Guide to France | HeadingThere.co.uk

Great food and wine, vibrant cities, rustic countryside and amazing beaches; is it any wonder that France is one of the most popular destinations in the Europe? Driving holidays in France are incredibly popular with visitors from the UK. Cross channel ferries and the Eurostar service allow you to take your own car, but you can also take advantage of cheap flights to France and then pick up a hire car. For more information about driving in France check out the ‘travel information’ section of the guide.

Aquitaine in South West of France has a little bit of everything that makes France great. The largest city is UNESCO world heritage listed Bordeaux in the north. With a buzzing nightlife, wine and plenty of historical attractions the city has all the ingredients of the perfect city break. Stretching south from Bordeaux to the Basque Country and the Pyrenees are some of the best beaches in France. Think about the gorgeous fishing port of Saint-Jean-de-Luz or maybe even Lacanau for a beach break. Lacanau, just west of Bordeaux, is home to an annual pro surfing competition; the Sooruz Lacanau Pro. Don’t be afraid to head in land either. Anyone driving in France would be well advised to include the Dordogne valley on their itinerary.

Follow the Pyrenees along the Spanish border from Aquitaine and on the Mediterranean coast you will find the ancient region of Languedoc. Its capital, Montpellier blends old with new effortlessly. Too many people see nothing but Montpellier Airport on their way to the coast, but to miss this vibrant city is to miss out. The architecture is sublime. Nearby Carcassonne is also well connected with cheap flights from the UK. The best preserved medieval town in France, Carcassonne has an interesting history linked closely to the Cathars or perfects who once lived in Languedoc.

Of course we can’t talk about France without talking about its capital; Paris. Connected to London St Pancras by a direct train service, Haussmann’s Parisian boulevards are crying out to be explored on a city break. Also connected by a direct train service but often sadly overlooked is the city of Lille, where there is growing interest in this Northern French town as a city break location in its own right. Just over an hour and a half from London you can see why.

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Climate
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When to Go
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What to Take

Weather in France

The weather in France is quite different dependant on the region you are visiting, as you might imagine there is quite a bit of variation between Calais (just a few kilometres from England) to the Mediterranean coast in the south of the country.

Perhaps the best France weather is found on the Mediterranean coast, with mild and sunny winters and dry, hot summers. You will find the weather a little more changeable on the Atlantic coast, but even in the north during the summer temperatures of 20 – 30 degrees are quite common. The southern part of the Atlantic coast is even warmer and although a little cooler than the Mediterranean coast, there are plenty of great beach towns in the south west of France so don’t discount a beach holiday in the region.

An interesting point to note for anyone considering a Paris city break, the Isle de France region is the driest in the country. Average summer temperatures in Paris are around the mid 20s.

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Visa Requirements for France

France is a Schengen country; please refer to Schengen Visa information.

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Health in France

British passport holders should apply for a European Health Insurance Card before travelling to France, this will allow you to access medical treatment in France under the same conditions as a French national. Remember though that you may have to pay for medical treatment in France that would be free in the UK.

Having an EHIC card doesn’t mean you don’t need travel insurance, it will not cover repatriation in the event that you are seriously ill. You don’t want to see the bill for an air ambulance back to the UK!

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France Currency

The currency is France is the Euro. ATMs are widely available and credit cards are routinely accepted. You can change travellers cheques at banks and post offices. If you are relying on banks to change your travellers cheques it is worth being aware that they have different opening hours to the UK. In most of the country banks are open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10am – 1pm and from 3pm – 5pm. In Paris though banks are open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. You will find banks often close early the day before public holidays.

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Best Time to Visit France

As you might expect from our nearest neighbours, the weather in France is best during the summer which is also the most popular time of year to visit. July and August are also the months when most French people are on holiday and prices are at their highest. During these summer months Paris, for example, is almost abandoned to tourists, potentially making it a bad time to visit. Many suggest that spring is the best time to visit the French capital.

There is always something going on in France, so there is never a truly bad time to visit. Even in winter there can be some excellent Christmas markets in Northern France (Lille for example.)

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Security in France

Nowhere that we travel to in the world is without risk, but you would expect to safely travel in France by exercising the same common sense precautions that we would in daily life in the UK.

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What to Take to France

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Rail
Air
Tours
Buses
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Crossing Borders

Trains in France

The TGV high speed rail network in France makes getting around the country by train a pleasant and easy experience. Combined with regular Eurostar services to both Paris and Lille this makes getting to an exploring France by train a practical option.

If you just travelling as far as Paris by train the easiest and cheapest way to book your tickets is directly though the Eurostar website. If you are travelling on from Paris to other destinations in France though, you will find the best place to book your tickets to be Rail Europe. The raileurope.co.uk website charges the same prices as the SNCF website (which is used by customers in France), with exchange rates it can work out a little more expensive, but for the convenience of booking in English it is worthwhile unless you are very competent at French. Sadly the same can not be said of Rail Europe’s US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand websites which work out significantly more expensive. In these cases plump instead for TGV-Europe.com which charges official SNCF prices, just be careful that the site doesn’t attempt to redirect you to your local Rail Europe website.

Train tickets can be collected using machines in train stations all over France. You will also be able to buy tickets at the station, but TGV services require a seat reservation so you may not be able to travel on your first choice service if you don’t book in advance. You will also find tickets are better priced when pre-booking.

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France Flights

Flights to France are operated by a number of budget carriers from airports all over the UK. Try Ryanair, easyJet and bmibaby who cover multiple routes.

Coming in from further afield you will find Paris is the best connected city for long-haul flights. With the TGV network you can then comfortably travel anywhere in France.

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France Tours

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Buses in France

Heavy promotion of train travel by the French government means there isn’t really a national bus network in France. You can travel around a single region by bus and there are international services, but when it comes to travel within France as a whole your best bet will be to travel by train. They are relatively inexpensive and really quick!

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Driving in France

Driving in France is a common experience for UK holiday makers. Camping holidays are popular and the countryside is incredibly appealing, which makes having your own set of wheels a must for many. One thing that anyone driving in France should be aware of is that the blood alcohol limit for drinking and driving is lower, 0.05% when driving in France compared to 0.08% in the UK. Penalties for drink driving are strict.

Things that you need to have in your car when driving in France include a warning triangle and at least one reflective jacket. If you are driving on snow covered roads you are also required to have snow chains.

Speed limits are normally fairly well signed, but you should be aware that lower speed limits apply in wet weather and interestingly for none French drivers who have had their licence for less than 2 years. Don’t get caught out as if you are travelling more than 40kmph over the speed limit holders of EU driving licences can have them confiscated on the spot.

The legal driving age in France is 18, it is illegal for 17 year olds to drive even if they have a valid licence in the UK. Possession of an in-car radar detector is also illegal, even if it is not in use this can result in prosecution, a fine or even confiscation of your car.

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Boats in France

Until the advent of Eurostar, a ferry to France was the only way to go for someone planning on driving in France with their own car. Competition has been good for consumers and there are still plenty of routes in operation. Ferries to France operate from:

Dover to Calais (P&O and Sea France) and Dunkirk (DFDS)

Portsmouth to Caen (Brittany Ferries), Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries and Condor Ferries) and St Malo (Brittany Ferries)

Poole to Cherbourg (Brittany Ferries)

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Crossing Boarders in France

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