We rented bikes in Aix with a loose route and no fixed plan. It turned out to be the best decision of the trip.

Skip the landmark checklist. These are the experiences that make people fall for France on repeat.

Most ten-day France trips try to cram in too much. Here's a route that actually gives each region room to breathe.

Skip the list of landmarks. These are the experiences that make people come back to Portugal a second time.

Everyone does Lisbon and Porto and calls it a trip. Here's how to actually plan Portugal — which regions earn a spot, when to go, and how long you really need.