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Atlantic to the Mediterranean with Collias

Southern France by rail

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Provence
Atlantic to the Mediterranean with Collias

Discover the beautiful cities of Bordeaux, Avignon and Nice via the Canal du Midi, Rhône delta and Côte d’Azur, as well as turreted Carcassonne – where you stay within the walled town – and the magnificent Roman aqueduct spanning the Gard, on a self-guided, cultural journey by rail.

Atlantic to the Mediterranean with Collias . 11 nights

Overview
Gallery
Itinerary
Where you stay
Extend your stay
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs

Atlantic to the Mediterranean with Collias . 11 nights

Overview
Gallery
Itinerary
Where you stay
Extend your stay
Prices & travel
Reviews
FAQs

Holiday information

- Holiday type
  
  Journey
- Included extras
  
  Street plans and detailed notes for self-guided city walking tours for all cities
- Nights
  
  11
- Accommodation
  
  Four 4-star hotels; one 3-star hotel
- Meals
  
  Breakfast every day, 2 dinners
- Price
  
  From £1493pp
- Travel
  
  Flights not included. See price panel for details.
- Start
  
  Any day
- When you can travel
  - J
  - F
  - M
  - A
  - M
  - J
  - J
  - A
  - S
  - O
  - N
  - D
  The season for this holiday is:
  01 April - 31 July 2019
  01 September - 31 October 2019

A touring holiday in southern France

Journey into the ever-changing landscape of France’s southern regions and discover the charms of some of the most unique and beautiful cities. From elegant Bordeaux to vibrant, Italianate Nice, you’ll travel past celebrated vineyards, fragrant lavender fields and the spectacular wetlands of the Camargue – from Atlantic Ocean to sparkling Mediterranean Sea – while taking time to appreciate cultural highlights, fabulous artworks and fine French cuisine along your way.

From start to finish you’ll be well prepared (with the self-guided notes we provide) to experience the full spectrum of art and history in exciting cities and towns – spanning artworks by Rubens and Matisse to the Pont du Gard and Provence’s Roman past; from Carcassonne’s walled citadel to the Belle Époque splendour of Nice.

Gallery

Pont du Gard

Carcassonne

Palais des Papes, Avignon

Bordeaux

Harbour, Nice

Uzès

The local wines are delicious

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights.

Arrival

Arrival in Bordeaux

Arrival in Bordeaux

Night 1: at Hotel La Tour Intendance (the first of two nights here).
As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of exploration.
Day 1

Explore Bordeaux

Explore Bordeaux

Discover the city’s highlights on our self-guided walking tour: wander its broad avenues and squares; admire works by Rubens, Matisse and others in the Museum of Fine Arts; cool your toes in the Miroir d'Eau, a remarkable water feature; and visit the impressive, wine-themed Cité du Vin before enjoying a glass or two of red at a pavement café or restaurant, savouring one of the delicious blends that has made this city synonymous with the noble grape.
Day 2

Bordeaux to Carcassonne

Bordeaux to Carcassonne

Take a scenic rail journey, following the Canal du Midi past ancient towns such as Auch and Toulouse, en route to Carcassonne for two nights at the comfortable Hotel du Donjon within the old town walls. (Journey time: 3hrs)
Day 3

Explore Carcassonne

Explore Carcassonne

Perched on a rocky plateau and bristling with zigzag battlements, this is one of France's most extraordinary sights, and you have a full day to explore. A stroll around the lices (the area between its stout, double-layered walls) offers tantalising glimpses of the countryside, and panoramic views of the Pyrenees. As enchanting as the citadel (La Cité) is, do not neglect La Ville Basse, or lower town, whose ancient streets are built to a grid-pattern. For a different perspective, you could also take a boat ride on the Canal du Midi (pay locally).
Day 4

Carcassonne to Avignon

Carcassonne to Avignon

Leaving Carcassonne by train, you skirt the Rhône delta and the flamingo-frequented shallow lakes of the Camargue. Change trains in the Roman town of Nîmes to reach historic Avignon, where you spend three nights at the centrally located Hotel de l’Horloge. (Journey time: 3hrs)
Day 5

