Anna Richards

Anna Richards describes a 48-hour Paris trip with her friend Layla, who is four months into motherhood and taking her first baby-free holiday abroad. Staying at La Fondation in the 17th arrondissement, they visit the Moulin Rouge, explore the city on foot, discover galleries and wine bars, and enjoy champagne, cheese, pâté, a pool and a sauna. The trip gives Layla a rare chance to rest and focus fully on herself, while her husband cares for their son at home. The experience becomes a new tradition, with Layla sending her child postcards from future travels.

Severe drought and repeated heatwaves have led to water restrictions across 99 French departments, with 43 at crisis level. Tourists may face bans on garden watering, car washing, pool refilling, fireworks and some watersports, while low river levels have closed sections of certain canals. Most river cruises are expected to continue, although barge holidays, kayaking and paddleboarding may be disrupted. Heat has also caused temporary changes to museum and Eiffel Tower opening arrangements, and elevated wildfire risk means visitors should check local restrictions and stay hydrated and cool.

Paris’s summer heatwaves can be enjoyable with the right planning, from cooling off at designated Seine swimming spots to escaping into air‑conditioned museums or underground attractions. Paris Plages offers free recreational areas along the river, while only a few metro lines provide relief from the heat. Choosing accommodations with strong air conditioning and proximity to shaded parks such as Parc Monceau improves comfort. With much of the city emptying during school holidays, popular areas become quieter and easier to enjoy.

Paris’s recurring summer heatwaves can be managed through swimming spots in the Seine, cooled public spaces and underground museums. Paris Plages offers free riverside activities and monitored wild swimming areas, while air‑conditioned museums like the Louvre provide relief from high temperatures. Cooler subterranean attractions such as the catacombs and the sewer museum offer stable, low temperatures. Choosing accommodations with strong air conditioning and staying near shaded parks further improves comfort. With planning, a hot Paris becomes calmer and more enjoyable than the crowded city of peak season.

A heatwave escape to the Marais Poitevin in western France highlights its shaded canals, quiet tourism and cool waterways stretching between small villages. Flat‑bottomed boats, swimming spots and cycling routes shape local life, while stops in Le Mazeau, Coulon and Arcais offer food, ice cream and calm landscapes. Once shaped by medieval monks, the wetlands now serve mainly visitors seeking relief from rising temperatures and crowded coastal destinations.

A curated selection of budget-friendly hotels across Paris highlights options suited to families, solo travellers and visitors seeking central locations or lively neighbourhoods. The featured properties offer amenities such as rooftop terraces, generous breakfasts, co‑working spaces, social events and convenient access to major attractions. Recommendations balance affordability with comfort, emphasising value, design and traveller experience, and include tips for securing cheaper rates by visiting off‑peak or exploring less tourist‑heavy districts.

Exploration of Paris’s underground highlights the historic catacombs, ornate Metro stations, and the city’s sewer museum, contrasting them with typical above‑ground tourist attractions. A Metro ticket provides access to many architecturally distinctive stations, while the catacombs and sewers offer insight into Paris’s past, from overcrowded cemeteries to 19th‑century sanitation. Canal Saint‑Martin cruises through tunnel sections provide a livelier alternative for visitors seeking atmospheric experiences beneath the city.

Winter in Brittany offers mild weather, lower prices and fewer crowds, with highlights including land sailing on windswept beaches, cycling routes across the region, festive castle visits and abundant crêperies. New winter ferry routes by Brittany Ferries make travel easier, while accommodation options such as Hôtel Lesage provide cosy stays. Scenery from vivid green countryside to dramatic coastlines enhances the appeal of visiting outside the peak season.

A budget-focused journey through Ilulissat, Oqaatsut, Sisimiut and Nuuk shows how Greenland can be visited affordably with self-catering stays, group travel and limited paid tours. Weather delays required flexibility, but hikes, iceberg views, ferry travel on Sarfaq Ittuk and repeated sightings of the Aurora Borealis delivered memorable experiences. Total essential costs reached about £1,580 per person, aided by inexpensive accommodations, minimal guided activities and strategic planning.

Lyon is portrayed as a green, accessible city offering extensive pedestrian zones, expanding cycle infrastructure and revitalised riverbanks. Local governance by Les Écologistes has accelerated efforts to reduce car use and increase public and active transport. The city provides easy access to natural spaces, including riverside paths, regional hills and nearby lakes, with opportunities for kayaking, swimming and hiking. Its restaurant scene accommodates both traditional Lyonnais cuisine and modern vegetarian offerings. Travel options from the UK include Eurostar and major airlines, and eco‑friendly accommodation is available at Hôtel de L’abbaye.

