Destinations
Grand Balcon Nord Hike: Plan de l’Aiguille to Montenvers Guide
The Grand Balcon Nord hike is one of the most popular hiking trails in Chamonix, taking you along the mountainside beneath the towering peaks of the Mont Blanc…
France Travel Guides
Lavender fields, alpine lakes, and long lunches in the countryside
France is one of the countries I keep returning to — I’ve lived in Provence, explored Burgundy’s wine villages by bike, hiked around Chamonix, and spent long stretches in Paris and along the Riviera. These guides share the local restaurants, scenic drives, and lesser-known towns that made each region feel like home.
Destinations
Grand Balcon Sud Hike: Flégère to Planpraz & Brévent Guide
The Grand Balcon Sud hike is one of the best ways to experience the incredible mountain scenery around Chamonix without…
Destinations
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Travel Guide: Best Things to Do & Is It Worth Visiting?
Saint-Gervais-les-Bains ended up being one of the French Alps towns I visited most often during my month exploring the region.…
Destinations
Mont Joly Hike from Le Bettex: Complete Trail Guide Near Saint-Gervais
The Mont Joly hike ended up being one of my favorite hikes during my month exploring the French Alps, but…
Destinations
Best Spa in Chamonix: QC Terme vs Saint-Gervais Thermal Baths
If you’re looking for the best spa in Chamonix, there are two places I’d seriously consider: QC Terme Chamonix and the thermal…
Destinations
QC Terme Chamonix Review: Is It Worth Visiting?
QC Terme Chamonix was one of the experiences I was most excited about on my first trip to Chamonix in…
Destinations
Best Things to Do in Samoëns, France: Summer & Autumn Guide
Samoëns was one of the smaller towns I was most curious to explore during my month in the French Alps,…
Destinations
Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval Hike: Pas du Boret & Bout du Monde Guide
The Cirque du Fer-à-Cheval hike was high on my list during my month in the French Alps, but I honestly…
Destinations
Chamonix vs. Grindelwald: Which Alpine Town Is Better?
If you’re trying to decide between Chamonix in the French Alps and Grindelwald in the Swiss Alps, you’re choosing between…
More about France
Provence
The largest set of French guides here covers Provence, where the appeal is the villages rather than any one city — and the timing matters more than most destinations because of the lavender.
- The Provence guide — first-time logistics and how to move around the region.
- The best villages, and Roussillon in depth.
- When to visit — lavender season, weather and crowds.
- Things to do and guided day trips and wine tastings.
Burgundy and the Alps
Two more regions with their own guides, both easier by car than by train.
- Burgundy — plus Dijon, Beaune, Châteauneuf and Arnay-le-Duc.
- Chamonix and Annecy in the French Alps.
- Paris, for the trip that starts and ends there.
Planning the trip
The France guide covers the practical layer — getting between regions, when to go, and what a realistic route looks like.