Traveling to France when schools are on holiday may not be a good idea. This is because tourist resorts are teeming with vacationers during this period that one has to fight (figuratively, of course) for space. The Mediterranean coast and the more than 200 ski resorts are particularly crowded, often translating to lodging shortages.
This being the case, it is important to know when schools in France are closed. Note the following five sets of school holidays in a year (the French school calendar year starts in early September):
1. Toussaint break - This is a 12-day school break, in observance of All Saints' Day, that usually begins around the latter part of the third week of October.
2. Noel-Le Jour de l'An break - Schools are closed for 15 days for the Christmas/New Year holidays, from December 20 to January 4. This is the period when ski resorts in France "overflow" with people and finding a vacant hotel room is next to impossible.
3. Hiver break - Another 15-day school break that begins in February, when winter is typically at its peak.
4. Printemps break - This is also known as the spring break, which coincides with Easter (Paques). Schools are closed for 15 days, beginning usually two days prior to Easter.
5. L'ete holidays - This is the 2-month long summer vacation, when all schools are closed from the beginning of July to the beginning of September. This period is certainly not a good time for tourists to visit France for the reasons earlier mentioned.
Besides these sets of school holidays, those planning a trip to France must also know that the French Ministry of Education had the schedules of the hiver and printemps breaks staggered by dividing France into three zones:
Zone A:
This zone covers the schools located in Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier, Grenoble, Caen, Rennes, Nancy-Metz, Lyon, and Clermont-Ferrand.
Zone B:
The schools included in this zone are those located in Strasbourg, Reims, Orleans-Tours, Limoges, Dijon, Amiens, Rouen, Poitiers, Nice, Lille, Besancon, and Aix-Marseille.
Zone C:
This third zone includes schools in Versailles, Bordeaux, Créteil, and those in the capital city of Paris.
These zones specify when a school at a particular location will have its winter and spring breaks. As you take a look at your maps, you will note that the locations that comprise each zone do not make up a contiguous area. This was deliberately done in order that there will be an even distribution of holiday goers in resorts at any given period.
The effect of the zoning is another thing to be considered. What this means is that while the hiver and printemps breaks are 15-day periods as far as schools are concerned, the schedules of the zones overlap with one another, such that the length of each break is effectively stretched into one month. This matter has to be taken into account by a would-be visitor to France and avoided if possible.
The months of May and June are probably the best times for anyone to visit France while at the same time avoiding the lengthy school holidays, as the weather during this two-month period is perfect. Others may say though that this period, in fact, contains numerous holidays. These, however, are just one-day holidays and, except for Fête du Travail (Labor Day, May 1) and Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day, May 8), have moveable dates.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Disney World Vacations Do Not Have to be Expensive
Disney World vacations do not have to be expensive however; most families do end up paying more than they should. A vacation like this can cost over $5000.00 or more depending upon where you live and how many days you plan to stay at the park. This total also depends on the number of members you have in your family and the activities that you and your family do while at the park.
All of these factors will add up quickly in a short amount of time if a family is not careful. The Disney World vacation does not have to be expensive and one way you can watch what you spend is to do this. Take only a certain allowance out of the money you take with you to the park each day and set a certain time limit on the hours you spend in the park. This way you will not be able to spend more than you have budgeted for that day.
This is a good way to watch what you spend, have all the fun you can and spend only what you must for that day on meals and gifts or souvenirs. Limiting the time you spend in the park is also a way to pace yourself. The Disney World Theme Park is a massive place. You and your family will be exhausted when you return to the hotel everyday. You do not want to be so tired and sore that you cannot get out of bed the next vacation day at the park.
This way you are pacing yourself; and will be able to do a-lot more on the vacation. By watching what you are spending each day. You can even have money left over and may be able to do extra special things on the last few days of the vacation if you and the family choose to.
Disney vacations do not have to be expensive you can eat a good filling meal but you do not have to order the most expensive meals on the menu. Eating wisely can save money, while on the vacation as well.
There are many other way that you can save money while you are on your family vacation too you just have to be cautious and careful if you want to make the vacation an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Making the vacation a success begins when you start planning the vacation. Look for cheaper rates on the rooms and family package deals on the tickets and the hotels or resort rates. These will save you a great deal of money before you ever get to the park.
Use coupons, or vouchers from the places you book your reservations. These can be for free meals and free nights or a free family member stay. These will help the expense of the vacation drastically. It is possible for you and the family only having to spend about $2000.00 instead of the $5000.00 or more if you find every possible way to save on the Disney World vacation.
