the Travel Enthusiast
- 04 Feb
lizzy_a in Travel Planning | 1 COMMENTThe backpacker’s guide to France
Marseille, France
France is one of the most popular destinations nowadays, there’s no doubt about it. And while staying at good hotels and exploring the heart of Paris or some other cosmopolitan city can show you one of the facets of French life and culture, there is much that you miss out on if you decide to travel the ‘regular’ way.
Backpacking is a great alternative if you want to discover the hidden side of the French experience. Sure, you might need to learn some basic French phrases and learn a bit about how things work in France, but your trip is bound to be unforgettable. Here’s a short backpacker’s guide to France.
Planning
vineyard in Provence
Summer might seem like a good time to visit France, but in August the cities are more or less deserted, because most of the townsfolk migrate to the riviera to enjoy the balmy air and sun. So unless you want to stick to the Cote d’Azur, spring is a much better time for traveling. It’s warm enough to allow you to spend time outdoors, but not too hot – plus, biking in the green French countryside in spring is an amazing experience.
Where to go
Sarlat, Dordogne
Next, you should plan an itinerary. France is quite the sizable country, and there is much to see. Ideally, you should settle for one region and see as much of it as your time allows. Provence is a magnificent region (tons of picturesque villages, vineyards and historic towns), with a specific culture and cuisine.
The Dordogne Valley is a great destination if you’re after castles, good wine and tiny villages on the banks of the Dordogne river. If you’re longing for a more maritime landscape, visit Brittany, where there plenty of wild landscapes, small islands and scenic bays to occupy your time. Modern history buffs should definitely head to Normandy, where you can find dozens of museums, and some breath-taking landscapes too.
Accommodation and food
Backpacking in France is not uncommon, so there are more then enough hostels where you can stay for cheap. You should definitely book well before your trip (this is why an itinerary is very helpful), and hostels that are used to foreign tourists will have English speaking staff. Expect to pay 20-30 euro for a dorm room – in Paris, naturally, prices are bit higher.Food in France can range from the cheap fast-food variety to mouth-watering nouvelle cuisine, but buying your own food allows you to taste local delicacies without wasting all your budget. Local markets in small towns are usually filled with cheeses, varieties of meats and lovely produce. Buy some goodies from the market and have an outdoor picnic. If you want to eat at a restaurant, expect to pay 20-30 euros or more, depending on how refined your tastes are.
- Flights
- Hotels
- Packages
- Cars
- Cruises
travel search by Travelgrove (get this widget)Budget tips
If you’re in a small town, explore it on foot! Even if there are no obvious tourist attractions, just enjoy the vibe. When traveling through France, the most obvious choice is the TGV (high speed train), but the slow trains are much cheaper.And if you want to go out, it’s best that you buy a bottle of wine and drink it before going to a club, and once you’re there just skip to the dancing part – drinking out can be very expensive in France.
You might also like
© Copyright 2004 - 2024 Travelgrove, Inc.
Backpacking is the ideal idea to fully experience a country and its real essence. There’s nothing wrong with visiting a country with a tour guide and all that jazz, but there’s something so rough and unforgettable about doing your own exploring.