[pinit] We’ve all experienced them... those rainy days which threaten to put a damper on our holidays. While a mountainous region such as Chamonix in France may not be at its best on a rainy day, don’t despair! This fantastic resort town has so much to offer that, by the end of your rainy day you’ll be glad to have had the chance to discover Chamonix Centre’s other side. Book your accommodation in Chamonix Centre with us and fill your rainy day with a vast array of fun, education and totally sensational activities. Indoor Sport Centers Chamonix and its surrounding areas are brimming with indoor sport centres, so if you still want a good workout there’ll be no stopping you! Just a short 10 min taxi ride away, in Les Houches, you’ll find one of France’s largest indoor climbing walls, with enough climbing surfaces and routes to keep everyone entertained for hours. Opening times are extended on rainy days, and there are plenty of kids’ courses available; so keep the little ones entertained while you tackle those grade 9 overhangs! You can hire all the equipment you’ll need, and the Mont Blanc Escalade also offers a refreshment area and showering facilities. ...

[pinit] When on holiday in Paris, choose to stay in Le Marais, the most historic and culturally enhanced area of the French capital. Opulent buildings, magnificent museums and unique stores and café are just the tip of the iceberg in this most fashionable nook of Paris. Le Marais enjoyed quite noble beginnings, being the district of choice for the French élite, yet suffered one of France’s most ironic transitions, when it became home to the new country’s struggling artists, philosophers and literati. Nowadays this translates to a district adorned with extravagant old buildings yet inhabited by local and foreign bohemian and alternative types, representing the true essence of modern day France. Book your holiday rental apartment in Le Marais and let us take you through its street in a walking tour you’ll never forget. To get the most out of your Le Marais tour, start your day in one of the most iconic Paris landmarks: the Place de la Bastille, site of the 1789 revolution which saw heads roll and a new French era begin. Granted, there’s not much left of the old Bastille (only an enormous monument erected in honour of the French Revolutions), but the area still boasts an ...

[pinit] It’s quite amazing to think that Cannes, the trendiest of French Riviera holiday destinations, started as a humble fishing village over 2000 years ago. How times have changed! Renowned mostly for its yearly International Film Festival, and home to more designer boutique and eateries than one could swipe a platinum Amex at, Cannes is synonymous with elegance, old-school splendour and bling. Lots of bling! But may people not forget that, at the end of the day, Cannes is still a tranquil seaside village full of cultural splendour and innumerable rustic attractions. Book your holiday rental apartment in Cannes on the Côte d’Azur and check out the following specialty shops offering only the very best of local produce. Marché Forville, Cannes The Forville fresh produce markets are an absolute feast for all the sense. Nearby patisseries do a fine job of enhancing the aromas which emanate from the stalls of organic and fresh fruits, veggies, seafood, meats and an innumerable array of home made cheeses, tapenades and more delicious treats that you can fill a baguette with. The ideal market to visit if you book self-catering accommodation in Cannes, this area is brimming with epicurean delights on every corner, so bring ...

It is often said that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but we beg to differ. We say shoes are a girl’s best friend darling sweetie. Paris, the most chic of European capitals, is considered by all self-respecting shoe worshippers as the absolute mecca, and a visit here a dream to fulfil at least once in a lifetime, if not once a year. Indeed, a shoe shopping spree in Paris is considered by some to be a religious experience like no other. The French capital is renowned for being the cradle of style, elegance and effortless beauty. Paris is not only home to some of the most famous shoe-brands in the world, but it also attracts the most talented up-and-coming artists and designers, meaning you will find that ‘one of a kind’ pair of heels no matter how much (or little) you spend. When planning your trip to Paris, we suggest you concentrate on THE shopping district of St. German-des-Prés. Stylish, gorgeous and very Parisienne, St. Germain is not only one of the most elegant parts of Paris, but it is also a bubbly and vibrant university quarter. Long established boutiques sit alongside trendy new bars; perfectly coiffed middle-aged madams rub ...

No Paris holiday is ever complete without a hard-core shopping spree! Be it for food, perfumes, knick-knacks, designer clothes or art, there’s no better city in the world to spend your heard-earned holiday dollars. Should you be looking for holiday rental apartment in Paris, then keep in mind that the area around the Paris opera house, the Palais Garnier, is your best bet if you want to really absorb the true essence of Parisian life. Dine, shop and feel your way through Paris, just by stepping out of your front door! To help you on your merry Paris shopping way, we’ve compiled a walking tour which will guide you to the most popular shopping havens in the area. Start your day out front of the Opera Metro station and discover the unadulterated bliss that retail therapy can bestow on even the most discerning tourists. Fragonard Perfume Museum Located merely meters from the colossal Palais Garnier, this unusual museum is a true treat for your senses. The lovely collections shown in the Fragonard Perfume museum showcase almost three thousand years of perfume history! Testers and gift-boxes are also available to purchase, making this one of the most enjoyable educational outings in Paris! Printemps de la ...

