Self catering gites in the Loire Valley, with pool and hot tub! Beautiful place to relax and unwind, but also see the best the Loire Valley has to offer - chateaux, vineyards, markets etc.

www.loirelife.com
Saumur, nr Tours

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Situated on the sloping streets of Montmartre in the heart of the largest flea market in the world, is Chez Bertrand, surely the most original Bed and Breakfast in Paris. There are three rooms to choose from, each utterly unique and designed and decorated by Mr. Bertrand himself. ‘Le Studio’ welcomes you to the moon with its lunar likeness, ‘L’Appart’ provides a disco ball and giant Haribo dispenser, but the pick of the bunch is certainly ‘Le Loft’. In this former fireplace shop you can sleep in a circular bed, or … a Citroen 2CV converted into a bed! Whichever room you choose, each comes with a complimentary 'French Survival Kit' that includes a baguette, a saucisson and a bottle of Bordeaux.
The eccentric Bertrand is both a friendly and informative host, having written a guide to Paris he can tell you everything there is to do. He makes a pretty mean breakfast too.

Located within 'le marche aux puces de Saint-Ouen' (open every saturday, sunday and monday, year-round).
Address: Avenue de la Porte de Clignancourt, 75018 Paris‎
website: www.chezbertrand.com/accommodation-paris.html
Phone: 0033 (O)6.63.19.19.87
Email: bonjourbertrand@gmail.com for bookings

Google map: tinyurl.com/ykxjrlp

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How about this for an authentic French meal?
A starter of goats cheese salad, a main course of steak frites (with an absolutely fabulous piece of steak) followed by a cheese platter and rounded off with a crème brûlée dessert. At the end of the meal we’ll have an espresso coffee and during the meal two glasses of pleasant local wine. Well, this was what was on offer last week at our local bistro for an unbelievable €12! This isn’t an isolated example and around our local area of the Loire Valley, just north of Saumur, we are close to at least ten restaurants, which offer us amazing lunchtime feasts. Head down to Saumur and though on the main tourist route, you can still find great lunchtime menus for less than €15.

The secret is to always go for the set Menu of the Day – ‘Le Menu du Jour’, the Dish of the Day – ‘Le Plat du Jour’ or the Workers Menu – ‘Le Menu Ouvrier’. As well as providing great value, you can be assured that the meal is prepared fresh that day. So, choose carefully and you can eat like a king. However, stray off the ‘Menu du Jour’, ‘Plat du Jour’ or ‘Menu Ouvrier’ and onto the ‘a la carte’ dishes and you will end up with a bill that is closer to 35 Euros per head once you have added in wine and coffee.

How do you uncover these great deals and have a great value and great tasting meal?

In a large town just trawl the streets and read the blackboards describing the Menu du Jour and Plat du Jour along with the prices. In more rural areas either head for the nearest village or keep your eyes open as you travel around – some of the restaurants seem to be in the middle of nowhere! When you do find an establishment, don’t judge the restaurant from the outside. Some of our favourites are nothing to look at from the outside, some even look a little run down. One local eating spot has a tobacco kiosk at the entrance end then a traditional bar and the cosy restaurant, which serves exquisite food, is hidden at the back – you’d never know unless you went inside. Discovering these places in all part of the adventure. Don’t discount the restaurants that may look like lorry stops – these can be real hidden gems offering what seems like unlimited buffet starters, cider and wine! Take a look at the number of cars parked outside – there will be a mix of tradesmen’s vans, trucks, large lorries and family cars, reflecting the mix of clientele inside. If the place is pretty full with this mix then you are on to a winner – the locals don’t patronise a poor menu!

Once inside, just stick to the ‘Menu du Jour’ – even if you are presented with the ‘a la carte’ menu. The proprietor is just chancing his or her arm to see if you will pick one of the more expensive dishes. Sometimes you will have to specifically ask about the ‘Menu du Jour’, especially in more touristy locations where the assumption is that you will choose something more expensive! When you are asked for water don’t be afraid to ask for a ‘carafe D’Eau’ or ‘eau de robinet’ (tap water) – bottled water is not mandatory and if you look around the other tables you’ll find the locals, in general doing the same.

