Many years ago, in the days before the internet, if you needed help planning a trip to Paris , you would have to pick up the phone and call a friend who was there, hoping they could give you some tips. Later, forums came into the world where people could help each other and, above all, argue. However, all of that is long gone, and today you have your conversations about France on Facebook.
Not all Facebook groups are created equal. Some are full of lovely people who are only too happy to help, while others are run by shady types who you should stay away from. So today let me tell you about some recommended Facebook groups where you can ask questions, get tips, tell about your wonderful trip, and generally stay in touch with a community of Francophiles like you.
What is the difference between a Facebook page and a Facebook group?
Most of you, I hope, are familiar with the Anonymous Francophiles Facebook page (and if not, then it's time to stop, click on the link, like, and return to the article). A Facebook page is a kind of one-way communication medium: let me talk and you listen (a kind of internet monarchy).
Hence, the purpose of the page for you is mainly to keep up to date with the latest articles that have been published or with events that may interest you. This is why it is recommended that you not only like but also follow the page. How do you do this? Take a look at the image below.
But what happens if you want to post something on the page? In theory, you could post there, but you'd find that almost no one saw it. The reason for this is Facebook's mechanism that only alerts people who follow the page when I post something there.
So what do you do if you want to share something with other Francophiles or ask a question? That's exactly what Facebook groups were invented for.
In a Facebook group, anyone can, in theory, write whatever they want and all group members can see and respond. Therefore, it is the best tool to hear and speak and have conversations about everything related to France. If you enter the groups I manage, you will find that I am a fairly liberal person and as long as you maintain appropriate language and do not insert marketing content (without my prior approval), I will be happy to allow you to publish anything.
So now that we've gotten to know Facebook groups, let me recommend some Facebook groups that are highly recommended to follow.
Facebook groups about France that I manage
Paris tips from Francophiles
After years of managing groups of others dealing with Paris, I decided it was time to start a group “in my own image and in my own image” where I could, with the help of other Francophiles, answer questions from people traveling to the City of Lights, and of course share tips and impressions from my trips.
Please note: The group was founded in October 2022 and is therefore currently quite small. Given time, I believe the group will grow and become one of the leading groups on the network, but in the meantime, you are welcome to enjoy the intimate atmosphere (and invite friends there of course 🙂 ).
Brittany for travelers
I managed this group together with the late Danny Ashkenazi, who is known to you for his wonderful articles and for the castle in which he lives . Here you can get information about Brittany and perhaps in the future, if there is a demand for it, about Normandy as well.
Since Danny passed away in 2020, I am currently managing the group alone, however, if any of you are interested in helping me manage the group, you are welcome to contact me.
Bordeaux, Périgord and the Basque Country for the Traveler
The goal of this group is to provide you with comprehensive information about southwest France, especially Bordeaux , Périgord, and the Basque Country. The group is co-managed by Yona Mitrani-Mazor, who lives in Bordeaux and runs tours there in Hebrew. You can learn more about her on the Fall in Love with Bordeaux page.
The Loire Valley for the Traveler
This is one of the new groups I started and its goal is to answer questions related to the Loire Valley (castles, accommodation, etc.).
Other recommended Facebook groups about France
After I told you about the Facebook groups I manage, it's time to recommend other great Facebook groups.
France
An excellent group that covers all of France , including areas I haven't had time to cover yet (e.g. French Alps). I really like this group and its owners and even help them manage the community.
Israelis traveling in Provence
An excellent group with a lot of information about the Provence region.
Paris for Israelis
Although it is not the largest group dealing with Paris, it is in my opinion the oldest. It is a very friendly group with a vibrant community and the first Facebook group I joined.
Paris Travel Tips
Another lovely Facebook group where you can ask questions about Paris and get answers from a variety of experts.
Hiking in Rosh Tov
This wonderful group is run by a number of lovely travel bloggers. It is a great group not only if you are looking for information about France but also if you are planning a trip to other countries.
Recommended WhatsApp group dealing with Paris
In recent years, WhatsApp has become a favorite tool for many Israelis to obtain information. As a result, quite a few groups have been created that deal with Paris (just like mushrooms after the rain). If you are looking for a group with knowledgeable people like Yehudit Marmelstein and Yoel Tamanlis , I recommend the group Paris Tips for Travelers . You will find a pleasant atmosphere there and accurate and quick answers to all your questions. And sometimes you will even get them directly from me 🙂
So what now?
As mentioned, these are the groups that exist today. All of them are quite new, so you will find a particularly intimate atmosphere there. You are more than welcome to register for these groups, ask questions, and share your experiences with us, because groups that do not have a lot of dialogue are dead groups.
Signing up for groups is very easy, all you have to do is click on the link for each group and request to be accepted. We will be happy to approve you as soon as possible and…that’s it. The group is at your service 🙂
Looking forward to seeing you in the various groups soon.
post Scriptum.
If you think more groups like this should be created, I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. What other groups would you like to see?
More on the subject