Paris has become a city synonymous with romance; it is a magical place rich in art and culture with a colourful history. Whether you are on a short break or a longer holiday, there is just so much in Paris to see and do. You can reach Paris quickly and easily from London - by ferry, chunnel or air. The modern glass walls of Charles de Gaulle aiport give you a spectacular view of the planes taking off and landing! Coming in only behind London Heathrow, it is Europe’s second busiest airport. Passengers are ferried between the three giant terminals of this massive airport on free shuttles - the only way you can get from one to the other due to the sheer size.

It is easy to get into Paris from the airport - choose from taxis, luxury limo transport, car hire or modern high speed train as your mode of transport. Paris is a popular weekend break destination due to it’s close proximity to major international transport links, as well as being only a ten minute train journey to Disneyland. You can choose from many transport options to get you around the city of Paris. Public transport around the city is available via bus, tram or the Metro. Also readily available are private car hire and taxi services.

Car hire is not for everyone when on holiday, but if you do decide to take this option, heed a few words of warning before getting swept away by the romance of Paris. You should always read the rental contract carefully so that you know exactly what you will have to pay in terms of excesses if you were to have an accident. Most specialist insurance products such as gap insurance, car warranties and breakdown insurance should already be taken care of by the hire car company so you won’t need to worry about those things. Always clarify details of what to do and who to call if you do break down, and make sure the cover provides 24-hour call-outs. There are extra insurance products which you may be offered - such as key insurance or windscreen cover - which will cost you more but may give you added peace of mind. Be sure that you are fully aware of what you are signing, especially as you are in a foreign country.

Remember also that Paris is a bustling city, and care should be taken over personal belongings when out and about seeing the sights, especially when travelling on public transport. Using basic common sense, like not taking all of your spending money out with you, will help you avoid any unpleasantness which could put a dampener on your trip. You should secure your travel documents - including travel insurance details - along with any valuables, in your hotel before taking to the city streets for a sightseeing excursion. Once you have the basics covered, you are ready to begin exploring. Just five of the many wonderful things a visitor to Paris could do are outlined below.

Eiffel Tower- The Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognised monuments in the world. You cannot compare a photograph, though, to actually seeing it in person. Its sheer size and the intricacies of the architecture is amazing. You have to take the elevator to the top to get a view of a lifetime. The history of the tower is depicted in the displays on the first floor. You could treat yourself to lunch or dinner at the Atlitude 95 restaurant, also located on the first floor. If you book far enough in advance you may be able to secure a table at the Michelin-starred Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor. No trip to Paris would be complete without paying the Eiffel tower a visit.

Centre Pompidou- If you love modern art and architecture you have to visit the Centre Pompidou. It is more than a mere museum. This place is dedicated to any and all forms of contemporary and modern conceptual art forms. All art forms, including literature, music, theatre and film are celebrated here. President Georges Pompidou was the inspiration behind the museum. His vision was for a centre of entirely contemporary culture. The building was designed by Renzo Piano, and is itself a marvel of architecture and distinctive design.

A new experience awaits each time you visit, as the exhibits here are always changing. At one of the three book stores you could find a tome on pretty much any type of art imaginable. The design boutique sells souvenirs, gifts and other fun and funky items. At Georges, up on level six, you can dine whilst enjoying panoramic views of the city. Upon exiting there is still a lot to see. On the pavements outsidethe building you will see sculptures and various street art. Any visit to the Pompidou Centre will be a truly memorable experience.

Louvre Museum- The Louvre Museum is probably the world’s most famous art museum. It is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”. Founded in 1793, the Louvre is the oldest museum in Europe. A vastly diverse range of exhibits - from Egyptian artifacts to Islamic art - can be found within its walls.

It would take you weeks to explore it in its entirety. It is housed in the Louvre Palace which was the former seat of the French Royalty. Eight themed departments hold over thirty-five thousand different pieces. Among many more, you can see works of art by da Vinci and Rubens in the permanent collections. Particular movements or artists may also be represented in one of the temporary exhibits.

Arc de Triomphe- A climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe will give you an excellent view of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is a little over 50 metres high! Napoleon Bonaparte is the figure behind the construction of this monument from which a fantastic view can be beheld. Commissioned in 1806, it was Napoleon’s monument to his own military genius and to the greatness of his army. The monument is now a French symbol of all things triumphant. The famous landmark hosts Bastille Day celebrations, as well as marking the finish line of the Tour de France. Here, as wel,l you can pay your respects to the fallen soldiers of both world wars, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

You should be warned that it takes a little energy and work to get to the top. There is a climb of two hundred and eighty steps involved to reach the top, but when you see the view you will see that it was worth it. This is one of Frances’s most recognisable symbols and the architecture alone is worth a visit here.

Musée d’Orsay- The Musée d’Orsay has one of the largest collections of sculptures, paintings, and art pieces produced between 1848 and 1914. Showcased here are many outstanding works of the early modern era. There are works here by Degas, Ingres, Van Goghand Monet. The permanent collections here cover everything from neoclassicism, impressionism and art nouveau design. Here you can enjoy and explore the beginnings of modern art.

