France Travel Guide

France Travel Guide

France is home to some of the best vacation destinations in the world, from dreamy Paris, to the luxurious South of France, to the stunning vineyards of Burgundy to small, charming Disney inspiring towns – you could spend weeks in France and still not see everything there is to see!

Experience:

I’ve traveled to France many times and have never had a bad experience. The cities are incredible, the people are friendly, and the food and drinks are amazing!

Safety for Solo Female Travelers: 4.5 out of 5

I’ve traveled in France alone and have felt very safe, even in a big city like Paris. As long as you do your research and make sure you’re staying in a safe area you shouldn’t have a problem traveling alone!

Cost:

France is reasonably affordable, although not as cheap as some other European destinations like Portugal or Italy, it’s cheaper than more expensive destinations, like Switzerland. The currency in France is the Euro and credit cards are accepted almost everywhere.

Tipping/Restaurants:

Tipping is not expected in French restaurants as gratuity is included in your bill (at both small cafes and fancy restaurants) If you really enjoyed your service you can leave 5-10% Credit card slips do not have a line for tips, so these need to be left in cash.

Having a coffee or drink at sidewalk café is a quintessential French experience. You’ll find many of these cafes in Paris. It is customary to seat yourself at these cafes, and a waiter will let you know if you need to wait to be seated. At an actual restaurant, you will need to wait to be seated.

When you have finished your meal you will need to ask for the bill (this is true in many European countries where it is considered rude to give a table the check before they ask) To ask for the check in France you can say ““l’addition, s’il vous plait”“

In France, it is customary to round up in taxis to tip drivers and to tip bellhops a euro or two per bag.

When to Go:

Spring and Fall are great times to visit France. The weather is fairly mild (although not warm, especially at night when it can get down into the forties) Spring and Fall also tend to be less crowded than the peak summer season.

Summer is warmer in France, although not as hot as places like Greece and Italy. This makes summer a great time to visit, as the weather is warm, but not so hot you’re uninspired to explore the cities of France. Since summer is peak tourist season expect to see the most crowds and the highest prices for hotels during this time.

Winter is a great option if you’re looking to explore the French Alps and do some skiing or if you’re looking to take advantage of visiting Paris when the crowds have dissipated and the prices for hotels have dropped. Winter is not a great time to visit the French countryside, as many restaurants and hotels close for the winter.

Getting Around:

France has a great rail system that makes traveling between French cities (or to neighboring countries) very convenient. High speed trains run regularly between all major cities multiple times a day

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!