Planning tools & info

Shopping in Paris, and the whole of France is quite different to what you are likely used to at home.  And I appreciate that shopping in French may seem intimidating, especially for first time visitors. How to shop in France without embarrassment or anger is something every traveller can do, regardless of whether you speak French or… Read more: How to shop in French stores & markets – best tips

Nice local and popular France Travel Planning writer, Eric Schwartz is back with more great information – this time, how to make your Nice family vacation one to remember. If you think the French Riviera is just a playground for adults, filled with nightclubs, beach clubs, bars and a constant party-vibe, then you’re in for… Read more: Ultimate Nice family vacation: best tips from a Nice local

For many visitors to Paris a visit to the Louvre Museum is a must do. The Museum itself is enormous to the point of being overwhelming for many visitors, so choosing to take a guided tour can be a good investment of both your time and money. But with so many options, how do you… Read more: Best Louvre tours: options for all visitors

A rental apartment in Paris is a popular choice for visitors to Paris. They are often good value for larger families and those on a budget – an apartment in Paris can be cheaper than multiple hotel rooms for families and groups of friends, and the opportunity to cook for yourself is tempting to those… Read more: 12 best apartment rental sites for Paris visitors

Looking for one of the best day trips from Paris? Just 70mins by the regional TER train, Chartres is an easy day trip from Paris, or an easy stop if you are driving from Paris to the Loire Valley. In addition to its famous Gothic cathedral, it offers a window into small town French life… Read more: Best day trips from Paris: day trip to Chartres

If you’re a person who likes to get off the beaten path of the tourist tracks when visiting the South of France, then this article by local Nice resident, Eric Schwartz is for you. The Côte d’Azur still offers visitors some tranquil and low-key vibe places to visit, each offering unique charms, activities and remarkable… Read more: Off the Beaten Path: Visiting High Coastal Villages by a Nice Local

So many questions in the France Travel Planning Facebook group are about the best shoes to pack for France.  So in this post I’m talking the best shoes for travel for France.  And of course, they also need to be the most comfortable walking shoes for France because even if you are not an active person,… Read more: Best Shoes to Wear in France

For many first time visitors to France eating traditional dishes such as snails is one of the great bucket list experiences in France. This post includes ten amazing places to eat snails in Paris, as well as how to order and eat snails. My options here all have English language menus and booking engines to… Read more: How and where to eat snails in Paris – 10 amazing places

The Black Friday deals have arrived. Here are my picks of the best Black Friday deals for France 2025. Not planning a trip to France for the time being? No problem. Most of these companies have global deals, or deals for elsewhere in Europe. Viator Viator has some excellent deals on global destinations. In Paris,… Read more: Best Black Friday deals for France 2025

I’ve been to afternoon tea in many 5 star Paris hotels – some more than once (all in the name of research of course) but had never even ventured inside the ultra luxe Plaza Athenée Hotel let alone eaten there. On our last trip to Paris Mr Francetravelplanning and I decided it was time, not… Read more: Plaza Athenée Paris afternoon tea – when it was good it was great, but…..

A guided tour of the Eiffel Tower is on the agenda for many visitors to Paris. I had done an escorted visit to the Eiffel Tower where we were left to our own devices at the elevator, but had never done a guided tour up the tower itself, so when the team at Take Walks… Read more: Tour the Trocadero and Eiffel Tower with Take Walks

We get questions in my France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you aren’t a member) regularly about driving in France. Should I drive in France? Is it difficult to drive in France? Can I use my drivers’ license to drive in France? Do I need a car in Paris? And so… Read more: Driving in France: all the driving in France tips you need to know

I must admit I’m not usually a fan of bucket lists, but I know it is for many readers. So what are the Paris must dos now, and what should be on your list of Paris bucket list ideas? The purpose of this post is not to list off a whole lot of obvious options… Read more: Paris bucket list ideas: over 50 ultimate experiences in Paris

This is a total reworking of an older post I originally published on my frugal first class travel blog a number of years ago. That post did not cover every one of the twenty Paris arrondissements, and like most vibrant international cities, Paris has changed somewhat in the time since I wrote the post. In… Read more: France Travel Planning: guide to the best neighborhoods to stay in Paris