Explore Avignon

Explore Avignon

We suggest you spend your first full day in Avignon exploring the compact and friendly city itself: there’s far more to it than ‘that’ bridge (although it is worth taking a stroll along its remaining section), and the Palais des Papes is quite astounding, its huge proportions and magnificent frescoes leaving no doubt as to the wealth and power enjoyed by the popes who had their seat here. You can see the tombs of some of them in the cathedral next door, before climbing the tower for superb views over the Rhône to the plain beyond. A stroll in the gardens of Le Rocher des Doms, overlooking the mighty Rhône Valley and Provençal countryside, is an exceedingly pleasant way to end the day.
Day 6

Explore Roman Provence from Avignon

Explore Roman Provence from Avignon

We suggest that you spend today delving into Provence’s Roman past. Less than half-an-hour’s train ride away from Avignon are: workaday Tarascon and its forbidding-looking 15th-century castle; Arles, whose highlights include a vast Roman amphitheatre and an opulent town hall inspired by Versailles; and Nîmes, home to what are, without a doubt, the best-preserved Roman remains you will find anywhere in France.
Day 7

Avignon to Collias

Avignon to Collias

You are collected by taxi from your hotel for the 50-minute journey to Collias and the Hostellerie le Castellas, where you spend two nights. After the bustle of the cities, the atmosphere here seems very relaxed, and you may decide to spend the rest of the day by the hotel's small pool. Alternatively, you could explore the Gardon Gorge, which you can walk to from the village; venture as far as you like before retracing your steps.
Day 8

Explore from Collias

Explore from Collias

We recommend that you spend today visiting the Pont du Gard, a remarkable feat of Roman engineering. An excellent visitors' centre explains how and why it was built, and you can walk across the lower tier of the bridge to see the impressive craftsmanship and engineering up close. We provide walking notes for an easy route from Collias to the aqueduct (12km, 4hrs), or you could take a bus or taxi there instead. Return by bus or taxi (pay locally in all cases).
Another option is to take the bus to nearby Uzès, a handsome town with a ducal palace and ancient arcades, from where you can walk back to Collias through orchards, vineyards and expanses of wild herbs and shrubs (14.5km, 5hrs).
Day 9

Collias to Nice

Collias to Nice

After a taxi ride to Avignon, a morning train speeds you to Nice alongside the glittering waters of the Mediterranean. After checking into the Villa Victoria for your last two nights, take a stroll along the sweeping, seafront Promenade des Anglais before choosing a restaurant for dinner. (Journey time, including taxi: 4.5hrs)
Day 10

Explore Nice

Explore Nice

Use our self-guided tour to explore Vieux Nice (the Old Town) on foot: nose around quirky boutiques; call in at Chez Thérésa, a stall within the lively Cours Saleya marketplace that serves Niçois socca – a tasty local flatbread; and take in the vibrant, sweet-smelling Marché aux Fleurs, recalling the days when, at the very end of the 19th century, Nice held the very first flower market of all. You should also seek out the Russian Orthodox Cathedral, whose gleaming onion domes are a somewhat incongruous sight above the swaying palm trees, the Roman baths, and perhaps one or two of the many museums, the subjects of which range from Matisse to archaeology, and from photography to Nice’s heyday at the end of the 19th century.

Accommodation

The city hotels have all been hand-picked for their superb locations, while Le Castellas is a treat for foodies.

Occasionally, due to availability, we may offer an alternative hotel, as shown below. You will be informed of any change to the usual hotel (along with any price implication) prior to us confirming your holiday to you. Whichever hotel you stay at in Bordeaux and Avignon, we recommend an extra night to give you more time to explore. In fact, we recommend an extra night in all four cities, as there is plenty to see and do in each!

- Alternative hotel
  
  Nights 1-2
  Hotel La Tour Intendance
  Bordeaux
  This three-star hotel is situated in a quiet street close to the pedestrianised Cours de l’Intendance and Place Gambetta. Located on the site of an old tower, the hotel is attractively furnished with antiques and features the warm, honey coloured stone which is characteristic of this area. The comfortable bedrooms are air-conditioned and equipped with satellite television.
  
