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Are you tired of staying in hotels whenever you head overseas? Would you rather experience more of what France has to offer, by avoiding impersonal hotel experiences and large multinational chains? Or would you simply like to enjoy a trip away without blowing your budget and your bank balance? Never fear! There are plenty of places to stay in France which offer you the best of both worlds - the privacy and independence of a hotel, with the cosy comforts of home. From campsites to cottages, city apartments to luxury villas, and everything in between, there’s something for everyone in France.
“Every man has two countries – his own and France.” Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States and ardent Francophile, reportedly once said. With its historic cobblestone city streets, snow-capped Alps, and the sun-kissed Riviera, France attracts some 90 million or so visitors every year.
Wherever you look, there are small, romantic bed & breakfasts or maisons d’hôte dotted across the countryside, and sophisticated and stylish holiday lets for rent along the coast. So whatever you’re looking for - whether a peaceful campsite or a chic city getaway, you’ll find it on our list of places to stay in France besides hotels:
Did you know that you can book a luxury villa rental, where you can wake up to stunning views of the Cote d'Azur, or sit outside with a glass of wine, taking in the idyllic scenery of the Loire-Valley, for less than the cost of a hotel room? If you’re travelling with your family or a large group, it often works out cheaper per head to rent a chateaux, villa, or cottage, in many of the top regions across the country, than a couple of hotel rooms.
Not only will you enjoy more space to roam around inside, you can select a property with multiple outdoor terraces, swimming pools, gardens, or huge entertaining spaces. You’ll enjoy as much privacy as you like, using a holiday villa as you would your own home. And should you want to relax and unwind, you can select upgrades such as spa treatments, book a private chef, or opt for childcare services.
Although there are many companies that can help you find a holiday villa rental, we recommend Oliver’s Travels. The firm has a large, hand-picked collection of villas in France on their books, and they’re the absolute experts on this gorgeous country. To find your perfect holiday home, head to their website and start your search by entering in your holiday dates.
These days, it’s easy to rent a furnished apartment in the French Capital or its surrounding suburbs by going online. But where should you start your search? We recommend Parisattitude.com, a one stop shop for finding a holiday home in the famous city of lights. You can use the company’s website to search and book a range of furnished apartments, for both short and long term stays. All of the properties listed must meet Paris Attitude’s strict layout and equipment criteria, which includes Wi-Fi, kitchen equipment, bed linen, towels, and everything else you would need to feel at home.
The apartments on site range from cosy studios to bold, 5-room designer apartments. There are properties available in all the Parisian districts and the nearby suburbs, to suit holiday makers, business travellers, students, and expatriates staying in Paris. You can browse through their selection of apartments by heading to Parisattitude.com, and get in touch with one of their multilingual assistants, should you have any questions.
If you have fond childhood memories of munching on warm croissants for breakfast, basking in the Bordeaux sun, you may be pleased to discover that you can now book a spot at many of France’s traditional campsites online. Whether you’re looking for a secluded pitch somewhere along the French coastline, a luxury glamping experience in the Loire Valley, or a family camping holiday in the Pyrénées, Cool Camping is the website to visit before you leave home.
The team at Cool Camping have searched high and low for the very best places to camp in France. They can connect you to a massive range of different campsites in France, as well as glamping accommodation and campervans. The website is well regarded and highly trusted within the continental camping community, for its detailed descriptions of the campsites and the facilities made available to campers. It’s easy to use the site to check for availability, compare sites, and read a selection of English language reviews left by past holiday makers.
To find out more about the campsites open this summer, and to secure your spot with a low, 20% deposit, head to Coolcamping.com today!
If a cosy French bed & breakfast is more your style, you’ll find ample properties to choose from on Booking.com, which has more than 500 active listings. One of the most popular booking sites in the world, Booking.com is a great place to start your search for semi-catered accommodation outside of the French capital. The website makes it easy to compare properties, and gives you a great overview of all the terms and conditions of booking - something that we think is vital in the current climate. If you’re unsure about booking your holiday online, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover just how easy it is to arrange an unforgettable weekend break, from the comfort of home.
The website makes it simple and straightforward to explore France’s rich historical and cultural treasures, and secure the best deal at the same time. There, you can pick from a range of unique properties - including a charming range of chalets at the La Fontaine de La Chapiniere B&B, which come complete with discounted hot air-balloon rides, and a bargain B&B set just outside of the medieval walls of the city of Carcassonne, with a seasonal bar, pool, and private terraces.
You can start planning your holiday by going to Booking.com, and filtering by location, amenities, and price.
And that’s it for our list of places to stay in France besides hotels. Did we miss an idyllic property, or skip over a bargain accommodation option? Let us know! You can get in touch with us at The Travelling Souk at any time, to suggest your best French short or long stay option. We’ll happily feature a property or business on our list that will offer great value or a new and exciting experience to our wide readership of keen travellers and explorers.
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.