I had visited Lyon briefly some years ago. While I enjoyed it and found many reasons to visit Lyon, I was unwell much of the time and my Lyon itinerary was disrupted. This time round, I spent 3 days in Lyon to make sure I had plenty of time to explore, and to (hopefully) answer… Read more: How many days in Lyon? Best Lyon itinerary in 1, 2 or 3 days

I had visited Beaune a number of years ago. But it was a day trip from Paris, so while my experience was very positive – it’s a lovely town – I wanted more. On my recent trip to the region, I knew I needed a longer stay in Beaune. I found a two day Beaune… Read more: Beautiful Beaune: two day Beaune itinerary

I recently had the opportunity to visit Burgundy. So of course Burgundy wine tours were an important part of my planning. I was therefore thrilled to be invited on a Burgundy wine trip by Rue des Vignerons to experience a Burgundy wine tour of the Côte de Nuit. I spent a truly magical afternoon wine… Read more: Burgundy wine tours: a magical Burgundy wine trip with Rue des Vignerons

I’ve been fortunate to have visited Bordeaux twice in the last 5 years, but this is the first Bordeaux travel itinerary I have published. Our first trip in 2019 was a Bordeaux 2 day itinerary with MissG. On our most recent visit to Bordeaux Mr FranceTravelPlanning and I were fortunate to enjoy a Bordeaux river… Read more: Best Bordeaux travel itinerary: three days in Bordeaux

Local south of France resident, Eric Schwartz, is back with more fun personal recommendations for an enjoyable visit – this time to Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Grasse – three of the most popular towns to visit in Provence. If stunning vistas, fields of fragrant lavender, amazing cuisine, art, medieval history and delectable French wines are your… Read more: Avignon, Aix-en-Provence and Grasse: Two Perfect Weeks in Provence

Yes, it is possible to visit Normandy by car or public transportation. While it is certainly easier to do a Normandy roadtrip, travelling around Normandy by public transportation is also quite possible. This is my recommended best 5 day itinerary. Normandy, France was somewhere Mr Francetravelplanning and I were keen to visit and initially we… Read more: Best 5 day itinerary Normandy France: visit Normandy by car or public transportation

What are the best hotels at Charles de Gaulle airport is a question that comes up often in the France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you are not a member). Whether it’s a late arrival or an early departure, hotels near Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport can be a good option… Read more: Best hotels at Charles de Gaulle airport – 16 Paris airport hotels

France Travel Planning Facebook group member and Nice resident, Eric Schwartz, is back with his top tips for day trips from Nice. Nice makes an excellent base for exploring the Côte d’Azur and there are so many fantastic Nice day trips to consider. You can catch up on Eric’s detailed guide to visiting Nice here… Read more: 13 Day Trips from Nice: best tips by a Nice local

I love walking in Paris. Like many visitors to Paris, a Paris city walk on my list of favorite Paris things to do. So, when the great team at Take Walks suggested Mr FranceTravelPlanning and I join their Skip-the-Line Sainte-Chapelle, Seine Cruise & Medieval Quarter Tour walk, we both immediately said “sign us up!” Our… Read more: An excellent Paris City Walk – Take Walks tour review

Are you struggling to make decisions regarding your perfect Paris itinerary, or maybe not sure what to leave in and what to leave out? Confused about where to stay in Paris or looking for that perfect restaurant recommendation for a special celebration? Help is at hand with our exclusive France Travel Planning itinerary planning service… Read more: France Travel Planning exclusive itinerary service with a Paris local

I’m thrilled to bring you this Nice travel guide from France Travel Planning Facebook group member and Nice resident, Eric Schwartz. While I’ve visited Nice a number of times, I know no one knows Nice better than a local, so I was so excited when Eric offered to write a local’s guide to visiting Nice.… Read more: Guide to Visiting Nice: best tips from a Nice local

Apéritifs in France are an important part of French culture. What is apéro? Apéritifs (or apero as they are usually referred to) are the pre dinner drinks and snacks generally taken after work and before dinner. When you visit France you will see locals everywhere in the later afternoon/early evening (often when we Anglophones are… Read more: Apero time: Paris Latin Quarter walking tour with Take Walks

