France travel tips

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The Vivarais – a tourist and oenological gem in the Rhône-Alpes region

Wine bottles
© Dario Lo Presti – Fotolia.com

Located in the south-east of France, the Ardèche département offers tourist as well as oenological attractions of a special kind. The region is named after the Ardèche river, which winds its way through impressive valleys and gorges and flows into the Rhône after 125 kilometres. No less impressive are the Côtes du Vivarais, extending over almost 650 hectares of vineyards, whose wines enjoy an excellent reputation among connoisseurs. The wine-growing region has indeed borne the Vin Délimité de Qualité Supérieure (VDQS) designation since the 1960s, but has only been allowed to use the name AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) since 1999.
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Holidays on the Côte d’Azur

Port of Nice, Côte d’Azur, France
Port of Nice, Côte d’Azur, France (© David Espin – Fotolia.com)

If any place in Europe has the reputation of an absolute holiday paradise, it is surely the French Riviera, with its sun-kissed coasts, wonderful cuisine and distinguished company. It is not without reason that the rich and beautiful have made themselves at home there for decades. In a climate and landscape like something out of a fairy tale, money and high nobility meet in summery relaxation and pamper the senses. What many do not believe: the Côte d’Azur is affordable for everyone! Continue reading “Holidays on the Côte d’Azur”

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Family holiday on the island of Rügen

Island of Rügen - ©iStockphoto.com/pumucl
Island of Rügen – ©iStockphoto.com/pumucl

Rügen is Germany’s largest island, located in the Baltic Sea. The Strelasund bridge connects the island to the mainland of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Numerous sights on the island of Rügen make it ideally suited to a family holiday. The seaside resort of Sellin is very popular because of its children’s playground, so there is certainly no room for boredom here. Continue reading “Family holiday on the island of Rügen”

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Language courses in Nice – beach, culture and learning French

Nice, Côte d’Azur, France
Nice, Côte d’Azur, France – © LiliGraphie – Fotolia.com

Learning French in style could not be easier on a language trip to Nice. The beautiful port city with its magnificent yachts is the capital of the Côte d’Azur and invites you to an exclusive language holiday. The mixture of cultural diversity and enchanting seaside resort makes Nice so attractive as a destination, including for language trips. A French language course in Nice is the perfect blend of holiday and learning.
In local language schools you learn French in the morning from motivated native speakers who at the same time convey impressions of southern French culture, and enjoy the beach in the afternoon. Learning French goes beyond the classroom, in exchange with the locals when shopping in the Galeries Lafayette or when visiting the beautiful flower market. Continue reading “Language courses in Nice – beach, culture and learning French”

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A holiday in Paris – from the Louvre to Disneyland

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France (© Beboy – Fotolia.com)

A holiday for the whole family

They should be lovely, restful and unforgettable, the best weeks of the year – meaning the precious holiday time. To give the little ones and yourself a successful holiday it is a good idea to travel to Paris. For the parents this means exploring the city of love, going sightseeing and still giving the children a breathtaking holiday. For not far from Paris is the legendary Disneyland Resort Paris. In this way fun and cultural holidays can be combined perfectly. Suitable hotels and useful tips about a stay in Paris can be found at www.paris.citysam.de. There you will find not only everything worth knowing about Paris, but also a city guide, the most important addresses, excursion possibilities, sightseeing tips and much more. Continue reading “A holiday in Paris – from the Louvre to Disneyland”

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Holiday apartments in Berlin

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin (photo: © OHRAUGE – Fotolia.com)

Berlin – full of life day and night
The German federal capital Berlin is not only the largest city in the country, but also the most diverse. In no other metropolis in Germany can you take in such varied impressions as in Berlin. Day and night life pulses in the capital that never sleeps. Not only historically significant and unique buildings invite you to visit the capital, but also trendy locations and recurring major events attract countless visitors and travel enthusiasts to the city every year. You can not only stay in one of the many hotels, but also choose one of the many exclusive apartments, which offer a high degree of comfort. To find apartments in Berlin for a stay or a city break, it is best to search on the internet in the numerous rental portals. Many private providers also have their own website. Continue reading “Holiday apartments in Berlin”

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Exploring the south of France on two wheels

Cyclists
Cyclists (photo: © Ljupco Smokovski – Fotolia.com)

The Ardèche region, one of the most popular travel and holiday destinations in the south of France, casts its spell over thousands of tourists every year. This area is named after the River Ardèche, which has shaped the picturesque landscape on the eastern edge of the Massif Central lastingly and impressively. As a holidaymaker in the south of France you can set off on the most varied sporting as well as culinary voyages of discovery. The range of water sports in particular is especially varied here – whether kayak trips, raft trips or adventurous white-water rafting, everything is possible. The idyll can, however, be explored not only on the water but also on land. This is best done by bicycle, either brought along to the holiday region or hired on the spot.  Continue reading “Exploring the south of France on two wheels”

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Since 1 July, carrying a single-use alcohol test has been mandatory in France

On French roads only with an alcohol test.
To prevent fatal road accidents under the influence of alcohol, all car and motorcycle drivers in France have been required to carry an alcohol test since 1 July 2012. Anyone travelling to France must have this single-use test with them. The tubes cost up to five euros and can be bought in France at petrol stations, in supermarkets and in pharmacies, and from autumn in Germany as well. However, only models marked “NF”, for the French standard, are accepted. Anyone who has forgotten the test will have to pay a fine of eleven euros from November if caught.

Source: http://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/alkoholtest104.html

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Family holiday in a holiday home – feel at home!

Planning a family holiday is not an easy task. A lot has to be planned and coordinated. After all, you have to bring many people together. For families, renting a holiday home is usually a good solution. There is enough space there, and as self-caterers a lot of money can be saved on food. The family is spared the stress of a crowded hotel and can let themselves go in peace without having to be very considerate.

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Camping holiday in the south of France

Camping holiday: a family in a tent
Camping holiday (photo: © Pavel Losevsky – Fotolia.com)

Camping is enjoying great popularity with more and more people, and anyone who chooses the south of France as a destination is taking a camping holiday in camping country number one. The numerous sites are divided into different categories and expect visitors from the most diverse countries. Among others, there are also numerous family-friendly campsites with extremely modern facilities that offer children many things to do. Campers can choose a site close to the beach, but for naturists and lovers of farm campsites too there are varied camping options in the south of France. In any case, caution is called for in France: wild camping is generally prohibited. Continue reading “Camping holiday in the south of France”