WIN flights, rail and ferry tickets to the Loire Valley

An autumn break in fabulous France awaits you if you win this competition from Maison de la France and Loire Valley tourism

France is a great destination for both short and long breaks. It boasts stunning scenery, is easy and inexpensive to get to, offers everything from beach holidays to snowboarding and produces delicious wines, cheeses, breads and other goodies. One of the most lovely regions is the Loire Valley, famed for its stunning châteaux and fine wines.In fact, it’s now been created a Unesco World Heritage Site. Sound tempting? Well Maison de la France and Loire Valley tourism, in partnership with the four travel firms below, are offering readers the following prizes:

BRITTANY FERRIES
One pair of return tickets

Nothing beats the convenience of taking your car to France, and there’s no better way to holiday there than with Brittany Ferries. Sail from Portsmouth, Poole or Plymouth for easy access to the Loire Valley, and choose from a wide range of holidays. This autumn you can enjoy three nights for the price of two at a range of hotels, or save up to 20 per cent on many holiday cottages.

RYANAIR
Two pairs of return tickets from Stansted to Tours

Ryanair is Europe’s largest low fares airline and will carry more than 42 million passengers this year. Ryanair currently has 410 routes in 24 countries and 17 bases. Ryanair flies from London (Stansted) to Tours.

RAIL EUROPE
One pair of first-class return rail tickets to Blois and one pair to Orleans, including travel by Eurostar from London or Ashford in Kent

Rail Europe is a specialist in French and European rail travel. Its network of 300km/hr services carries you swiftly and comfortably to hundreds of destinations, without traffic jams or lengthy airport check-ins.

FLYBE
One pair of return tickets, plus accommodation

Flybe believes that low fares shouldn’t mean low service. In comparison to the budget competition, Flybe continues to focus on the quality of the service it provides and on keeping its customers happy.

Click here to enter the competiton.

Prize description and terms and conditions

a) A weekend break in Angers for two people, courtesy of Flybe and the Anjou Tourist Board.

- The prize includes one pair of return tickets between Southampton Airport and Angers, courtesy of Flybe (taxes included).

- Three nights accommodation in a three-star hotel (breakfast included) for two people in Angers.

- The prize must be taken either on 12 October 2006 (coming back on 15 October 2006) or on 26 October 2006 (coming back on 29 October 2006).

- Any other costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the winner.

- The closing date is 9 October 2006.

b) Two pairs of Ryanair flights from London (Stansted) to Tours.

- Flights are strictly subject to availability.

- Flights must be book before 30 November 2006.

- Travel valid for: the month of November 2006, or 15 January-15 March 2007 excl. Fridays, Sundays, holidays and peak periods.

- Advance purchase: 14 days

- Flights are free - just taxes, fees and charges to be paid (taxes vary by airport).

- Booking vouchers will be sent to the winners by the newspaper, and the winners must fill out the vouchers and fax them back to the number on the voucher. Passengers will receive their confirmation no. via e-mail.

- There is an acceptance by both parties that seat availability will become more limited towards the end of the promotion, and it is further understood that there will be some applications that it may not be possible to accommodate, particularly towards the end of this promotion, as we will not extend this offer.

- Ryanair Ltd reserves its absolute right to determine the actual number of seats available under the promotion on each flight, and indeed to provide no seats on certain peak-day departures.

1. Passengers will not be allocated a ticket, as Ryanair.com is a " ticketless" airline. A booking reference, which must be quoted at check-in will be issued. All passengers must be in possession of a valid passport for all Ryanair flights (a photo driving licence for UK domestic flights is also acceptable).

2. The number of seats available for this promotion on each flight is strictly subject to availability.

3. Passengers are responsible for their own insurance. It is recommended that passengers take out suitable travel insurance (Ryanair sells excellent-value travel insurance through its website).

4. Ryanair accepts no responsibility or liability for hotel accommodation.

5. Ryanair accepts no responsibility for third-party products derived from Hertz, Ryanair hotels, activity breaks or tourist boards.

6. No child discounts are permitted. Infants travel for £7/€10.

7. All bookings are subject to Ryanair's terms and conditions of travel, incorporating Ryanair's general conditions of carriage for passengers and baggage from time to time in force, and which are available for inspection on www.ryanair.com

8. Transfer to onwards destinations are not the responsibility of either Ryanair or the hotel. Passengers must organise their own transfers as they see fit.

9. Bus/transfer service is the sole responsibility of the relevant bus/transfer companies. Ryanair shall not be held responsible for late or cancelled buses/taxis or flights that are missed as a result of delayed/non-arrival of buses/taxis.

10. Ryanair reserves the right to vary any of the terms and conditions of this offer at its absolute discretion.

11. Ryanair cannot be responsible for those passengers who are unable to make a booking on the internet as indicated in the promotional text.

12. Ryanair reserves the right to cancel this promotion without notice or obligation.

c) Return tickets for two passengers, plus car, courtesy of Brittany Ferries.

- The prize includes a pair of return tickets for two passengers and a car between Portsmouth and Caen, courtesy of Brittany Ferries.

- The tickets are valid for travel from 1 November 2006 to 30 April 2007.

- Accommodation is not included.

- Any other costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the winner.

- The closing date is 8 November 2006.

d) Two pairs of first-class return rail tickets to the Loire Valley, including travel from London or Ashford by Eurostar, courtesy of Rail Europe.

- The prize includes two pairs of first-class return rail tickets to Blois and another to Orleans, including travel from London or Ashford by Eurostar, courtesy of Rail Europe.

- The prize must be taken by 31 December 2006.

- The prize does not include accommodation, train supplements or travel insurance.

- Any other costs and expenses will be the responsibility of the winner.

- The closing date is 8 November 2006.

General terms and conditions

1. There will be one draw per prize. Each prize draw is open to all UK residents aged 18 and over and not employed by MDLF, The Independent, Ryanair, Flybe, Brittany Ferries, Rail Europe Ltd, the Anjou, Touraine, Loiret and Loir-et-Cher Tourist Boards, their families or agents, as well as persons directly involved in the administration of this prize draws.

2. No purchase is necessary. Entries for each competition must be received by the dates stated. MDLF and The Independent cannot accept any responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed or modified in transit.

3. Entry to each competition is restricted to one entry per household. Addresses will be checked.

4. MDLF, The Independent and its partners reserve the right to suspend, change or terminate the prize draws at any time and for any reason, without notice. It is a condition of entry that the rules are accepted as final and that the entrants agree to abide by the rules. The prizes are not transferable, not exchangeable and there is no cash alternative. There will be no refund in the event of cancellation by the client. These prizes are subject to availability and are to be taken as described here above.

5. All correct and complete entries will be entered into the prize draws, which will take place on the dates stated above. The prizes are not available in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.

6. The prizes will be awarded to the first names drawn at random from all complete entries received for the competitions. The winners will be notified by e-mail within 48 hours for the Flybe and Ryanair prizes, and within 28 days for the Rail Europe and Brittany Ferries prizes. The judges' and editor's decision will be final. MDLF and its partners will not enter into correspondence on any matter to do with the prize draws. The decision of MDLF and its partners shall be final and legally binding.

7. Winners will be responsible for insurance and making the necessary health checks.

8. Neither the promoter, MDLF, nor The Independent will be liable for any circumstances beyond its reasonable control that prevent a prize being taken up by a winner.

9. By entering this promotion, entrants are agreeing to abide by these rules and any conditions.

10. Standard Independent competition rules apply (see www.independent.co.uk/legal).

11. Promoter: Maison de la France, 178 Piccadilly, London W1J 9AL.