  Meal arrangements: breakfast only
- Back
  
  Nights 1-2
  Hotel Bayonne Etche-ona
  Bordeaux
  Comprising two buildings with 18th-century façades, the Hotel Bayonne Etche-ona offers 61 contemporary, air-conditioned bedrooms (each with a safe, satellite TV and minibar) and enjoys an excellent central location on a pedestrianised street just a couple of minutes' walk from the principal shopping street.
  
  Meal arrangements: breakfast only
Extra nights recommended

Add an extra night at Hotel du Donjon to spend more time exploring historic Carcassonne.

Nights 3-4
Hotel du Donjon et des Remparts
Carcassonne
This wonderful hotel is located within the walls of the Old Town and is made up of three separate buildings: Les Remparts, Le Comte Roger and Le Donjon. The buildings echo the medieval atmosphere of the town, with exposed stonework, suits of armour, antique furniture and period décor. The bedrooms are more modern in style, and are equipped with air-conditioning, satellite television, a hairdryer, wifi and a minibar.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only
- Alternative hotel
  
  Nights 5-7
  Hotel de l'Horloge
  Avignon
  Converted from a 19th-century house in the heart of Avignon’s historic district, close to the Popes’ Palace, this smart hotel makes a great base from which to explore the city. There is an inviting bar and a lounge in which to relax, while the bedroooms (equipped with satellite television, wifi and a hairdryer) are furnished with wrought-iron beds and decorated in warm, earthy colours.
  
  Meal arrangements: breakfast only
- Back
  
  Nights 5-7
  Cloître Saint-Louis
  Avignon
  Situated in a 16th-century stone building which has in the past served as both a Jesuit seminary and military hospital, this high-quality hotel offers a peaceful haven away from the bustle of the city, yet is just a stone's throw from the historic centre of Avignon. It has a 'secret' courtyard garden, a roof-top terrace and pool, and an atmospheric vaulted restaurant where your included breakfast is served. We book the hotel's superior rooms, which are located in the contemporary wing, overlooking the courtyard garden.
  
  Meal arrangements:
Extra nights recommended

Relax by the small pool and look forward to the next superb dinner!

Nights 8-9
Hostellerie le Castellas
Collias
A high-quality, beautifully appointed hotel where you will find a genuinely warm welcome and fabulous gastronomic cuisine with a superb wine list to match. Each bedroom is individually decorated, with great attention to detail. There is a small outdoor pool and spa area with steam room, where massage and beauty treatments are available.

Meal arrangements: dinner & breakfast
Extra nights recommended

Nice is a beautiful city, with many fascinating museums and quirky boutiques to discover.

Nights 10-11
La Villa Victoria
Nice
This family-run, Art Deco-style hotel stands out for two reasons: its wonderful location in the heart of the city, close to the Old Town and the famous Promenade des Anglais along the seafront; and its 600-square-metre courtyard garden planted with a variety of native plants which fill the air with their scent. The individually decorated bedrooms are equipped with air-conditioning, wi-fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, a minibar, television, safe and hairdryer.

Meal arrangements: breakfast only

Options to extend or shorten your stay

Journey

Atlantic to the Mediterranean

Across the south of France by rail

9 nights, from £1095pp

Bordeaux, Carcassonne, Avignon and Nice are very different cities and thus reveal various aspects of southern France on this journey by rail.

View details

Prices & travel options

All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.

Currency converter

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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

Prices (£ per person based on 2 sharing)

Journey price

11 nights: 01 April - 31 July 2019 & 01 September - 31 October 2019

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 - 24 April	£1493	£650
25 - 30 April	£1648	£790
1 May - 24 June	£1693	£800
25 June - 22 July	£1773	£825
1 - 25 September	£1693	£800
26 September - 22 October	£1648	£790
3rd & 4th person discount	-£45
Single traveller supplement	£45

Includes accommodation, meals, travel between hotels and any other services integral to the holiday as described, plus a detailed information pack, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

Included travel: Bordeaux–Carcassonne–Avignon–Nice by rail; return transfer Avignon-Collias

Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

By rail

11 nights: 01 April - 31 July 2019 & 01 September - 31 October 2019

Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

Starting	Price	Single room
1 - 24 April	£1743	£650
25 - 30 April	£1893	£790
1 May - 24 June	£1948	£800
25 June - 22 July	£2033	£825
1 - 25 September	£1948	£800
26 September - 22 October	£1893	£790
3rd & 4th person discount	-£45
Single traveller supplement	£45

Includes all elements in the 'journey price', plus standard-class travel by Eurostar from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International to Lille or Paris, with onward travel as described below.

