Sawday’s Detours – how to explore France
Alistair Sawday’s forays into France for his guide books inspired many people to take it slow and see the best of France and now that his publishing empire has extended into accommodation collection, their website is a great resource for planning a trip. I love their B&Bs, hotels and self-catering properties because they always feel […]
Paris for families
In November 2019 we went to Paris en famille for a story for The Independent. Story below… For further tips not included in the story, scroll down! Paris for families The child-friendly guide to Paris – not including Disney! Strolling the elegant boulevards, dining in atmospheric brasseries and admiring world-class art in Paris can be […]
New luxury Paris hotels
Paris often has new luxury hotels opening, but those that came on the scene in autumn 2018 were unique – Hotel Fauchon – the first hotel from the French food brand, Hotel Lutetia – a reincarnation of the legendary hotel, and Brach Paris – a jaw-dropping new hotel from the genius (imho) designer Philippe Starck. […]
Luxury Saint Tropez
Saint-Tropez is one of France’s most chic destinations and a host of new hotels and beach clubs means it’s more sophisticated than ever
Where to find the best ‘brocante’
If you love bric-a-brac or antiques, then you can’t go too far in France without finding a ‘brocante’, rammed with all sorts of objets and vintage items. The best place I’ve found, in terms of variety, is Le Perche in Normandy, which is included in this feature for Homes & Antiques magazine, along with Paris, […]
What to do in Paris in the rain
Have you seen the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris? In it, Owen Wilson describes how he loves Paris in the rain, and the film does depict a romantic version of the City of Lights in La Pluie. That said, it can’t half put a dampener on a weekend in Paris – the answer? Head […]
Best places to stay in Languedoc
With its Roman architecture, varied coastline, Pyrenean foothills and vibrant cities, Languedoc is the ‘other’ south of France, but oh so different to Provence. Here are my pick of the 20 best places to stay in the region. 20 best places to stay in Languedoc One of my favourites among them is Village Castigno (pool […]
Best budget hotels in Paris
Best Budget Hotels in Paris for The Independent, March 2018. Paris: so much to see, do eat, shop, admire and ogle, so why bother splurging on an expensive bed for the night when you’re hardly going to be there? But before you go roughing it, remember that Paris demands a certain level of style – […]
Best Paris design hotels
From Philippe Starck to Jacques Garcia, France is home to a number of top designers and a number of Paris hotels showcase their talents. For this piece in The Independent I picked some of my favourites.
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 […]