FRANCE remains one of our favourite tourist destinations. escape....trawled through a new directory launched by the Association of British Tour Operators to France to find some of the most interesting holidays.

First port of call has to be the ABTOF site itself. www.holidayfrance.org.uk carries loads of useful information and a quick and easy way to shortlist suitable tour operators. The organisation boasts over 200 members offering holidays from camping in the remotest regions to sophisticated Paris breaks.

www.canvasholidays.com is an award-winning holiday company with 40 years' experience, offering mobile home and camping holidays.

Other camping-based sites we would recommend are www.eurocamp.co.uk, www.keycamp.co.uk and www.europarcs.co.uk Campers and caravanners tend to love their style of holiday but if it is not for you then www.bowhills.co.uk offer more than 320 unusual properties throughout France, from villas and chateaux to secluded cottages and watermills. Likewise with www.balfourfrance.co.uk, the emphasis is on luxury accommodation in the Provence and cote d'Azur regions.

If you don't want to travel too far then www.brittany.co.uk is good for cottage and villa holidays in popular Brittany. There are a wide range of prices here and properties catering for parties of up to 20.

One of the pleasures of visiting France is the diversity of holidays on offer. For those with a taste of adventure visit www.tallstories.co.uk. It offers small group trips for singles or couples and provides every adventure sport imaginable.