Montpellier - The new French riviera.

Advantages: Cosmopolitan, student-orientated, public transport
Disadvantages: parking in city centre,

...I have just returned from spending a year in Montpellier as a student and can thoroughly recommend this city for both holidays and as a base for a year abroad. I initially chose Montpellier for its location in the South of France and for the most part, the weather has not let me down this year, with temperatures still around 30 degrees in late September. In term of the city itself, I would say it is ideally suited to the weekend traveller. The airport is conveniently located about 10 minutes South-East of the city centre and there are year-round bargain flights to be purchased from Ryanair. In fact, I would recommend ariving by aeroplane and using the public transport in Montpellier as this is exceptionnal. A tramway runs through the centre and is complimented by an extensive bus network which has proved more than adequate...

David1983 21.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Montpellier (France)

Montpellier - great city

Advantages: Good weather, compact city, picturesque
Disadvantages: same as any large city, expense, parking etc...

...Montpellier is a great city - I spent a year studying there and loved it. It's a picturesque city with a pedestrianised centre. There is an average size shopping centre, a canary wharf equivalent called Antigone, loads of cinemas, and an opera house all in easy reach of the centre. Attractions include lots of side streets with little shops and outside of the town, an olympic size swimming pool. There is bowling nearby and karting near the airport. There are lots of gyms catering to aerobics, martial arts and weightlifting. There are several concert venues. Bands who have played here include the Rolling Stones, Iron Maiden, Bjork and the Cranberries. Sting and The presidents of the USA played in Marseille, an hour or two away. Avoid Peyrou (the park by the arc de triomphe)and the station after dark.(unless you are after drugs...

JamesRichardson 07.12.2000 (06.12.2000) · Read review
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Review of Montpellier (France)

  "Lille De France" - Geddit?

Advantages: Near London by train, cosmopolitan feel, excellent transport connections, eating out, plenty to see
Disadvantages: Dog poo

...I?ve now been to Lille three times in the past year or so, each previous time, merely for the day. Only over the last weekend did we stay overnight. Why Lille? Well, rather like the reason dogs lick their naughty bits, it?s because we can. Lille is the first main stop in France on the Eurostar/TGV route from the Channel Tunnel ? yes, I know you could get a train that stops at Calais (Fréthun), but that?s like getting out at Bristol Parkway and expecting to be in Bristol! Gare Lille-Europe arrives outside your train window 1 hour and 40 minutes after London Waterloo International disappears. Stage 1 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link (CTRL), means that we now get to hurtle through Kent at 186 M.P.H. before slowing to a mere 100 M.P.H. to shrug off the 32 miles of tunnel in a mere 20 minutes. Doing 'a ton' MORE than even the over...

BNibbles 07.12.2004 (09.12.2004) · Read review
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Review of Lille (France)

A peaceful retreat in the heart of Montpellier

Advantages: It is FREE!!!!
Disadvantages: none. But you have to like plants and trees!

...In 1593, Henri IV, very much interested in curing diseases by plants, asked Pierre Richer de Belleval, an anatomy and botanical teacher, to create a Royal Garden inspired by famous Italian "medical garden". The Botanical Garden of Montpellier later became the model for the famous Botanical Garden in Paris built later in 1635. Used only to gather all plants with a medicinal power, the Royal Botanical Garden was an incredible tools for all students in medicine, (the University of Medicine, the oldest in France, is just a stone away) but the Garden quickly became more than that and turned into a powerful tool for all botanical studies, which was unique and never done before in France. In the XVII century, the Garden became a Scientific Garden, housing plants from all over the world. You will have to understand that it was really new...

elliott2424 01.05.2006 · Read review
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Review of Jardin des Plantes, Montpellier

Hossegor, France

Advantages: Beats any British beach holiday hands down
Disadvantages: Strong currents on some days

...My family and I started going to Hossegor, (which is situated in the Bay Of Biscay, SW France), when I was about 5, way back in the mid 80's. Well, up he coast a tiny bit from there actually). We always stay at the same place when we're there. Its a 4star campsite called Le Vieux Port. The campsite has everything that you'd need. Even as young children we always had something to do. The entance consists of a long kind of driveway, along which runs a football pitch, crazy golf and a mini go-kart thing for the kiddies. It all looks very classy, with flags from different countries running down both sides. Then you approach the reception and main bar areas of the site. The campsite has one very very nice bar which is never too crowded, but always is full of atmosphere. There are often live bands playing here (most...

