11 Days in France

France is widely recognized as one of the most progressive and LGBTQ+-welcoming countries in Europe, with strong legal protections and a visible queer culture across many regions.

Same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since 2013, and comprehensive anti-discrimination laws protect LGBTQ+ individuals in employment, services, and public life. Paris is home to one of Europe’s most vibrant LGBTQ+ scenes, centered around the Marais district, with Pride celebrations, bars, and community spaces that are welcoming and diverse. Cities such as Lyon, Nice, Montpellier, Marseille, and Toulouse also offer lively LGBTQ+ communities, events, and nightlife.

While major cities naturally have the strongest queer visibility, travelers generally experience a high level of acceptance throughout the country. Smaller towns and rural areas are typically polite and relaxed, reflecting France’s emphasis on personal freedom, respect, and everyday courtesy, helping make the country an inviting destination for LGBTQ+ travelers.

The cuisine in France is an essential part of the travel experience, celebrated for its regional diversity and deep connection to tradition, seasonality, and terroir. From bustling markets to elegant bistros, food is treated as both daily ritual and art form.

In Paris, we can enjoy café classics such as croissants, flaky pastries, cheese and charcuterie boards, and beautifully prepared dishes paired with wine. Burgundy invites us into the world of gastronomy, where rich sauces, boeuf bourguignon, escargots, and world-class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reflect centuries of winemaking heritage. Lyon, long known as the culinary capital of France, tempts us with bouchons serving comforting specialties like quenelles, saucisson, and praline desserts.

Farther south in Provence, Mediterranean influences take over with fresh seafood, olive oil, herbs, ratatouille, and rosé enjoyed in the warm evening air. From simple market picnics to memorable multi-course dinners, France offers a culinary journey where every region tells its story through food and wine.

Packing smart will make our time in France more comfortable across different regions and seasons. Lightweight, breathable clothing is ideal for warm days, while a light sweater or jacket is useful for cooler evenings, especially in spring and autumn. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for cobblestone streets, museums, and guided city tours. A compact rain jacket or umbrella is helpful, as showers can occur at any time of year.

Sun protection—hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen—is important for river cruises, outdoor cafés, and sightseeing in Provence. A European power adapter, reusable water bottle, and small daypack will also come in handy for daily excursions and train travel. If you plan to enjoy the pool in Avignon, swimwear is useful as well. Most importantly, bring a sense of curiosity and an appetite for discovery—France is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace, one experience at a time.

And don’t worry about remembering everything—we’ll share a suggested packing list in our final pre-departure email about 10 days before the trip begins.

It is important to note, that our train from Paris to Dijon has a 2 bag capacity and will require you to board your own bags on and off the train.

France uses the Euro (EUR). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted across the country, in hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, and train stations, and contactless “tap” payments are very common. Still, it’s useful to have a small amount of cash on hand for cafés, local markets, small purchases, and tipping in certain situations. ATMs are easy to find in cities and towns, though your bank may charge international withdrawal or conversion fees.

We do not recommend bringing large amounts of U.S. cash to exchange on arrival, as rates and fees can be less favorable. Instead, plan to use cards for most purchases and withdraw euros from ATMs as needed during the trip.

Tipping customs in France are meant to acknowledge good service but are generally modest and not obligatory, as service charges are typically included in restaurant and café prices.

In sit-down restaurants, it is common to leave a small additional gratuity for good service, often rounding up the bill or adding about 5%–10%, especially if service was attentive. Always check the bill first, as service compris usually means the service charge is already included.

In cafés and bars, it’s typical simply to round up or leave small change. For taxis, rounding up to the nearest euro or adding a couple of euros is sufficient.

Hotel staff such as porters and housekeeping appreciate small tips (about €2 - €5). For local guides and drivers on excursions, a general guideline is €5 - €10 per person per day to recognize excellent service throughout the trip.

Our recommended tip for your Detours trip leader is about $10 - $15 USD per day.

We have pretty high standards when it comes to choosing our accommodations, and trust us, we’ve done plenty of room-sniffing, pillow-patting, bed-jumping and bathroom inspections to make sure we stay at quality spots. To be approved as a Detours accommodations provider, a hotel/guesthouse must be in an amazing location (close to the beach or other hot spots), AND be gay-owned or gay-friendly.

This trip uses a mix of roughly 4-star properties, examples of which can be found on the accommodations tab.  Clean, comfortable, well-located spots that'll put a smile on your face, you can count on that! 

All Detours trips are led by one of our own Detours trip leaders.  They're with you every step of the way, and their job is to help ensure that you have the trip of a lifetime by taking the hassle out of your trip, and enabling you to experience everything you came to France for!  Consider them like a friendly concierge that's traveling along with you.  All of our trip leaders are gay and all are well-traveled and experienced in the destination they're leading in, so they'll be a great part of your experience!

We do everything we can to avoid starting our days with an alarm clock. A world without beeping wake-ups is one we fully support, and in France we’d much rather let the morning arrive with the aroma of fresh croissants and coffee drifting through the hotel than a shrill ringtone. Occasionally an early departure is necessary due to sightseeing schedules or travel logistics, but we keep these to a minimum whenever possible. Our goal is for mornings to feel relaxed, unhurried, and very French—easing into the day rather than racing into it.

Our Detours groups are run with a maximum of 16 travelers. Ages of group members vary but most of our travelers are between 50 and 60 years. Whatever the ages on our trips everyone's already got something in common, an exciting new experience in a couple new countries. Each group is led by a Detours trip leader who is there to ensure everything goes off without a hitch, allowing you to focus on having the time of your life! We welcome both men and women onto our trips although it’s important to know that most groups are 100% gay men.

Traveling solo? Great! Lots of our travelers come solo and our trip will provide plenty of chances to meet great people both inside and outside of our group, including other solo travelers. As far as your accommodations go, you’ve got two choices. We can either pair you up with another solo group member in a room with two beds for no extra charge, or you can have your own room for a reasonable surcharge (the exact cost for this trip is located just under the pricing box). 

In France, electrical outlets use the Type E plug (two round pins with a grounding pin). Many Type C plugs (two round pins without ground) also fit into French outlets, but devices that require grounding will need Type E–compatible plugs. You will typically only need this one adapter type for the entire trip.

France operates on a standard voltage of 230V and a frequency of 50Hz.

Most modern electronics (phones, tablets, laptops, cameras) are dual voltage, but it’s always best to check the label on your charger for a range such as “Input: 100–240V.” We recommend bringing a simple Type E (or universal) adapter so you can easily charge your devices throughout your time in France.