Get Outta Paris & Tour Less-Traveled France: Five Nights with Air Starts from $619

Whereas most people's French vacations may start and finish with Paris, consider going further a field and discovering the majesty of the French countryside, smaller cities and regional areas. There are so many reasons to travel to France in the fall or winter seasons. Late September into October is grape harvest season throughout France and with it, comes an abundance of festivals and opportunities to share in the spirit of a plentiful harvest. Fall is also market season with hundreds of local fairs, antique and produce markets set up all over the country. For the fashionista, the lure of shopping for your new fall wardrobe may be too great. Tourist numbers are fewer, prices for airfares and accommodation are lower -- what more could you ask for?

Air France Holidays (tel. 800/237-2623; www.airfrance-holidays.com) features a number of "Escapades" to cities and regions throughout France. These packages include roundtrip airfare (via Paris) and usually three-nights accommodation. Examples include their "Bordeaux Escapade," which takes you to the world's most famous wine production region. Enjoy roundtrip airfare on Air France, three-nights at the Quality Hotel Sainte Catherine, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges. Travel from now until October 31, 2005 for $829 plus taxes per person, or from November 1 to December 15, 2005 and December 25, 2005 to March 27, 2006, the price comes down to $639 per person based on dual occupancy.

For a holy experience, visit the historic town of Lourdes. Travel from now until October 31 from $969; from November 1 to December 15 and from December 25, 2005, to March 28, 2006, from $699 per person based on double occupancy. This deal includes roundtrip airfare to Pau (26 miles from Lourdes), three-nights at the Saint Sauveur Hotel in Lourdes, three-day Hertz compact manual car rental, local tax (rental fees and/or surcharges may be extra), unlimited mileage, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges.

Culinary delights await you in Lyon, one of the gastronomic capitals of France. Travel through October 31 starts from $829 per person; from November 1 - December 15 and from December 25, 2005 through March 28, 2006, the base price drops to $719 per person for stays at the Boscolo Grand Hotel. (The week prior to Christmas starts from $839.)

These prices are valid for departures from New York, Newark, Boston and Philadelphia. Add $20 from Washington, D.C., $50 from Detroit, $60 from Chicago, $70 from Miami and $200 from Los Angeles.

If you fancy a Thanksgiving away from home this year, Nice would be nice -- n'est-il pas? France Vacations (tel. 800/332-5332; www.francevacations.net) has a special Thanksgiving package which includes roundtrip airfare from New York, five-nights accommodation at the Gounod Hotel in Nice, breakfast daily, Thanksgiving Dinner including wine and city taxes. Departure is on November 19, 2005 and costs $619 per person based on dual occupancy. Book by September 30, 2005.

Go-Today (tel. 800/227-3235; www.go-today.com) has three exquisite Loire Valley land-only packages to choose from. Its "Biking France: Chateaux of the Loire" package is a seven-night biking adventure through the world famous Loire Valley. This cycling tour combines all the best ingredients for an unforgettable vacation -- spectacular countryside, grand chateaux, bountiful wines and exceptional cuisine. This tour is priced at $1,189 per person, starting in Amboise (a three-hour direct train ride from Paris) and finishing in Chinon. It includes seven-nights accommodation in two and three-star inns, daily breakfasts, five dinners, Giant 21 speed bicycles, daily luggage transfers, detailed route notes and maps.

The "Historic Valley Self Drive" package is priced at $1,239 per person based on dual occupancy. This driving tour starts from Paris and takes you into the Loire Valley, to the prehistoric caves of the Dordogne Valley, and then through the stunning Gorge-du-Tarn, ending in Provence. The price includes six-nights hotel accommodation, continental breakfast daily, two dinners, seven-day mid-sized manual car rental without CDW, including local taxes with unlimited mileage, Michelin maps and guide, all hotel taxes and service charges.

For $319 per person, take the "Loire Valley Stopover." Included are three-nights at the Turone Hotel in the city of Tours, three-day compact manual car rental with unlimited mileage, continental breakfast daily, hotel taxes and service charges.

All packages must be booked by October 12, 2005 for travel up to October 31, 2005. Airfare is additional.

Most flights to regional centers and smaller cities in France will go via Paris, or consider flying via the UK to get a great deal on airfare to various French destinations. A number of discount airlines including EasyJet (www.easyjet.com) and RyanAir (www.ryanair.com) fly regularly to regional airports across France and despite the high taxes of flying into Heathrow, the inter-continental sectors savings could certainly make it worthwhile. Prices are so low, that your taxi fare to the airport will almost certainly be more expensive that your domestic flight, especially if you travel midweek. Also keep in mind that these flights may depart from other airports in London (i.e. Luton, Gatwick or Stansted) so if you decide to only transit and not have a stopover in London, allow enough time to transfer airports.

Sample one-way fares in October and November include:

• London Gatwick to Marseille on EasyJet: $36
• London Stansted to Lyon on EasyJet: $24
• London Stansted to Limoges on RyanAir: $13
• London Luton to Nîmes on RyanAir: $27

Taxes are additional on all these flights.

Add to this the low cost of a roundtrip midweek transatlantic flight, like New York to London on British Airways through Travelocity (www.travelocity.com) in November for an incredibly low $173 plus taxes, and you have a real bargain on your hands.

For a truly French touch to your vacation, why not stay in a traditional farmhouse, small villa or chateau rather than a hotel. Often the cost is no higher but the charm is immeasurable. Try any of these reliable outfits:

• www.gite.com
• www.francehomestyle.com
• www.frenchfarmhousevacations.com
• www.livingfrench.com
• www.rentalsfrance.com
• www.villeetvillage.com
• www.vrbo.com

For more information about visits to France, visit www.frommers.com/destinations/france and www.francetourism.com.

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