BJEEE 20.12.2000 (21.12.2000) · Read review
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Review of Lille (France)

A real shoppers heaven in the heart of Montpellier

Advantages: 2000 parking spaces 120 shops
Disadvantages: Too overcrowded at weekends

...Le Polygone is a huge 3 storeys shopping centre set in the heart of Montpellier, next to La Place de La Comedie (see my previous review for the Place). It hosts more than 120 shops but the biggest of them all is without a doubt the giant and famous Galerie Lafayette where you will find all your favourites designer outfits The Galerie Lafayette are actually located at the end of the shopping centre and spread over its 3 storey.) The list of shops is endless and ever changing so I apologise if I am not listing all of them. But you will find everything from furniture (Habitat) to DVD's and books (Fnac). And, as you would expect from a huge shopping centre, you will find numerous clothing shops for men and women, shoe shops, bakeries and cafes, restaurants? The place is very lively and clean (check those sparkling toilet) and boots...

elliott2424 30.04.2006 · Read review
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Review of Le Polygone, Montpellier

Lyon- France's alternative city break.

Advantages: Wonderful city
Disadvantages: Pollution

...Introduction As some of you may or may not know, as part of my degree, I study an element of French language in preparation for the third year I will spend in France next year. My likely destination is Lyon and as such I decided it would be worth taking a trip to Lyon to explore what the city had to offer and get my bearings a little before I actually attended the university next year. Lyon is situated in the Rhone- Alpes region of France, which lies in the east close to the Swiss border. It is surrounded, unsurprisingly, by the Alps and is not very far away in fact from Europe's biggest mountain, Mont Blanc. It is in fact France's second biggest city residing close to St. Etienne and Geneva (in Switzerland). So I and my fiancée (who will also join me in Lyon next year) took a visit to the place. How to get there...

ashtonluke 06.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Lyon (France)

AGAY Experience in France

Advantages: An unspoilt backwater in a sea of development
Disadvantages: Could be too quiet for some

...Calm down, there's no need to panic girls - it's not what you think. I haven't forsaken the lovely Mrs P. for the adventures of pastures new. Although there have been times whe..... You just weren't reading the title properly, were you? Have another look. AGAY - A small beach resort in the South of France between St. Raphael and Cannes. Phew! That's a relief! Let's start with a little bit of advice: If you would like to search on the web for some pictures of this picturesque little town, be prepared for some explicit images of a non-family nature. How can I put it? If you're not interested in seeing large, hairy, naked men in various poses, don't do it! If, on the other hand, you are - then feel free. Anyway.... After our hectic culture overload in Arles, it was off to the beach for a couple of days R&R (that's rest...

proxam 24.08.2003 (30.03.2004) · Read review
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Review of Agay (France)

Easiest way to get to France - Seafrance Ferries

Advantages: Cheap, the ferry was really nice inside, beautiful scenery
Disadvantages: Expensive food and gift shop

...I've been on Sea France ferries a few times now, and, lucky for me, its service is always consistent. Last weekend, me and my partner decided to go on an impulsive day trip to France, so late Saturday night, we booked returned ferry tickets to Calais from Dover. Booking the tickets was, in itself, a little bit of a nightmare if you take into account how many different companies are trying to sell you tickets for the same ferry, some more expensive than others, and often you have to fill out a form and then it'll tell you how much, so it can be time consuming if you're wanting to shop around. After looking at a few different sites, we found one (I can't remember what it was) that had foot passenger tickets as £6 each, which was cheaper even than the Sea France website. The next morning, we had a two hour drive from our town to Dover...

Stephoohla 19.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of SeaFrance Ferries

J'aime l'Air France

Advantages: Customer service
Disadvantages: Almost none

...Air France is the biggest and best-known French airline in the world. Owning many different aircraft including the Concorde, they offer a multitude of destinations from their main Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) base, as well as other airports in France. The British airports served by this airline are Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London (City, Gatwick, Heathrow), Manchester, Newcastle and Southampton. My main experiences of Air France have been on the Paris-Montpellier Méditerranée route, flight AF7682, which I will look at in detail now. With three or sometimes four flights daily to the southern coastal city of Montpellier, once on board you are glad you are not on the TGV. I find the journeys smooth and relaxing, due to some expert flying from the cockpit crew. Comfort ****** Although I have only travelled in...

magicloudz 08.04.2003 · Read review
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Review of Air France - AFR