HONEYMOON IN FRANCE

by Rose Smith

Please Note: I am not a travel agent. The article and resources listed here are for information purposes only.

What can be more romantic than a honeymoon in France? Paris itself is filled with some of the most beautiful gardens and architectural buildings in the world. Alive with romance and fascinating history, this is one honeymoon location that is sure to delight anyone.

Paris boasts some of the finest restaurants in the world. But if a large, expensive restaurant is out of your budget, you can still enjoy the many small cafes and bistros found throughout the city. Sit and enjoy a cafe au lait and sample some of the most most delicious pastry confections around. Then take a stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg gardens and don't forget to take a turn along the Seine river.

Be sure to include a visit to Notre Dame and the nearby Ste-Chapelle, a chapel with the most amazing stained glass windows.

The Musee du Louvre contains a monumental collection of the worlds finest antiques and paintings by the most famous artists of history. And of course, we can't forget a tour of the Eiffel Tower, which was built for the World Exhibition of 1889.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Looking for some other things to see and do while in France? Check out these local attractions:

In Paris, visit the Musee d'Orsay, which was once a railroad station and now converted into a beautiful museum housing 19th century antiques and art.

Be sure to also make a stop at the Musee de Cluny, which contains one of the world's best collections of medieval art and unicorn tapestries. The museum itself is found within a 15th century mansion.

Tour the Latin Quarter on the "Left Bank of Paris" and then take an awesome balloon ride over the Loire Valley.

France also contains many canals from which you can hire a boat and cruise past famous vineyards and historic villages.

PLACES TO VISIT OUTSIDE OF PARIS

Some other places to visit outside of Paris that are easily accessible by train or car are:

The Chateau de Fontainebleau which is situated in a beautiful forest setting. It is a royal chateau built with a distinct architectural style.

The Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomete is a 17th century palace. It was considered the ultimate in luxury in its day and includes gilded interiors, frescoes on the ceilings and gorgeous landscaped gardens.

Of course, your tour wouldn't be complete without a visit to Louis XIV's home, Versailles.

WEBSITES TO HELP PLAN YOUR TRIP

Looking for some more adventures? Here are some web sites to check out for more information on what you can see and do while in France:

** Backroads - **

http://www.backroads.com
Choose France as your destination in the drop down menu, and then choose the activity you want. It will then bring up various places and tours that you can take. Choose the ones that interest you for more information.

** Chateaux-France **

http://www.chateaux-france.com
This site lists 403 historical monuments throughout France that you can visit. Just click on the general map to choose a location section. This will in turn, bring up a more detailed map of various cities, towns and villages.

** Montgolfiere's Balloon Company **

http://www.franceballoons.com/
Fly high over the French countryside for a spectacular view of rivers and villages, châteaux's and century old forests teeming with wild boar and deer.

** Caves and Grottos **

http://www.grottes.net/
Did you know that France contains some very unique and interesting caves? It's true. Check out this site for what they have to offer. (This site is written in French, however, you should be able to get an idea of the type of tours they contain).

SPECIAL INFORMATION SITES

Some other important information sites that can help you plan your honeymoon to France:

French Government Tourist Office
http://www.francetourism.com/

Paris Tourist Office
http://www.paris-touristoffice.com/index_va_v2.html

HONEYMOON TRAVEL TIPS

And finally, some quick honeymoon travel tips:

Make sure your passport is up-to-date when traveling.

You need a valid driver's license to drive in France and you must be 18 years of age or over. Proof of insurance is also required.

Distances are measured in Kilometers. Unless otherwise stated, speed limits within cities/towns/villages is 50 km/hour (30 miles/hour) and 130 km/hour (80 miles/ hour) on highways.

Banks are open regular hours on weekdays (9 am to 4:30 pm). Outside of Paris, banks will often close for an hour or two during lunchtime.

Nearly all ATMS will accept Visa and MasterCard withdrawals. You can also find ATM's that will also accept American Express. Keep in mind that you will often get the best exchange rate on your money at ATM machines.

The currency used in France is the Franc.

Most restaurants charge tax and add a 15% surcharge to your bill. If the food and service is exceptionally good, it is customary to leave an additional 10 francs.

In hotels, tip porters 10 francs per bag and tip chambermaids 10 francs per day.

Tip taxi drivers 10% to 15% of the metered fare.

Tour bus drivers are usually tipped 10 to 20 francs.

You can purchase 1, 3 or 5 day passes to museums and monuments. These are available through main metro stations and tourist offices. This gives you direct access to the attraction so you don't have to stand in long lines to get tickets.
 

Rose Smith is the owner of Wedding Themes and More, a website designed to help you discover your perfect wedding theme. Find more great ideas, resources and articles on her Holiday Wedding Themes page.