France

Exclusive guide to the best holiday destinations in France, independent reviews from award-winning travel writers

Andy Mossack finds there is plenty to do in Chamonix for non skiers, which includes himself.

Chamonix for Non Skiers. Uncover a world of fun.

It is not often the French thank the English for anything, but in the case of Chamonix for non skiers and good skiers alike, they cannot thank us enough. It was a bunch of intrepid Englishmen in the 1800s, men like Whymper, Kennedy, Ball, Wills and Tyndall, who, armed with precious little equipment, first explored the Alps and Mont Blanc in particular. They formed The Alpine Club and returned many times to climb the peaks.

Read the full story here
Andy Mossack reviews the Villa Rose Boutique Hotel in alpine Samoens a very desirable place to enjoy the alpine region ft villa blurred 1

Villa Rose Boutique Hotel. Enjoy luxurious Alpine hospitality in delightful Samoens

The good people of Samoens, a charming little village tucked away in France’s alpine Savoie Mont Blanc region, have been doing daily life the same way for centuries, whether it be stonemasonry, cheese making or skiing. So when the local taxi driver is at a lost to find Villa Rose, the town’s new luxury boutique hotel, I’m not really surprised. New things clearly take a while to register here in Samoens.

Read the full story here
1024px Paris avenue montaigne plaza athena.1

Plaza Athenee. Discover the ultimate stylish boutique

Eat your heart out, stylish boutique hotels of Paris – the fashionistas are still going for the resolutely period decor of the eternally glamorous Plaza Athenee. For a start, it’s right in their territory on the avenue Montaigne, close to Dior, Louis Vuitton and Valentino, and for another thing, they are used to divas and fulfilling their every demand.

Read the full story here
Anthea Gerrie eats at the magnificent Alain Ducasse At The Plaza Athenee. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée

Alain Ducasse At The Plaza Athenee. Enjoy the best 3 Star dining.

Is Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenee one of the best restaurants in Paris? Certainly, the man currently regarded as the god of French cooking has the prettiest room in the most glamorous hotel in town

Read the full story here
Solange Berchemin stays at the historic L'Hotel Du Chateau in Carcassonne.

L’Hotel Du Chateau. Carcassonne

L’Hotel du Chateau, situated right below la Porte de Narbonne, the main entrance to the walled city of Carcassonne, is a perfect example of what happened back then. Cecile and Stéphane Rives acquired a 1* hotel and turned it into a stylish boutique hotel

Read the full story here
Hotel les Bains bar

Les Bains Hotel. A famous iconic Paris name is back.

An 1885 bathhouse off a charmless Paris boulevard may seem an unlikely vehicle for one of the city’s most desirable boutique hotels. But Johnny Depp and his cohorts have pulling power, and the too cool for school crowd cavorted for years in the basement of Les Bains when it was a hip nightclub.

Read the full story here