Independent travel writer and editorial consultant Nicola Williams has lived in France and written about it for more than a decade. From her hillside house on the southern shore of Lake Geneva. It's a quick and easy hop to the French Alps, Paris, southern France. Paris this time around meant stylish apartment living in the heart of St-Germain des Pres. Nicola has worked on numerous Lonely Planet titles, including France, Discover France, Paris, Provence & the Cote d'Azur and The Loire. She blogs at tripalong. wordpress.com and tweets@Tripalong.

Once you've ooh-la-la'd your way around every charming Parisian boutique, garden and cafe, the rest of France is ready to step up to the plate. Get our latest guide to France and you'll be winding through the fairytale Loire Valley, skiing in Chamonix and blissing out on mind-blowing cuisine in Paris. There's a reason why France remains the most popular tourist destination in the world.

This new edition includes full-color guides with 3D illustrations of the Louvre, Notre Dame, Palace of Versaille, Monte Carlo Casino, Mont St-Michel and the Vieux Port in Marseille.

This guidebook has been fully updated!

* Intuitive layout and new text styles make it easier to read, scan and find information at a glance

* New visual design and structure improves navigation without sacrificing depth or quality

* Expanded planning section helps travellers plan by time, season, interest or region

* New map design improves map legibility for easy navigation