Toll charges on the rise

From 1st February 2014, the toll charge on Escota motorways in the south of France will rise by up to 20 cents. The increase will affect people travelling across the Alpes Maritimes, the Var and from Aix en Provence to Italy.

In the Alpes Maritimes, just one toll price will rise in Antibes by 10 cents, pushing the total cost to three euros. Meanwhile in the Var, toll rates will jump by 10 cents between Le Muy and Puget sur Argens, and also between Saint Maximim and Trans en Provence.

On the Aix en Provence and Italy stretch, the toll price will hike by an extra 20 cents. This adds up to a 0.73% rise on average for motorways managed by Escota.

Chill out in a French chateau

Enjoy almost 50% discount when you stay at the Hôtel Château Cléry, Rue du Chateau, Hesdin Labbé, 62360. Tel 00 33 321 831 983; http://www.clery.najeti.fr.

Set in 12 acres of parkland, and just a short drive from Calais, the 18th-century Hôtel Château Cléry is easily accessible via the Eurotunnel or ferry. With this offer, you can visit this historic hotel for just £79 per room, per night.

What's included and when

• Valid Sunday-Friday from 1 February to 30 April
• An overnight stay for two people in a Deluxe double room
• A buffet breakfast (worth £26)
• A welcome cocktail – this will vary, depending on the day you arrive (worth £16.50)
• Complimentary access to the hotel's fitness area and sauna
• Alternatively, stay on a Saturday night for £99

Mobile beneath the waves

The Channel tunnel has until now meant a pause from the multifarious ringtones of mobile phones. But, from this spring, Eurotunnel passengers will be able to make calls from beneath the waves.

The north tunnel, through which Eurostar and car-carrying shuttle passengers are transported from Britain to the continent, is to be plugged into the mobile phone network for the first time.

British operators Vodafone and EE, owner of the Orange and T-Mobile brands, have recently signed a 10-year contract to offer mobile and internet services beneath the Channel, and expect to have the service ready by March. EE is promising 4G by summer 2014, and Vodafone intends to make the fast mobile internet technology available in future.

Save up to 25% on 2014 Holidays

Customers can save up to 25% on Brittany Ferries range of cottage holidays, apartments, villas and hotels in France, Spain and Portugal on both accommodation and return sailings. This is available for travel throughout 2014 (this is even available during the Easter and summer holidays).

Booking until: 03/02/2014. Website link.

Fixed-rate taxis to/from railway stations

Those busy bees at SNFC, the French Railway Network, continue to work at improving their services. One of the newer ideas is the Porte-à-Porte taxi service to and from certain train stations (currently Paris: Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est, Austerlitz and Bercy; Aix-en-Provence; Lyon; Massy; Nantes; Rennes and Strasbourg, with more stations being added gradually) for a pre-paid, fixed price starting at €9.90 for up to 4 people including bags.

All you need to do is complete the form online with your address and train info and it gives you the price (click on 'Nos Tarifs' to get a quote without train info). The driver will send you a text message just before your pick-up, and will wait if your train is delayed.

As it’s a fixed rate and pre-paid, you both avoid waiting in line or getting overcharged. Book the day before your trip no later than 8pm.

Note: At the moment  this service seems to exist only on the French website, not on the English site. http://www.pap.sncf.com/starcab/ Of course, that may change.

Memorial tourism

The year 2014 will see two major commemorative events in France: (1) the 100-year anniversary of the start of the First World War, and (2) the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

This so-called 'Memorial Tourism' offers the opportunity to experience heritage sites that contribute to the visitor's knowledge of the history and culture of a place. Fundamentally, Memorial Tourism has four key elements:

1. to bear witness to the events of the past

2. to explain the events, and put them in perspective

3. to encourage reflection by future generations

4. to encourage economic development of places that might otherwise lack significant tourist attractions

Some people question the validity of this form of tourism, but the counter-argument is that it enables visitors to understand history in a positive, if sometimes emotional way. In particular, there are four types of sites that are favoured as part of this approach:

1. Historical sites, where significant events occurred, such as Oradour-sur-Glane.

2. Commemorative sites, i.e. places dedicated to paying respects and remembering, e.g. the Somme BattlefieldMemorials

3. Informative sites, that approach history from a specific angle, e.g. the Caen Memorial

4. Educational sites, which seek to place history within a wider, more educational approach.

More information: http://connexionfrance.com/Memorial-tourists-visitors-First-World-Day-D-Day-Normandy-Christian-Mantei-15335-view-article.html

New Year changes in France

Postal charges increase by an average of 3% with the price of a stamp passing from €0.63 to €0.66.

VAT on cinema tickets drops from 7% to 5.5% with under-14s offered a new flat €4 rate to see a film.