Côte d'Azur: A hideaway that's heaven-scent

Piling up the hills above Cannes, Grasse is famous for its perfume industry – and I now know why. Its calming fragrances were clearly invented to soothe visitors trying to negotiate the city’s convoluted one-way system, which winds around its historic houses, millionaire holiday homes and garish hypermarkets like a devilish game of snakes-and-ladders.

Being August it was indeed hot, and the roads do get horribly clogged at times – but regular visitors know how to deal with all this.

First of all, it is crucial to book the right property. We were lucky to find a period house with commanding views over Grasse and the shimmering coast beyond.

Family Adventure Holidays in France

You can also choose from activities such as canoeing and rafting in the Ardeche; canyoning, tubing, and mountaineering in the Alps; horse riding in Brittany; paragliding and climbing in the Pyrenees. Or why not go to Chamonix, which is a real mountain town, full of history and popular for skiing holidays. It also provides amazing summer mountaineering, and with the diverse terrain, it is mostly suited to the experienced for some of the world's best winter riding.

Why not visit the Gorge d'Ardeche, known as the Grand Canyon of Europe. As the river winds its way past steep canyon walls and towering cliffs, it creates the ideal location for canoeing, climbing, and walking - for both the experienced and the novice alike.

AAA International Travel Forecast, Summer 2008

US travel giant AAA reported Friday that 25.1 million Americans are expected to be traveling internationally this summer, an increase over last summer's 24.5 million despite aweak US dollar; the increase is partially attributed to the fact that more Americans now have passports, thanks to new passport rules for Mexico and Canada travel. Spending by Americans in other countries this summer will increase 5.7 percent to $30.7 billion primarily thanks to the weakness of the US dollar, which creates a poor exchange rate, and inflation.

The number of American travelers to China is expected to increase by 13.4 percent (573,000 American travelers) and to India by 13.1 percent (227,000). Visits to France will increase 6.7 percent, and Ireland, Italy and Germany will see small jumps. The largest volume of US international travel will be to Mexico.