With a geography stretching from rugged coastline to seemingly endless beaches, from bustling cities to quaint rural villages and luxury mountain ski resorts, it is little wonder that France instantly captures the hearts of those who travel there.

No matter where you stay in France, you will become intoxicated by its inhabitants’ devotion to enjoying the best of everything, whether wine, fashion or culture.

It is hard to know where to begin with a country as diverse as France. Normandy and Brittany are steeped in history; the French Riviera’s Nice is the epitome of style while the Loire Valley is world famous for its châteaux. For enthusiasts of winter and mountain sports there are the resorts in its five mountain ranges, the Alps, the Pyrenees, Jura, Vosges and Massif Central.

Good food and wine is synonymous with France, especially in Lyon, Champagne (the most famous wine producing region of the world) and Bordeaux. Although the likes of frogs’ legs and l’escargot immediately spring to mind, a visit to France will open up a whole new gastronomy for you.

Its rich and often bloody history is all around you. From the French Revolution to the modern day, historical events have left their mark on the country that brought us such names as Napoleon, Marie Antoinette, the Renaissance, Monet, Debussy and Toulouse Lautrec.

Of course, no visit to France would be complete without a visit to one of the world’s greatest cities, Paris. With its myriad of monuments, museums, restaurants, theatres, shows and stunning architecture, it will keep you enthralled, returning time and time again to absorb more of its addictive sights and sounds.   

The currency in France today is the Euro. All major credit cards are widely accepted as well as travellers’ cheques. Access to your money is easy with most towns and cities having numerous ATMs.