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Everything you always wanted to know about France |
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France-Voila, #31 June 21, 2000 This week 1. Keeping in Touch2. What's in a Name 3. The Big Exit 4. Mobile Homes 5. Last Minute Special Offers 6. Travel e-zines 7. Other tours and sites 8. Mary Gallaghers Travel Tips === Welcome to Newsletter #30 about Visiting France === 1. Keeping in Touch On the web site at http://goto-france.com/ I have made a page where you can Ask About Anything. This is very valuable for me as I learn never to assume that something which I experience every day here in France, will be common knowledge to everyone else. I try to answer all questions you send me and I will post some of them on the page. I will also catch up with the newsletter archives and many other things soon I promise. Many of the questions are about computers and Internet and how to keep in touch by e-mail when you are traveling. A lot of visitors bring lap-tops and ask how they can connect through the French telephone system and where they can get an ISP. I have tried to answer these questions on the site, you can look in the Index for pages about computers and Internet. One problem with a lap-top or using computers in cyber-cafes (or borrowing mine) is that no matter how well you plan ahead, you never have all the files or software you need. I have found a couple of Free services which could be a big help. andI plan to make a section on the www.goto-france.com site where you can access these services, before I do this I would very much like to hear from anyone who has used them or knows of any other systems I can offer. === 2. What's in a Name I am changing the name of this newsletter to "France-Voila", mainly because I like it but also so that I can make a website http://France-Voila.com/ and put the archives and a lot of general news and information there. If you have a look now it will just show you the page of vacation accommodation, but the plan is to make it a news magazine about France. All contributions welcome - === 3. The big Exit I have had a lot of mail this past week about arranging travel and driving during the summer. It has reminded me to say to everyone DO NOT DRIVE IN FRANCE AT THE WEEKENDS IN JULY AND AUGUST. From Saturday July 1 until Saturday September 2, the roads will be a nightmare at the weekends. This covers from Friday afternoon to the following Monday. The school vacations start here next week and all of France will take their vacation time and head for the coast. The worst roads are the ones going south and West. If you must travel, book a train seat, a flight or arrange your travel mid-week by car. This also means that hotels and B&B are booked up everywhere so plan ahead. You can book rail transport, in English at === 4. Mobile Homes I have just added a mobile home section on the site. This is a paid advertising section and is by popular demand. If you have a quality mobile home in France you would like to advertise please mail me at This is a good value way of staying in the south of France in the summer. The French campsites are famous for their quality and you are often only yards from a beach. === 5. Last Minute Special offers Due to an unavoidable cancellation we still have some weeks available here in Nizas for the end of June and in July. Some other owners are prepared to make special offers for their homes and there are some weeks available all through the summer. === 6. Travel E-Zines I believe that the Internet only works if it truly operates as a network. I know this sounds obvious, but there are a lot of sites who see themselves as a stand-alone animated bill-board. I am building a business here in the south of France based on travel and tourism and I am trying to work with other sites who offer similar or related services. I do not see this as a competition for customers, you are quite able to make up your own mind who you wish to contact and who to deal with. I have just received a newsletter from Andrew Mercer who has a great site at. http://www.alternative-routes.com/ Andrew is doing some very interesting things for tourism and travel, he has started an e-zine, you can subscribe from his site. This week he mentioned me and several other travel zines in his newsletter which I will also list here == Ana Watkinson produces the Great Britain Travel Guide http://www.greatbritaintravelguide.com/ The fun and insightful resource for Great Britain travel! To subscribe mailto:subscribe@greatbritaintravelguide.com Trevor Michie runs the PNG Goss ezine. Sign up at his site mailto:update@britainexpress.com David Ross runs Britain Update UK travel, history, and culture. UK web site reviews, destinations to visit, articles on British history and culture, reviews of books about Britain, and UK travel deals, including discount London hotels. Email Subscription mailto:update@britainexpress.com In the subject of the message - subscribe. Eco-resorts is an interesting e-zine and web site offering ecological tours in Africa. They are committed to tourism that supports and maintains indigenous cultures. Subscribe by e-mailing mailto:anne@eco-resorts.com Trading Places is the companion ezine for Holi-Swaps home exchange site. Get your own copy by mailing to mailto:tradingplaces-on@holi-swaps.com == 7. Other tours and vacation sites To feed my family I am very busy at present making some travel sites for tour companies. These cover guided tours to Israel, Egypt and Kenya at present and there are plans for Europe and India. If you would like some early details please mail me at.. I have just finished a nice site for a personal Paris tour at. If you are looking for a painting vacation in the south of France, look at === 8. Gallaghers Tip of the Week This is an ideal list of essentials for any traveler. Pack as many as possible or buy upon arrival. The little packets available at fast food outlets or with your coffee maker in many hotel rooms are great. Small scissors, safety pins, Swiss army knife, small flash light, microwave plastic container with lid, sturdy plastic disposable silverware, packages of instant cocoa, coffee, oatmeal, and soup, dried fruit or trail mix. Portable water heater, microwave popcorn, microwave mug, envelopes of sugar, creamer, salt and pepper. Pill bottle or film canister with detergent. Small binoculars or opera glasses. Wash and dry wipes. Mary is a brilliant Journalist in Washington DC mailto:Mary@gallagherstravels.com === Please ask me any questions, I will do my best to help and it makes me find the answers which I can add to the links and index on the web site at If you like this newsletter please feel free to forward it to a friend, or anyone you like. A Bientôt Tony |