cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

At cottages4you, we know how much so many Britons love a holiday in France.

With lots of beautiful areas to explore, along with outstanding food and luscious wines, we can see why.

On your next trip across the channel, you might want to spend some time in Bordeaux, which promises to offer you all you could wish for from a Gallic holiday.

Even if you’re just passing through on the way to your holiday cottage, you should make time to sample some of the best-tasting oysters in the country.

Apolline Belondrade, spokesperson at Bordeaux Tourisme, suggests La Boite a Huitre, which is right in the centre of the city.

"To finish your stay, don’t miss the Ice Bar of Bordeaux, one of the largest in Europe, where you’ll be able to drink frozen vodka in a unique atmosphere," she suggests, although make sure you’re not driving afterwards!

If you want to take a taste of Bordeaux with you, the Comptoir Boredelais next to the Grand Theatre is a vital stop-off, she adds.

Of course, one of the main attractions of the area is its delicious wine, so be sure to pick up a bottle on your travels.

A votre sante!

Posted by Daniel Leray, cottages4you

With the hustle and bustle of city life, here at cottages4you we can understand why Raf Casert packed up his car and took his wife and kids on a holiday to France.

The travel expert suggested in the Canadian Press that holiday homes in France could provide the perfect place to start a tour of the countryside by car, passing through Burgundy, the Rhone wine valley and the Midi.

You could even pick up a couple bottles of wine to enjoy in the holiday homes in France you stay at along the way.

"We never missed the cities or traffic jams. We craved neither overpriced parking tickets, nor the surly city waiters serving meals where the only thing resembling a Michelin-starred restaurant is the bill," Mr Casert said.

If you follow in his footsteps, you too could be going for midnight strolls around Romanesque buildings, passing rustic farms in the Provence and taking in the beauty of the 11th century churches dotted around the country.

The Champagne region of France also provides a sophisticated break from the city regime, the French Tourist Office recently said, with its picturesque rolling hills and excellent drinks.

Find out more about the Champagne region here.

Posted by Daniel Leray, cottages4you

Holidays in France are just perfect for those of you with all ages to cater for and there should be something to please everyone.

"The range of beaches, countryside and market towns provides the perfect backdrop for a family holiday," says a Cottages4you spokeswoman.

And if you need some inspiration for activities to do during a stay in a France holiday cottage, you should take a look at the Beautiful Village Drives ‘bookazine’ from France Magazine.

This could prove handy for those taking trips to Brittany, Normandy, Dordogne and Languedoc-Roussillon – all of which are enjoyed by car drivers, the spokeswoman explains.

It might prove to be a popular means of transport for those wanting to avoid the chaos caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

And, with France so close to the UK, driving there needn’t be too strenuous, she adds.

Just make sure you remember to drive on the correct side of the road!

Posted by Andrew Hill

Travelling by ferry to holiday cottages in France could prove less stressful than waiting in airports, it has been suggested.

Writing for the Times Online, France Magazine editor Carolyn Boyd said getting to holiday cottages in France by car can also mean families can fill the boot with food, which may prove ideal for self-catering accommodation.

Listing the current ferry deals which can be found here, she noted her magazine’s readers often cite ferries as providing flexibility and freedom to discover the country at their own pace.

And a base at a self-catering holiday cottage in France can also mean families do not have to adhere to the seating times often found at hotels.

"So what are you waiting for? Cast all those aeroplane weight restrictions aside, fill your cases to the brim and get on that ferry. You’ll never hear the words ‘flights cancelled’ again," Ms Boyd asserted.

Actor Anthony Head previously told France Magazine camping holidays in the country as a child helped create a "love affair" with France.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you

The UK has much to offer and many people are choosing to stay at home and holiday here.

But this does not mean people have forgotten the benefits of a holiday in France.

According to a spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Development Agency – ATOUT FRANCE – some 74 million people chose to visit France in 2009.

"Great Britain remains one of the key markets for France and France is still one of the favourite destinations for British tourists," he commented.

Recent reports had found a six per cent drop in tourists last year, thought to be a result of the economic crisis.

But the spokesperson claimed the industry is feeling positive about the prospects for this year and explains the cheap cost of travel to France from the UK is a huge bonus.

If you’ve booked a stay in a French holiday cottage, you can expect to choose from a huge variety of activities to do.

These range from wine tours, skiing and popping to the seaside, the spokesperson explains.

So it seems now is a great time to hop across the Channel and enjoy a taste of France.

Posted by Daniel Leray

People heading over the Channel for a stay in a France holiday cottage should pack plastic as well as euros, it has been suggested.
 
According to the Post Office Travel Services, travellers should have credit or pre-paid cards in their wallets or purses when they go abroad, so as to "cover all eventualities".
 
Head of the organisation Sarah Munro explained that cards can help people avoid carrying around large amounts of cash, adding that they are more secure than notes or coins in the event that they get stolen.
 
However, she noted that currency will still be important, as it is vital for paying for taxis rides or a round of drinks at the bar.
 
She was commenting after new figures were released by Santander, showing that over half (52 per cent) of Britons travelling abroad use cash as their primary method of payment.
 
One in five opted for credit cards, while just five per cent favoured traveller”s cheques.

Posted by Daniel Leray

A "resurgence" in the trend for families to take holidays in France is underway, it has been suggested.

Editor of France magazine Carolyn Boyd said that, judging from feedback from tour operators, the number of people wanting to stay in France holiday cottages is on the increase.

She noted that may families "did not want to risk the poor weather" in the UK last summer and so instead opted to take a break across the Channel.

And a similar trend is likely to occur this year providing the exchange rate does not change, Ms Boyd observed.

Visitors will "eat better for the same price" that they would pay in the UK, she commented, adding that some firms supplying France gites offer "great deals".

Last week, a poll conducted by Simonseeks.com showed that more than half of the people who opted for a staycation last year intend to travel further afield in 2010.

Posted by Daniel Leray