EmHH

Hello!

We are a couple planning our honeymoon for June 2019. We will be doing a total of 2 weeks in France, starting in Lyon. We will have a car and plan on winding our way through Provence, but we would like to have 3-4 days on the Cote d'azur at the end for some beach relaxation. I have been to this area a few times and while I do like Nice and Monaco, I think we're looking for a less busy town on the coast where we could make our base. My fiance is very keen to be walking distance to the beach (which we know will likely not be sandy). I am trying to decide between Vence, St. Raphael, Antibes, Eze, etc. We're trying to find the balance between great beach, good restaurants, and not overly crowded. Any suggestions? Thanks!

StuDudley

>>My fiance is very keen to be walking distance to the beach (which we know will likely not be sandy). I am trying to decide between Vence, St. Raphael, Antibes, Eze, etc.<<


Then you can rule out Vence & Eze. Consider Villefranche or Menton. We've spent 21 weeks on the Cote D'Azur. When we want "beach time" we go to Nice (rocky beach - but quite decadent) or St Tropez (beautiful sand - but you'll have to drive 15 mins to Pampalonne).


Stu Dudley

gooster

Congratulations!

Vence and Eze (the Village) are not near the beach. (There is a rocky beach at Eze Sur Mer) Your best beach bets are Antibes, Juans Les Pins and St. Tropez/Ramantuelle, with quite a bit of sand. For the latter, they are not well connected and a car is essentially required to really enjoy things. Antibes has a nice old town but the best beaches are a considerable distance from the train station (bus trip), whereas the beach and train are quite close in JLP, but the charm may be missing.

There is also a small sandy beaches on Cap Ferrat and a coarse sand/tiny pebble beach at Villefrance-sur-Mer.

Tulips

The Cote d'Azur is not going to be overcrowded in June. School holidays have not yet started.
Antibes has a small beach right next to the city walls, and a larger one just west of the old town, still within walking distance. Both sandy beaches.
There are a few hotels on that beach. Don't know your budget, but the Royal Antibes is good - has apartments too.
Plage de la Garoupe has a sandy beach and good restaurant at Plage Keller. You'd need a car.

Juan les Pins would be good - sandy beach, plenty of restaurants, quiet in June - however they are dismantling a lot of the beachclubs (returning them to public beach) and it's a bit of a mess.
It's also not a pretty town. Unless you stay in the Pinede area on the side of Cap d'Antibes, which is very pleasant, green, quiet.

Or consider Cannes - good sandy beaches, restaurants. It's a bit bigger, but will be quiet in June (unless there's a convention in town, check that first).

thibaut

As said, june is not crowded, as kids are still at school.
Menton is a city of old people for old people. We like to go there for the festival des citrons and that is it.
Antibes is gorgeous, St Trop is a strange place full of 'm'as-tu vu' (guys showing off)', expensive and not really beachy (you must leave the town to reach the beaches).
Juan les Pins is as stated : not that nice, something like the low cost of the Riviera, you'll find (Aldi supermarkets there - notably cheap supermarkets - good by the way) and it attraacts lots of young families as a result. Good, but not gorgeous.
Further down and smaller you have Le Lavandou, le Rayol Canadel (a great parc there), Cavalaire and La Croix Valmer then it continues towards Toulon (to be avoide imo). Small towns where I have spent numerous holidays and that I like quite a lot. The beaches are great, the food too, but these vilalges have not muchcharm in themselves.
I'd actually follow Tulips recommendation and would advise Cannes : small, nice, and it has a ring to it.
Or would you like to stay on an island ??? Look at Porquerolles. Charming.

Christina

I would consider Cannes also. I personally don't see Antibes as great for a honeymoon or that desirable a beach right near the city walls. I suppose that hotel recommended is better than being around all the yachts, just seemed better for people with boats to me.

Pepper_von_snoot

Beaulieau-sur -Mer or St Jean Cap Ferrat. Beautiful little towns but watch out for pickpockets.

The beaches here are tiny, however.

​​​​​​The beach on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice is a large beach in the style of the New Jersey seashore but the beach is pebble-y.

The Villa Ephrussi-Rothschild in St Jean Cap Ferrat is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥. Extraordinary gardens!

Thin

StuDudley

>>Nice is a large beach in the style of the New Jersey seashore but the beach is pebble-y.<<


But you won't walk on the pebbles if you stay at one of the decadent private concessions with a restaurant, bar, changing rooms - and walk on a wood or concrete deck or grass mat, and lay on a chase lounge under an umbrella. If you go in the water, however, the pebbles will get you.


Stu Dudley

kerouac

I generally hate people going off topic and saying "you're going to the wrong place -- go to the place I am suggesting instead" but I am wondering if you have considered other coastal locations besides the Côte d'Azur, for example Languedoc or even the Atlantic coast, which is actually the region of France that has the best beaches in the country (the fact that there is a huge Australian colony there is proof).

Underhill

You could also consider St-Jean-Cap-Ferrate.

TPAYT

I’m with tulips on Plage de la Garoupe, Antibes.
Somewhat small sandy beach.Several hotels.
Keller Plage Beach Club with excellent restaurant for lunch & dinner
imperial Garoupe Hotel, few minutes walk to beach, we went there for a lovely dinner

Longer beaches in Juan Les Pins but not the charm of Garoupe beach.

just a suggestion....check it out. Here’s one hotel & there are others

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ote_d_Azu.html

jtpj777

Another vote for Cap Ferrat or Beaulieu. Some great, “ honeymoon” hotels and some time at Paloma Beach wouldn’t go amiss.

tuscanlifeedit

St Jean Cap Ferrat was the most romantic and lovely place. I recommend it.

EmHH

Thank you all for your input! I think you have given us quite a bit to think about. Sounds like the main votes would be for Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, Antibes or Cannes for Cote D'azur. Although we have now started investigating the Languedoc as well. Will start a separate thread for checking out that region. We are trying to find the right "beachy" place after our time in Provence. Thank you for this help everyone! We may be back with more questions