France

Champagne is not only a bubbly, festive sparkling wine known for celebrations and hangovers, but also a lovely and lush region in France. Here countless winemakers continue the rich tradition of méthode champenoise, the method for making champagne wine. It is important for connoisseurs to note (and follow) the number one rule of the term “champagne”: don’t call any wine (especially sparkling wine) not made in the Champagne region of France “champagne,” an important designation for regional foods protected by the EU.

Champagne is made by a secondary fermentation in the bottle (with a little help from a dash of yeast and a pinch of sugar), which creates the titillating carbonation. It has an erroneous bad reputation for inducing headaches, but it is the cheap, sugary sparkling wine, wine with big “artificially” added bubbles, consumed in vast quantities at your cousin’s wedding that is the culprit. True champagne is made only with red Pinot Noir (or sometimes Pinot Meunier) and Chardonnay grapes and is delicate with small, fine bubbles. It makes a lovely addition to a warm afternoon or a rich meal. If you are staying in Paris, you shouldn’t neglect to travel for a day or two to the Champagne area. Reims is a spectacular city with a rich history located in the Champagne region. If you head this direction, you must visit Champagne Taittinger, a spectacular champagne wine house with English tours available for their wine cellar.

Are you looking for a hotel in Reims? Click here for more information: Kyriad Reims Nord - La Neuvillette.

The choice of holiday reading is wide in France thanks to Paris' famous Shakespeare and Company bookstore near Notre Dame.Established in 1951 by the now legendary American-born George Whitman, it spans three floors crammed full of classics, best sellers, non-fiction, travel guides and magazines.The sheer range of titles available, as well as its messy charm, have made the shop one of the most popular European book retailers in the world.Notoriety grew further when it featured in the hit movie Before Sunset, starring local beauty Julie Delphy and Ethan Hawke as her short-lived love interest.Shakespeare and Company is located in the 5th arrondissement on the left bank of the River Seine.It also doubles up as makeshift accommodation for struggling writers who are visiting the city. Those too poor to make a donation towards their board can compensate by helping out on the shop floor for a few hours the next day.

Le Loft is a sleek bar in the south of France's capital of cool, oozing style and sophistication.Cannes, most famous for its glitzy annual film festival, is home to a number of glamorous nightspots.And Le Loft does not fail to disappoint on this front. The pre-party time restaurant serving fashionable spicy Asian delicacies such as sushi, tempura and deep-fried noodles.But 11 o'clock the swish venue becomes a party-goers paradise.Regulars sip on classy cocktails and mouthwatering martinis, as the sexy and sophisticated clientele dance the night away to music that ranges from hip-hop to techno.Pop art adorn the walls,and gorgeous chandeliers glisten as guests partake in the disco madness.Other bars in the area include Les Coulisses, piano bar Le Chunga amd the chilled Le Legend. There is also a thriving gay scene, with bars such as Le Zanzibar, which is the region's oldest gay bar.

While France may the celebrated home of some of the world's best cinema, the country's picture houses are worth seeing in their own right too.Among the finest examples is Paris' Studio 28, which nestles on a quiet street in Montmartre near the Moulin Rouge.The venue first opened for movie presentations in 1928 and quickly became the trendy meeting place for local artists, painters and writers.Since then it has been lovingly restored to maintain its old world charm, while also now boasting Dolby sound, a wide screen, air conditioning, a terrace for pre-movie drinks and snacks and 170 comfortable seats.It shows a mixture of European and American films - both art house and mainstream blockbuster - and has even appeared in some! A scene from the 2001 feel-good French hit Amelie was shot inside.For more great cinema experiences in the French capital, try Japanese-inspired La Pagode or La Cinematheque Francaise, which also houses a comprehensive film archive.

Every time my wife's grandparents travel to Paris, they stay at the Hotel Bonaparte. When we prepared to head to Paris for our honeymoon, we followed their lead and book a room for three nights at the Hotel Bonaparte. The combination of price, location (in the heart of the upscale Latin Quarter), and charm (the same family has welcomed guests for four generations) is hard to beat. My wife and I love to walk and we could easily get to the big Paris attractions (The Louvre, Notre Dame, The Eiffel Tower) within a half hour. For those who prefer buses or subway, a bus stop is 50 meters from the hotel door and two metro stops are just down the street. If you travel one block east (to Rue des Canettes), a row of delicious and affordable restaurants cater to most palettes.

The Hotel Bonaparte ranks as a 2 star hotel and the worn interior is clear the moment you enter. However, the staff keeps the rooms very clean and our bathroom was clearly renovated (including a big tub for soaking). The manager remembered my wife's grandparents (even though it has been years since they stayed there) and was extremely helpful when it came to planning a walking tour or picking a restaurant. Everyone we encountered who worked at the Bonaparte spoke from functional to excellent English and were always eager to help. The croissants were a highlight of the wonderful breakfasts enjoyed in the quaint dining room or served to your room by a real French maid (complete with outfit).

If you are looking for a charming, quiet hotel in Paris that is comfortable enough for grandparents yet affordable enough for a young couple, give the Bonaparte a chance to impress you.