Hi,

I am in the very early stages of planning a holiday to the south of France in May 2010 with my boyfriend. Neither of us have been before so really have no idea where we would like to be based - we would like to rent a small villa and I know how quickly they get booked up hence my early preparations!

We're looking for a town that is very quiet, non-touristy and scenic where I could rent a house with a seaview but near enough a larger town for provisions etc. We will be hiring a car so transport links are not important. We will be doing day trips to Cannes, Monaco, Nice etc but I'd like to go back to chillaxing with a view and peace & quiet in the evening!!

Any ideas or thoughts on anywhere you have been or visited that you would recommend? All answers much appreciated as always

Thanks,

Carole

You could try La Ciotat. In May it should be pretty much tourist free and is a quiet, little town in a sheltered bay not far from Cassis, Le Castellet, St. Cyr and Bandol which are all very pretty and definitely worth a visit.

You should be able to find a villa with sea views to rent at a pretty reasonable price, as even at the height of summer, the holiday makers are mainly French and very few overseas visitors would include it on their itinerary.

There's a beautiful old port (where you can buy fresh fish direct from the fishing boats every day), which sits in the shadow of the sadly now defunct shipbuilder's yard, and a lovely old town, perfectly for strolling through to get your daily provisions.

It's a couple of hours drive from Cannes, but again in May, the traffic should be much lighter than in the height of summer when a similar journey could take something in the region of four to five hours.

The only danger is that in May, La Ciotat might be a little too quiet, but that's very much based on my excitement threshold.

"Non-touristy and scenic where I could rent a house with a seaview"

It's a good thing that you are in the early planning stages and have time to get realistic. You do realize that you are visiting the south of France, I hope -- one of the most touristy places on the face of the planet and well worth a visit -- just get rid of the illusion that you are going to find a place that 150 million tourists have not found before you.

Jeezo take a chill pill Kerouac!!!!!!!!!!

I'm just back from the Amalfi Coast (just as busy & touristy as the south of france if not more so??!)actually and managed to find a villa with everything that I am looking for in France in a small quiet hamlet called Torca outside a slightly larger town called Sant Agata 20mins drive from Sorrento and Positano with the most amazing seaview so I do not think I am under any illusions or being unrealistic!!!! I know from experience that there are quieter bases in even the most touristy areas in the world - you just have to put a bit of effort into finding them (perhaps you are too lazy to do that yourself so don't understand my question?).

I did not say I was looking to find somewhere that nobody has found before me - on the contrary if you read my question correctly you would see that I was asking advice from folk who have already been there!

Your plan sounds fabulous. We did a similar venture the first week of May 2006 and it met every expectation we set out and then some Two very important pieces of data you need are the dates for the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. They are both May events and during those weeks the French Riviera is a madhouse. If you are looking for peace and relaxation most of the French Riviera after the second week of May is not really conducive to that. That said, there are rental properties in very well located spots that come close to all you are looking for. I suggest holiday-rentals.com for a great site with amazing properties for rent. I have used them for the French Riviera and was very pleased. In our case, we wanted a house on a hilltop village reasonable driving distance to Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez. We found a fabulous villa; this was close to one of the best vacations I ever had. If you are willing to stay in the smaller towns you will find what you are looking for. Have fun!!

Thank you so much Jay_G and Viajero - exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for

Haha I remembered the grand prix thanks to my F1 obsessed bf but we had forgotten about the film festival so thanks for that reminder Viajero (your hol sounds amazing!)

Carole

Oh, I see. We are talking about RICH people. And they have a big box of <b>chill pills</b> for <b>chillaxing</b> by the swimming pool when necessary.

Darn, I'll have to go to France myself some day.

Haha ru for real?! Instead of 'advising' folk on forums like this I think its about time u thought of taking a holiday yourself - ure obviously in need of one, u highly strung numpty!!!

yeah chill? As in relaxing? Generally the reason for going on holiday? I was under the impression this forum was about holidays?!

