Here are just a few of the towns and their attractions to be found along the coast:

Nice

Probably one of the city’s most famous features is the 7km long Promenade des Anglais, named after those English tourists. It follows the coast, is long and wide and is a magnet for line skaters and skateboarders as well as promenaders (it’s wide enough to accommodate everyone).

The Old Town is not to be missed and neither is the pedestrianised Cours Saleya, home to a fruit and flower market some days, an antiques market the rest of the week, and lots of restaurants and cafes for lunch and dinner. Beautiful Belle Epoque buildings including the gorgeous Negresco Hotel grace the city with their presence.

Nice, French Riviera by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez is of course well known for its rich, famous visitors, and the eye-bogglingly expensive yachts belonging to these people are certainly worth a stroll round in Quai Jean Jaurès.

There’s a 16th century citadel on a hill overlooking the town from which there’s a great view out to sea and if you’re in the mood for a proper walk, take advantage of the 7 mile track around the coast to the Pampelonne beaches, past Bridge Bardot’s house and Roger Vadim’s grave.

Saint-Tropez, French Riviera by Alessandro Prada

Cannes

Home of course to the film festival in May when you’ll be hard-pressed to find a luxury hotel, the old town (Le Suquet) on the hill is accessible all year round and a wonderful place for people-watching while sitting at a cafe. Cannes, too has its share of big boats that can be viewed in the Old Port area.

The city’s equivalent of the Promenade des Anglais, and just as famous, is the La Croisette with the sea on one side and a myriad of expensive hotels and palm trees on the other.

Cannes, French Riviera by Christophe.Finot

These are all famous, large towns well-visited by multitudes of tourists, but there are also some smaller towns on the French Rivieria …

Julie is a world traveller who loves combining her passion for writing and travelling in fantastic short travel guides. She also writes for Fortina Spa Resort, one of the top Hotels in Malta, situated in a prime seafront location overlooking the capital city Valletta.

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Whether you’re looking to go cheap and park up at a campsite or live a little and get a nice hotel, you’ll always have your car with you in order to travel the local areas, or even go for a day trip to a location that’s perhaps a few miles away. Of course a trip such as this requires a specific budget for petrol or diesel, so getting hold of a Chooseafuelcard.com Fuel Cards might help out with fuel management.

The only problem that ever really occurs is choosing where to go. Here are a few ideas.

Grenoble, France by Jörg Sancho Pernas

South of France

Traveling through the heart of the French countryside, first of all you’ll have a very pleasant journey, but also the chance to stop off at the numerous towns and cities along the way, including Dijon, Lyon and Grenoble.

Once arrived in the southern coast, there is a plethora of locations you can choose from, the next more glamorous than the last. The likes of Nice and Cannes allow great shopping destinations, whilst also taking in the wondrous views of the coastline and the Mediterranean. Monaco is just a completely different experience altogether and seeing the likes of the Casino Square can really open your eyes to a lifestyle only few in this world can enjoy frequently.

Monaco by Georges DICK

Northern Italy

There are a varied amount of destinations in the north of Italy which can offer unique experiences all in one holiday. The main point of call would be the fashion and style hub of Milan for a couple of days in the city, splashing a bit of cash and eating great food. From there, you can make the trip south-west to San Remo and enjoy the great coastline of another stylish location that is similar in some ways to Monaco, not least because of the fancy casino the town has.

If that wasn’t your bag, you could always go further north from Milan and visit the glam of Lake Como and Lake Maggiore on the Swiss border. Going east would see you eventually come across the likes of Verona and even the amazing city of Venice.

Lake Como, Italy by Joyborg

East coast of Spain

This is a trip probably reserved for those die-hard families that love to be together in a car for a very long time, but the east coast of Spain harbours some of the great summer locations Europe has to offer.

First stop would be Barcelona for a great city experience and a number of cliché tourist visits to the likes of the Cathedral, Las Rambles and Camp Nou football stadium. Next up is a drive south to the beautiful coastal city of Valencia for some sunbathing and relaxing.

Further down the coast includes destinations such as Benidorm for a good night out and Alicante for a more of an all-rounder.

Alicante, Spain by Julo (Best of European Union)

About the author: Sam writes for Chooseafuel.com who offer various fuel cards for pretty much everyone on the European continent, whether you need it for a petrol car of a diesel LPG. For more information click here.

