| It's getting cold. Really cold. And when the long cold | | | | too! |
| nights start to draw in, thoughts start to turn to warmer | | | | If the idea of walking around Paris in the winter leaves |
| climes...the turquoise sea of the Caribbean, the exotic | | | | you...well...cold, then how about hiring a car from a |
| beauty of Latin America. Holidays in Paris, with its | | | | company like easyCar and exploring areas around the |
| northern European climate, are possibly not top of | | | | city which normally get forgotten in the rush to see the |
| everyone's wish list. But by ignoring the French capital | | | | Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame? A short drive out of |
| during winter, we are ignoring a unique holiday | | | | the city centre will take you to the historical beauty of |
| opportunity. | | | | Versailles or Chartres. Or if oversized rodents and |
| Paris is the city of romance. And what could be more | | | | flying elephants are more your idea of fun, you could |
| romantic than taking a stroll along the Champs Elysees, | | | | always drive to the magical world of Eurodisney - a |
| wrapped up warm against the elements, followed by a | | | | sure fire way of keeping the kids happy whatever the |
| delicious chocolat chaud in a cosy café on the | | | | weather. |
| Boulevard St Germain? Or a day exploring the | | | | There's one other thing. It's nearly Christmas, and not |
| museums and art galleries for which Paris is so | | | | only is Paris a far better location for picking up |
| famous, followed by a romantic meal by candlelight in | | | | presents for your nearest and dearest than a remote |
| front of a roaring fire in the city that invented the | | | | Caribbean beach but let's face it, a trip to Paris will |
| restaurant? | | | | leave you with a lot more spending money as well. |
| Speaking of cultural outings, Paris in winter really | | | | Budget airlines such as bmibaby are always good for |
| doesn't sleep. Operas, plays and special exhibitions that | | | | cheap flights to Europe, but mainstream airlines are |
| tail off in summer for the long French holidays are | | | | also getting in on the act, with companies like British |
| back in full swing during the winter months. How much | | | | Airways offering great deals as well. Top this off by |
| nicer to visit the Louvre knowing that you don't have to | | | | finding a good deal on a hotel with someone like |
| push through sweaty crowds and brave the firewall of | | | | Hotelnet, and even if you spend a small fortune on |
| screaming children and the venom of their exhausted | | | | wining and dining yourself, you're still going to be better |
| parents to get your precious glimpse of the Mona Lisa. | | | | off than those who have travelled to more exotic |
| In fact, out of tourist season, you will be able to lap up | | | | locations - and have so many more interesting stories |
| the culture to your heart's content. And the lack of | | | | to tell. After all, who wants to spend the whole winter |
| tourists means stress free access to the gift shops, | | | | lying on a beach? |