To understand camping in France, one first has to look at some of
the differences between the UK and France culturally. A large number of
people in the UK do have home holidays, or to use the more recent term,
staycations. However, most people do prefer to travel abroad and
holidays in sunnier climes such as Spain are the most popular. This is
not to say that the weather in the UK is inclement, but as recent
summers and winters would testify, it is certainly unpredictable.
By
contrast, in France the percentage of people who holiday within France
is much higher. Perhaps this is because they have a warmer climate and
as such do not yearn for two weeks of lying in the sun. Another
possibility is that there is a deeper, cultural difference.
So
what type of holiday is the preferred choice in France? Well it may come
as a surprise but camping is highly regarded in France and is almost an
institution. For a few weeks in the summer, the French people en masse
go to the country or coast and enjoy the delights of the Plein air. This has lead to a large number of camping sites throughout France, from Brittany in the North West to the Cote d'Azur in the South. Other popular areas include the Vendee, Dordogne and the majestic Alps.
There
are other interesting contrasts between the French camping sites and
their UK holiday park counterparts. The surprising thing is that the
French sites have a shorter season. Most holiday parks in the UK open at
Easter, when the weather can still be cold and unpredictable.
The parks
then remain open until half term at the end of October. In comparison
the French parks open in mid May and close in September. Partly this is
cultural in that the French do not wish to holiday outside that period.
Another reason may be that the more unsettled weather in the UK has lead
companies to invest heavily in indoor pools and entertainment
complexes. This is something that many of the French campsites do not
have.
This is not to imply that UK Holiday Parks are superior to
their French counterparts. France is a larger country than the UK, with
one result being that land can be less expensive. As such, some of the
camping sites are built with more space between the caravans. La Pachcaid near St Tropez
in the South of France is a fine example of this. The caravans are
located in terraces among the pine trees with shrubs used as a boundary.
This gives more seclusion and privacy than you would normally find in a
similar UK park. The outdoor swimming pool complexes in France, such as
La Pachcaid are also very impressive and as good as you will find anywhere in the UK.
In
terms of accommodation, the French camping sites are similar to the UK
offering a range of caravans, lodges and chalets. However, rentable
tents do seem to be more common. Other more unusual accommodation types
are tree houses or even Gypsy caravans.
To conclude, French people
do have a more positive attitude to camping than their counterparts in
the UK. This is reflected in the French camping sites which are well
worth exploring and enjoying.
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When looking into going to Paris, there are many places to see
and lots of things that can be done while in Paris. You can look up all
the places you want to see and make a check list or you can use a Paris
Vacation Package, either way you will find plenty to do in Paris while
you are there.
There is the Paris Island Vacation Package, where
the package will include the hotel stay, travel to get there, most of
your meals and all your activities you want to do while on the island.
Where you can stay on the beach and visit all the different local
attractions on the Island. These packages will cost a little more than
you probably want to spend, but they nearly include everything you will
need while you are in France.
There are many museums to visit
while in Paris such as the Musee D'Orsay which has the largest
collection of impressionist paintings you will find under one roof. Then
there is the Rodin Museum which house the "Thinker", all of these
places will be awesome to see while in Paris and a must on your to do
list.
There are over forty million places to eat while you're
staying in Paris. Some of the most famous restaurants you will want to
visit are the Gourmet Restaurant, the French Bistrots, and many of the
cafes you will find along the streets of Paris. You will not want to
miss out on these places to eat because they have beauty and the history
of France in them.
When looking for a place to stay in Paris you
will have plenty of places to pick from because there are over one
thousand and four hundred and fifty places to stay. You will find cheap
hotels all the way up to the extremely expensive hotels. You will want
to find a cheap hotel near all the restaurants and entertainment places
you want to visit, that way you will not have to walk very far, or worry
about transportation while in Paris. Many of the hotels here in Paris
are historical and charming, so you will not be disappointed with were
you choose to stay.
There is so many things to do and see in Paris
make sure you plan enough time to spend at each one of the famous
buildings and eat at the local cafes to learn about their history and
culture.
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France is one of the most favourite, most visited and most
admired countries and for sure among the must-to see places for
travelers. It owns various attractions which would satisfy all kind of
travelers. As a travel destination, there are good beaches, monuments,
châteauxes, cathedrals, historical places, inspiring churches, mountain
scenery, nature, museums, plenty of shopping places, cafés, restaurants
and bars. The one who likes to explore history, culture and art all
together whiling traveling must see France. It provides some of the best
tourist attractions in the world.
As the capital of France,
Paris, also called the city of lights, is one of the most romantic
cities in bothe world. The main offices of important organizations such
as UNESCO, the ICC, NATO, the OECD are located here. The fashion of
Paris is the unique one. This romantic city has tourist attractions such
as the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de Triomphe,
Sacré-Coeur, Centre Pompidou, Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre Museum.
Although there are many museums and monuments in the City of Light,
these must be especially visited.
There are so many museums to
visit in Strasbourg, too such as La Vaisseau (especially for families),
Musee Alsacien, Musee des Beaux-Arts, Musee de l'Oeuvre Notre-Dame,
History Museum etc. Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasurg, Petite France,
Ponts Couverts and Quartier Allemand are among tourist attractions of
the city.
Bordeaux, a city of endless cafes and bars, several
historic attractions, lively nights and wide avenues, is also among the
best places to see in France. The city is also known as France's capital
of wine. There are the most well known wine producing regions around
Bordeaux. Apart from its sightseeings, the city is for the ones who are
looking for excellent food and drink.
Lyon is the gastronomic
capital of France. Basilique de Notre Dame de Fourvière, Cathédrale
St-Jean, Place de la Comédie, Roman Ruins, Museum of Gallo-Roman
Civilization are among major tourist attractions in Lyon.'A French
island basking in the Italian sun' is the description of Balzac for
Corsica. It is an island and region of France. Corsica has excellent
beaches that offers activities for travellers. Snorkeling and scuba
diving are available.
Avignon, Marseille, Nice, Antibes,
Montpellier, Alsace, North Calais, Lorraine, Picardy, Brittany,
Normandy, Provence-Alps and Cote d'Azur; Rhone Alpes, Aquitaine and
Dordogne, Languedoc Roussillon, Midi Pyrenees are among popular places
to see.
Château de Versailles, Fontainebleau, Giverny, Musée
Claude Monet, Pont d'Avignon, Chenonceau Castle, Mount Saint Michael,
Arc de Triomphe, Maison Victor Hugo, Champs Elysiées, Disneyland Paris
are also tourist attractions to be visited.
Richness of France
heritage results in a list of so many sightseeings, attractions and
places to see. It's better to make a plan and be aware of the time that
you will spend there. Also, watching the videos of Travelovideo will
help to get an idea about France before visiting.
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Feel free to use this article on your website or ezine with the
information about author/website info & links is included.
Gokhan Ozbal is the content developer for Travelovideo.com - the place to watch travel videos online. Visit Travelovideo to view places to visit in France and watch France travel videos.
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