And no, we are most definitely not referring to RICH (whats with the caps??) people. Im nowhere near rich (don't know where u got that impression from... but Im not lazy and im prepared to look for holiday bases off the tourist beaten path. I have always done so and have always been rewarded so Im sure i'll find what im looking for this time.

I got the impression u were french or at least live there? Oh dear ure not the best advertisment for visiting the country - ah actually, from your 'darn'ing im guessing you must be an American with a huuuuuge chip on your shoulder!

LOL

Just googled La Ciotat - gorgeous! Exactly the type of place we're looking for Jay_G thanks

No problem carole. Hope you manage to find somewhere suitable to stay.

If not, let me know, as I have some friends that have holiday homes down there and they would no doubt be able to point you in the right direction if you're having any difficulty.

Another place to visit nearby is the Ile de Bendor, once owned by the Ricard family (actually, it might possibly still be,) and if you can beg, borrow or steal a boat to get out there, I'd highly recommend it.

Carole,
You might want to do a bit of map work before going further. La Ciotat is very nice, but is more in the Marseilles, Aix, perhaps Arles orbit than Nice, Monaco, etc. Nice is almost 200 km away. On the autoroute, even at 2 to 2 1/2 hours, that puts you in the car for 4 - 5 hours for one trip. Monaco is further east. The other factor is the cost of gas. We just got back, and it was going for €1.28 - €1.34, unless you use diesel.

That said, the La Ciotat area is quite nice. Cassis is a pleasant town. The calanques are gorgeous and just west of Cassis, and you can be in Aix in 1/2 hour. Marseilles isn't far, and I think Arles is a reasonable drive, about 1 1/2 hours.

Thanks Gustave yeah I had a peek on the map and realise its further away but keeping options open at the moment - it is the type of base im looking for tho. Have you any suggestions for an option nearer the Nice direction?

Hope u had a great hol

In the South of France we love Aigues Mortes and St Giles.
They were on canal. Maybe not exactly seaside.
Very friendly and not many tourist.

Carole,
Last times we've been in the Nice area, it's been further inland up in the Mercantour (about an hour or so). I know some people on this board like Villefranche-sur-Mer, as well as Vence, a hilltop town. You might want to see if people who have rented in the area respond.

FYI Aigues Mortes is even further west than La Ciotat.

Thanks for the info Gustave & Jetsetj

I love Aigues-Mortes too, but it's "remote," in that you're out there in the expanse of the Camargue with not many options for getting to other interesting towns quickly and easily. It's WELL worth visiting, but I would never make it my base.

Carole, I wouldn't waste typing one word on the broke, useless, and presumptuous. There are some folks on this board who go bananas if the advice you're seeking doesn't fall in the budget category. I recommend you ignore the insufficient-fund folk and stay focused on your goal. I want a seaside-view villa on the cliffs of the Grande Corniche as well. And I want mine with a swimming pool. Keep searching.

Hi, Carolmg. Could you please send a link to the place you stayed at in Torca? Thanks.

Janet

Of course Jrjcollins... we booked it thru Summer in Italy http://www.summerinitaly.com/eng/ren...550!italy_.htm

but the pics on this site really don't do it justice. It was a family holiday for my Mum's 60th and it was just perfect - I cant wait to go back

Any questions on the villa or Torca area just ask!

Carole

NYCTS,

Haha... the thing is that i'm really not that flush myself! I save up tho for my hols, its where most of my cash goes and its money well spent! I also do it all myself thru researching flights, accommodation, best area to stay etc based on reviews and put a lot of work into organising it to make sure I get the best value for my money in the best area. I love it and have had amazing holidays. As I said my last hol was a joint family present for my mums bday, the 2 weeks in NYC & Eleuthera, Bahamas in December is a treat to ourselves for me and my bf (advice anyone?) and France will be to celebrate my bfs 30th!

Heres to holidays and lots of them!!