
entertainment and transportation.
GetawayZone
Welcome to GetawayZone! Whether you're planning a winter ski
adventure, relaxing golf getaway, or a sunny beach escape,
GetawayZone has the vacation rental lodging for you! (Parts of this
site are still under construction.)
Hideaways International
Finds out if a travel club fits your travel and vacation needs.
Hideaways provides plenty of information concerning the benefits of
joining a travel club. There's also plenty of information regarding
the special values they offer.
Holiday Homes Co
Holiday homes worldwide for independent and discerning travellers. If
you are looking for an individual and exclusive holiday home, then
have a look at this website.
HolidayRentals
Holiday Rentals provides a service for owners and agents to advertise
private homes to rent for vacations worldwide. There are over 400
properties all with photos including villas, cottages and castles -
and in every price bracket.
International Home Exchange Network
Provides instant, world-wide, on-line, up-to-date listings of Home
and Hospitality Exchange opportunities as well as a listing of
Vacation Rentals. Exchanging can provide you with rent free
accommodation on your next trip.
Landmark Trust
All Landmark accommodations are remarkable in some way, for their
architecture, history or setting. There are now 166 Landmarks
throughout Britain and the Channel Islands, including four in Italy
and one in Vermont, USA. They include follies, forts, manor houses,
mills, cottages, castles, and towers.
Les Romantiques
The best selection of charming get-aways around the world. Romantic
hideaways, historic castles, french fairy-tale houses, Italian
villas, Caribbean plantation inns and more.
PlacesToStay.com
An online service for bed & breakfasts, resorts and hotels worldwide.
The Best in the World
"Best in the World" is a directory of 1000 of the "best"
accommodations in the World. This guide seems to strive to be an
overall guide as well as a guide to quality lodging, with links to
information on "speed traps", a currency converter, a directory of
ATMs. local time, a travel overview, weather, transporation and a
distance calculator to name just some of the possible links.
Vacation Rentals by Owner
Rent directly from the lodging owner to save money.
VacationSpot
Vacation Spot offers vacation accommodations all over the world.
Search by region or styles, which include family, secluded and
romantic, golfer's delights, hot spots and budget spots. You can
place reservations online.
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Bed Breakfasts:
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BedandBreakfast.com
The BedandBreakfast.com site has the widest selection of worldwide
accommodations and travel information found on-line.
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Worldwide links
Bed & Breakfast Guide: www.Inn-Guide.com
This B&B directory covers the United States, Canada, Mexico and the
Netherlands.
Bed & Breakfast Inns of North America
This site features bed and breakfast inns in the US, Canada, the
Caribbean and Mexico. One of the best accommodation sites on the web.
Bed & Breakfast Inns Online
This site does one of the best jobs in organising B&Bs in an easy to
find manner. Just click on "Locate a B&B" and choose a state (or even
country if browsing for Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean). There are
links to state associations and B&B organisations in other countries.
You'll also find links to B&Bs grouped by categories like "near a
lake or ocean".
Bed & Breakfast International Travel Guide
Welcome to the International Bed and Breakfast Pages! These pages
contain lists of bed and breakfasts and inns around the world. This
site also contains reviews of Bed and Breakfasts that Internet users
have submitted to the site.
PlacesToStay.com
An online service for bed & breakfasts and inns.
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Campgrounds:
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Castles:
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France links
Discover french chateaux
This website is a collection of fairly fancy lodging through France.
You can browse geographically or by types, such as "rooms in castles"
or "exclusive rentals".
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Disabled Accommodati:
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Disabled: Welcome To Access-Able Travel Source
Disabled travellers may find it difficult to discover which hotels
have too many stairs or where the most wheelchair friendly
restaurants are but help is out there in cyberspace. This site,
specially created for the handicapped, has 3,000 global entries on
accommodation, transport and other resources worldwide.
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Home Exchange:
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Home Exchange International Travel and
You can vacation in someone else's home while they vacation in
yours...all over the world. Sound like something you'd be interested
in? Then have a look at this web site.
HomeLink International
The HomeLink International site provides a thorough walk-through of
the organisation, including background, how the concept works, costs
and an independent and flattering appraisal of the service.
Seniors Vacation & Home Exchange
The only home exchange exclusively for the over 50 age group. Not
confined to houses or second homes, the Seniors Vacation and Home
Exchange has been expanded and now allows you to exchange your Motor
Home or Caravan. To find out more check out this website.
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Worldwide links
Home Exchange Holidays Worldwide
This site, operated by Vacation Homes Unlimited, is a directory based
home exchange service. Non-members can view listings, minus the
contact information and any detailed information.
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Hotels:
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France links
France Hotel Guide
This great web site wil help you choose accommodation on your travels
through France.