Remember Disney vacations do not have to be expensive if you will simply plan the vacation well, budget your self and your family and you can still have a great, enjoyable family vacation.
All of these factors will add up quickly in a short amount of time if a family is not careful. The Disney World vacation does not have to be expensive and one way you can watch what you spend is to do this. Take only a certain allowance out of the money you take with you to the park each day and set a certain time limit on the hours you spend in the park. This way you will not be able to spend more than you have budgeted for that day.
This is a good way to watch what you spend, have all the fun you can and spend only what you must for that day on meals and gifts or souvenirs. Limiting the time you spend in the park is also a way to pace yourself. The Disney World Theme Park is a massive place. You and your family will be exhausted when you return to the hotel everyday. You do not want to be so tired and sore that you cannot get out of bed the next vacation day at the park.
This way you are pacing yourself; and will be able to do a-lot more on the vacation. By watching what you are spending each day. You can even have money left over and may be able to do extra special things on the last few days of the vacation if you and the family choose to.
Disney vacations do not have to be expensive you can eat a good filling meal but you do not have to order the most expensive meals on the menu. Eating wisely can save money, while on the vacation as well.
There are many other way that you can save money while you are on your family vacation too you just have to be cautious and careful if you want to make the vacation an enjoyable experience for the whole family.
Making the vacation a success begins when you start planning the vacation. Look for cheaper rates on the rooms and family package deals on the tickets and the hotels or resort rates. These will save you a great deal of money before you ever get to the park.
Use coupons, or vouchers from the places you book your reservations. These can be for free meals and free nights or a free family member stay. These will help the expense of the vacation drastically. It is possible for you and the family only having to spend about $2000.00 instead of the $5000.00 or more if you find every possible way to save on the Disney World vacation.
Remember Disney vacations do not have to be expensive if you will simply plan the vacation well, budget your self and your family and you can still have a great, enjoyable family vacation.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Ways to Visit Disney World at an Affordable Price
There are, many ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price you simply have to know how. The ways are, tucked away on websites and in the fine print of the offers, discounts, and gift cards that are all around you.
The internet now days are the first and the best place to begin looking for all the ways to visit Disney world at an affordable price. You can begin with the places that offer discounted packages, savings or value deals here on the internet.
These discounted sites and value sites will provide you with a certain amount of days like three days or four days of accommodations, reduced rates on meals for the entire family, and other things such as travel deals are included. These sites help the Disney World Theme Park keep people visiting the park daily by offering these kinds of packages.
These offers also keep these hotels and resorts filled so this means more business for them to keep them full as well. Look for the added specials as well these are things like coupons off on things like a percent off a nights stay if you stay for so many nights. This will take some of the cost of your stay and you can stay longer if you wish.
Gift cards can be, found to for, free meals for members of the family such as small children eat free. These are ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price as well. Every little bit helps when you consider how much a vacation to Disney World costs.
You can find coupons for discounts on attractions and rides or shows to see at the park as well. This will take even more off, of your total making ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price. There are many other ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price too. You just have to know how to find all these great rates and discounts.
A Disney World vacation normally cost the average family of four a total of over $5000.00 or more. This total depends on what you and your family wishes to do once you arrive at the park. However, you can take off over $3000.00 or more from that total by using these ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price.
One good way to do this is to find a guide that reveals all of these hidden discounts and secret ways to get the discounted items for your family trip.
The internet now days are the first and the best place to begin looking for all the ways to visit Disney world at an affordable price. You can begin with the places that offer discounted packages, savings or value deals here on the internet.
These discounted sites and value sites will provide you with a certain amount of days like three days or four days of accommodations, reduced rates on meals for the entire family, and other things such as travel deals are included. These sites help the Disney World Theme Park keep people visiting the park daily by offering these kinds of packages.
These offers also keep these hotels and resorts filled so this means more business for them to keep them full as well. Look for the added specials as well these are things like coupons off on things like a percent off a nights stay if you stay for so many nights. This will take some of the cost of your stay and you can stay longer if you wish.
Gift cards can be, found to for, free meals for members of the family such as small children eat free. These are ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price as well. Every little bit helps when you consider how much a vacation to Disney World costs.
You can find coupons for discounts on attractions and rides or shows to see at the park as well. This will take even more off, of your total making ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price. There are many other ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price too. You just have to know how to find all these great rates and discounts.
