Archive for 'December in France'

Whenever someone asks me when the best time to visit Paris is, I always answer, “Christmas,” without a second of hesitation. Of course, a vacation rental in Paris and time spent exploring the city is always enjoyable, no matter when you happen to choose to visit, but if you want to experience Paris at its most magical then December really is the ideal time to plan a trip.

As the year ticks on and temperatures drop, tourist crowds begin to thin out somewhat so that queues for the city’s most famous tourist attractions are at their shortest and much more doable, making it the ideal time to strike a few big-hitters off your bucket list. December is, in my opinion, the best time to visit the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, for example, as you will readily get in without waiting in line for hours and then can easily spend a whole day wandering around, keeping in out of the cold before emerging to finish the day off with a warm meal and a nice drink. It is also the ideal time to visit Paris if you’ve always wanted to head up the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe as, if you’re lucky, you’ll have the top practically to yourself, making it even more romantic and picturesque. Take in those views with a loved one and it will seem like you’re the only people in the world. Plus, in addition to these beloved favourites, certain less well-known attractions are at their most appealing at this time of the year as well. For example, the Rodin Museum’s Sculpture Garden is especially striking in winter with his undulating figures starkly set against a backdrop of bare trees.

We have previously noted how incredibly beautiful and special the town of Colmar is: a border city in France that is sandwiched physically and culturally between France, Germany, and Switzerland. The capital of the Alsacian wine region, it is surrounded by vineyards and lush rural landscapes, and it is famously pretty, with cobbled streets, colourful half-timbered houses, and the beloved “Little Venice” district of the town. Little Venice is exactly what it says on the tin, a little version of Venice that is made up if pretty little houses in different shades that once reflected the occupations and trades of their inhabitants, clustered along a canal that cuts through the town. So, you can imagine just how cute the town is on a daily basis. Now give that a Christmas makeover and add a few Christmas markets and just picture it. Sounds pretty magical, right? Well, on top of that there are plenty of other reasons why you should pick Colmar for a winter getaway in France. Looking to get away this Holiday Season, well, here are five great reasons to find a vacation rental in Colmar this year.

Those who have always wanted to go on a skiing holiday or who have gone plenty of times in the past but might be looking for the perfect French skiing resort to make their next holiday destination, should probably consider a winter break getaway in Méribel. Located within France’s huge Trois Vallées ski area, with the resorts of Courchevel and La Tania to the east and Val Thorens to the west, it is part of one of the largest linked ski areas in the entire globe with more than 600km of pistes to go out and tackle. Founded by British skier Peter Lindsay in 1938, the resort is made up of three different neighbouring villages in the Les Allues commune of the Savoie département of France. Pretty, well-equipped, and with excellent slopes, it is one of the best ski destinations that you could choose for a skiing holiday. Just find a vacation rental in Méribel and come enjoy a winter break in this truly incredible place.

Set within the lovely Vanoise National Park and framed by perfectly powdery soft snowy peaks, lovely pine tree woods, and the pretty, chalet-style villages of Méribel Centre, Méribel-Mottaret and Méribel Village, the resort of Méribel is a picture-perfect skiing destination.

This week, I have been discussing the magic of Christmas in Paris and getting a little bit more personal on this blog. Paris is a city that I adore and, in all my visits to the city, I have come to love it most at Christmas. I have only been twice during the festive season but memories of both trips make me want to book a vacation rental in Paris and visit every December to enjoy the particular charms of the city in the run up to the holiday season.

In the last two posts, I recounted the most traditionally romantic experience one could have of the city but in this one I want to talk about my favourite trip to Paris over Christmas.