A curated selection of boutique hotels across Paris highlights options ranging from vibrant, design-led stays to minimalist retreats, historic luxury properties, budget-friendly choices and venues with standout features such as gardens, food-focused experiences or landmark views. Each recommendation notes distinctive design, service quality or location advantages to guide different types of travellers seeking intimate accommodations in the city.

Speculation focuses on three Four Seasons hotels in France as potential filming locations for the fourth season of The White Lotus, based on the franchise’s established pattern of using the brand’s properties. The Paris-based George V, the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat on the Côte d’Azur, and the Four Seasons Hotel Megève are assessed for their atmospheres, celebrity associations, and suitability for a dramatic murder-mystery aesthetic. Filming is expected to begin in May 2026, and multiple French hotels may feature, continuing the series’ approach of using more than one Four Seasons property.

A curated selection of top Paris hotels for 2025 highlights options across budgets and travel styles, ranging from luxury landmarks to boutique hideaways and budget-friendly hostels. Each property is noted for standout features such as rooftop views, exceptional dining, design-led interiors, family amenities or spa facilities. Practical details including addresses, transport access and key highlights help travellers choose based on location and preferences, supported by expert recommendations from travel writers familiar with the city.

A selection of family‑friendly Paris hotels offers amenities such as interconnecting rooms, kids clubs, generous check‑in policies, babysitting services, and themed experiences. Options range from budget to luxury, including properties with large pools, creative play areas, and teen‑oriented spaces. Locations across the city provide convenient access to major attractions, while several hotels offer discounts for families or unique features such as Disney‑themed rooms or extensive games facilities.

The closure of the Centre Pompidou for a five‑year renovation creates an opportunity for visitors to explore several distinctive and lesser‑known Paris museums. Highlights include a funfair museum filled with vintage rides, a guided sewer museum tour, a historic wine museum, a photography museum offering rotating exhibitions, the Asian art collection at Musée Cernuschi, and a medical plaster cast museum depicting historical diseases. Each offers unique experiences that can enrich trips to Paris during the Pompidou’s long shutdown.

Recommendations span bakeries, markets, bistros and fine-dining venues across Paris, highlighting standout dishes such as cruffins, build-your-own sandwiches, silken tofu, dim sum and creative French fusion plates. Several restaurants are praised for value, atmosphere or inventive menus, giving visitors options from classic bouillons to modern Asian-inspired dining.

Paris’s drinking scene has expanded beyond traditional bars to include specialty coffee shops, alcohol-free drink makers, historic vineyards and innovative cocktail bars. A range of venues across the city now offer high-quality coffee, colourful juices, alcohol-free fermented drinks, draught cocktails and inventive craft beers, reflecting a broader shift toward variety and modern drinking trends.

Describes a series of refined food, wine and wellness experiences in the French Alps, including a sensory wine tasting in La Rosière, a wine festival in Samoëns, cold‑water plunges at Lac Bleu followed by a lakeside sauna, and a Savoyard meal at a family‑run farm restaurant. Emphasizes a shift from typical après‑ski partying toward more sophisticated and immersive alpine activities.

A return trip to Auvergne reveals a transformed region where microbreweries, organic winemakers, creative cafes and outdoor activities have revitalized France’s sparsely populated diagonal. New businesses such as Dark Lab Brewing Co and Héritage Volcanic highlight a growing cultural and culinary scene, while cycling and hiking routes through volcanic landscapes remain tranquil despite rising tourism. Local traditions like truffade retain their appeal, and regional farmers voice concerns over the EU‑Mercosur agreement. Upcoming direct flights to Clermont-Ferrand signal increasing accessibility to the area.

Advice on reducing costs when travelling by train between the UK and France includes booking Eurostar tickets during quarterly sales, considering routes via Lille, and purchasing a French railcard for discounted fares. Breaking UK rail journeys into smaller ticketed segments can also reduce costs. Passengers experiencing delays can use a Railteam agreement that allows travel on the next available train with proper documentation, demonstrated through a successful attempt to obtain a stamped note and secure a free Eurostar replacement ticket.

Six Paris neighbourhoods are highlighted for their distinctive appeal, with Le Marais offering art and culture, Belleville providing diverse global cuisine, Montmartre delivering cinematic romance, the Latin Quarter showcasing ancient and medieval history, Saint‑Germain‑des‑Prés emphasizing fashion and café culture, and Île de la Cité presenting classic landmarks such as Notre‑Dame and the Conciergerie. Each area features recommended attractions and nearby hotel options for different types of travellers.