Don’t discount some of the more exclusive restaurants, either. Those that position themselves at the upper end of the price bracket still need to bring in the lunchtime diners, so they will also offer a ‘Menu’ or ‘Plat du Jour’. One of the most expensive restaurants in Saumur can costs you an arm and a leg in the evening, but at lunchtime you can have an upmarket starter and main dish of the day for €16 Euros. The wine however, isn’t included in this price!

Eat like the French and you are benefitting from one of France’s great traditions. Whatever a person’s occupation or status a meal at lunch is an important part of the daily routine. No shorter than 1 ½ hours, lunchtime eating starts at an early age in French schools. Many primary school children will receive a starter, a main course and a dessert for school dinner, followed by ten minutes ‘repose’. Only then are they unleashed into the school yard for the remainder of lunchtime. So the pattern is set for life! To ensure this tradition doesn’t die out, in 2009 the French government reduced the rate of sales tax on certain items in the Menu du Jour. Lunchtime dining in France is big business, is widespread and a massive employer and as we can see, great value. So make the most of it and enjoy!

L'Art Obase, Mouliherne, Maine et Loire
Le Boufftard, Hommes, Indre et Loire
Les Menstrels, Saumur www.restaurant-les-menestrels.com

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Tucked away in a quiet courtyard in the heart of the city, this wonderful B&B offers large bedrooms with an art deco theme. Our room was huge with an additional dressing area.The buffet breakfast was a real treat, and could be eaten outside on the large terrace. We filled our plates with fruit, cereal, toast, yoghurt and after some encouragement- Tourteau Fromage. This is a cake unique to the Poitou-Charentes region, made with goats cheese and with a burnt black outer crust, apparently to keep the freshness. Despite its unappealing appearance, it's delicious and became a firm breakfast favourite! Le Grand is situated right in the heart of Poitiers and among a range of excellent restaurants and near to the theatre.

28 rue Carnot - 86000 Poitiers
tel: (33)0549609060
contact@grandhotelpoitiers.fr

Google map: tinyurl.com/y99l7r7

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A small restaurant in La Balme, recently converted from a series of old cow sheds. It's near the bottom of the Aiguilette (a short red run with a button lift). There's a lovely sunny terrace and they do great value lunches for around €10. Try the assiette de pisteurs, a huge plate of salad, rosti, goats cheese on toast and lardons.

00 33 683 33 86 61 (Booking is essential)
No website
www.snowcarbon.co.uk/ski-resorts/chamonix/chamonix-eat-drink-party

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A rustic restaurant in Les Houches, just off the Col de Voza run (accessed on a signed track through the trees). It's an old farmhouse lovingly converted by an Australian woman, Julie, and her French husband, Claude. Excellent homemade slow-cooked dishes; about €15 for mains

00 33 684 42 37 00
www.lesvieillesluges.com/

Google map: tinyurl.com/yb43sjv

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The famous romantic castles in France are not as distant and prohibitive as they may seem: only 40 minutes by train from Paris and you reach the Château of Villiers-le-Mahieu in the middle of the beautiful French countryside. This place can make anyone feel romantic: walking in the castle gardens, over small bridges and along the ducks and beavers swimming in the moat, sitting under the moon lit statues in the courtyard. The castle has a superb spa with a heated swimming pool with a jacuzzi, a sauna and a Turkish bath, a solarium with plenty of free tea and dried fruit, and a gym. There are also massages available, but the prices are pretty high. And just to make it even more romantic, don’t forget to book the dinner table by the fire place.
One night for two people cost 179 Euros, including breakfast and entrance to the spa.

www.chateauvilliers.com
Half an hour by train from Paris.
Rue du Centre
78770 Villiers-le-Mahieu, France
01 34 87 44 25

Google map: tinyurl.com/yzr4qw2

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Its a guest house run by delightful English hosts, in an area of outstanding peace and beauty. The gite is only 225 Euros per week off peak (I stayed in a similar place on the Isle of Wight recently and had to pay £600 for a week). There is plenty to do in Normandy and the food is great. They do B&B too from about 50 euros per room per night I think. Who needs any more?

