Paris is always a good idea- Audrey Hepburn in the movie 'Sabrina'.

I am yet to meet a person who can say that visiting France has not crossed his mind, even once. Whether Paris is in your list of dream destinations or visiting France was in the back of your mind for a while, here are the 10 top reasons you must not postpone packing your bags.

The country: Paris is beautiful, period. But i need to add that the rest of the country have a charm of its own-. Cote d' Azur (French Riviera) with its alluring coastal resorts, the sea and sun,glitz and glamour of Monaco ,Rhone Alps with its snow topped peaks,ski resorts, Mt. Blanc (highest point in Europe) and the serene and scenic tiny French villages in the valleys, Normandy with its quite beach retreats, spectacular landscape and coasts.-this country will not disappoint even its most cynical visitors.

The lifestyle: Be French in France- Buy a baguette and munch it along the way, sip an espresso in a cafe in a lazy afternoon watching people walk past by, take a walk along Seine in a crispy morning, get dressed up, hop on into a metro, slow down, be cool – you fit in better and enjoy more when you do things the local way.

The history: The world's supposedly most beautiful avenue ,Champs-Élysées ends in the place de la concorde where many years back as many as 2800 people including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette(infamous for her statement, 'Let them eat cake') were guillotined. It is said that the smell of blood was so strong that a herd of cattle refused to cross that place. Now the place is full of beautiful fountains and colorful lights luring tourists from all over the world. The poo stains on the walls of Notre damme stands as another reminder of the French revolution. These places are fascinating and the history behind only makes them more so.

The cuisine: A French friend of mine told me that he once attended a dinner which lasted for a solid 7 hours and after being here for a few years here I was not surprised. Each region in France has its own list of gastronomical delights. The typical French meal starts with entrée and ends with pousse-café (a small alcoholic drink which is supposed to push the coffee taken before it) and as much as 7 courses in between. Wine and cheese are important in any meal. The cuisine has seasonal variation too- Game is eaten in the winter, shell fish and oysters in spring and vegetables in summer. Foie gras (which is the liver of an overfed goose or duck) is often served as a delicacy (there are often activities calling for a ban on gavage feeding employed in its making). Their cuisine is definitely worth the money and experience. The French take their food and their well being seriously. (most French are fit, the occasional obese person is often a tourist).

The language: French is full of very picturesque expressions and idioms. Its interesting to note how much of those idioms are food related.(Lâche pas la patate! Don’t give up! Literally: Don’t let go of the potato,C'est la fin des haricots-Its the finish of green beans, meaning its hopeless, Les carrottes sont cuites- The carrots are burnt, meaning I have had it and nothing can change it). Some expressions teach us the French way of life (Pas de nouvelle, bonne nouvelle- meaning no news is good news, in business this may mean if you dont hear from your client, you are doing fine). I have no idea of how romantic the language is,but it is full of interesting expressions.

The people: The French are curt and we have all heard about it. Many call it stereotyping and give tips of approaching a French person with “Bonjour, parlez vous anglais” which will change them in to friendly, smiling people who are willing to please. But the fact is that it doesn't as 99% of visitors who land in CDG airport prepare themselves with this phrase to near perfection and their experience is no different. If somebody pleasantly answers you in English it only can mean two things- You are his/her client in a business or you are lucky or most often both. But as a tourist the experience is much smoother, I feel. It is the expats who are trying to settle down, who are hardest hit.

The wine: The French experience is not complete without tasting their wine. Not only do they have specific wine for specific occasions, they have specific wine for specific dishes. It is common to see local bars/pubs displaying a date when a special wine bottle dated years back is to be opened. Every November, in the third Thursday, one minute past midnight ,the fresh harvest of the year is released with enthusiasm(“Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé!”)

The events: With the Nice carnival in February, Poisson d' Avril in April, Bastille day in July, Gourmet festival in November and Noel in December- the country is full of events throughout the year. From soaking in the sun on the beaches in summer to skiing in Alps in winter, there is something for everyone all around the year.

The fashion: I know its is not possible for most of us to shop in one of those glamorous boutiques in Champs-Élysées . But what I find unique and impressive here is people dressing up as a means of self expression. Its unusual to see teenagers hanging out in similar looking branded wears. Traveling in metro during summer can be like watching a fashion parade- a real feast to eyes.

The factor: When you are back from your vacation, and in the company of your friends, you pull out a picture of you standing in front of Eiffel tower or relaxing in the resorts in cote d'Azur, and you watch the look on their faces – this is what I call the jaw dropping factor. And that is definitely worth the trip to France.