Stay France Rentals, Vacation Rentals in France

Travel France to find out a country which sheer physical diversity would be tough to exhaust in a lifetime of visits. Savor art and romance in Paris hotels near Eiffel Tower on the River Seine. See glorious pasts blaze forth at Versailles. Travel south for Roman civilization and the sparkling blue Med; treat your jet-set fantasies in France hotels in Paris or balmy Nice, St-Tropez and Champagne. Ski the Alps. On your France vacations sense the subtle infusion of language, music and mythology in Brittany brought by 5th-century Celtic invaders or the beaches of Normandy and battlefields of Verdun and the Somme.

French national identity is based on the historical origins of the nation in Celtic, Gallo-Roman, and Frankish cultures. The name "France" originally was used to refer to several peoples in the lower Rhineland. It gradually was introduced as a more widespread term to signify that territory, previously known as Gaul, after the Frankish invasion and the retreat of the Romans. The name "Francia" was applied to various territorial units until the Middle Ages, when it came to signify the kingdom of the French sovereign. Regional identities, such as Provencal and Breton have coexisted with political units of state control. The degree to which France is today a homogeneous nation is a highly contested topic. Political and linguistic unification, especially through mass education, has been an ongoing project of nationalism. The refugee population comes mainly from Portugal and northern Africa, although there has been increasing immigration from Eastern Europe. The population is divided by social class, political party affiliation, generation, ethnicity, and region. Having had a significant rural population well into the twentieth century, the country continues to be marked by a rural-urban split.

France is mainly located in the southern part of the temperate zone. The country is affected by oceanic influences. The North Atlantic Drift on the west and the Mediterranean Sea in the south moderate these oceanic influences. There are four climatic types in France. In the west, a true temperate maritime climate can be found. At Brest, winters are mild. Brest experiences cool summers and frequent rainfall. Interior of France sees a mid-latitude continental climate that includes hotter summers and rigorous winters. Rainfall is not very frequent. For example, Paris sees a July temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and January temperatures of 2 degrees Celsius. On high elevations, you'll experience a mountain climate. Altitude influences the climate, where the winters are bitterly cold and prolonged. The precipitation is more on higher altitudes. In winter, the precipitation is in the form of snow. Most of the villages on high valleys receive more than 50 days of snow every year. In France, the zone that is situated 20 to 60 km from the Mediterranean cost experiences Mediterranean climate. In such climate, the summers are hot and dry. The winters are mild and humid.

• Strasbourg: This city serves as the capital of the European Union, so it's no wallflower. Situated right across the Rhine River from Germany, it is a wonderful melding of French and German cultures. This is one of the best cities for great food.
• Bordeaux: The first time I visited Bordeaux, I was expecting a small city nestled between vineyards. Boy, was I wrong! Bordeaux is a true city, featuring a great pedestrian shopping area, endless cafes and bars, a happening nightlife and several historic attractions. And yes, there is the wonderful wine.
• Montpellier: This is the classic college town. As in, it's had a medical school since the Middle Ages. This busy city is a true gem of the South, filled with glorious cafe-lined squares, amazing historic buildings and great boutique shops. Outdoor and covered markets are everywhere. This also happens to be one of France's most handicapped-friendly cities.
• Aix-en-Provence: Aix-en-Provence is the ultimate Provencal city. There are majestic and aging fountains at nearly every corner. The tree-lined Course Mirabeau is the bustling hub of the city. This is a pleasant city for wandering aimlessly, discovering wonderful restaurants, boutiques and architectural wonders along the way.
• Orleans: Orleans is the hometown of one of France's most famous and revered residents: Joan of Arc. (She wasn't actually from Arc, although the British made that mistake in a misspelling of her name). Visit the Maison de Jeanne d'Arc or the city's magnificent 9th century cathedral. The city is well-situated for exploring the Loire Valley chateaux.
• Lyon: This often-overlooked French city is filled with Roman attractions (such as the Amphitheatre des Tres Gauls), history, divine cuisine and great shopping. Two rivers (the Rhône and the Saone) wind a path through the city. The nightlife here is great, with several cars, clubs and casinos.

France has some of the most beautiful and lively cities and tourist attractions in the world. These sites not only play host to descending tourists and curious travelers, they also shield the raw beauty of unexplored regions and unique fests from the rest of the world. With TSI Holidays outbound tourist packages, you can explore the famous with the lesser known attractions and events on your tour to France and its cities.

The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Church, museums and galleries, walks along the canals, houseboat cruises, beach sports, water sports, island tours, winter sports in the Alps and Pyrenees, a game of boules on the street, walks through the Paris streets are just some of the attractions that draw people to France. The rolling slopes and vineyards of Champagne, the farmlands of Normandy, the historic sites at Lorraine and Strasbourg, the Celtic heritage of Brittany (a coastal town), the Gothic Cathedrals and green pastures in the medieval town of Burgundy, the châteaux and churches in the volcanic city of Auvergne, the French Alps of Rhone and the grand palaces and gorge in the Loire Valley are some other places that you may visit with TSI Holidays outbound packages for France.

Train Travel in France: France is extremely well connected via rail. Laced with high-speed train networks (called the TGV, or Train a Grande Vitesse) that connect easily to regional and local trains, France is incredibly accessible for those who don’t want to drive. In fact, traveling by train is almost always the fastest and easiest way to get around – and there are great deals to be had, too.

Driving in France: While driving will almost always take you longer than taking the train, renting a car in France allows a lot more flexibility when traveling. Also, some small villages do not have a train station nearby, and are mostly easily accessible by car – so you can really get to the nooks and crannies of France when you drive. Driving is also great if you’re free and easy and want to take the leisurely route, stopping at villages and markets as you travel, hopping between small towns and avoiding even the suggestion of a fellow tourist in your path. One thing though – avoid driving in or around Paris. If you are planning on hanging out in Paris and then renting a car, I would recommend taking a train to a smaller city and picking up the car there.

Bus Travel in France: While France has an extremely well connected highway system that laces the country, there is no national bus system in France. This means that while you can travel regionally by bus in France, it is not possible to travel inter-regionally by bus in France. There are some companies like Euro lines that offer international bus routes that go through France as part of a longer route, but you can’t travel domestically on bus in France.