A Disney World vacation normally cost the average family of four a total of over $5000.00 or more. This total depends on what you and your family wishes to do once you arrive at the park. However, you can take off over $3000.00 or more from that total by using these ways to visit Disney World at an affordable price.
One good way to do this is to find a guide that reveals all of these hidden discounts and secret ways to get the discounted items for your family trip.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
A Cheap Disney World Vacation
You and your family want to go to Disney World and take a vacation however; this is just not possible with your budget. Well this is not necessarily the truth. You can afford to take your family on the best most memorable vacation you ever have.
That is if you know all the right tips, tricks, and secrets to save loads of money. You can take the best vacation of your life. A cheap Disney World Vacation does not mean that you and your family will have to stay in a broom closet or you will have to eat sandwiches while you are there. It does mean that you can stay in a nice lush hotel or a resort and you can dine out every night but at much less, than many families have to pay.
You can get the best rates at the hotels and resorts for airlines to get to the park and find ways to get meals at lower rates as well. You should not have to go into debt to take your family to a wonderful place. Disney World theme park is practically the most visited theme park in the world today.
Furthermore, it is one of the most desired dreams of all families to take a Disney world vacation. You want to give your children lasting memories that they will take with them onto their families. No parent can resist seeing the joy and the first big smile when their child sees Mickey for the first time ever in person.
You can make this possible for you and your family if you do a little digging and find the best tips, tricks, and secrets to take a cheap Disney World vacation. You can find the best deals on tickets and other things like Disney shows and attractions that are absolutely, wonderful for the whole family.
The best part about taking a cheap family vacation is that you will not have to pay for the vacation for the next 5 years, take out a loan, get a second job or sell body parts if you find these secrets. One of the best guides to taking a cheap Disney World vacation is available right here on the internet. Most people do not know about this guide; and just how much it can save you for your family vacation.
An average Disney World vacation will cost you over $5000.00 for about three to four days. That is if you have to pay full price for the vacation. However, the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide can show you how to spend way less than $5000.00 try like around $1900.00 for the same vacation. This is a large chunk off the full price, it is pretty, amazing and a big load off your mind.
You will see once you look at all the ways you will be able to save the money and still have the best vacation ever in your life with your children and your spouse. You can find the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide at the link provided here just click on it and have fun on your vacation.
That is if you know all the right tips, tricks, and secrets to save loads of money. You can take the best vacation of your life. A cheap Disney World Vacation does not mean that you and your family will have to stay in a broom closet or you will have to eat sandwiches while you are there. It does mean that you can stay in a nice lush hotel or a resort and you can dine out every night but at much less, than many families have to pay.
You can get the best rates at the hotels and resorts for airlines to get to the park and find ways to get meals at lower rates as well. You should not have to go into debt to take your family to a wonderful place. Disney World theme park is practically the most visited theme park in the world today.
Furthermore, it is one of the most desired dreams of all families to take a Disney world vacation. You want to give your children lasting memories that they will take with them onto their families. No parent can resist seeing the joy and the first big smile when their child sees Mickey for the first time ever in person.
You can make this possible for you and your family if you do a little digging and find the best tips, tricks, and secrets to take a cheap Disney World vacation. You can find the best deals on tickets and other things like Disney shows and attractions that are absolutely, wonderful for the whole family.
The best part about taking a cheap family vacation is that you will not have to pay for the vacation for the next 5 years, take out a loan, get a second job or sell body parts if you find these secrets. One of the best guides to taking a cheap Disney World vacation is available right here on the internet. Most people do not know about this guide; and just how much it can save you for your family vacation.
An average Disney World vacation will cost you over $5000.00 for about three to four days. That is if you have to pay full price for the vacation. However, the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide can show you how to spend way less than $5000.00 try like around $1900.00 for the same vacation. This is a large chunk off the full price, it is pretty, amazing and a big load off your mind.
You will see once you look at all the ways you will be able to save the money and still have the best vacation ever in your life with your children and your spouse. You can find the Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide at the link provided here just click on it and have fun on your vacation.
Sunday, March 07, 2010
Eight Public Holidays In France Celebrated On Fixed Dates
France celebrates a total of thirteen public holidays, or jours feriés, every year. Of these, eight are observed on fixed dates, which include three important religious celebrations. These eight fixed-dated French public holidays are listed below, in the order of their occurrence.
