europe

France

Paris, the vineyards and the coasts, planned with someone who knows the rooms

Overview

France is a country of very different holidays sharing one border: a Paris week and a Provence week have almost nothing in common except the language. We plan France for travellers who want a serious food and wine thread, real design in the rooms they stay in, and a routing that avoids the obvious — with the timing, the routing and the rooms decided before you leave, and someone reachable while you are away.

A typical Third Door itinerary here leans on cellar mornings in Burgundy with domaines that do not take public bookings, the Côte d'Azur in May before the Cannes crowd, Provence markets at Saint-Rémy and Uzès. We book direct with the properties we know, hold the details that matter — the room with the view, the table that is hard to get, the driver who knows the road — and keep the plan flexible enough to change once you are in it.

Quick facts

Best months
May to June and September to October
Trip length
8–12 nights, typically Paris plus one region
Feel
Urbane, food-led, unhurried in the countryside
Ideal for
Couples, wine-led travellers, families, pet-first
Pace
Three to four nights per base
Budget
Wide range. Paris and the Riviera in season are premium; Burgundy and the southwest offer far better value.
When to visit

Best times to go

Spring

April – June

Paris at its best, Provence lavender not yet out but the light already good. Ideal for city-and-country pairings.

Summer

July – August

Lavender in bloom through July, the south busy and hot, Paris quieter as the city empties.

Autumn

September – October

Harvest in Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne. Our favourite window for wine-led trips.

Winter

November – March

Alpine skiing from December, Paris in low light and empty museums, most rural properties closed.

Regions

Where to go

Paris

Neighbourhood-first, not monument-first — we plan by arrondissement and by table.

CityArt & CultureFood & Wine

Provence

Markets, hilltop villages and long lunches under plane trees.

CountrysideSlow TravelVillas

Burgundy

The most rewarding wine region in the country if you have someone to open doors.

Food & WineCountryside

Côte d'Azur

Coastal, glamorous and best either side of high summer.

CoastBeachYachts

French Alps

Courchevel and Megève for skiing; superb walking and lake swimming in summer.

SkiMountainsFamily
Where to stay

Hotels, lodges & villas we like

Le Bristol

Paris

The most consistently well-run grand hotel in Paris, and famously welcoming to dogs.

CityPet-Friendly

La Bastide de Gordes

Provence

Cliff-edge in the Luberon with a spa worth the extra day.

CountrysideSpa

Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Antibes

The Riviera institution; the seawater pool is the reason people return.

CoastRomance

Les Sources de Caudalie

Bordeaux

Vineyard-set, with a spa built around the estate's own vines.

Food & WineSpa
Sample itinerary

A possible first trip

Phase 1

Arrive and settle — Paris 2–3 nights

Land, unwind, and get your bearings with a private guide who sets the context rather than reading a script. Neighbourhood-first, not monument-first — we plan by arrondissement and by table.

Phase 2

The heart of the trip — Provence 3–4 nights

Markets, hilltop villages and long lunches under plane trees. This is where most of the trip's character lives, so we give it the most room.

Phase 3

Change of pace — Burgundy 2–4 nights

The most rewarding wine region in the country if you have someone to open doors. A deliberate shift in rhythm before you travel home.

Phase 4

Home, well handled Departure

Private transfers, late checkout where we can arrange it, and a single point of contact from the day you land to the day you leave.

Where to eat

Restaurants worth the table

Clamato

Paris

Seafood, no reservations, worth the wait — the counter is the best seat.

La Merenda

Nice

Nine tables, cash only, the definitive plate of Niçoise cooking.

Ma Cuisine

Beaune

A wine list far beyond what the room suggests. Book weeks out.

FAQ

Common questions

When is the best time to visit France?

May to June and September to October is the window we recommend most often. Paris at its best, Provence lavender not yet out but the light already good. Ideal for city-and-country pairings. We will steer you by what you actually want from the trip rather than by peak season alone.

How long should we spend in France?

8–12 nights, typically Paris plus one region. Shorter is possible and we plan it regularly, but the pace changes: fewer bases, less driving, one region done properly instead of three done quickly.

What does a trip to France cost?

Wide range. Paris and the Riviera in season are premium; Burgundy and the southwest offer far better value. Once we understand your dates, party and the standard of stay you have in mind, we come back with a costed proposal rather than a range.

Do you handle visas, transfers and the practical detail?

Schengen rules apply; ETIAS authorisation from rollout. France is one of the easiest countries in Europe to travel with a dog. We flag entry requirements early, arrange ground transport and private transfers, and keep the day-to-day logistics off your plate.

Can you travel with our dog in France?

Yes. France is one of the destinations where we can plan pet-first properly — pet-friendly properties we have vetted, ground transport instead of cargo where possible, and documentation checked before you book flights.

Plan a trip to France

Tell us your dates, party and the feeling you want. We will come back with a first proposal built around this destination.