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I'm going to be in Lille, northern France, and totally free of commitments from Friday lunchtime until Sunday lunchtime. How can I amuse myself while social distancing? Also, I'm quite anxious about going to restaurants or hanging out in a bar solo, can anyone set my mind at rest? [more inside]
posted by doornoise around Lille, France at 7:05 AM - 7 answers

I saw a headline about how, with flights incredibly cheap because of COVID, Millenials are taking the opportunity to travel. My first thought: oof, bad idea. My second thought: wait, how cheap are we talking? [more inside]
posted by nonasuch around Paris, France at 7:22 AM - 50 answers

Howdy, the wife and I are putting together 8 days along the southern French coast and wondered if you had any "oh holy crap do this" recommendations? Thinking of flying into Marseilles and getting a car, and maybe doing Saint Tropez, Porquerolles Island, Cannes, Antibes, maybe Nice, Monaco, whatever. Help me!
posted by xmutex around France at 7:25 PM - 7 answers

I’ll be spending Christmas in Paris. Yay! I arrive at CDG mid-afternoon on Christmas Day. My friend who lives there tells me the strike will still be going strong through the holidays. [more inside]
posted by ljshapiro around Paris, France at 2:33 AM - 4 answers

What it says on the tin. My friend and I have a [long] layover in Paris coinciding with NYE, and would like to spend it at a bar. Many of the previous recommendations on here are a few years old, so I'm wondering if there might be newer, more relevant suggestions. [more inside]
posted by Everydayville around Paris, France at 2:19 PM - 3 answers

A few years ago I must have seen something on Le Havre France and wrote it down on my big bucket list of places to visit before I die. Now I'm down to some of my last few places. And for the life of me I can't figure out why I put it down. Is there anything amazing there?
posted by rileyray3000 around Le Havre, France at 3:59 AM - 11 answers

Looking for recommendations to fill out our activities for an upcoming vacation in France. We'll be spending a few days each (driving between them) in the Loire valley between Saumur and Amboise, Burgundy between Beaune and Dijon, and then back to Paris in the 10th arr. [more inside]
posted by aught around France at 12:55 PM - 12 answers

I (mid-30s female) am going to Paris for work September 30 - October 14, staying in the 5th on Rue des Ecoles near the Panthéon/Sorbonne/Cluny Museum. The nearest Metros are Maubert-Mutualité and Cluny-La Sorbonne. I'll be by myself the whole time (apart from work hours). I have a little passable classroom French. What awesome things can do I in my fairly ample, but mostly after-hours and weekends free time? [more inside]
posted by CheeseLouise around Paris, France at 1:10 PM - 13 answers

We have a 9 days in Provence - Cote d'Azure coming up in late September are looking for for tips and suggestions on routes, towns, places to stay, see, eat, walks - off the beaten path gems. [more inside]
posted by specialk420 around France at 1:44 PM - 5 answers

I will be solo attending a retreat outside of Toulouse, France, and am thinking of adding a few nights in Paris to the end of my trip. I'm looking for a few suggestions and advice on transport (and any stops between). [more inside]
posted by pazazygeek around France at 11:38 AM - 10 answers

I’m in Paris, staying just south of Norte Dame. I’d love to find a convenient place to watch the World Cup final tomorrow. It starts at 5pm local. It might be just 2 of us, or possibly a group as large as 10, so flexible is best. Bonus side question: is there a good nearby place for breakfast out on a Sunday? Most of the places I found through previous AskMe questions are closed Sundays, or are far from me.
posted by nat around Paris, France at 3:04 PM - 3 answers

On vacation in France. The heatwave is making the trip miserable. Also, my wife is pregnant. We have trip insurance. How do we handle this? [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 around France at 10:20 AM - 14 answers

We’re heading to France for ten days on Sunday and I just had a few questions that have been on my mind. For reference, we’re in Paris for about 2 days, a day trip to Strasbourg, and then 6 days in the Provence region. My sister-in-law speaks decent French so she can help with certain things (traffic signage, for example). [more inside]
posted by rbf1138 around France at 12:06 PM - 28 answers

Paris is such a big city that I'm at a loss for picking a neighbourhood to stay in next month. Neighborhood descriptions tend to be things like "this place is full of tourists" or "this is where the 20 years olds go drinking" but not "hey 39 year old who's into craft beer and vintage video games, you should stay here." So where should we stay? [more inside]
posted by thecjm around Paris, France at 12:55 PM - 16 answers

My partner and I will be travelling to Nice, France in September. We tend to lay relatively low, are looking to avoid overly touristy activities, and need to stick to a budget. We'll be staying in an airbnb in Old Town but are comfy walking, taxi-ing, ubering, etc. Any activity, point of interest, restaurant (read: coffeeshop), etc. recommendations and travel tips welcome! Thank you!!!
posted by mrk021 around Nice, France at 9:24 AM - 9 answers

I would like to take my teenager to France for about a week in June. I think the ideal arrangement would be to fly into a major city, take a train to a smaller city, and make that our home base for low-key walking/biking excursions - I picture us looking at old buildings, reading magazines at cafes, and shopping at normal everyday French stores. She is 16, so the wine-growing regions aren't a particular attraction. I speak no French, she speaks a little. Suggestions for a tranquil trip?
posted by lakeroon around France at 7:57 PM - 8 answers

I'll be visiting Strasbourg (FR) for a few days toward the end of March, with two teens (girl 13 and boy 16). We currently have no particular plans. We'll check out the Cathedral, of course. We'll actually be staying in Obernai, but I'll have a car and can drive anywhere within a reasonable distance. I was thinking about renting bikes, but am not sure where best to ride. Any suggestions as to interesting and/or out of the ordinary sights to see or things to do would be much appreciated.
posted by lex mercatoria around Strasbourg, France at 6:40 PM - 6 answers

One of my goals for 2019 is to do a French intensive course in France. I am looking at the Alliance Française in Marseille for June and I am wondering if anyone here has experience of them, or of Marseille? I am a solo female traveler in her mid 30s, with an intermediate knowledge of French. [more inside]
posted by EatMyHat around Marseille, France at 3:23 PM - 6 answers

I moved recently to London from the US, and my mother is visiting me from Los Angeles for the next two weeks. We had planned a 3 day jaunt to Paris via Eurostar but now I'm wondering if we should skip it due to the political unrest. I can't tell if we're being overly cautious or if it makes sense to just duck out this time. [more inside]
posted by pazazygeek around Paris, France at 12:33 PM - 8 answers

I am traveling to France. I don't do a ton of traveling. What do I need to know/consider/do to prepare? My main concerns are wifi - being able to access e-mail, use apple maps, apple music and podcasts etc money what else do i need to know?
posted by kbbbo around Paris, France at 10:34 AM - 22 answers