Barging around France
I'm interested in booking a canal holiday for a group of 10 friends this June. Ideally we'd like to go to France. We want to hire a comfortable, spacious cruiser but the choice in high-street travel agents seems fairly limited. Any suggestions?
L. Peart, by email
Renting a boat is a popular and relaxing way to see France. Anyone over 18 can pilot a riverboat without a licence - staff at the rental company will instruct you how to operate the boat and inform you of the relevant laws. From June to September, the minimum hire period is usually a week. Boats generally accommodate four to 12 people and you should book well in advance. Contact the Fédération des Industries Nautiques (Port de Javel, 75015 Paris; 00 33 1 44 37 04 00) for a list of rental companies. Brittany is a popular region, with 600km of navigable waterways. Local company Bretagne Croisières (00 33 2 99 71 08 05) rents out canal barges for six to 12 passengers. One week's rental in June costs £1,263.
Paris in spring
My wife and I are spending a long weekend in Paris. Are there any websites where I can find out what's happening in the city during April? Also, can you recommend some good eating places that aren't too expensive?
Adrian Emmitt, by email
There's so much to do and see in Paris that your main problem is going to be narrowing down your choices. Luckily, there's a glut of information so you can plan your weekend and maximise your time. The Paris tourist office has a fantastic website with a comprehensive events section. Another valuable resource is www.whatsonwhen.com which outlines everything that's going on in cosmopolitan cities around the world.
As far as eating is concerned, you're certainly heading for the right city. Parisians hold their national cuisine in high regard and rightly so. The freshness of ingredients, natural flavours, complex techniques and regional variety all combine to make mealtimes an engaging and exciting experience. Restaurants usually specialise in a particular kind of cuisine so it's difficult to make specific recommendations. Try Lonely Planet's Out to Eat: Paris guide (£7.99) for reviews of more than 500 handpicked places to eat and drink.
Being a pilgrim
I'm planning to accompany a pilgrim walking with a hinny (the offspring of a female donkey and a stallion) for one section of his pilgrimage from Le Puy en Velay to Santiago de Compostela - also known as 'Operation Henry', Henry being the hinny's name. How do I get from Paris to Aumont-Aubrac and from Rodez back to Paris?
Terry Newman, by email
As with most journeys in France, getting around by train is fast, efficient and cheap. Depending on when you want to go, the trip from Paris to Aumont-Aubrac in the Massif Central can be done by direct train, or by a train-coach combination. Both take around six hours and cost from €50 (£31).
Once you've strolled or trotted the 50-odd miles between Aumont-Aubrac and Rodez on your hinny, it's a slightly longer train ride back to Paris, changing at Brive (fares are roughly the same). You can book from the UK by calling Rail Europe (08705 848848); fares and timetables are available from SNCF.
There are quite a few good resources for pilgrims intending to travel the Camino de Santiago. The Confraternity of St James (020 7928 9988) produces guides about the Camino and has links to many interesting accounts by former pilgrims.
Home stays
I'm a mature student of French and visit Paris often in an effort to achieve fluency. I've made several efforts to find suitable accommodation - reasonably priced and with the opportunity of speaking French. Any ideas?
Mary Donohoe, Dublin
You might like to consider a home stay. Known as hôtes payants in France (literally 'paying guests'), this scheme enables students and tourists to lodge with French families. In general, you rent a room and have access to amenities in the kitchen and bathroom. The minimum age is 18 but there's no upper limit. The best way to arrange a home stay is through an agency. You should contact them at least three months in advance if possible. Recommended agencies include Accueil Familial des Jeunes Etrangers (23 rue de Cherche Midi; 00 33 1 42 22 50 34) and France Lodge (41 rue Lafayette; 00 33 1 53 20 09 09). Prices range from €458 (£282) to €534 (£329) per month. For shorter stays, nightly rates can be arranged.
Paying up in Polynesia
Following the advent of the euro, what is the national currency of French Polynesia and what's the best currency to take? In the Lonely Planet Tahiti and French Polynesia guide it says that these countries won't be moving to the euro. However, it seems from currency converter websites that euros are now in use there.
Owen Davies, by email
French Polynesia, New Caledonia and the Wallis and Futuna Islands are all continuing to use the French Pacific franc, with the currency now tied to the value of the euro as it was to the franc before the changeover. The best currency to take with you is US dollars, though you should be able to change euros in most places. It's more straightforward to change your money in Papeete or on Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora and you'll also find cashpoint machines on these islands. On remoter islands, it's possible to get a cash advance at a bank with your credit card and passport if your funds run low. Credit cards can normally be used in dive centres, at top and mid-range hotels, souvenir and jewellery shops, supermarkets and airline offices (Visa or Mastercard is best). Tahiti Tourism (020 7771 7023) can help with planning trips to the islands.
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