Archive for the ‘French Holidays’ Category

There is a growing trend of holidaymakers choosing a destination to better themselves, with a French holiday proving popular for anyone looking to give their language skills a boost.

That’s according to The Daily Mail, which claims that the days of pursuing a holiday lounging in the sun, relaxing by the sea and unwinding in the evenings have been replaced by the desire to experience something new.

Whether it’s walking, cycling, climbing, horse-riding, sailing, diving or exploring, people who go on holiday want to be more active than in previous years and seek out holidays that can offer that.

The key to enjoying a holiday, claims The Daily Mail, is to go with an aim you want to achieve rather than travel for the sake of it.

For those seeking a French holiday to expand their horizons, The Telegraph has revealed a selection of places that would achieve that aim in style.

Booking a DIY hiking and biking holiday is easier in France, they claim, which is why so many people seeking activity holidays choose France as their destination.

It’s an easy country to get to, with many cities boasting great links with airlines, trains, ferries and good roads for driving, which is another reason why the French holiday remains popular.

Many people head off on a French holiday to places such as Paris, Dordogne and Nice to sample the delicious wines handcrafted by local residents; however, unless scientists continue to discover new grape varieties and develop antidotes to dangerous natural diseases, this could all be a thing of the past.

According to Science Centric, researchers across America have been working on how they can use the genome maps of grapes to help them do both.

After studying the genome maps of around 1,000 vine samples, researchers gathered data which could help them create grape varieties resistant to disease. The one species that winemakers generally rely on, vitis vinifera vinifera, is used for a range of wines, including merlot, riesling, semillon and chardonnay. Even though the species can be tailored for both red and white wines, it remains only one species, and therefore leaves limited room for cross-breeding.

“The degree to which that [cross-breeding] was done seems to have been extremely limited,” said the leader of the study, Sean Myles; “One we found good cultivars that were worth working for, we adopted them and as a result, they’re sitting ducks for pathogens.”

Now that the researchers have collated their data, they will identify the particular genetic make-up that helps grapes resist some types of disease, and use this to further develop the ‘perfect’, disease-resistant grape.

“If you know the genetic markers associated with these traits, you can plant them out as seedlings, look at its DNA as soon as you get the first leaf tissue, and say for example ‘we’ll keep these five because we know their genetic profiles are associated with the traits we’re interested in’,” Myles told BBC News.

After briefly losing its title to European counterpart, Italy, France has regained its position as the world’s top wine producer.

Those who enjoy the grape-related perks of taking a French holiday will be pleased to hear that France pushed Italy into second place, after International Wine and Spirit Research’s (IWSR) study found that the Gallic nation produced over 400 million cases of wine throughout the past 12 months. It is thought Spain managed to claim the number three spot.

A report was produced from the study that confirmed the French were likely to stay on top for at least the next three years, even though it was anticipated that production may decline slightly.

Connexion France reported that growing demand in China and Hong Kong was partly responsible for the French victory, thanks to the respective nations’ love of wine grown in the Bordeaux region of France.

Additionally, French residents have helped their home country regain its place at the top of the list, by upping their consumption of sparkling wine by 4.6 per cent, and rose by 20 per cent, in the last five years.

The news comes shortly after Caterer Search reported that the annual production of wine worldwide is set to reach three billion cases over the next three years, as consumption of the white, red and rose varieties will grow by around 8.6 per cent.

Brits should also be happy at the news, as the IWSR’s research also uncovered that Britons remain the tenth biggest consumers of wine, and the world’s biggest importer of fine wines, including those produced in the wine capital.

Those looking to take a French holiday this Christmas will likely find their journey easier if they fly straight to their destination in the Dordogne, as France’s national rail operator has warned of severe disruptions to rail services.

Earlier this week travel routes across France were heavily disrupted by snowfall. Across the west, east and centre of the country between 20cm and 40cm of snow fell overnight with temperatures dropping below freezing in many regions.

The snowfall saw heavy goods vehicles temporarily banned from roads in Rhone Valley, Massif Central and 16 other departments due to the added risk of the weather conditions.

Whilst the Dordogne has escaped largely unscathed so far by the frigid winter weather, overland transport to the region is likely to suffer from the disruptions caused to other departments. Earlier this week France’s national rail operator, the Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer francais (SNCF) warned one in five TGVs – France’s high speed rail service – have been cancelled outright, whilst many other trains are operating at severely reduced speeds.

With further snowfall expected across Europe this winter, travellers are advised to take the most direct route to their destination as possible and to be prepared for delays to journeys. The SNCF has said that in the event of further disruption, travellers can use their tickets to board any trains departing on their route at any time of the day.

Foie gras is one of the delicacies most sought after by those taking French holidays to the Dordogne, particularly over the Christmas period. A staple of Occitan cuisine, the Perigord region is the source of some of France’s most lauded foie gras brands and the foodstuff is common in the area’s many winter markets as well as in local restaurants and cafes.

Yet this year visitors to France will be able to sample foie gras in a much less rarefied form; a burger at a fast food outlet.

The BBC reports that Quick, a Belgium fast food firm with hundreds of outlets across France, has introduced a new burger containing a slice of duck foie gras as well as the conventional beef patty and lettuce dressing. On sale for €5 from the start of December, Quick says the burger boasts the rich flavour and buttery texture of foie gras and will only be available during the festive period.

“We want to give our clients [a] great taste at cheap prices and give them the possibility to party a little ahead of time,” Laurent Niewolinski, the firm’s marketing director told Reuters news agency.

