Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France by Jeff Warren

The black cabs you can come across in Paris should not be confused with the black cabs of London. Instead of being the Hackney carriage cabs, some of the services you can find in Paris include the supply of various types of transport including private saloon cars, limousines, mini-buses and so on. You can also find some extremely reasonable prices around the city which is another highly significant benefit.

There are plenty of reasons why you should choose chauffeur services over other types of transport. Convenience is of course a big attraction and the door-to-door service offered will always be well received, especially after a long journey. Also the touch of luxury aspect; the vehicles that are used are not only in beautiful condition for the utmost comfort but they are usually fitted with all the mod-cons you would expect in nice vehicles. Also, and this is probably overlooked sometimes, driver knowledge is key. For example, you may be going to a destination which is away from the usual tourist routes and this is where driver knowledge will come into play. In these scenarios the local driver knowledge is extremely hard to beat. The chauffeur will make sure you arrive at your destination in style. If for some reason he or she does not know the route then there is always the sat-nav.

It is clear that when you are on a trip it pays to get with a good chauffeur company. They are usually easy to find online and you can book their services in this way too. Taking the chance to let someone else take up the slack and drive you around in is a very desirable option and this can also be the mode of transport that makes your trip that bit more relaxing and less stressful.

Article written by Tony Rothen representing http://www.parisblackcabs.com/ who offer Paris airport transfers, limousines, shuttles and other services to such destinations as Disneyland.

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Saint-Tropez, France by Zoé de Saint-Tropez

1 – Convenience

If travelling from the UK, you can reach Calais and Le Havre in a few short hours or less. By comparison, a trip to the South of France can involve a longer flight, and day or two of driving. In this way, the North of France is recommended for people that want a quicker getaway, or don’t want to have to transport young children on a long journey.

2 – Cities

There are many excellent cities in both the North and the South of France. The North’s distinction comes through it being the location of Paris. However, travels to the South can take in the similarly large, if not quite as diverse, cities of Nice and Marseille along the French Riviera. Travellers going to the South West of France can also enjoy the historic city of Bordeaux.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France by Trey Ratcliff

3 – Temperature

Those wanting to enjoy the sun and the beach are probably better off heading south than trying the climate of the Northern part of France, which is broadly similar to the UK. The South’s Mediterranean climate is much hotter, and features many more sandy beaches. Marseille and Nice are particularly popular for tourists. Visitors to the South and France’s Eastern border with Switzerland can also enjoy the sun and the skiing opportunities of the French Alps.

4 – Cultural Differences

While there are no major differences in terms of language and shared culture between the North and the South of France, there are a few contrasts that should be taken into consideration. The South of France is generally more tourist driven, and most French people will travel to it as part of their own holidays. The pace of life in the South is also slower and more relaxed in the larger cities and resorts. Cities like Monte Carlo are more expensive than the towns of the North. Food in the South is similarly more Mediterranean in terms of the use of spices and local fish delicacies.

Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France by marcovdz

5 – Travel Options

Being based in the North or the South of France will create different opportunities for further travel. On the other hand, being based in the North means that you can easily travel onto Belgium and Germany, while also gaining access to the Netherlands. By contrast, a trip to the South of France creates the chance to travel to Switzerland and Germany via the Alps, as well as heading west to Spain and Portugal. The South of France is also a good base for journeys on to the North of Africa and parts of Greece.

Conclusions

Taken together, those wanting a short journey, and the opportunity to enjoy Paris and cooler temperatures should consider the North of France, while those after sun and beaches, and a more Mediterranean holiday, can head south. Again, however, there is no reason not to enjoy both during the course of a longer trip.

Brought to you by the bloggers from Cheznous. Offering holidays in France.

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Make sure your car is in good working order

Firstly, make sure that your car is road worthy. To be sure of this then it is advisable to take your car to a garage for a good service before embarking on a long journey. This will ensure that your car has enough water, oil, brake fluid, tyre tread and many other things before you set off. It is also a good idea to make sure you have an emergency triangle in the back of the car in case of accidents and always have road recovery cover in case the worse happens. A blanket, bottle of water and chocolate is also thought to be a good idea to have in your car.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Michael Sheehan

Entertainment for the Children

There are numerous books available with a whole range of games and ideas. Eye spy is as popular as ever and can keep the children entertained for a while. There are also a lot of travel size games that can entertain them, connect four or battleships to name but a few. One of the new methods of keeping children entertained is by taking along a portable DVD for them to watch in the car. DVDs are small to carry so won’t take up much space, allowing you to get all your other holiday essentials into the car.

Get a car that is the right size for your family

Although it may be tempting to buy a car that is compact to save money, or buy a sports car to zip around in, a family car will have many more benefits for the family as a whole. A large car can only help the family travel comfortably when on a long journey. Some of the latest cars even come with DVDs and gaming consoles incorporated in the head rests. Sat Nav systems are always a blessing when you are heading off to somewhere unknown.

Car credit

Of course it isn’t always an option to just go and buy a car. Most people simply don’t have the money. There are a number of car credit options though that could help you get the car you and your family need. Car showrooms often offer good car finance packages, or your bank could give you a car loan. It isn’t always easy to get car credit though due to today’s difficult times so make sure you know your credit score before you go to get your car finance. This would put you in a good position to get the car credit you need at the best possible rate.

This article was written by Riley Lambert on behalf of ConceptCarCredit.co.uk – Concept Car Credit is based in Manchester and provides used cars and the finance.

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The basilica, which was built over the grave of St. James grew into Cathedral, which is now the most important monument in the city. The Cathedral was rebuilt into Baroque style in 18th century, which changed its original appearance. The cathedral has a magnificent Romanesque interior façade Portico de la Gloria, which was created by the Master Mateo in 1188. Inside you can see a beautiful Mondragon chapel from the 15th century, the main altar, crypt with the relics of St. James, or a museum of paintings, retables, reliquaries and sculptures.

View Santiago de Compostela – a World Heritage City and pilgrimage destination Spain in a larger map

It is a perfect example of sacred Roman architecture. Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela became the destination of the Way of St. James, a major historical pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages, which total length is 1600 km. The journey starts in France and leads through the Alps to Santiago de Compostela. Only in Spain it goes through seven provinces, four autonomous regions and around 200 villages and towns.

A history of the pilgrimage dates back to medieval times and its symbol is the scallop shell, which can be found at every step. Believers go this long journey for centuries and is important for them to repentance and spiritual cleansing. Along the roads were built hostels, shelters, hospitals, churches and cathedrals, which were designed to serve the pilgrims. Then many cities around grew up that have prospered largely from the influx of pilgrims.

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Also now, there are always thousands of people each year, however not all of them for religious reasons. The pilgrimage has become a renowned tourist attraction, where you can enjoy the beautiful and the changing landscape, to know the local traditions, people and architecture. Suitable for visiting the city is 25 July when the celebrations of St. James are held here and it is also the National Day of Galicia. In 1993, also the St. James pilgrimage has been added to UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The historic city center is full of stone streets. Together with surrounding squares it is now a pedestrian zone and you will find most of the sights here. Since there is an important Spanish university, the city is full of students. Popular tourist place is the Zona Vieja (Old Quarter), which is full of bars, restaurants, clubs and discos.

The southern part consists of the square Praza de Galicia, where you’ll find baroque cathedral Catedral del Apóstol from 18th century. You can also visit the museum of pilgrimage Museo das Peregrinación situated near the cathedral. Art lovers should not miss a visit to Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea with the exhibitions of modern art.

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