A traveller with a long‑held dislike of yoga attends a yoga and skiing festival in Les Menuires and unexpectedly finds the combination improves both physical endurance and skiing ability. Harsh weather gives way to clear conditions, and the contrast between demanding yoga sessions and exceptional skiing leads to a growing appreciation of how the practice enhances strength and performance. The author concludes that yoga’s benefits outweigh its discomforts, especially when integrated into a mountain‑based holiday.

Contrasts between the glamorous lifestyle portrayed in Emily in Paris and the more grounded realities of expat life in France highlight differences in work culture, dating norms, language learning and living costs. Long lunches and late-starting offices ring true, but the show’s depictions of relationships, apartment affordability and language barriers are exaggerated or unrealistic. The writer’s experience reflects a blend of French and international friendships and more typical financial constraints, noting that while some elements mirror reality, the show often prioritises fantasy over accuracy.

Yvelines offers an appealing alternative to central Paris during the busy Olympic season, with accessible transport links, outdoor activities, wineries, historic towns and varied lodging options. Versailles’ lesser-known attractions, including the king’s vegetable garden and stables, complement nearby nature trails, river sports and cycling routes. Charming villages such as Marly-le-Roi and Saint-Germain-en-Laye offer cultural and historical sites, including France’s National Archaeological Museum. The region’s food scene features multiple Michelin-starred restaurants and distinctive bakeries, providing high-quality dining without central Paris prices.

A solo hiker recounts being sexually assaulted by a beekeeper while trekking the Transcaucasian Trail in Armenia. Although she had been warned about bears, snakes, storms and shepherd dogs, she found men to be the greatest danger. After fighting off the attacker, she chose to remain on the porch until dawn rather than camp alone in bear country at night, reinforcing her view that the viral “man or bear” debate reflects women’s real safety concerns.

A stay at The People Hostel in Paris highlights rising hotel prices and a post-pandemic shift in hostel culture. Despite initial hesitations, the author finds a lively social environment where travelers of various nationalities quickly form connections. Shared experiences, rooftop views and communal breakfasts contribute to a renewed appreciation of Paris through the perspective of fellow backpackers. The hostel offers affordable accommodation and fosters spontaneous friendships, reinforcing its appeal for budget-conscious visitors.

Explains how newcomers in France can build friendships by speaking the language, avoiding drunken behaviour, respecting French food culture, and adopting polite but not overly friendly social habits. Highlights cultural differences in communication styles, humour, clothing norms, and attitudes toward Paris while emphasising that effort and openness are typically reciprocated by French locals.

A guide to accommodation options for visitors to the Paris 2024 Olympics, featuring a curated selection of hotels and hostels across Paris and nearby areas. The listed properties are highlighted for their proximity to Olympic venues, distinctive design, amenities, and suitability for various budgets, ranging from luxury stays with panoramic city views to affordable hostels and tranquil retreats outside central Paris.

Overtourism in France is steering visitors to crowded hotspots, but lesser-known destinations across the country offer quieter and more rewarding alternatives. Nancy provides the grandeur of Paris without the crowds, Rochefort-en-Valdaine offers peaceful lavender fields away from influencer-heavy Luberon, and Oz-en-Oisans delivers mountain sports without the bustle of Chamonix. The Crozon Peninsula presents a wild coastal escape compared with the busy Côte d’Azur, while Cantal offers chateaux and countryside without the large British presence found in Dordogne. Viviers provides a historic walled-city experience similar to Carcassonne but with far fewer visitors.

Describes the author’s challenging experience moving to France after Brexit, highlighting bureaucratic hurdles such as securing a visa without housing, financial proof requirements, and mandatory integration processes. Details include medical checks, language exams, and extensive documentation demands, contrasted with the ease of living in France before Brexit. Offers practical advice for prospective movers while emphasizing the difficulties and the persistence required to succeed.

The piece outlines how visitors can recreate experiences from the Netflix series Emily in Paris through affordable alternatives to newly launched official themed trips. Recommendations include major Paris landmarks, smaller art museums, seasonal events, notable swimming spots, and lodging in the Latin Quarter. It highlights dining options ranging from budget bistros to Michelin-starred venues, suggests cafés and bars aligned with the show’s aesthetic, and offers vintage shopping and flower market tips. Practical travel guidance concludes with Eurostar connections from London.

Guidance for visiting Paris during the 2024 Summer Olympics, covering transport options from the UK, ticket purchasing through the official Paris 2024 platform, accommodation near major venues, and navigating the city using the Metro, buses, and bike-share services. Highlights include cultural events, outdoor screenings, and recommended activities such as swimming at Piscine Joséphine Baker, visiting skateboarding spots, and exploring Bois de Vincennes.