1. Le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day) - France, like most other countries, celebrates New Year's Day on January 1, the first day based on the Gregorian calendar. The highlight of activities on this holiday, again like in many countries, takes place at midnight that spans the last day of the old year (December 31) to the first day of the new year. Observance of the New Year lasts up to January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
2. Fête du Travail (Labor Day) - There probably isn't a country that does not observe Labor Day, for on this day workers celebrate their social and economic achievements. In France, Labor Day is celebrated in conjunction with the celebration of "Le Jour du Muguet". In this latter celebration, workers sell "muguet" (lily of the valley) on the streets to raise funds for labor unions. May 1 is the date when France, and almost all countries, celebrates Labor Day.
3. Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day) - This public holiday is celebrated in France on May 8. It is a celebration of the victory of the Allied Powers (of which France was a member) against Nazi Germany that signaled the end of World War II.
4. Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) - This is the National Day of France, which is celebrated on July 14 every year. The celebration is a commemoration of the storming of the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, that paved the way for the rise of modern France.
5. Assomption (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in France, and the Assomption is one of the most important religious celebrations in this country. This August 15 celebration is an observance of the taking up into Heaven, body and soul, of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
6. Toussaint (All Saints' Day) - This is another important religious celebration in France, which is observed on November 1 each year. The day is celebrated in honor of all the Saints who are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Traditionally on this day too, deceased family members and friends are remembered and prayed for.
7. Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day) - This holiday, which is also called Remembrance Day, is celebrated on November 11. It is a commemoration of the signing of the armistice or cessation of hostilities by and between the Allies of World War I and Germany. The event is especially important for France since it was in the French commune of Compiègne where the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Through this momentous event, World War I eventually ended.
8. Noël (Christmas Day) - This is the most joyful religious celebration in France, as it is in many parts of the world. It is celebrated on December 25 in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. The Christmas season actually is one of the longest holidays in France, which is celebrated beginning on Christmas eve (December 24) up to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 the following year.
In the eastern provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, the day after Christmas Day (December 26), which is referred to as the Second Day of Christmas, is also celebrated as a public holiday.
1. Le Jour de l'An (New Year's Day) - France, like most other countries, celebrates New Year's Day on January 1, the first day based on the Gregorian calendar. The highlight of activities on this holiday, again like in many countries, takes place at midnight that spans the last day of the old year (December 31) to the first day of the new year. Observance of the New Year lasts up to January 6, the feast of the Epiphany.
2. Fête du Travail (Labor Day) - There probably isn't a country that does not observe Labor Day, for on this day workers celebrate their social and economic achievements. In France, Labor Day is celebrated in conjunction with the celebration of "Le Jour du Muguet". In this latter celebration, workers sell "muguet" (lily of the valley) on the streets to raise funds for labor unions. May 1 is the date when France, and almost all countries, celebrates Labor Day.
3. Victoire 1945 (Victory in Europe Day) - This public holiday is celebrated in France on May 8. It is a celebration of the victory of the Allied Powers (of which France was a member) against Nazi Germany that signaled the end of World War II.
4. Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) - This is the National Day of France, which is celebrated on July 14 every year. The celebration is a commemoration of the storming of the medieval fortress and prison known as the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, that paved the way for the rise of modern France.
5. Assomption (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary) - Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in France, and the Assomption is one of the most important religious celebrations in this country. This August 15 celebration is an observance of the taking up into Heaven, body and soul, of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
6. Toussaint (All Saints' Day) - This is another important religious celebration in France, which is observed on November 1 each year. The day is celebrated in honor of all the Saints who are recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Traditionally on this day too, deceased family members and friends are remembered and prayed for.
7. Armistice 1918 (Armistice Day) - This holiday, which is also called Remembrance Day, is celebrated on November 11. It is a commemoration of the signing of the armistice or cessation of hostilities by and between the Allies of World War I and Germany. The event is especially important for France since it was in the French commune of Compiègne where the armistice was signed on November 11, 1918. Through this momentous event, World War I eventually ended.
8. Noël (Christmas Day) - This is the most joyful religious celebration in France, as it is in many parts of the world. It is celebrated on December 25 in commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. The Christmas season actually is one of the longest holidays in France, which is celebrated beginning on Christmas eve (December 24) up to the feast of the Epiphany on January 6 the following year.
In the eastern provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, the day after Christmas Day (December 26), which is referred to as the Second Day of Christmas, is also celebrated as a public holiday.
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