- I really do. After having lived there for 7 years of my life in total, and visiting countless times, my fascination with the country keeps growing...
It's a perfect country for driving, for example. There are autoroutes (motorways), most of which are toll roads, but if you're not in a hurry, there will always be smaller roads that are free, and that will take you through picturesque villages and lovely scenery.
I've learned to avoid the major cities when driving - it may be a good idea to park the car and use public transport. We once spent 2 hours trying to move our car closer to one of the Bordeaux Hôtels we had booked into... Boy, did we wish we hadn't left the city map in our room - it was only two blocks, you see! We finally found the hotel - by accident!
Neither of us have any sense of direction, so we really had it coming... Remember though, if you're going to drive in French cities, don't rent a big car. The interesting bits are often found in narrow streets.
As for hotels, major cities have a wide variety, and last minute booking is usually no problem. Paris Hôtels range from absolute luxury to small pensions, and are located all over the city center and beyond.
The same goes for Marseille Hôtels, if you're wanting to visit the Côte d'Azur, Toulouse Hôtels and hôtels in any other major French city.
If you're stopping in the countryside, the villages may just have one hotel or pension, and odds are it's a small one. Booking ahead saves a lot of hassle and time whenever possible...
Remember though, should you choose to travel the smaller roads: Lunchtime is from noon to 2pm (sometimes 3). If you miss it, you'll have to wait till 6pm, or get yourself onto a motorway, where restaurants serve food at all hours... Also, if you're after good, honest local fare at a reasonable price, this is the sign to be looking for on a restaurant along the road. The truckers of France favor these places, and they're a hungry lot!
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