Trip to south of France - Recommendations Please

[beorhthelm]

Nice

yes, but where would you recommend?

 

[Kumquat]

I would second Collioure. My mum owns a house in the neighbouring Argeles-Sur-Mer. It's not far from the Spanih border and four-hour drive I think to Barcelona. Easy links to other places mentioned such as Montpellier and Sete, as well as Perpignan. Fantsatic coastal views and great weather that is usually pretty consistent early to mid-30s.

 

[16bha]

Planning a trip *somewhere* to the south of france with a group of about 8 friends (all early 30s), we have no real preference, currently going round in circles trying to decide where.

Nice has been written off because apparently it's the Eastbourne of France.*

Marseille has been written off for being a bit rough in general.*

Bordeaux has been written off as its too far from a beach.*

*All opinion of friends and not my own and may or may not be silly/uninformed.

We want to hire a villa with a pool and that.

My personal preference is Bordeaux, fancy hiring a car and driving around wine country, hiring a car also makes the no beach complaint moot.

Any recommendations?

My in laws live just outside Avignon, near L'isle sur la Sorgue...real Provence, great food and great wine. We go there regularly. Fantastic area around Vaucluse, about 40 mins north of Marseille. Spent a lot of time in Marseille. It's a bit rough round the edges but lovely around the vieux port. If you like more upmarket, try Aix en Provence.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

http://tourisme.moissac.fr/web/EN/8-home.php

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

I have experience of doing removals around most of the places mentioned and from that, one thing I learned is that unlike Sussex, towns/cities are a long way from each other. Worth bearing in mind.

 

[Pat McCrotch]

Saint Cyr sur Mer

 

[tomfitz12]

st Cyprian near Perpignan is heaven

 

[The Large One]

Collioure, Argeles-sur-Mer, St Cyprien, Canet Plage, Port Vendres.

Taking the Eurostar to Paris and the onward TGV to Perpignan isn't that much more expensive than flying.

 

[grubbyhands]

Whizz down to the Viaduc de Millau (pronounced miaow) then explore the Tarn Gorge. The viaduc spans the Tarn. Top Gear thrashed along the D907, I believe it is.Great canoeing,spectacular limestone cliffs, and a vulture sanctuary of all things. Then maybe back via the volcanic region south of Clermont Ferrand, the Auvergne region.

 

[Gregory2Smith1]

Collioure, Argeles-sur-Mer, St Cyprien, Canet Plage, Port Vendres.

Taking the Eurostar to Paris and the onward TGV to Perpignan isn't that much more expensive than flying.

going to St Cyprien in a couple of weeks

 

[Gwylan]

Collioure, Argeles-sur-Mer, St Cyprien, Canet Plage, Port Vendres.

Yep, can't argue with that - Collioure is one of the most stunning towns I've seen. Banyuls is pretty good too, great wine.

If you want a more traditional beach holiday, you could try Cap D'Agde. Personally, I think it's a bit tacky and built-up but it's a proper resort.

And as mentioned elsewhere, Sete is a great place. Some stunning restaurants on the seafront and if you're lucky enough to be there for the water jousting, it's a great spectacle.

Someone else mentioned Beziers. It's not by the sea but it's a lively ittle city, particularly at festival time - like their rugby too.

 

[The Maharajah of Sydney]

Biarritz sounds like the place your searching for .
Classy vibrant town with surf beaches .
San Sebastian is just 30 miles to the south , with Saint-Jean-de-Luz about halfway .

Stayed here about 4 years ago . Boutique 3-star hotel above a lively square ;

http://hotel-florida-biarritz.com/

 

[HovaGirl]

Try Menton, its between Monaco and the Italian border, so you got casinos etc to one side and Italian cuisine on the other.

They call Menton "La Perle de la France" - "The Pearl of France". When Eve was cast out of the Garden of Eden, she took a lemon with her and threw it, saying: "Wherever this lands, that will be my new home and it will be my new paradise." Her lemon landed in Menton.

It was once part of the Principality of Monaco and it is right on the Italian border, so it's a very Italianate town. It's one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited and I would rather go there than brash Nice any time. Many of the other resorts along this coast are approachable by railway from Menton. Indeed, the rail journey from Marseilles along the coast is one of the wonders of the world, to my mind. And from Menton, you could take the train to San Remo, just along the coast in Italy, which is great for shopping and getting some Italian atmosphere.

Also from Menton, either by bus or car, you can visit some of the prettiest villages anywhere, called "Villages Perches" - or perched villages, perched on hill-tops and moutain-tops, with splendid views all around.

 

[Austrian Gull]

My personal favourite is the Basque country (Bayonne, Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz) but the weather is not as reliable as the Med coast.

Collioure is beautiful but extremely busy in peak season.

HovaGirl's recommendation of the villages perchés is a good one - Eze, Vence etc.

We went to Corsica a couple of years ago and had a fantastic holiday. The Tour de France at the weekend brought back how wonderful a place it is.

 

[Tony Towner's Fridge]

Nice is most certainly the Brighton of the Riviera and not the Eastbourne. I am off there next week for five days. Fabulous place and not expensive, full of hustle and bustle and fun! Must visit place is St Paul de Vence. Fabulous.
TNBA

TTF

 

[The Hon Sec]

Slightly on this topic does anyone know if the breathalysers are still required in France? When we went two weeks ago, having been put off by the charges for them on the ferry (and having left our own at home), we visited Auchan. We were told in there that demand had so far outstripped supply that the whole idea had been dropped ! Spent two weeks in SW France that was still recovering from recent floods without any.

 

[stripeyshark]

Planning a trip *somewhere* to the south of france with a group of about 8 friends (all early 30s), we have no real preference, currently going round in circles trying to decide where.

Nice has been written off because apparently it's the Eastbourne of France.*

Marseille has been written off for being a bit rough in general.*

Bordeaux has been written off as its too far from a beach.*

*All opinion of friends and not my own and may or may not be silly/uninformed.

We want to hire a villa with a pool and that.

My personal preference is Bordeaux, fancy hiring a car and driving around wine country, hiring a car also makes the no beach complaint moot.

Any recommendations?

Futuroscope...

http://en.futuroscope.com/

 

[The Large One]

Yep, can't argue with that - Collioure is one of the most stunning towns I've seen. Banyuls is pretty good too, great wine.

If you want a more traditional beach holiday, you could try Cap D'Agde. Personally, I think it's a bit tacky and built-up but it's a proper resort.

And as mentioned elsewhere, Sete is a great place. Some stunning restaurants on the seafront and if you're lucky enough to be there for the water jousting, it's a great spectacle.

Someone else mentioned Beziers. It's not by the sea but it's a lively ittle city, particularly at festival time - like their rugby too.

We tried to go to Collioure this year, even any of the 'council' flats would have done - just a place to flop our heads.

We'd left it too late, sadly.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

Another vote for Biarritz or the nearby Basque coast.

 

[Canonman]

St Tropez for me, great place to spend some quality time. Bit pricey, but hey it's only money.