Winter in France

Lyon

Fête des Lumières

Light has always held a special place in the city and each year on 8 December, Lyon hosts the Festival of Lights. It is an international event renowned for the temporary light installations. The city is completely transformed into a stunning light show based on a wonderful tradition. Dating back to December 8, 1852, the residents of Lyon placed candles in coloured glasses on their window sills to celebrate the installation of a statue of the Virgin Mary on the Fourvière Hill.

midi

The French Pyrenees

Take the train from Paris to Lourdes, where you can visit the famous sanctuary and the fortified castle. Consider hiking the Pic du Midi or the thermal waters of Bagnères de Bigorre or the Louron valley.

Coastal Destination

Saint-Malo, Bretagne

Bundle up for a seaside excursion to Saint-Malo, only about two hours via train from Paris.

Breathe in the fresh salt air and dive into trays of oysters after a long walk on the beach.

If you time it right, you might see one of the epic wave storms!

Champagne Region

Reims and Epernay

Trains to Reims only take 45-minutes. Aside from the stunning cathedral, this region offers much to explore, especially if you love bubbles! Visiting the champagne houses is a blast, by shuttle, car, or bicycle. What better way to celebrate that you are in France?

Getting Around

Top Tips When Renting a Car in France

These are my personal experiences and by no means comprehensive.

1. Each car rental company acts as a franchise in France. Therefore, you'll want to thoroughly read the online reviews for each location. I have had success mostly with Hertz and EuropCar. But it will depend upon the individual office reviews.

2. Take videos of the car, inside and out, before you drive off. And when you return, do the same. Save the videos for up to six months as the rental agency can make a claim for many months after the rental.

3. Keep your gas receipts. Many agencies want proof of the fuel you used and paid for upon check out.