Finding the best tours for the family in Paris is something most parents spend so much time researching. Whether it’s Paris with a baby, things to do in Paris with teenagers or the best Paris museums for kids, I’ve done all the hard work and come up with an extensive selection of free activities and… Read more: Best Tours for the Family in Paris

Finding the best places to stay in Paris with family can be tricky. Because rooms are generally on the small size genuine family friendly hotels in Paris can be thin on the ground. But never fear – I’ve done all the hard work for you and found seventeen of the best options to stay with… Read more: Best places to stay in Paris with family

There are many France cultural gifts to the world. French art, French food and French architecture are aspects of French culture many visitors seek out on a trip to Paris. On my recent Paris visit I had the opportunity to experience some of the best famous paintings, food and architecture in Paris with Take Walks… Read more: Famous paintings, food and architecture in Paris with Take Walks

Every year there are a total of eleven public holidays in Paris (including four alone in May), so having a plan for things to do on public holidays in Paris is important. Similarly, many shops and restaurants in Paris are closed on Sundays, so a plan for Sundays in Paris also makes sense. Many Parisians… Read more: Best things to do on public holidays & Sundays in Paris

One of the things we talk about in the France Travel Planning Facebook group (you can join here if you aren’t a member) is shopping for souvenirs of France. Group members have plenty of great ideas for the best things to buy in Paris – and beyond. Based on ideas from the generous members of… Read more: Fantastic souvenirs of France: things to buy in Paris and beyond

An Alsace itinerary, including the charming destinations of Strasbourg, Colmar and the Route des Vins, makes a wonderful side trip from Paris, or stop off on the way from France to Switzerland or Germany. While you can visit Alsace as a day trip from Paris, a 3 night Alsace visit allows you time to stay… Read more: Alsace itinerary: Strasbourg, Colmar and the Incredible Route des Vins

When you travel to France you will no doubt want to spend time in Paris. Whether it is your first trip to Paris or you’ve visited Paris many times, you will no doubt want to do some Paris day trips. But with so many options, what are the best day trips from Paris? Whether you… Read more: Paris day trips: the best day trips from Paris

In this post I’m talking Paris food tours.  Obviously when you visit you will want to try the best food in Paris.  After all that’s one of reasons many of us visit Paris.  But with so many options, how do you find the best food tours in Paris?  In this post, I’ve done all the… Read more: Experience the best food in Paris: best food tours in Paris

Are you enthusiastic about planning a trip to France?  While France travel planning can be done online, and there’s always great advice in my France Travel Planning Facebook group, I must admit I do like a hard copy guidebook, both to plan and to travel with.  So I’ve gathered together the best guidebooks about France and… Read more: Guidebooks about France: best books on Paris & France

Looking for how to travel from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris? You have many options. The best way to get from CDG to Paris will depend on the number of people in your group as well as your budget. Because I know it’s a popular Paris activity for many, I’m also including the best ways to get from Charles de Gaulle to Disneyland Paris.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, you won’t want to miss out on the opportunity to take the best cooking classes in Paris. Cooking classes Paris, France, come in a huge range of options that are suitable whatever your tastes or whoever you’re travelling with – from taking a specialist macaron making class, Paris,… Read more: Best Cooking Classes in Paris

I hope you are enjoying my Paris itinerary series, whether you are planning a trip to Paris, or just like reading about Paris.  Following from my one and two day Paris itineraries, I’m now considering what to do on a three day trip to Paris.  Paris in three days definitely gives you far more options for what to do in Paris.  If it is your first trip to Paris I think three days is a good length of time to spend – plenty of time to see all the “must sees” but not so much time as to be overwhelming if it is your first stay.

If you love Paris (and I know you do), this is the series of posts you’ve been waiting for.  The best Paris itineraries regardless of how long you are staying in Paris.  Unlike most Paris itineraries, my Paris itinerary planner includes alternatives to consider, and how to plan a trip to Paris with children or… Read more: Your Paris itinerary: plan your one day trip to Paris

In my France Travel Planning Facebook group there are always questions about whether to buy the Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass. Or whether buying any Paris attractions ticket was worth it. While there are many Paris city passes available, such as the Paris Passlib and the Paris Visite Pass, I’m sticking with a comparison of the Paris Pass vs Paris Museum Pass. Which is the best Paris attractions pass, and should you buy a Paris tourist pass at all?