Included travel from the UK: UK–Paris/Lille (Eurostar), Paris/Lille–Bordeaux (TGV), approx. duration 7h20 out. Home Nice–Paris (TGV), Paris–UK (Eurostar) approx duration 9h30.
Pay locally for taxis between stations and hotels.

Other included travel: Bordeaux–Carcassonne–Avignon–Nice by rail; return transfer Avignon-Collias.

If you book your holiday less than 3 months in advance of your travel date, seats may no longer be available at the tariffs on which our prices are based, but we may be able to offer you seats on the sames services at a supplement.

Room upgrades & extra nights

Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

Hotel La Tour Intendance
Standing superior: 01 Apr - 31 Jul 2019	£22
Standing superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£22

Hotel de l'Horloge
'Privilège' : 01 Apr - 31 Jul 2019	£18
'Privilège' : 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£18
Superior: 01 Apr - 31 Jul 2019	£12
Superior: 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£12

Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

Hotel La Tour Intendance (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 31 Jul 2019	£90	£122
01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£90	£122

Hotel du Donjon et des Remparts (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 26 Apr 2019	£70	£122
27 Apr - 31 Jul 2019	£94	£169
01 Sep - 27 Sep 2019	£94	£169
28 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£70	£122

Hotel de l'Horloge (B&B)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 30 Apr 2019	£63	£108
01 May - 30 Jun 2019	£92	£167
01 Jul - 25 Jul 2019	£109	£199
26 Jul - 31 Jul 2019	£82	£147
01 Sep - 26 Oct 2019	£92	£167
27 Oct - 31 Oct 2019	£63	£108

Hostellerie le Castellas (with dinner)	Double room	Single room
01 Apr - 29 Jul 2019	£160	£225
01 Sep - 29 Oct 2019	£160	£225

La Villa Victoria (B&B)	Double room	Single room
31 Mar - 31 Jul 2019	£99	£166
01 Sep - 31 Oct 2019	£99	£166
01 Nov - 30 Nov 2019	£58	£102

Flight options

RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
Bergerac, Bordeaux (return from Nice)

ALTERNATIVE AIRPORT(S):
Paris CDG

Travelling from the UK

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

Outward route	Airline
Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Aberdeen - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Aberdeen - Paris CDG	Air France, KLM

Outward route	Airline
Belfast City - Paris CDG	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Belfast Intl. - Bordeaux	easyJet
Belfast Intl. - Paris CDG	Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - Belfast Intl.	easyJet, jet2

Outward route	Airline
Birmingham - Bergerac	Flybe
Birmingham - Bordeaux	Flybe
Birmingham - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Birmingham - Paris CDG	Air France, Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - Birmingham (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Bristol - Bergerac	Flybe, Ryanair
Bristol - Bordeaux	easyJet, Flybe
Bristol - Paris CDG	Air France, easyJet

Return route	Airline
Nice - Bristol	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Cardiff - Paris CDG	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Doncaster Sheffield - Paris CDG	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Nottingham East Midlands - Bergerac	Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Edinburgh - Bergerac	Flybe
Edinburgh - Bordeaux	Flybe, Ryanair
Edinburgh - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Edinburgh - Paris CDG	Air France, easyJet, Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - Edinburgh	easyJet, Flybe
Nice - Edinburgh (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Exeter - Bergerac	Flybe
Exeter - Paris CDG	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Glasgow - Bordeaux	easyJet
Glasgow - Paris CDG	easyJet

Return route	Airline
Nice - Glasgow (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM

Outward route	Airline
Leeds Bradford - Bergerac	Flybe, jet2
Leeds Bradford - Paris CDG	jet2

Return route	Airline
Nice - Leeds Bradford	Flybe, jet2

Outward route	Airline
Liverpool - Bergerac	Ryanair
Liverpool - Bordeaux	easyJet
Liverpool - Paris CDG	easyJet

