Hi!

My friend and I are planning to go on holiday in the summer before we go to uni (next summer) and we're currently looking at Provence and Cote d'Azur.

Just wondering, really, if anyone had been to or knows anyone who has been to this region, and if so, if they have any ideas as to good hotels/apartments around the £700 bracket, per person, for one week. We've just started looking at brochures and are looking at a few places (and reviewing them on trip advisor!), but there's so many to choose from.

So yes, any ideas are very much appreciated

France is lovely - we go to the south if time permits (in the summer usually) and otherwise (eg half term) to Normandy.

Provence and the Cote d'Azur are very popular, but do get very crowded in summer. For what it's worth, we tend to steer clear of the more popular areas and stay a bit further west. I'm guessing a beach may be essential though? Are you intending to hire a car? I know of some very pleasant smaller places a bit inland, but mostly an hour or so to the coast.

We did spend a few days at Menton (almost in Italy!) last autumn and enjoyed it very much. I can't remember how much but it didn't strike me as expensive. A family run hotel one block back from the beach - I will look up the reference.

Laura - this is the place we stayed last year

http://www.logis-de-france.fr/uk/recherch/index-ca.htm

It's situated at the western end of the town, an easy stroll into the centre, and about 20 minutes to the marina and old town area. It's not particularly posh and the rooms are fairly simple but we were ok there. We stayed off season and the dining room wasn't open, so I can't comment on the food, except that the breakfasts were fine. Plenty of places to eat in the town too.

(ed) sorry - I see the link only takes you just past the logis homepage, not to the hotel's page.

Do a search on Hotel de Londres, Menton on the logis site.

Ooh thank you very much Maggiemay for posting the link etc - I'm looking at that hotel now

Yes, we were looking at places with a beach, but wouldn't be hiring a car because neither of us have passed our tests yet (although hopefully I should've by then seeing as my test is next week), and I wouldn't want to drive abroad and it would be very expensive. So somewhere which has shops/restaurants nearby would be perfect!!

Hopefully we're not being too picky, but I guess we'll find out what's possible and what's not with more research!!

Thanks again for your post, I'll definitely check out Menton

Laura

You're very welcome - ok, then you'd need transport to and from Nice airport, should be a bus or something - I think it took about an hour by car, and it's a very pretty drive along the coast. Menton would be quite a good place to be without a car - ie not isolated, shops and restaurants around.

For some of the other places I could recommend you would need a car, which is partly why I asked.

Another town which we like is Pezenas; interesting history and some lovely pedestrian streets with quirky shops. Fabulous market on Saturdays. Haven't actually stayed there so can't recommend a hotel. It's much further west (oh, and it's not on the coast). I don't know what it's like for getting to and from, though - nearest airport might be Montpellier.

Many of my friends have managed to go all over Europe for a month with about £1k... but then, they got European rail cards, and stayed in youth hostels, etc.

I guess it depends on how adventurous you feel.

I'm determined to do it myself sometime, but sadly, to date, time and money have never aligned!

Yes we'll have to find some transport to and from the airport, although haven't looked into the cost of that yet...so many things to consider - it's good we have a while yet to plan!! Menton seems nice on a first look, so thanks Also have just come across Saint Maxime which looks lovely!




Wow that's pretty good!! Well, we're not very adventurous really haha!

Well hope you manage to find the time and money for your trip!

Oh I'm so jealous!

Driving abroad really isn't that hard - I did it for the first time 3 months after I passed my test. However, I wouldn't recommend it because you want to be able to have a drink or four, right?!

I had friends who went down to Toulon last year and loved it. Nice is also apparently wonderful.

:'( I need to gooo!

If you're looking for budget try looking at keycamp or eurocamp options there are loads of sites down on the south coast and there will be easy access to beaches and usually plenty of onsite activity as well.

Oh okay, that's good to know - maybe I'll consider nearer the time Oh I don't drink really anyway, so that'll be fine!!

And I'll look into Toulon and Nice a bit more




Great, thanks I will take a look

I have no problem driving abroad but London scares me

Sorry, no suggestions, it's just that every time I see the thread title in the list, I read the subtitle as 'comment?', as in 'how?', because my brain has seen the word 'french'

Oh yeah - hadn't thought of that!! haha!!