France

May and September are the sweet spot — full daylight, blooming or harvest countryside, half the August crowds (when much of France itself goes on vacation and small-town shops close). Winter is underrated for Paris museum-going without the lines.

• Fête de la MusiqueJune 21

  Free live music takes over every street corner nationwide — plan a Paris or Lyon stay around it.

• Cannes Film FestivalMid-May

  Worth avoiding unless you're part of it — the Riviera coast is overrun and overpriced that week.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, even small cafés; carry some cash for markets and rural areas. Tipping isn't expected — service is included by law, though rounding up is polite.

No special vaccinations required. Emergency number: 112. Pharmacies (green cross signs) are a reliable, well-trained first stop for minor ailments.

eSIMs work well nationwide, including rural regions. Orange and SFR are the major carriers for a physical SIM.

Layers year-round, especially in Paris where weather shifts fast. A real umbrella beats a poncho — the French dress for rain, not around it.

The TGV high-speed network is the backbone of a French trip — Paris–Lyon is under 2 hours, Paris–Nice under 6. Book 2–3 months ahead for the best fares.

Worth it for Provence, the Loire Valley, or Normandy's countryside; unnecessary and stressful in Paris itself. Tolls are common on the autoroute.

Always open with 'Bonjour' before asking anything, even a shopkeeper for directions — skipping it reads as rude, not efficient. Meals are unhurried; flagging a waiter down repeatedly is a foreigner tell.

• Bonjour (hello)
• S'il vous plaît (please)
• L'addition, s'il vous plaît (the check, please)
• Merci beaucoup (thank you very much)