Perpignan offers a vibrant blend of Catalan heritage, revived artistic traditions and standout attractions such as the Art Deco Hôtel Pams, the medieval Palais des Rois de Majorque and the diverse collections of the Musée Hyacinthe-Rigaud. Visitors can explore historic sites, attend summer festivals, cycle to nearby beaches and enjoy a wide selection of Catalan-inspired dining, wine bars and artisan shops. Accommodation ranges from boutique hotels to budget-friendly hostels, while locally crafted ceramics and innovative cider production add unique stops for shoppers. Practical tips cover transport, views, local customs and travel options by rail or air.

Travel to the French Alps without flying is presented as accessible through train connections, with Serre Chevalier and Les Saisies highlighted for sustainability initiatives including solar-powered lifts and geothermal heating projects. Alternatives to skiing, such as mountain karts, ziplines, forest walks, and yoga, offer low‑impact ways to experience the mountains while reducing environmental harm. The article emphasises the region’s efforts to protect its landscapes and diversify activities as climate pressures intensify.

A detailed guide to the top hotels across the Isles of Scilly highlights standout options for luxury, food, views, family stays and outdoor activities on islands including St Mary’s, Bryher, Tresco and St Martin’s. The article describes each property’s key features, from historic architecture and beachfront locations to spas, gardens and active-travel amenities, offering travellers tailored recommendations for different types of trips.

Provides practical guidance for visiting Paris, highlighting major attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Versailles, alongside alternative art venues and green spaces. Recommends a range of hotels across key neighbourhoods and suggests cafés, restaurants, wine bars and nightlife options suited to various budgets. Offers shopping tips from markets to concept stores and includes essential travel information covering transport, tipping, language and local customs.

A journey from Lyon to Cornwall highlights the affordability and environmental benefits of using the French ride‑sharing service Blablacar. Traveling through Champagne, Dijon, Troyes, and Reims, the author picks up multiple passengers, reducing both fuel costs and carbon emissions. Blablacar’s popularity in France contrasts with its limited adoption in the UK, where far fewer users participate. Over the French leg of the trip, contributions from passengers cover most fuel and toll expenses, underscoring carpooling’s potential as an economical and sustainable travel option.

The text critiques the behaviour of affluent British tourists in European ski resorts, arguing that their excesses mirror those associated with cheaper party destinations despite escaping similar stigma due to class perceptions. It highlights how wealth and traditional sporting culture shield such travellers from criticism and contrasts elite ski culture with the writer’s own modest participation. The commentary calls for equal scrutiny of ski destinations, noting parallels in loutish behaviour, disregard for local language, and seasonal ghost-town effects, challenging the class-based double standards applied to British tourists abroad.

Annecy offers a blend of outdoor adventure, historic charm and modern culture, with activities ranging from cycling around Lake Annecy to hiking Mont Veyrier and exploring medieval streets. Accommodation options span hostels, lakeside cabins and luxury hotels, while dining ranges from affordable French cuisine to Michelin-starred restaurants. Bars, craft breweries and wine cellars provide varied nightlife, and local shops offer regional products such as cheese, beer and crafts. Practical tips highlight transport options, best seasons to visit and scenic viewpoints, making the city a versatile destination for travellers.

Le Havre is presented as a modern, art-focused port city known for its distinctive concrete architecture, vibrant cultural scene and beachside setting. Visitors can explore postwar designs by Auguste Perret, public art installations, museums, coastal activities and contemporary attractions such as Les Bains des Docks. The city offers a mix of unique hotels, diverse restaurants, lively bars and specialty shops, while transport links and practical travel tips make it accessible year‑round.

Grenoble is presented as an unpretentious city surrounded by stunning alpine landscapes, with activities ranging from urban climbing and mountain hikes to museum visits and historic sites. Accommodation options span boutique hotels, hostels, and upscale stays, while the food scene offers traditional bistros, vegetarian spots, and lively bars. Shopping highlights include the antiques district, local cheese shops, and an artisan glove maker. Practical travel tips cover transport, views, and routes for reaching the city by train or plane.

Lyon is highlighted as a vibrant cultural and gastronomic destination, offering murals, contemporary art, historic districts and expansive parks. Recommendations include exploring trompe‑l’œil frescoes, visiting museums and Roman sites, and wandering Vieux Lyon. Lodging options range from boutique hotels to hostels, while dining encompasses traditional bouchons, fine dining and market food stalls. The guide features cafés, breweries, riverbank bars and nightlife venues, alongside shopping districts, silk workshops and flea markets. Practical tips cover transit, viewpoints, festivals and travel routes from the UK.