It is often said that the best laid plans are always the most challenging. Sometimes, it is the smallest detail which threatens to ruin a project you’ve been planning for years! While the idea of building an extravagant opera house in the centre of Paris seemed simple enough at the time, it almost failed before it even began. Napoleon III, who turned out to be the last head monarch of France, was renowned for his opulent tastes, and had dreamed of the 2,200-seat architectural feat for years. In 1862, after clearing nearly three acres of land, on the site where the Opera House would be built, an underwater lake was discovered. It turned out that, with all the planning and organizing, no-one had bothered to really check the ground...and the next 12 months were spent implementing projects and measures to dry up the swampy land. In order to assure the future structure would be left undamaged for centuries to come, architect Charles Garnier devised a double foundation system. Between the first and second layer lies an enormous hidden cave; curiously though, this underground dungeon-like space (certainly big enough for anyone to live in) is what inspired Gaston Leroux to write ...

Montmartre would have to be one of the most iconic areas of Paris. The Sacre Coeur Basilica, which sits right on top of the hill, gifts some of the most magical views of the French capital. The narrow cobblestone streets are lined with artists and museums, and, if that’s not enough, this arrondissement is chock full of hip and happening watering holes, making bar hopping in Montmartre an effortless and enjoyable experience. While the area’s popularity may have resulted in some overly-priced tourist traps, we’ve compiled a list of our most adored drinking hot-spots. So book an apartment in Montmartre, take the worry out of your planning, and head to one of these bars for a drinking experience with a difference. Café la Fourmi, 74 rue des Martyrs This trendy little gem is one of those places that’s hard to find, but impossible to forget. The unassuming front entrance, on Rue de Martyrs, is a dead giveaway that this is not your usual tourist trap. Furnished with eccentric wood paneling, Café la Fourmi is the favored watering hole of local painters, musicians and artists in general. It’s a hip and chilled out joint, just perfect for an after-show drink (or two). Sancerre, 35 Rue des ...

Renowned for its ‘authentic’ and eclectic ambiance, the trendy Parisian area of Le Marais is the meeting point of the city’s most talented artists and ardent philosophers. But this is not exactly a recent phenomenon...Le Marais was once a mecca for some of the most rebellious intellectuals of the 18th century. Indeed, this area is considered the birthplace of the Enlightenment period and quite possibly the very inception of the French Revolution. What is perhaps a little puzzling, is realizing that Le Marais was also the residential area for the city’s aristocracy. In fact, what makes walking the streets in this area so enjoyable, is the fact that it is so intensely packed with some of the most grandiose buildings in the whole of France. Castles and mansions, once belonging to the French elite, are now some of the most visited museums and hotels in the whole country. Curiously enough, it is this very opulence which instigated, and angered, the great philosophers at the time: Voltaire, Rousseau and Montesquieu among many others. Perhaps it was the very proximity of the obvious social inequality which provided infinite fuel for their quarreling ways. Les Philosophes loved to congregate in local cafés and debate for days ...

Paris' 10th Arrondissement, the gorgeous Canal St Martin, is one of those little hidden gems many locals wish no-one else would discover. Too late! Home to rustic cafés, bohemian boutiques and trendy bars and restaurants, Canal St Martin is rising in popularity, especially with visitors who wish for a Parisienne experience minus the sometimes overzealous tourist crowds. Book an apartment in Paris in Canal St Martin, and discover its alluring charms. Located north-east of the city center, the canal feeds into the Seine, and provides for innumerable riverside activities. Lined by cobblestone pathways (perfect for an early morning stroll) the canal reaches all the way south to the Place de Bastille. The main avenues of interest here are Rue Bichat, Rue Beaurepaire and Quais de Valmy and Jemmapes. Cruise it... While taking a riverboat cruise down the Seine is regarded as THE experience not to be missed when visiting Paris, we dare say that a cruise down Canal St Martin provides for a distinctively interesting view of the city. Totally un-crowded and set at a much slower pace, a bateaux mouche ride to Canal St Martin can be very pleasant indeed. Not having to allocate your attention to dozens of landmarks can ...

Le Marais used to be the home of Parisian aristocracy, and is today still regarded as the most up-market neighborhood in the French Capital. The chic area is home to many outstanding buildings of both architectural and historical importance. It is little wonder then that the best museums in Paris can be found whilst wondering through Le Marais narrow cobblestoned streets - and also some of the best Paris apartments on our books! Le Marais is spread over the Right Bank of the River Seine and takes up most of the third and fourth arrondissements. To help you discover the very best museums around, we’ve compiled this handy list of the three best museums in the area: take in an overdose of Picasso, peruse an impressive collection of opulent 18th century paraphernalia and learn all about the history of Paris through an extensive collection of artwork. Musée Picasso, Hôtel Salé in rue de Thorigny, Paris As the name suggests, the Picasso Museum showcases works by the famous Spanish artiste Pablo Picasso. The Hotel it is housed in is over 350 years old and is considered to be one of the most notable buildings in Marais. It was first renovated in 1976, and a ...