The Var side: the quieter corner of the French Riviera

Ultra-cheap flights could be banned in Europe if a forthcoming proposal is approved by the EU: Officials in France want to set a price minimum on airfares across Europe to help reduce carbon emissions.

Overlooking the English Channel is a small resort town bedecked with freestone facades and half-timbered houses. English is heard everywhere, from the Art Deco Westminster hotel to the lighthouse, which, on the occasion of the late Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, was lit up with Her Majesty's favourite colours. The bells of city hall chime in an echo of Big Ben, and it was just announced that the town's airport will soon be rechristened after Queen Elizabeth II.

The French government announced that it hopes to bring in a minimum price for airline tickets to eliminate the possibility of low-cost flights. The French transport minister, Clément Beaune, said in an interview with business magazine Obs that it was no longer feasible in a time of environmental crisis to buy tickets that cost just $10.

Thousands of fans traveling to France this month for the Rugby World Cup may be waylaid by plans for several strikes during the tournament, which starts this weekend.

Monaco’s high season is bookended by two of the French Riviera’s ritziest events: the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht Show. Super yachts and fast cars are two of the principality’s defining features, but there’s much more to Monaco than you’d expect from the world’s second-smallest state, which is about the same size as Central Park.

If you prefer ski holidays to beach breaks, get ready to hop aboard the Eurostar Snow train.

The Dutch government will move ahead with plans to cap the number of flights at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport next year to reduce noise, it said on Friday, a decision that is fiercely opposed by flag carrier KLM and airline industry groups.

The Eurostar train is launching a new weekly service this winter, making it easier to get to the French Alps in time for ski season.

For most French people, Provence conjures up the sound of the cicadas, the lovely accent of the inhabitants of the region, sunny weather, and olives. To most outsiders, Provence is all about lavender fields. No matter where you’re from and what you think Provence is like, you won’t be disappointed because it’s all the above. The historical region of Provence is an area of simple beauty and unhurried, uncomplicated pleasures, all of which are best enjoyed in the late spring and summer.

Although it is only the ninth biggest city in France, Bordeaux is certainly one that should be at the very top of your French to-do list. Not only is it the heart of the famed wine-growing region, the entire city is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, and it has more protected historic buildings than any other city in France except Paris (there are 347 listed buildings in Bordeaux). To see the city, its glorious architecture, and its excellent cultural offerings properly, you need to stay in the city center in one (or several) of the best hotels in Bordeaux, France, for every budget.

Mont-Saint-Michel, France’s most famous and mysterious island, is one of the country’s most visited sites with 3 million tourists coming every year to marvel at the islet and its 1000-year-old abbey. While the island isn’t large and can be visited in just one day, it’s busy, making the narrow cobblestone streets, the numerous steep stairs, and every corner of the abbey, difficult to navigate. To make the most out of a visit to the area, visitors should stay in a Mont-Saint-Michel hotel for a couple of days, walk the trails around the bay, take a guided tour of the bay itself, and come to the island very early or very late to see it at its best: tranquil and free of crowds. But there’s one rule of thumb about hotels near Mont-Saint-Michel: Closer does not mean better. Staying a few miles away may prevent you from waking up to a view of the islet, but you’ll get much more bang for your buck.

Renowned across the globe for its stunning architecture and vibrant nightlife, New Orleans serves as one of the most unique travel destinations in all of the Lower 48—and as an added bonus, this storied city offers one of the most dazzling dining scenes in all of the Americas. Muffulettas, pralines, and po' boys are just a few of the iconic dishes with strong ties to The Big Easy, and for those wishing to explore the magic of New Orleans in culinary form, there’s a wealth of both iconic and under-the-radar venues to explore.