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Saint-Tropez, France by Zoé de Saint-Tropez

1 – Convenience

If travelling from the UK, you can reach Calais and Le Havre in a few short hours or less. By comparison, a trip to the South of France can involve a longer flight, and day or two of driving. In this way, the North of France is recommended for people that want a quicker getaway, or don’t want to have to transport young children on a long journey.

2 – Cities

There are many excellent cities in both the North and the South of France. The North’s distinction comes through it being the location of Paris. However, travels to the South can take in the similarly large, if not quite as diverse, cities of Nice and Marseille along the French Riviera. Travellers going to the South West of France can also enjoy the historic city of Bordeaux.

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France by Trey Ratcliff

3 – Temperature

Those wanting to enjoy the sun and the beach are probably better off heading south than trying the climate of the Northern part of France, which is broadly similar to the UK. The South’s Mediterranean climate is much hotter, and features many more sandy beaches. Marseille and Nice are particularly popular for tourists. Visitors to the South and France’s Eastern border with Switzerland can also enjoy the sun and the skiing opportunities of the French Alps.

4 – Cultural Differences

While there are no major differences in terms of language and shared culture between the North and the South of France, there are a few contrasts that should be taken into consideration. The South of France is generally more tourist driven, and most French people will travel to it as part of their own holidays. The pace of life in the South is also slower and more relaxed in the larger cities and resorts. Cities like Monte Carlo are more expensive than the towns of the North. Food in the South is similarly more Mediterranean in terms of the use of spices and local fish delicacies.

Marseille, Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur, France by marcovdz

5 – Travel Options

Being based in the North or the South of France will create different opportunities for further travel. On the other hand, being based in the North means that you can easily travel onto Belgium and Germany, while also gaining access to the Netherlands. By contrast, a trip to the South of France creates the chance to travel to Switzerland and Germany via the Alps, as well as heading west to Spain and Portugal. The South of France is also a good base for journeys on to the North of Africa and parts of Greece.

Conclusions

Taken together, those wanting a short journey, and the opportunity to enjoy Paris and cooler temperatures should consider the North of France, while those after sun and beaches, and a more Mediterranean holiday, can head south. Again, however, there is no reason not to enjoy both during the course of a longer trip.

Brought to you by the bloggers from Cheznous. Offering holidays in France.

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Musée du Louvre, Paris / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Kevin Poh

A seaside break

South of France, which houses the Rivera, is one of the top choices when it comes to sea side holidays. The Rivera hosts tourist hotspots like Nice, Monaco, St. Tropez and Cannes. These places are famous as the playground of the rich and the famous. Bumping into a celebrity, while taking a walk on the beach, is not uncommon. Cannes is also popular as the host of the prestigious annual international film festival. A holiday in one of these towns allows you to experience the lifestyle of the rich and the famous first hand.

Summer is hot and warm, while the winter is mild and short in the south of France. Summer is also the peak tourist season. If you decide to visit this region during summer months, you should be prepared for the hoards of tourists. For more relaxed holidays, it is advisable to visit during winter months. If your idea of an ideal holiday is sun, sand and surf, south of France is an ideal choice.

A cultural retreat

France is well known for art and culture. There are a large number of art galleries and museums in Paris worth a visit. The city also hosts Louvre, the largest museum in the world. Here you will come face to face with some of the most treasured works of art. These masterpieces have the power to take you to a whole new world. This is a great way to discover the historic heritage of Europe. The city also features a number of architecturally rich cathedrals.

The caves and castles of the Dordogne and the Roman remains in Provence are other culturally exciting options.  A charming French chateau is a perfect place to stay during your cultural retreat. These chateaux are a part of history themselves. There are numerous such properties across the country available for holiday rentals.

Burger Davis Sotheby’s International Realty are a leading provider of luxury property to rent or buy on the French Riviera. Rental properties are ideal for those looking for a high quality villa or apartment and are perfect for corporate rentals and the numerous festivals held in the South of France.

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Photo by elegantfrenchcruises.com

There are many reasons why you might be considering working on a barge in France and luckily for you there are normally a bunch of job opportunities every year as the French canals are an increasingly popular destination for tourists from all over the world to vacation, as well as the French themselves.

What Jobs Are There?

