The Survival Guide to France. Part One: Before You Go

There are two essential to having a good vacation in France (or any other place): planning and packing. Whether you are going to Normandy, Brittany, Cote d'Azur/Provence, Dordogne or some other less well known region, preparation is the key. When I was planning my first solo trip to France, I had each day planned out: where I was going, what I would see when I got there, how much time in each place. That plan lasted one day. I got to Rouen, loved it, and instead of the two days I planned on, I spent four. I still plan, but with a lot less structure. I read a lot about France, and not just guidebooks. Besides locations, I want to get the flavor of the area I'm visiting. Amazon.com and Adventurous Traveler are two on-line bookstores that have generous selections. Peter Mayle's books about life in Provence are examples. Another good source for background information is the travel channel. Rick Steves, found on the PBS stations as well as travel stations, has more than just the "big" destinations. Watch the travel sections in newspapers also.

For first-time visitors I recommend the Eyewitness Travel Guides. The information is complete and one picture is worth a thousand words. The Michelin Travel Guides, while geared toward the auto traveler, are often more specific in area and sights. The Lonely Planet Guides are my favorites for food and lodging, especially lower price places. I've never been disappointed with their recommendations. Lonely Planet also has "upgrades" at their site, up to date information that you can print and paste into their books. There are more guidebooks, and I have used them. Let's not forget the Article Archives on the France Direct website, another good source of information and one of my favourites.

Guidebooks are heavy. Look at them in a bookstore or,even better, in the library and pick one to take with you. Even better, copy pertinent pages out of several guide books and make your own. You can throw away pages when you no longer need them.
Article courtesy of Constance Montague