Imagine stepping on a plane and being in a sun-soaked European destination one hour later.

Bournemouth Airport now hosts flights operated by Flybe four times a week to the beautiful and historic area of Normandy which are fast, comfortable and take you to the door of the small seaside port of Deauville.

Once you step off the plane, there’s a host of places to visit in the region whether you are looking for some art and architecture, French cuisine and seafood to die for, a romantic weekend away or just an adventure.

Deauville − Normandy Airport offers hire cars which can be booked in advance and picked up on arrival, which proved a welcome sight instead of taking luggage on a shuttle bus.

The first night I stayed at Hotel Oscar in Le Havre, an area which is described as the birth place of Impressionism, featuring a Unesco city centre designed by artist, Auguste Perret.

While the tall towerblocks of flats may all be grey, a huge amount of creativity and precision by Perret means that they are symmetrical and intriguing to see. An absolute must for art and architecture fans is also the divine St Joseph Church, another building designed by the artist and the MuMa Art Gallery, which was destroyed by bombings in 1944. However the decision was made to rebuild it just seven years later and the venue has gone on to be remodelled into a bright white building with huge glass windows to draw in natural light.

Lunch in the medieval port of Honfleur is absolute treat with numerous places to choose from for dining and pretty little shops selling trinkets and bottles of Calvados, an apple brandy from the French region in lower Normandy.

From a distance, the area looked like something from a film set with ascending rows of houses situated up the hills and a church spire peeping over.

The seaside resort of Deauville is just a short drive away and offers a golden sandy beach, boutiques including the very spot where Coco Chanel opened her first store in 1913.

Deauville has a racecourse owned by France Gallop, which rather than being an elitist affair, is a family-friendly venue offering the chance for parents to bring along their children to enjoy the thrill of the sport.

The area also houses a grand casino and plays host to an American Film Festival in September every year which has welcomed stars over the years including Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Clooney, Eva Mendes and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Overnight I stayed at Hotel Continental, at 1 Rue Desire le Hoc, 14800 Deauville, which offered large spacious rooms, cosy beds and lovely French windows to throw open and look down at the busy street below.

During my final day in Normandy, I crossed the bridge to Trouville, which is a must for seafood fans, with an old covered market offering oysters, shrimps, and platters of various fresh fish on beds of ice.

In my personal opinion, this area offered the epitome of outdoor dining as people sat on round tables sharing nice food and wine while the sun shone over them.

Every restaurant along the waterside offered tables and chairs which were quickly filled by hungry visitors and I was told that many Parisians will travel there on a Saturday or Sunday lunchtime just purely for the local food.

During my time in Normandy, as a self-confessed picky eater, I enjoyed crepes, to-die-for omelettes using gruyere cheese, fresh salads, locally-made wine and delicious salted caramels.

Considering the short travel time on Flybe’s service and with fares from £24.99 per person one day, I believe that trip to Normandy can be a last-minute, enjoyable trip for anybody. And when you get to France, you can look forward to dining like a king.