Flying to France

Western and Southern France have long been popular holiday destinations for UK visitors, not least because with just a short flight we can find ourselves in some of the most beautiful countryside in the world. This region of France offers a wonderful break at any time of year and is ideal for anything from a long weekend to a much longer exploration.

With the arrival of budget airlines and increased competition, flying to France is considerably cheaper than it used to be and, if you shop around, you can find some excellent deals. Popular airports in the region include beautiful Biarritz, situated on the Bay of Biscay. You can fly direct from several UK cities and the route is only served by budget airlines so you can be sure of a good deal. Ryanair operates from Birmingham nd Stansted and with Easyjet you can access Biarritz from Bristol and Gatwick in less than two hour`s flight time. Flight prices vary with the season and tend to go up during school holidays and weekends so if you can be flexible with your dates and purchase in advance, you can usually grab a bargain with flights available for comfortably less than £100 return.

Another popular choice for UK holidaymakers is Nice. Cote D`Azure International Airport, 7kms from the town itself, is easily accessible from the UK with over fifteen different routes available. A range of airlines operate between all corners of the UK and this gorgeous section of the French Riviera. From London you can utilise British Airways; Aer Lingus or Easyjet from Gatwick and Easyjet or German Wings from Stansted; British Airways also provide the route from Heathrow and London City and it is possible to fly to Nice from the capital on any day of the week. For regional departures it`s also worth checking out Flybe as they can fly you direct to Nice from Southampton, Exeter and Jersey.

For wine lovers perhaps the ideal French destination is the stunning port city of Bordeaux. The city is served by Merignac Airport, only 1km from the centre, offering quick and easy access to the lush countryside and picturesque vineyard region. Easyjet can whisk you here from Bristol, Liverpool and London Luton and British Airways also offer a route from London Gatwick. Prices fluctuate and, as always, booking early is the best way to grab a bargain. Expect to pay a premium during the summer months but off season it`s possible to find return flights for around £60 or less.

If you have a little longer to explore, a lovely way to spend a summer break is to buy an "open jaw" ticket where you fly into one city and out of another, taking some time to get to know the area in between. Contrary to popular belief, it`s not always cheaper to buy a return than two singles and if you have the time to explore this option can actually save you money. Southern and Western France can be reached in very little time regardless of which part of the UK you are travelling from. If you drive to the airport and take a taxi or hire car on arrival, it`s possible to go from eating lunch at your desk to sipping lattes at a French pavement cafe in less than 2 hours. So next time you feel in need of an easy and relatively low cost boost, book some cheap Heathrow airport parking, treat yourself to a budget flight and spend a few days exploring fabulous France.

For Routes and French Airports information click HERE