France
France blends historic cities, countryside landscapes and a culture deeply shaped by food, art and everyday rituals. In Paris, cafés spill onto the streets beneath landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, while museums, markets and neighbourhood bakeries form part of daily life. Beyond the capital, lavender fields colour the hills of Provence, vineyards stretch across Bordeaux and Burgundy, and the French Alps rise dramatically around towns like Chamonix. From long lunches and local markets to castles in the Loire Valley and Mediterranean beaches along the Riviera, France is a country where culture and lifestyle are inseparable.
Baguette Faux Pas: Pointy-End Superstition
In France, bread comes with its own quiet rules. One tradition says you shouldn’t point the end of a baguette directly at someone across the table, a superstition some link back to World War II where people were called snitches. Today it’s more folklore than rule, but it’s a reminder that even everyday bread carries stories.
Cheat-Sheet:
MAJOR AIRPORT:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) & Paris Orly Airport (ORY)
CURRENCY:
Euro (€ / EUR)
HIGH TRAVEL SEASON:
June to August (festivals and Riviera sun)
LOW TRAVEL SEASON:
November to March (mild off-season in Paris and the Alps)
TIPPING CULTURE:
Round up or add 1-2€, not obligatory
HOW TO SAY 'THANK YOU':
Merci, pronounced "mair-see"
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