by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 29, 2026 | Travel Features
France has always been a dream destination — and right now it’s having a cultural moment. Travellers are craving the kind of experiences France does better than almost anywhere: elegant living, world-class food, centuries of history, and landscapes that feel cinematic because they genuinely are. Provence. The French Riviera. Paris. The Dordogne. Bordeaux. Each one a journey in itself. Together, they make France one of the world’s most layered and rewarding destinations.
Provence — Where History Meets the Senses
In Provence, medieval villages perch on limestone cliffs, Roman aqueducts stand quietly against rolling countryside, and lavender fields stretch to the horizon in high summer. It’s the France of postcards — but experiencing it in person is something else entirely. The markets, the rosé, the light — there’s a reason artists have been coming here for centuries.
Paris — Timeless and Always Evolving
World-class art, fashion, and gastronomy continue to evolve in Paris while remaining rooted in centuries of tradition. A morning at the Louvre, a long lunch in a bistro, an evening at a brasserie with a glass of Burgundy — Paris rewards slow travel. High-speed trains connect it to the rest of France effortlessly, making it the perfect hub for a broader French adventure.
The Riviera and the Wine Regions
Along the French Riviera, pastel façades meet the brilliant blue Mediterranean. In Bordeaux and Burgundy, vineyard-covered slopes produce some of the world’s most celebrated wines. Gateways International specializes in tailor-made France itineraries that weave these regions together in a way that feels personal rather than packaged — boutique hotels, local guides, and the kind of experiences that don’t show up in a group tour brochure.
Getting to France — Routing from Alberta
France is at the center of global travel inspiration right now, and Gateways International has the local expertise and supplier relationships to get you there in style. For Albertans, a France trip typically routes through Air Transat via Montreal or Toronto — and working with Renée means your flights, hotels, transfers, and experiences are all coordinated from one trusted source.
France is calling — will you answer?
Renée Charbonneau is a Certified Travel Agent and proud member of CMTA Travel Services in Grande Prairie, AB. She builds custom France itineraries for Albertans who want more than a package tour.
📩 Contact Renée at CMTA Travel Services
by Belt Drive Betty | Jul 17, 2026 | Travel Tips
Paris is one of those cities where even a single day, done right, leaves you with memories that last years. The key is choosing carefully — you can’t see everything, so pick the experiences that speak to you and savour them properly. Here’s how to spend 24 perfect hours in the City of Light.
Morning: Café, Seine, and Monet
Start at a classic Parisian sidewalk café — Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, both legendary for their literary history and their café crème. Walk to the Seine and cross Pont des Arts with its romantic city views, then spend a contemplative morning at the Musée de l’Orangerie — smaller and more manageable than the Louvre, it houses Monet’s breathtaking Water Lilies murals in two oval rooms designed specifically for them. One of the most quietly moving experiences in all of Paris.
Mid-Morning: Montmartre
Take the metro to Montmartre and climb to Sacré-CÅ“ur Basilica for one of the best panoramic views of Paris — without the crowds of the Eiffel Tower. Then find your way to Clos Montmartre, Paris’s only working vineyard, hidden behind a wrought-iron gate on rue des Saules. The open-air square of Place du Tertre, where local artists display their work, captures the bohemian spirit that made Montmartre famous. Lunch at Le Consulat — classic French onion soup, duck confit, crisp Sancerre.
Afternoon: The Marais and the Seine
The Marais district rewards slow wandering: boutiques, art galleries, beautiful 17th-century mansions, and some of the best falafel in the world on Rue des Rosiers. For something more leisurely, a one-hour Seine River cruise puts Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower in their proper context — seen from the water, Paris makes architectural sense in a way it doesn’t from street level.
Evening: Dinner and a Nightcap
For an authentic Parisian bistro experience, Le Bon Georges is a well-kept secret: hearty French cooking at its finest — steak-frites, mushroom fricassée, classic crème caramel. For a truly unforgettable splurge, Le Cinq at the Hotel George V (three Michelin stars) offers French cuisine at its absolute peak. End the evening at Bar Hemingway inside the Ritz Paris — cozy, old-world, and the perfect place to reflect on the day over a glass of Champagne.
Paris as a Cruise Port
Many Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruises include overnight port calls in Paris — or fly-cruise packages that begin or end here. Regent Seven Seas Cruises pairs particularly well with Paris, given their commitment to ultra-luxury experiences and fully inclusive shore excursions. Talk to Renée about cruise itineraries that make Paris the beginning of something bigger.
