France is packed with great food, history and beaches so we're giving you just a couple of tips, and the rest can be found in Lonely Planet's recently revised France guidebook.
On the Atlantic coast, the pretty town of La Rochelle is only three hours from Paris by train. It's steeped in maritime history and a great place to sample fruits de mer (seafood). Just offshore you'll find Ile de Re with its sun-drenched beaches, languid atmosphere and a crisscrossed network of paths ideal for cycling.
The French Riviera has more than its fair share of top beaches, Roman ruins, world-class art and fine museums. The stars may hang out at Nice, Cannes, St-Tropez and Monaco but you can enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful coastline without breaking the bank. The bijou seaside resort town of Bandol has long been a favourite of French holiday-home owners and is a good base for exploring the region. It's also surrounded by 1500ha of vineyards. Sante!
Explore best of Europe
There are a number of places in Europe I'd like to visit with my partner who has never been to Europe before, from the usual suspects (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Barcelona) to the more interesting destinations (or at least ones which are new for me: parts of Greece, Morocco, Turkey).
Would you recommend buying a round-the-world fare rather than a simple return ticket? What would be the best way of travelling between the various locations?
We are thinking of a trip of one to two months and will probably want to be flexible enough with the itinerary to allow us to be spontaneous in our decision-making.
- Sarah Young
A round-the-world ticket is best for travellers who want to visit multiple destinations around the globe.
It sounds like what you need is a good-value return ticket to Europe, combined with land and air transport once you get there.
Most airlines servicing New Zealand will allow you to fly into London and out of a continental hub, thus avoiding backtracking and the hefty British departure tax. Lonely Planet's Western Europe and Europe on a Shoestring guidebooks feature all the places you want to go (although Western Europe excludes Turkey), including some you might not have thought of and everything in between. They also explain transport options in detail.
Getting around Europe by air is popular thanks to the proliferation of discount carriers, so it's possible to put together a practical itinerary that bounces between all the places you want to see. Book well in advance for the best deals and be aware that with cheap fares come many caveats, such as non-existent legroom, invisible customer service and obscure airports miles from anywhere.
The major airline alliances offer European air passes, which are flexible, user-friendly and more cost-effective the more flights you take. If this feels a bit too complicated, consider booking through a travel agent such as the Flight Centre or STA.
The European rail network is a wonderful way to explore a lot of the continent and, where the tracks run out, you'll probably find an intercity bus service.
When it comes to Greece and Turkey, some ferry travel might be in order - there's an armada of options throughout the Aegean Sea.