Return route	Airline
Nice - Liverpool	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
London City - Bergerac	British Airways
London City - Paris CDG	Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - London City	British Airways

Outward route	Airline
Gatwick - Bergerac	Flybe
Gatwick - Bordeaux	British Airways, easyJet
Gatwick - Paris CDG	easyJet

Return route	Airline
Nice - Gatwick	British Airways, easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Heathrow - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Heathrow - Paris CDG	British Airways

Return route	Airline
Nice - Heathrow	British Airways
Nice - Heathrow (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Luton - Bordeaux	easyJet

Return route	Airline
Nice - Luton	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
London Southend - Paris CDG	easyJet

Outward route	Airline
Stansted - Bergerac	Ryanair
Stansted - Bordeaux	Ryanair

Return route	Airline
Nice - Stansted	easyJet, jet2, Ryanair

Outward route	Airline
Manchester - Bergerac	Flybe, jet2
Manchester - Bordeaux	easyJet, Ryanair
Manchester - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Manchester - Paris CDG	Air France, easyJet, Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - Manchester	easyJet, jet2
Nice - Manchester (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Amsterdam Schiphol)	KLM
Newcastle - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Newcastle - Paris CDG	Air France, KLM

Return route	Airline
Nice - Newcastle	easyJet
Nice - Newcastle (via Paris)	Air France

Outward route	Airline
Norwich - Bordeaux	Flybe
Norwich - Paris CDG	Flybe

Outward route	Airline
Southampton - Bergerac	Flybe
Southampton - Bordeaux	Flybe
Southampton - Bordeaux (via Paris)	Air France
Southampton - Paris CDG	Flybe

Return route	Airline
Nice - Southampton	Flybe
Nice - Southampton (via Paris)	Air France

Travelling from outside the UK

If you are flying from outside Europe, we recommend flying via Paris CDG. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

Connecting Travel

Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

Connecting travel options - flying to Bergerac & back from Nice

Outward route	Price per person	Latest flight arrival time
rail Bergerac to Bordeaux St Jean (1h30), taxi or tram Bordeaux St Jean to hotel (0h10, pay locally)	£14	1700

Homeward route	Price per person	Earliest flight departure time
own taxi to airport	n/a	flexible

Connecting travel options - flying to Bordeaux & back from Nice

Outward route	Price per person	Latest flight arrival time
taxi Bordeaux airport to hotel	£22	flexible

Homeward route	Price per person	Earliest flight departure time
own taxi to airport	n/a	flexible

Paris CDG

Outward route	Price per person	Latest flight arrival time
rail to Bordeaux St Jean from Paris CDG (4h20)	£55	1500
rail Paris Montparnasse to Bordeaux St Jean (3h15)	£55	1500

Homeward route	Price per person	Earliest flight departure time
rail to Paris CDG (7h)	£105	1830
rail to Paris Gare de Lyon (5h40)	£80	1830

What is included

11 nights
2 dinners
11 breakfasts
city maps and notes for walking tours
detailed cultural information
rail travel Bordeaux-Carcassonne-Avignon-Nice
return taxi between Avignon and Collias

Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

Anon

19 September 2018

The changing colours and vistas from the spotless train window as we snaked along the Med were worth the price of the trip.

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help.

What’s in the information pack?

The information that we send to you 2-3 weeks before your holiday includes practical information about each stage of your journey so that you can travel confidently from one hotel to another, recommendations for places to visit and eat out in each place, plus cultural information about the area. Where applicable, we also provide notes for a self-guided walking tour of most cities, and some large towns. Sample travel pack >
Can I book my flights through Inntravel, and what’s the advantage of doing this?

We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
I’d like to travel all the way from the UK by rail. Can you arrange this?

Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi to discuss your plans.
Can you book travel arrangements for customers from outside the UK?

We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
How do I make a booking?

Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
Do I need travel insurance?

Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
Do I need a visa or anything health-related for France?

It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to France, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
What else do I need to know about travelling to France?

The official language is French. The currency is the Euro. French time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
How does Brexit affect travel to Europe?

Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
Where can I find general travel advice?

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.