A cruising barge is normally sold as a slice of luxury, a bit like a hotel, so there is a wide range of jobs you could do:

• Captain, Deck Officer or Deck Hand
• Mechanic or Bus Driver
• Host, Steward, Tour guide, Translator or Cabin staff
• Chef, Barman or Waiter

Depending on your strengths there is sure to be one of these roles that leaps out at you. If you’re good at steering boats and look good in uniform, you might be the perfect captain. If you speak French and English well, are charming as the day is long and know your way around the canals and nearby vineyards, you are a perfect host or tour guide. If you’re scared of water, you may have to settle for being a bus driver that meets the boat at its scheduled stops to take people to attractions and on excursions.

Where Do You Find These Jobs?

Any website or agency that recruits staff for airlines, ferries and cruise liners will normally have a section just for canal cruise staff. Online is the obvious choice and a minimal amount of searching will quickly offer you several places to register. (Crewconnected.com is a suggestion.)

Alternatively you could just travel to the place where you want to work from (e.g. the south of France) at the beginning of the summer season and look for a cruise barge. Introduce yourself and you might get lucky.

What Will The Work Be Like?

It depends what job you’re doing but if you are a steward or a barman you will find that you spend much of your time living on the boat, tending to the guests and generally making everyone happy. You won’t be working 24/7 though and you will have days to spend time on dry land. The scenery should be typically lovely and if you’re there in the height of summer you can expect to get a good tan.

Sound like a life for you?

Jean Gaul is a French river cruises veteran. He started with a short canal cruise vacation in Burgundy 10 years ago and is now captain and owns his own fleet of luxury barges.

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Photo by best-of-european-union.eu

Over 11 million British holiday makers head to France each year, with many of those packing a tent or towing a caravan to provide their accommodation for the week or two that they’re en France!

Whether you’re heading for the sun drenched beaches of the south of France, the rural charm of Provence or the wine filled vineyards of the Loire there are a few essential items that are important to include before you leave home.

1. Spare wheel – make sure yours is legal and that you have the relevant jack and wrench – and the locking wheel nut tool if you have one. There’s only one thing worse than a flat tyre while you’re on holiday and that’s not having a spare!
2. A Liber  t-tag.  Keep on trucking with a pre bought and registered French tolls t-tag. When all you want to do is get to your pitch, pop the tent up and start enjoying your holiday, the last thing you want to do is queue up with all the other non-French tourists at the Autoroute toll booths. Well now you don’t have to as – for the very first time – the Liber – t tag can be ordered and paid for in the UK, using your UK bank account and the good old British pound. Paying French tolls has never been quicker or easier.
3. Sat Nav including French Maps – AND a map. Many of us have a Sat Nav for the UK and some of us just assume that it will carry on working whilst we’re aboard. But this is not the case, you need to get French mapping software and make sure you know how to use it before you go away. You also need a map – just in case the Sat Nav fails, gets stolen or suddenly decides you’re actually in Italy and not in France – it does happen!
4. A good cooker and a kettle. We Brits don’t half like our tea and in my experience – the French don’t. So it’s essential for the good of all to be able to brew up whenever the mood takes us. From beside the road on a break from driving to every lovely, lazy and relaxed morning of the holiday – there’s nothing like a good cup of tea.
5. A big cool box. No matter how precious you think the space is in your car, caravan, camper van etc. In our experience a nice big cool box is essential for keeping water and juice cold while you’re traveling and beer and wine chilled for when you get there and start unwinding.

As a regular traveller to France, Rachel Wheats makes use of Sanef Tollings Liber-t tag to take the hassle out of paying French tolls.

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Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages of France. Thanks to the nearby ocher mines, which are a major tourist attraction, has the whole village a reddish colour. Also, the local soil has all the shades of red, ranging from beige to dark red. It used to be mined 17 different colors of ocher – purple, red, orange, yellow, and many others. The history of this site dates back to 230 million years ago, when all the area of Provence was under the sea. The sand at the bottom contained iron, which later oxidized, and such created the ocher.

Already the ancient Romans used it to produce glazes on pottery. In 18th century the local residents found out how to adjust the pigment to be resistant to water. With this discovery, a new industry of colors began. Such colors could be used not only for surface treatment of ceramic products, but also in painting houses. The production of colours decreased in 50′s of 20th century. Nowadays, the ocher is not mining any more and this pigment is produced artificially. The village, however, maintain the original color, and together with its surrounding it is a protected area.

In the village you can walk through the narrow and steep streets that are lined with houses with beautiful red-colored facades, houses the souvenir shops. The beautiful village of Roussillon is unfortunately flooded with crowds in the summer, so if you want to enjoy its unique atmosphere, it is good to visit in a spring or autumn.

View Roussillon – the sunniest region in France in a larger map

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