Since tours are designed according to the wishes of one or more travelers, it is not easy to name the most popular destinations. However, certain trends do exist. Recently, in summer, the Dominican Republic, the Maldives, and Caribbean resorts are in demand among individual travelers. However, most tourists prefer to travel around Europe: according to experts, 70% of summer holiday routes are accounted for by Europe, while the remaining 30% are shared by other destinations.
In Europe itself, tours to France are in constant demand. It is also often included in the program of combined tours (for example, trips along the coasts of Italy, France, and Spain).
Gazeta.Ru ranked the list of French routes most popular among individual travelers as follows: Paris, Euro Disneyland, holidays on the Côte d'Azur, tours of the Loire castles, exotic holidays on the island of Corsica, and Fly & Drive tours. In addition, according to experts, there has recently been a trend of moving holidays to the north - to Normandy and Brittany. Holidays in the Basque Country (Biarritz) are also becoming fashionable. These destinations are also popular with European tourists.
Paris
The famous French capital attracts many travelers. Holiday programs in the city and its surroundings are very diverse. Everything depends on one's wishes. Paris often becomes the starting point for a further journey. One popular program looks approximately like this: three days in Paris - a city tour (sightseeing or of any chosen district); a museum visit (optional); a boat trip along the Seine; an evening at the Lido or Moulin Rouge cabaret; then - a transfer to another city (by plane, by train).
Euro Disneyland
Disneyland is located not far from Paris. It is open all year round. In summer - from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The show program, which changes daily, and also a park map can be obtained at the information bureau. Programs are offered in English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Italian.
It is 32 km from Paris to Disneyland. You can get there by metro (red line A to the terminus Marne la Valle) or by taxi (from the center or airport 60-80 euros). Trips to this fairy-tale park are planned not only from Paris but also from other parts of France. There is a TGV train from any major city. Disneyland has its own hotels. Entry to the park is free for those staying in them.
Côte d'Azur
All resorts of the Côte d'Azur are traditionally popular with our tourists. Most often they go to Nice. The capital of the French Riviera is the city with the most developed infrastructure. It is worth noting that life in Nice is slightly cheaper than at other resorts on the coast. Perhaps for this reason, families with children more often vacation here. Resorts such as Cannes and Juan-les-Pins are preferred by more respectable people: single lovers of a quiet holiday (usually those over 40).
On average, prices at Côte d'Azur hotels start from 100 euros per day, including breakfast, for double occupancy. And a popular 10-day tour - five nights in Paris, five nights in Nice - can cost 885 euros (accommodation and transfer only). Air temperature in July-August ranges from 30 to 40 degrees.
Note that the Côte d'Azur is often included in combined itineraries. For example, consider the route Cannes - Euro Disneyland - Juan-les-Pins - Geneva (Switzerland). It is designed for 15 days (four nights in Geneva) and will cost approximately 1,600 euros. In addition, holidaymakers on the Côte d'Azur often take the opportunity to visit the Principality of Monaco with its famous Monte Carlo. Such an excursion (car and guide-interpreter) will cost 450 euros (one to three people).
Normandy and Brittany
Trips to northwestern France have only recently begun to be in demand among our tourists. The Atlantic resorts differ from the Côte d'Azur in the same way as the Baltics differ from the Crimea. The most famous of the northern resorts is Deauville. It is a two-hour drive from Paris. This small town in Normandy, which has managed to preserve the charm of the early last century and a leisurely pace of life, is one of the most prestigious and beloved resorts not only of European tourists but also of the French themselves.
Prices in Deauville's four-star hotels start from 138 euros per day. The cost of lunch in a restaurant is 16-20 euros.
A one-week tour to Paris plus two days in Deauville (rail transfer) will cost an individual about 1,000 euros. Air temperature at Atlantic resorts in July-August is about 25 degrees.
Fly & Drive
This type of travel involves driving around the country by car with stops in cities or castles, usually for two to three days. There is also the option of traveling in a minibus accompanied by a Russian-speaking driver-guide.
After analyzing client preferences, travel agency employees develop a trip plan in advance, book places in hotels and castles along the entire route, and rent a car. As a rule, car routes are chosen by experienced travelers. Often these are families or small groups of four to eight people. Such a trip is attractive to many: increased mobility (which is also freedom), the opportunity to get to know the country in more detail. Renting a car in France costs from 40 euros per day (without fuel).
Typical examples of car trips by our tourists in France:
l Trip from Paris to Nice: Paris - Lyon (4-5 hours) - Avignon (2-3 hours) - Nice (2-3 hours). The trip involves stops in each city for 2-3 days, visits to historical and architectural monuments and to the gastronomic capital of France - Lyon. Prices in gastronomic restaurants in Lyon start from 200 euros for one dish; in simple city restaurants you can have lunch for 20-40 euros.
l “The Wine Road” (for example, Bordeaux - Angoulême - Cognac - Périgueux - Bergerac). It includes tasting of legendary drinks and stops at castles (châteaux) for several days. Most often, châteaux (Bordeaux castles) are old mansions of the 19th century. The use of the word “castle” to denote a wine-growing estate is a feature of Bordeaux.
l A trip with visits to famous ports and fortresses (for example, the popular route Nantes - La Baule - Pornic - La Rochelle - Poitiers).
Castle tours
Castle travel programs are also diverse. Some people choose to stay in hotels in Tours or Blois and take excursions to the Loire castles (most of them are quite close to these cities). Others prefer to stay in a romantic setting directly in a castle. It should be borne in mind that castles, like hotels, have a star rating. Not all châteaux resemble a castle from a historical film. A château may turn out to be simply a two-story house from the end of the 19th century, owned by a local aristocrat.
Prices for staying in castles are, of course, different. But on average, from 120 to 300 euros per day. You can dine in the castle itself or in nearby small restaurants. Prices are the same as throughout France.
Corsica
Various tours to this exotic region with wild pristine nature, sandy beaches and a magnificent climate are ordered throughout the island, from Ajaccio to Porticcio, including beach holidays. Prices in hotels are from 130 euros per day, but travel agency representatives note that, as a rule, hotels have available rooms from 200 euros per day, the rest are already booked.
It should be borne in mind that in summer there is real Mediterranean heat in Corsica.
What to pay attention to
As in any other country, travelers should know the traditions. It is worth noting that Russian-speaking guides are available in Paris, Marseille and the resorts of the Côte d'Azur. When traveling to northern France, the guide will have to leave Paris, and his services will be quite expensive; that is why tourists prefer to travel without an interpreter.
As for language, according to tour operators, even for car routes English is enough. You should carefully plan your routes to avoid extra kilometers, find out the opening hours of museums in advance, and in some cases book tickets, since it is difficult to get into some museums in summer.
When traveling around the country, it is advisable to arrive at the hotel on the day for which it is booked. Otherwise, the money may be lost.
And one last thing. You should take care of booking an individual tour in advance, preferably a month ahead. In this case, it will be easier to book cheaper plane tickets and hotel rooms.