France is a popular destination with tourists, especially those from Britain and Ireland, as much for its proximity as its landscapes, cheap wine and historic towns and cities. France, however, covers a large area and there are great differences in climate, scenery, cuisine and culture. So where are the best cities for the holidaymaker to visit in France?

Paris, the French capital and world-renowned city of romance is one of the top tourist destinations in the world and provides a lot, even for a simple weekend visit. There are the sights like the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, there are cruises along the River Seine and the excitement of the Latin Quarter and Monmartre. Paris is a haven of fine dining and engaging walks. Paris is also the easiest of French cities to get to because it is home to the Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).

Grenoble situated in the foothills of the French Alps provides a starting point for summer hikers and winter skiers. Grenoble is always a busy city any time of the year and its long history as the gateway through the mountains is demonstrated with its many notable lists of attractions.

Marseille on the Mediterranean coast has a long history stretching back 3,000 years and its old Panier district contains a rich past where most of the cities attractions can be found. The port area has been much gentrified these days and contains many bars and restaurants. Marseille is an absorbing and dynamic destination with its cathedral, museums and palaces.

Strasbourg is situated in the Alsace region and is home to the European Parliament; with sites like the UNESCO heritage site, the Grand Lle and its many distinctive buildings Strasbourg is becoming an increasingly popular weekend and short break destination. One of the great wine regions, fabulous art collections and an interesting blend of French and German cultures

Cannes, the glamorous film festival location on the Cote d’Azur, playground of the rich and famous and a health spa for over 300 years and elegant port of call during the summer months. Attractions in Cannes include La Croissette, the seashore promenade, Musee de la  Castre, while many go to Cannes for its famous shopping quarter full of top brand names.

Part 2 up next!

Student life can be a lean time, though a fun time. We have compiled a student survival guide to ensure that you get the best of your Uni years

Student life is fun; there is no doubt about that. However not only can it be costly, but there are far less opportunities with the current employment market for a part time job. This means that surviving as a student can be costly.

There are a number of things students can cut down on and be aware of to ensure that they are getting the best value for their money.

Books

The books students that need for course work can be extremely expensive. We’re all  used to the extensive reading lists received during the first term and most of us are familiar with trying to figure how well get the money from them. Don’t worry, try and borrow them from the University library and if that fails try the local library and should that fail purchase them online and not from the expensive University book shop.

Laptops

Buying a laptop can be one of the largest forms of expenditure you spend money on as a student. There are always offers for free laptops at the start of term – avoid these as they usually tie you to a mobile broadband package which can be very expensive. Keep an eye on daily deal websites for computers as they are often cheaper and have special offers. If that fails, use pricebot websites such as Kelkoo to find the cheapest deal on a laptop.

Going Out

University is one of the social honeymoon periods of your life and you should definitely take advantage of it. However, don’t get carried away – budget for nights out and keep an eye out for drink deals. Not drinking to excess is a good way to save and helps you ensure you make good financial decisions when you are out.

Go online and look for tickets for your favourite TV shows for free nights out, or get everyone in your house to register for film rental sites like Lovefilm on separate months and take advantage of the free trials.

Food

When you turn up at university, having been fed by your parents all your life, you realise how expensive food is. Eating out is very expensive – avoid it, as are takeaways, so avoid them also. If you must eat out, use voucher codes for 2for1 meals. Eating in is cheap and is made less expensive if you plan your meals and do an online shop and only purchases what you need for those meals. This is also a healthier option as you can plan to eat what is good for you and prevent putting on the pounds.

Travel

When going home, you should book your tickets online. Train and bus companies usually give huge discounts for trains and buses if you purchase them in advance. This means you can save massively by only paying a fraction of the price for a ticket home. Get a young person’s travel card to save up to one third on rail prices.

Student Discount

Finally, when you are purchasing things in shops, do not be afraid to ask if they do a student discount. This can save you up to 25 per cent and can be the difference between a week of pasta or a week of meat, something we’ve all had to consider during our college life.

Banking

There are lots of student current accounts around and a lot of them offer very good deals, with large interest free overdrafts and discounts available. However be sure to find the current account that is all around best for you and don’t just go with the first one that offers you a free gift, instead of any long term benefits.