www.de-stressinfrance.com
The Haven, Le Mesnil Sauvage, Montbray
50410 France
0033 233 918897

Google map: tinyurl.com/yczswbg

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What better setting for a romantic getaway than the winding cobbled streets of Montmartre? The Avenir Hotel combines a great location- the artsy neighbourhood of Amélie Poulain- with magnificent views over the rest of the city; the sloping rooftops of Paris stretching towards the Eiffel Tower on one side and the Sacré Coeur on the other. Stroll around the quarter past the open air markets, cafés, theatres and galleries and you’ll be sure to stumble upon one of the countless romantic restaurants tucked around every corner.
Rooms are simple but fantastic value for what you pay. Doubles are from as little as 68 euros, though it’s definitely worth spending an extra 8 euros, for that you get the room with a view.

Halfway down the hill from the Sacré Coeur, nearest metro is Anvers.
www.hotel-avenir.com
39, boulevard Rochechouart, PARIS

Google map: tinyurl.com/y8vcn2p

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When I was in Paris for an exhibition recently I took a couple of American customers to this restaurant because it combines a famous landmark with French cuisine. I thought it would be an unforgettable experience for them and I was not disappointed.

It is on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower so at night the views are spectacular especially if you can get a table by the window. It is quite avant garde in the way it is designed with a sort of circular swirling purple light above which sounds strange but it is all done in the best possible taste. The lighting is quite subdued so that people can see the city and there are candles on the tables so the atmosphere is wonderful.

I am not easily impressed in restaurants becuase I do a lot of entertaining all over the world but I thought the food and the service here was excellent. We had the cheaper of the menus (not that any of them are exactly "cheap") but it was just great and as far as I was concerned it was certainly worth it.

You'll skip the queues at the bottom and go straight up to the first floor in a lift. If you are looking to do something in Paris for your partner or customers, you can't beat this.

www.restaurants-toureiffel.com/
Rue du Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris, France

Google map: tinyurl.com/ydd93wj

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It's at 3842 metres in the cable car station at the top of the Aiguille du Midi. Advertised as the highest Savoyard restaurant in the Alps (I'm guessing it's the highest in the whole world!) The food is good and the views of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix Aiguilles are fantastic. You basically get a real taste (albeit very much a lite version) of the experience of high-altitude mountaineering. The downside is that it costs 41 euros to get up there.

Aiguille du Midi telepherique, Chamonix Mont Blanc
www.chamonix.com

Google map: tinyurl.com/y983uo7

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A fantastic little pizza restaurant perched above the Vesubie Valley on the outskirts of the Mercantour National Park. Super wood fired oven pizza - great grilled meat and apple tart to die for and then there's Babette the waitress, the singing etc etc...

Belvedere - only one restaurant - one hour north of Nice - reso 04 93 02 03 30

Google map: tinyurl.com/ydknun4

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Fantastic french cycling holidays in the Loire Valley. Centre based, so there's no need to pack andunpack each day. The routes were great - mainly flat and traffic free and the sights were wonderful - chateaux, vineyards, beautiful countryside etc and we relaxed in the pool or hot tub at the end of the day. The evening meals were such fun, with delicious food the chat with other guests was really entertaining! Jon and Ali are great hosts (being family run, they really can pay personal attention to your needs).

www.loirelifecycling.com
Loire Valley
France

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This is a fantastic refuge with a great views of Mont Blanc, at 2352m, a few hours uphill climb from Chamonix. What makes it so great is the food. Their speciality is long cooked Pig's Cheeks, marinated in wine overnight and then slowly braised throughout the day with herbs, garlic and more wine. Served with immaculate roast potatoes it's the perfect fare after a long hard day's mountain walking. And their huge chunks of rustic mountain cheese are worth the visit alone, not to mention their red wine and deserts.