Foie gras is made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. Described in France’s rural and agricultural code as part of the “protected and gastronomical heritage of France”, it is produced by both small farmers and larger commercial operations throughout the country. However it is particularly popular in the South of France, including the Dordogne, where foie gras is both eaten more frequently throughout the year and plays more of a traditional role in Christmas festivities.

France’s driving laws hit the headlines recently after Halfords revealed that hundreds of British motorists were fined by French police this year for not carrying a high-visibility vest. However, as The Telegraph explains, people shouldn’t be put off by a French holiday with the car; they just need to do their research first.

Consulting websites such as the AA’s will help you understand the driving laws of France, but there are some key things to keep in mind regardless of where you’re driving.

You should take your drivers licence – and the paper counterpart – and you might need to get an international driving permit.  You also need to make sure your insurance covers you for driving abroad, and that you have sufficient breakdown cover.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many European countries have a lower drink-driving limit. To avoid getting caught out, it’s safest to not drink at all when you’re driving.

In France the police are hot on speeding; they carry our regular and often well-concealed spot checks which can result in costly fines if you’re caught breaking the law. And be careful, because different limits apply in wet conditions on autoroutes.

Don’t forget to adjust the headlights so they don’t dazzle on coming traffic, and remember to check the French laws in detail from a reputable website such as the AA’s.

People in the UK have voted that France is the best sort haul destination for a happy holiday.

The survey of 1000 adults asked about the various elements that were considered to make the happiest holiday. They included the quality of accommodation, the food, weather and cost of a holiday and it was France that came out on top.

As reported by Female First, the French holiday fought off competition from the recent trend for staycations and the UK’s long love affair with Spain to clinch the number one spot.

Furthermore, Female First claims that 16 million people in Britain are so enchanted with the country that they wish they could speak French.

It’s not just Paris that pulls in the tourists, though it is one of the most visited cities in the world. In the winter months the Alps attract fans of winter sports. The famous mountain range stretches from France to Slovenia and is a must-see for skiers and snowboarders alike. History buffs usually flock to the impressive walls of Carcassonne in the south. Film fans also check out the castle because parts of Robing Hood: Prince of Thieves was filmed there.

In fact, according to Report Linker, France has at least 75 million foreign tourists every year and is the most visited country in the world.

The culinary delights of the Gironde region have been praised by The Daily Mail, as foodie Giles Milton reported back about the home of gastronomy and the ultimate French holiday destination for any foodie.

“Here I am, sitting in a waterside bar in France, facing one of the greatest challenges of my life,” writes Mr Milton. “A massive platter of 48 oysters of various varieties has been produced for me to taste, eat and appreciate.” But that’s just for starters.

“Food and wine are sacrosanct in the part of France,” he explains. “Bordeaux, the most famous city in the Gironde, has been dedicated to wine for centuries. Indeed, it is wine that brought great prosperity to the place.”

The oysters were followed by a platter of locally cured ham and saucisson. That was succeeded by a carpaccio of local fish; a snack of fried garlic prawns and seafood. Then the main course: a huge chunk of fish, with ratatouille and wine. “By the time pudding arrived, I was groaning with exhaustion,” said Mr Milton.

“If you have a passion for wine and food, the time to visit Bordeaux is at the end of June when, every two years, the city hosts a magnificent wine festival,” explains Mr Milton. “It features a mile-long ‘wine road’ of outdoor bars, wine stands and food booths, and it goes without saying that you are offered oysters wherever you go.”

Four out of ten Britons have already started planning their summer holiday for next year, according to the findings of a recent survey.

The study, by holiday firm Thomson Al Fresco, found that increasingly chilly weather and rapidly shortening days were leading Britons to get out their maps and start planning their 2011 summer getaway.

According to the results of the survey, one third of the Brits heading abroad next year will enjoy either a Spanish or French holiday. Many of them are likely to revisit a previous holiday destination, as the study found that one in six families return to the same holiday resort ten times or more.

It is thought that many holidaymakers habitually return to the same locations as it spares them the time and stress of having to choose somewhere new.

Darren Marsh, managing director of Thomson Al Fresco, said that Britons were booking early primarily to give themselves something to look forward to during the cold winter months.

“People are already fed up with the inclement autumn weather and they want a holiday to look forward to,” Mail Online quoted Marsh as saying.

He added that planning ahead also gives holidaymakers the best possible chance of securing their desired holiday, and spared them the disappointment of finding that their chosen destination is fully-booked.

“They also want to make sure they get the holiday they want next year so book early to make sure their annual summer trip is guaranteed,” Marsh explained.

Britons jetting off for a French holiday this week have been told to expect widespread travel disruption as the country prepares for national general strike action.

Amid growing criticism for the French government’s proposed pension reforms, trade unions have announced that nationwide, open-ended walkouts will begin tomorrow (12 October) and may last until the end of the week.

According to travel news source Travelio, many flights to and from France are set to be delayed or cancelled as the French Civil Aviation Authorities has imposed limits on all airlines.

In response to the planned strikes, two of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines have issued advice to passengers needing to re-book or claim refunds for unused flights.

EasyJet passengers due to fly on 12 October can transfer to an alternative flight within five days free of charge, regardless of whether or not their flight is cancelled. Refunds for cancelled flights can be claimed via the carrier’s official website.

For its part, Ryanair will only offer refunds and transfers to passengers if their original flight is cancelled. Passengers booked on a cancelled flight can either transfer to the next available flight free of charge, or request a refund.

Passengers who still wish to travel on Tuesday are urged check the status of their flight with their airline or tour operator prior to setting off. They are also advised to check-in online and only travel with hand luggage if possible, to minimise delays when they arrive at the airport.