Îles du Salut, French Guiana

Advantages: It's beauty
Disadvantages: The pollution

...of the Beaujolais hills, and only a few hours away from the Massif Central, the volcanic region West of Lyon in the center of France. You're only two hours away from Paris by train and an hour and a half from Marseille. If you don't want to go too far away from the city, you can venture up into the Monts du Lyonnais, picturesque hills right outside of Lyon (on the West side). The City from West to East A city that is over two thousand years old previously named Lugdunum by the Romans that first established the city on the Fourvière hills were you can find Roman ruins (the amphi-theatre). Two rivers cross the city: the Rhône and the Saône. The city is the location of their meeting point. As I mentioned already, the Romans established their community on the Fourvière hill (West). You can find the Vieux Lyon neighborhood right at the foot of the hill... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Great shopping, beautiful old town and harbour area
Disadvantages: Harbourside restaurants to be avoided

...This lovely old town and harbour is spoilt by a few bad restaurants lining the quayside. If you avoid these and head away from the obvious tourist traps selling Moules and chips then there are some great places to eat. The shopping is wonderful - from top designer names to chain stores - they are all here and its much easier to get around than Paris. The summer sales offer great bargains as the prices are cheaper than UK. At the height of the season, the street entertainers and evening markets are fun. A trip to St Martin on Ile de Re is worth doing - a great place to sit in a cafe and watch the French jetset on holiday but the toll bridge to the island is expensive.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: beautiful city, lots to do
Disadvantages: expensive, ignorant French people

...won. I boarded at London’s Waterloo, after navigating ‘the tube’ and travelled to ‘Paris Gare du Nord’. I must say I found the train station a little daunting, it was so big and open. We nearly got a little lost but thankfully the other half is a better navigator. Once outside the station I was hit by the streets, so crammed. We got into a taxi and I used my knowledge of the French language, although a little rusty, to ask the driver to take us to the hotel. After putting my life in the hands of what I can best describe ‘a mad French man’ I arrived at the hotel, a little shaky and swearing never to go in a car again, in my life. Not that the French are bad drivers, far from it, it’s just the streets of Paris are so busy that it pays to be a little erratic. Patients is not a virtue... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful