Euro 2016 France - Where to stay and what to do

As well as being host to Euro 2016, France is a culturally rich and charming country, offering its visitors plenty to see and do in between the cheers and tears of international football. Here we take a look at the best places to stay during the tournament and the things to keep you entertained if all the football gets a bit too much for you.

Located in the south of France, the Mediterranean port city is a place of tranquil squares, stepped streets, bustling 19th-century avenues and souk-like markets. At its heart is the Vieux-Port (old port) area, home to Sofitel and Radisson Blu hotels, both of which offer prime waterfront locations. Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port is a luxury 5-star property which blends rich history with contemporary design. It has 2 restaurants and a Skylounge bar with sweeping views of the city. A flash spa and gym are also available to guests. Check the prices of Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port 

here

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Sofitel Marseille Vieux Port The 4-star Radisson Blu Hotel Marseille Vieux Port offers 189 rooms and suites with views of either the cityscape or the sea. Guests can enjoy Mediterranean and international favourites at Restaurant Solaris or unwind in the stunning pool.

You can check prices here.

The Vieux-Port, which was redeveloped in 2013 by renowned Architect Norman Foster, offers a perfect place to take a stroll, with an attractive promenade and plenty of elegant cafes and restaurants where one can enjoy a glass of champagne whilst gazing at the port’s many yachts and docking ships.

Marseille Vieux Port For a taste of the diversity Marseille has to offer, visit Noailles, the so-called ‘Arabic Quarter’ of the city. Here you will feel more like you are in Morocco than Marseille, with numerous spice shops, outdoor markets and street food stalls bombarding the senses.

Lens

Home to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, where England will play their second group match against neighbours Wales, Lens is a small town with a population of only 36,000 - 2,000 less than the capacity of its stadium.

Stade Bollaert-Delelis Due to its small size, hotels are sure to be chock full of football-mad brits, with many hotels fully booked for some time. There are rooms available for those willing to look further afield, however. Ypres in Belgium, which is a one hour drive away, is one option which has 36% hotel availability, according to hotel search website Trivago’s latest data. Lens is also only 40 minutes away from Lille and an hour away from Paris. If you do make it to the often overlooked ex-mining town, you will be in for a pleasant surprise. Its quaint town houses and (usually) quiet streets provide a pleasant backdrop to explore numerous Great War sites, as well as the Louvre-Lens museum. The city’s inhabitants are also said to be some of the friendliest in France - we therefore advise to visit before the influx of football fans changes their attitude towards newcomers.

St Etienne

St Etienne is located around 3 miles south west of Lyon. Despite growing under the guise of an industry town, it offers visitors a number of places of interests, especially for those with an eye for architecture, such as the Byzantine Saint Marie church. It also has a contemporary art museum housing works by the likes of Matisse, Gilbert and George. Although accommodation may be somewhat difficult to secure during the tournament, the city is well worth a visit at other times due to its gastronomic expertise. For cheese lovers, the city’s Fourme de Montbrison cheese is must try during your stay. First created in the 8th century, this cow milk cheese is cellar-matured for several weeks, allowing it to express incomparable fragrances and a creamy body with blue streaks.

Fourme de Montbrison cheese Finding a good meal in Saint-Étienne is not a difficult task. There are a number of Michelin-starred restaurants situated in and around the city, including Nouvelle, fronted by reputable head chef Stéphane Laurier. It has sported a Michelin star since 2002 and offers an improvised daily menu that is sure to please even the most critical foodie. The wine list also provides some exceptional local products, especially the Viogniers by Daniel Mondon.

Paris

The county’s iconic capital needs very little introduction. During the tournament, the famous city will play host to both Ireland and Northern Ireland group games respectively, as well a number of other important matches, not least the final on July 10 at the Stade de France stadium. Although many hotel prices have risen sharply due the tournament, the higher-end hotels do not seem to have hiked their prices as much as the budget properties, which means many four and five-star hotels are still available at fairly usual prices. Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, located between the Arc de Triomphe and Parc Monceau, offers luxury and art during your stay in the city of love. Complete with gallery, art concierge, concept store, cinema, spa and the largest hotel swimming pool in Paris, the hotel is an ideal place to escape the exuberance of a city swarmed with football fanatics. It also houses two Michelin starred restaurants. Try it out

here.

Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris After undergoing extensive renovations last year, Accor’s Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg Hotel is another central option in the capital. For those who want something truly extraordinary, the ‘Couture apartment’ offer guests a living room, library, dining room, and a bedroom with jacuzzi and hammam shower. You can check prices

here.

Located 80 metres from Saint Lazare train station is the Hilton Paris Opera Hotel. As one of Paris’ oldest hotels - it originally opened in 1889 - it was previously known as the Hotel Concorde Opera Paris before Hilton renovated it last year for a cost of around £35 million. Included in the renovation were its 268 rooms and 30 suites. Check it out

here

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Hilton Paris Opera Hotel Other five-star properties in Paris include

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris

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Le Meurice

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Shangri-La Hotel, Paris

. If you have been unable to get a ticket for this summer’s spectacle then fear not; the organisers are setting up a huge fan zone on the Champ de Mars, right at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. And if you really want to make your stay in Paris special, holiday rental company HomeAway is offering the chance to be the first to spend the night inside the Eiffel Tower. Four winners will make history by spending a night inside the iconic tower in a temporary apartment during the tournament.

Flickr: hjjanisch “… the Eiffel Tower is the ideal spot to make the most unforgettable vacation memory of all for some lucky travellers,” said Brian Sharples, HomeAway CEO and Co-Founder. “We're also making a bit of history, as no tourist has ever gotten to sleep inside before. Many of our travellers fall in love with the home as much as the destination and we think this is probably the most special ‘home’ we've had the privilege of opening to our customers.” Additionally, Paris is home to some of the world'd finest restaurants - our favourite being La Table d'Hotes de Hugo Desnoyer, which has possibly the world's best steak - as well as attractions such as Arc de Triomphe, and cultural institutions such as the Louvre.

Other notable cities

With the summer’s footballing festivities taking place across nine French cities, there is plenty to appease everyone. One of the most scenic of these cities is Nice. A city renowned for its architecture, weather and cuisine, Nice makes a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy some tranquility. And how could we talk about France without mentioning Bordeaux, and more succinctly, its wine. Bordeaux plays host to Wales v Slavakia on June 11, and what better excuse is there to explore the region’s world-famous vineyards, with plenty of tasting along the way of course.

Vineyards of the Bordeaux wine region of Blaye This summer's European Championships in France are sure to be quite the spectacle and will no doubt highlight France's tremendous offerings to visitors the world over. No matter your reasons for visiting this extraordinarily unique country, you are sure to be left impressed. We at BusinessClass wish you the best summer possible and lets hope our boys have it in them to take the trophy home come July 10.