Europe links
Hotel Discount.com
This hotel reservations network is for the Europe and USA.
Worldwide links
All-Hotels.com
One of the best accommodation sites on the web (hotels and bed &
breakfast accommodation).
Hotel Book by Utell International
Utell International's World Wide Web site that opens the door to over
6,500 hotels including small independent hotels, regional and
international chains, tourist-class properties, and many of the
world's most luxurious addresses.
Hotel Database (Worldwide) - TravelNow
Search hotels, review discounted rates and make your hotel
reservations online. With a simple click of the wrist you'll find the
hotel that suits your requirements.
Hotel Location
Use this website to book your hotel anywhere in the world. All you
have to do is choose an option to indicate whether you want to stay
in a city, near an airport, or near a major attraction, then type the
name of that city, airport, or attraction in the box at the bottom of
the page.
HotelWorld
HotelWorld enables you to find, view and book hotels across the
world. The HotelWorld Guide contains information on 8,500 hotels in
204 countries, of which 3,700 hotels in 21 countries can be booked on-
line.
Leisure Planet
Search and book your hotel - more than 50,000 full-colour images to
help you make your choice.
Welcome To Radisson
Book your own accommodation - excellent discounts!
Worldres Network: Real-time Rates
Places To Stay is your source for online reservations. Just say where
and when you want to travel, and you'll be shown a list of all
available properties to choose from. With real-time rates and
availability, you receive an instant confirmation!
Yahoo! - Business and Economy Hotels
Whether it be Bed and Breakfasts, Casinos, Condominiums, Diving
Resorts, Dude Ranches, Fishing Lodges, Home Exchange, Homestays,
Hostels, Hotels, Resorts, RV Parks and Campgrounds - you name it and
you'll probably find the accommodation to suit your needs at
this fabulous web site.
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Worldwide links
1-800-USA-HOTELS
At this website you'll find rates up to 65% off rack rates for hotels
located in 1248 cities in 127countries.
AccomoDATA
This web site contains information on accommodation in many parts of
the world - including UK, USA and some parts of Europe.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
A list of hotels throughout the world. This hotel web site will help
you find the accommodation that suits your needs.
Golfotels - Hotels with Golf Courses
Golf is becoming more and more popular every day. The sport is
increasingly being incorporated into travel plans. Golfotels
represents a group of independent golf hotels, all of whom own and
operate their own full-sized (min. 18 hole) on-site golf courses.
Hilton Value Rates
This site allows the traveller to view current specials offered by
Hilton. Choose your category then click to view the list of specials.
Hilton Worldwide - Hilton.com
Hilton has hotels in some of the most exciting destinations in the
world. Select a region from the map provided, or view one of Hilton's
special Destination Guides
Hotel Discounts - Rates up to 65% off
This site is well worth checking out. Over 43,000 properties
worldwide.
Hotel Guide
The Hotel Guide is the Internet's largest source of hotel information
and booking around the world. About 50,000 hotels worldwide of all
categories are included in our database with information about daily
rates, facilities, and more.
Hotelcity.com
HotelView® - Hotel video tours
HotelView provides a video "walking" tour through select hotels
worldwide. Take an inside look at the accommodations, amenities,
recreation and entertainment. See the rooms, experience the view, get
a "taste" of the restaurants. Complete with maps, showing nearby
attractions and airports, HotelView offers the closest thing to a
visit before leaving home.
Localhotels - Worldwide Directory
Local Hotels is a nice collection of links to accommodation
directories and reservation systems around the world. Nothing fancy
here, just choose your region then country and you're off and running
Reservhotel
The Reservhotel web site allows you to make local and international
hotel bookings on the web.
Small & Elegant Hotels, International
Small & Elegant Hotels, International specialise in carefully
selected, intimate hotels and apartments in New York, London and
Paris.
World Executive Hotel Directory
A worldwide luxury hotel directory.
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Resorts:
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Recommended viewing:
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Worldwide links
Welcome to Resorts OnLine
The ultimate guide to the world's most exciting and luxurious resorts
and hotels specializing in such sports and activities as Golf,
Skiing, Scuba Diving, Spas, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Safaris,
Gambling Casinos, Marinas and Beach/Water Sports.
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Worldwide links
Amanresorts
Amanresorts Limited owns and manages some of the most exclusive small
resorts and hotels in the world.
Guide to All-inclusive Resorts
This website contains a listing of all-inclusive resorts scattered
around the world, in places like the Caribbean, Mexico, Morocco,
South Pacific and the USA. Each listing has a page to itself,
detailing rates, what's included in the rate, activities and
exursions.
ResortSource
Resort Search allows you to locate resorts throughout the United
States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
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