THE CLIMATE OF FRANCE

France is continental in temperature and has four climate zones. France experiences the cool ocean winds from the west, temperate Mediterranean winds in the south and the mountain winds of the Alps and the Pyrenees from the south-west and east. No matter what your temperature preferences are on a holiday, you will be able to find a region of France, during the calendar year, which meets your needs.

Western France is cool in temperature with average rainfalls and summers with cool temperatures, think of Bordeaux. Central France, think of Bourges, Tours and Lyon experience the extremes in temperatures of cold, dry winters and hot, dry summers. The Mediterranean cities of Nice, Cannes, and Marseille are seaside with temperate winters and hot, humid summers. The mountains of the Alps and the Pyrenees are covered with snow throughout the year with snowfalls for up to six months in the year.

PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY

To get the most out of your holiday, it is best to start planning early. Depending on where you want to go and the time of year you want to be there. You will need to start planning one year ahead of time if your dream is the ultimate skiing holiday or similarly if you want to be on the Mediterranean during French school holidays in July and August.

If you have less time to organize your holiday, there will be trade offs in what time of the year you travel, where you stay, and if you can receive the early payment discounts you can get on tours and packages.

If you are planning a short holiday, then you will also want to start planning early, especially if this is your first vacation in France. It is not a good use of your holiday time to be sitting in tour agents trying to organize your next day of activities when you could have bought the tours on-line before your departure from your country. Explore on-line and see what you can find, you will be pleasantly surprised on how much is on offer and how easy it is to arrange.

If you are having a longer vacation, then you may want to economize on your accommodation costs. Why not book your villa on-line in the French country side, or your beach side apartment.

France is a very accessible country to get to, and travel around. France has several international airports strategically placed around the country, and Paris has two international airports, Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Orly.

Before deciding your mode of travel to France, you will first need to answer some simple preparation questions:

(i) How much time do you have to travel in relation to the overall length of your holiday?
(ii) How big is your budget for travel?
(iii) Do you want to see the country side or do you prefer to get to your destination as quickly as possible?
(iv) Do you want to have your car with you on your holiday?
(v) Are you a confident car driver and will feel comfortable driving in France?
(vi) Do you like to have someone else drive for you? If so, is an airplane ride or train ride a better option for you?
(vii) Do ferry rides make you feel sea sick?

If you are living in Europe then the train network may be the best option for you. The journeys are fast, comfortable and you can enjoy the countryside or read a book. Travel journeys are comparable to driving your own vehicle. Trains are best if you plan to stay put in one or two holiday destinations.

There are a number of ferries frequently crossing the English Channel of different types and journey duration. The decision is up to you if you want to travel super fast or at a more leisurely speed. If you don’t like sea travel, why not try the Eurotunnel, linking Britain and France. The trip platform to platform only takes 35 minutes and is very conveniently available 365 days per year, 24 hours per day.

If you are planning a driving holiday, and the travel time from your country of origin to France is acceptable to you, then bringing your own vehicle will be the best option. You must be over 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license and have your vehicle’s registration papers with you.

What ever way you choose to travel to France, make sure it doesn’t make you tired before your adventure in France begins. Don’t cut costs where your safety and enjoyment are paramount.

If you are planning a holiday that involves driving around the country side and staying in bed and breakfast homes then you will need a car. The road network in France is excellent, and almost 5,000 miles are motorways. Autoroutes are marked with an A, and you will be charged a toll fee for driving on them. Routes Nationales are marked with an N and do not have a toll fee. You will need a valid driver license from your country and to be over 18 years old. International licenses are generally not necessary providing you have a valid driver license. If you bring your own vehicle into France, remember to bring with you the vehicle’s registration papers.

If you plan to hire a car, then this is a very easy proposition and there are many places to do so. You can book your hire car on-line and pick up your vehicle straight from the airport or the train station. If you are under 25 years old, you may be charged a surcharge to be able to hire the car. The general maximum age for car hire is 70 years old.

Remember when in France to follow the road rules, which are strictly enforced. You should wear your seat belt, you should wear a helmet if driving a motor cycle, and you should follow the designated speed limits. Don’t drive in bus lanes or bicycle lanes, and park only in the designated parking areas. Preparation is always the key, and familiarizing yourself with the French highway network, having a good selection of maps will make your trip that much more pleasant.

When driving in cities, and in particular Paris, traffic will be very heavy during peak times and you need to be a confident driver. Peak times are 7.30 a.m. – 9.00 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. – 7.30 p.m. during week days. Traffic will also be very heavy on public holidays and around the beginning of school holidays.

If you decide not to bring a car or to hire one, you could try out the French railway network and the provincial bus network. Both give you less flexibility than having your own car or motorcycle but there are also other benefits you can get, like meeting the passenger sitting alongside you on a long bus journey. Taxis are another option for in town travel, and can only pick you up from designated taxi ranks. Always check with the taxi driver if they are intending a long journey or even a trip to the airport to see if they are agreeable with the fare.