Paris is a romantic and inviting place to visit. Whether you are looking for fine art, amazing architecture or just the buzz of a fascinating and historical modern city, then Paris has something for you.  Most people who come here on holiday will return again and again, just for the ambiance and beauty this city has to offer. You can easily explore the city and surrounding areas by either public transport, car hire or private car service. This place has so much to offer that once you have been here you may never want to leave!

This short city guide was brought to you by the UK’s leading gap insurance and car warranty specialists – the Click4Group.

For some years now a group of the so-called “budget airlines” in Europe have been embroiled in a price war attempting to offer the lowest air fares to a huge number of European cities. It’s quite normal to see that one of the leading budget carriers such as Easyjet or Ryanair has an offer of return flights from the UK to Spain, France or Germany for £1 (approx $1.45). There could be airport landing fees and taxes to be added to the fare, but it remains an absolute bargain if you’re looking to see a variety of European cities. One of the biggest disadvantages of flying with the budget airlines is that they frequently fly to the smaller municipal airports instead of the more well known majorinternational ones. This sometimes means that a flight that is supposed to be flying to a big European city actually lands up to fifty miles away. In fact there are a number of plus-points with this arrangement, the municipal airports will always offer a much quicker service on check-in and luggage since they are catering for far fewer flights. The downside is that transportation serving these airfields can be scrappy at best and a very popular option is to hire a car from the airport. The following are some of the wonderful cities that we’ve visited whilst making use of cheap floghts from the low cost airlines. We’re sure that you’ll enjoy visiting any of these scenic, without doubt they have plenty to offer to visitors to their shores.

Glasgow, Scotland

Glasgow, once the butt of so many jokes about the slums of the Gorbals has undergone a Renaissance and has become a wonderful, architecturally diverse city attracting huge numbers of tourists throughout the year. The trendy West part of the city is home to one of the oldest universities in the United Kingdom. Perched on a hill amidst the Medieval region of Glasgow, its students add greatly to the fun loving and vibrant atmosphere of that area. The low cost carriers utilise Prestwick Airport which is approximately 35 miles (51 km) north east of the centre of the city and you will find a good road between the airport and the city centre. It’s a popular sightseeing area, so you are advised to hire a car at Glasgow Airport in advance of your trip. A congestion free half hour journey from the airport on the M77 motorway takes you to the centre of the city. Glasgow is a perfect starting point for an adventure in the Trossachs National Park. Just 13 mile (20 km) journey out of Glasgow and you could find yourself enjoying stunning countryside on the back of a pony, whilst a 50 km (30 mile) drive eastwards along another excellent motorway will find you in Edinburgh together with its ever popular festivals, Princes Street shopping, the historic Castle and Holyrood Palace.

Florence, Italy

Without doubt one of Europe’s most impressively beautiful cities, Florence is served by the airport at Pisa, which is 50 miles (84 km) west of the city. Hire a car at Florence airport and you will be perfectly positioned to explore Pisa with its leaning tower, majestic Florence and a selection of Europe’s most picturesque countryside, that of the majestically beautiful Tuscany. It is therefore not surprising that Florence is high in the popularity stakes when looking at European cities. Once you arrive at the city of Florence you will find that most of the city centre is pedestrianized thus preserving its many ancient architectural treasures and statues from the vibrations and pollution associated with hectic traffic. The traffic free status brings a sense of tranquility as you meander from one fragment of history to the next. You do not need to walk too far before being hit by the evil, ear splitting roar of Florence’s legion of scooter riders. Apart from the Ponte Vecchio the remainder of the bridges into the city centre are noisy, polluted places, thus giving us a further reason to stay within the ancient alleyways and peaceful sanctuaries of Florence’s beautiful piazzas.

Tours, France

Tours, the centre of the famed Loire Valley chateaux with not a single chateau to its name! The ideal centre for discovering the Loire Valley famed for its wonderful array of palatial residences, the city boasts a number of charms of its own. Although the little airport is only a couple of miles from town, it’s pretty much essential that you rent a car in the Loire Valley to fully explore some of the most picturesque towns and villages to be found throughout France. Along the banks of the River Loire between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes, a number of cultural treasures are presented for the visitor to enjoy. The Loire valley is a UNESCO World Heritage site and offers beautiful countryside, historic villages and lots of flamboyant castles. During the renaissance the Loire Valley was known as the “Retreat of Kings and was a big favourite of the French royal family. Built originally as working fortified castles, the buildings were converted into the palatial chaeaux that you will find today. Tourists from around the world are attracted to the historic towns that are situated along the banks of the Loire. Towns such as Blois, Chinon and Tours have lots to see and do whilst the most popular of all the chateaux is probably that on the Chambord Estate. Throughout the area you will discover small, family owned vineyards offering a variety of wonderful wines at budget prices. Look out for the word “degustation”, which means sampling I guess, and provided that ‘Le Patron’ is not in the middle of a long leisurely lunch you will be made very welcome and he will be more than willing to offer you a tasting of his complete selection of wines. Of course, it is strongly advised that you take a non-drinker as your chauffer, some of these tasting sessions can get very serious!.