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Cheap Flights to France
Watching old men play petanque in a small village square; eating steak-frites on the pavement outside a Parisian cafe; enjoying a hot chocolate on top of Mont Blanc before skiing down the mountain or watching the jet-set sun themselves in St Tropez – the very “Frenchness” of our closest European neighbour has always seemed appealing. Though flights to France are just a short hop across the sea, culturally France feels a lifetime away.
But though all recognisably “French”, each region is very different. From the chic and sophisticated urban Paris to the small rural villages in Provence, there is a distinctive feel, and often dialect and food, everywhere you go. And, of course, the cuisine is as good a reason as any to book a flight to France.
Often acclaimed the best in the world, French food is a delight almost wherever you choose to eat. As well as the more exotic snails, frogs legs or foie gras, make sure you try the staples: cheese, crusty bread, wine, soup and meat. Even the vegetables seem to taste better than they do at home…
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France climate
France has a fairly temperate climate. The northeast has hot summers and cold winters while the northwest has lots of rain, high humidity, westerly winds and cool summers. There are harsh winters and hot summers in the Alps, Pyrenees and Massif Central mountains. The Mediterranean climate in southern France is very pleasant with mild winters and very hot summers. For 100 days out of the year, la Mistral, a cold, dry wind, blows in this area, especially in the spring. From mid-July through August, the cities empty out as the French take their vacations. If you can stand the heat, this can be a great time to visit the cities.
When to fly to France
Peak Season:
Spring is a very popular time to visit France (especially Paris) when the weather is usually warm and prices for hotels and flights to France are affordable. Summer is peak season in the South – the beaches warm up from May onwards and tourists flock to the Cote d’Azur.
Wintertime is (obviously) peak season for skiing, both in the Alps and the Pyrenees. You can ski in the Alps from approximately December to March or April. Peak prices are around the Christmas holidays and the February half term. Winter holiday periods such as Christmas are often popular in the major cities as well, especially Paris.
Off Season:
Autumn time generally is off season throughout France. Temperatures can still be warm though the days are quite short. Prices for skiing are lowest before Christmas – though snow is not guaranteed at this time and the temperatures can be excruciatingly cold – and at the end of the season (late March to early April).
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Getting around France
Trains are run by SNCF.They are excellent and speedy throughout the country and cover an extremely extensive network. Small towns without train stations are normally linked to the local station by bus.
The TGV is the high-speed intercity train service. There are also many night trains which travel more slowly than their counterparts in the day so you can go to sleep in one town and wake up in another.
Driving is easy. Wide, well-maintained roads with little traffic run throughout most of rural France. Remember to keep some spare change to hand to pay for the tolls.
Buses are cheaper than trains, but generally a lot slower and less comfortable. It is best to save bus travel for shorter trips.
Domestic French flights are available between major cities. Air France has many domestic flights.
