Brittany’s beautiful Emerald Coast
Desert Island Discs, Robinson Crusoe, Castaway, they all have a lot to answer for when it comes to finding the perfect beach; the ideal is that there should be nobody there, and you can stroll along on the soft white/yellow sand enjoying the turquoise sea all by yourself. There are plenty such beaches in France, […]
A weekend in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Many of the locals I met in the French Basque country said you were either a lover of Biarritz or Saint-Jean-de-Luz, and while I can see what they mean (the former is loved by chic fashionistas, surfers and spa-goers, the latter is certainly more ‘Basque’ in character) I really love both – perhaps it’s because […]
Why Biarritz’s street market is a bargain-hunter’s heaven
Metro, March 12, 2018. The twice-yearly Braderie market in Biarritz sees the streets come alive with bargain market stalls, jazz bands and cut-price clobber. Even without the Braderie, it’s a great place to shop. My feature for Metro: read here Metro, 12 March 2018, p. 39
The best French hotels for foodies
Being a bit of a foodie, I already knew some of the best hotels in France for a gourmet experience but during the course of researching and writing Lonely Planet’s France From the Source I stayed in some excellent hotels that offer a superb gastronomic experience for a variety of budgets. It was great, therefore, to pull […]
The best French destinations for interiors shopping
So much of France remains undiscovered by the British and so when Homes & Gardens wanted a feature on the best ‘hidden’ destinations for their annual French special I was delighted to reveal some of my favourite places, each with a different USP. Knowing their audience love interiors, I chose destinations that are great for […]