Aiguilles Rouge, Chamonix 4 50 53 49 14
www.refuges.info/point/357/refuge-garde/aiguilles-rouges/refuge-du-lac-blanc/

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The Louvre is well worth every cent of the admission price, but it is best to go in with some idea of what you'd most like to see. I'm an art history enthusiast with the stamina of a hiker, but spending a full day in the Louvre seems unfeasible to me: I'm willing to bet the sheer magnitude of the Louvre's collections will wear anyone's appreciation out in about three hours. Hence, grab a map, try to make sense of it and proceed towards the section that interests you the most. Leave while you're still amazed instead of overwhelmed and bored - and come back for more either in the next afternoon or on your next trip.

As for practicalities, the side entrance in the Richelieu wing is far less crowded than the main one under the pyramid. The Paris museum pass is very handy for skipping the ticket lines. It is also worth noting that not all of the many toilets marked on the map will be in working order, so if you come across one that is, best make use of it.

www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp?bmLocale=en

Google map: tinyurl.com/ykn4e6o

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Unless you enjoy getting harrassed by aggressive beggars, random people trying to "show you a fun trick" that you'll then be expected to pay 20€ for, or at best, people trying to get you to buy something you don't need, I recommend avoiding pretty much all the main tourist hotspots in Paris. The worst-affected areas in my experience are Montmartre, the square in front of the Notre-Dame, and to somewhat lesser extent, the Tuileries gardens. I haven't gone anywhere near the Eiffel tower for the precise reason in the last few times I've been there - my first trip to Paris was 10 years ago and things have really deteriorated since then. If you're desperate to see the main sights, then avoid going alone and keep moving. I was immediately targeted by someone or several someones each and every time I had to stop to wait for my boyfriend who was taking pictures.

The good news is, there is plenty to see all over Paris, plus the food is noticeably cheaper in the less touristy areas, and, provided you're being polite and saying your "bonjours", "mercis" and "au revoirs", the people there are friendlier towards foreigners.

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Velo Blue (Blue Bike) is a public bike rental scheme where you can, after pre-registering with your credit or debit card, just turn up at one of over 90 bike stations all over the city of Nice and pick up a bike using your mobile phone to release the padlock. You then just drop it back at any station when your done and you are charged just for the time you use it. I understand there are similar schemes popping up in other city's all over Europe.

Telephone: +33 (0)4 30 00 30 01 (Press option 2 for English)

www.velobleu.org

Online Information in French www.velobleu.org

Online information in English
www.stayintheheartofnice.com/content/view/34/41/

Station locations all over Nice City Centre (map on websites).

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Visiting the battlefields of the First World War in Northern France and Belgium is an emotional, eye-opening journey. Join a tour accompanied by an expert historian and you can appreciate the full impact of the experience. Stand on the D-Day beaches, and pay your respects at the many Allied cemeteries.

www.101shortbreaks.co.uk/battlefield-tours/

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Lot Cycling Holidays is a wonderful family run getaway in the South of France. We stayed there for 11 nights and had a really fabulous stay. John and Aileen were excellent hosts and the cycling routes that John has carefully selected and planned are second to none and offer a real slice of French life, while catering for the novice and the more experienced cyclist. Quality materials were supplied and John was always just a phone call away if needed! Aileen's meals were simply fantastic and her vegetarian creations were very much appreciated. A great holiday for the cycling (or foodie) enthusiast with amazing cuisine and beautiful accommodation, can't recommend it highly enough ... can't wait to go back!

www.lotcyclingholidays.com

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This is a place about 5km outside the Carcassonne - takes about 25 minutes on the number 1 bus from the Bastide among other places in the city and costs E1.20 eachway. It is a lake/reservoir with a beach and the opportunity to go swimming. There are walks around the lake (a circuit took us about one hour 15 minutes) and pathways leading off. We went late October and the weather was wonderfully warm and it would have been ideal for a picnic especially as there were no facilities available but nevertheless it was one of the highlights of our trip to Carcassonne. If using the bus check the times of the return journeys because they are irregular and be aware that the bus may not follow the same route once it is back in the city.

Carcassonne Plage - Le Lac de la Cavayere

Google map: tinyurl.com/yc5w2dj

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