Beaches in France??
 

Looks like we will be heading to France next week (akkkk!). What are the beaches like? Are there any beautiful areas we should not miss? Resorts/accomodations would be great! We're on a slight budget but it looks like it is going to be upped... ;)
This is *very* last minute as you might be able to tell.... so I need to get on the ball and make some reservations.
Thanks!
Lauren

Are you serious?

Okay, Lauren. Here's my input.

Fly into Paris. Book a 2 star hotel for several nights. Take the TGV train to Avignon. Wander the beautiful old walled city for a day and night. Stay at the Hotel Blauvac (very cheap but quaint). Take cab or shuttle back to the TGV station and pick up a rental car. Drive around Provence for 3 days. Great suggestions of places to stay on this board. Drive to the Riveria. Spend at least 1 day on the beach in Cannes (sandy beach) or Nice (rocky beach). Visit the hill towns one day. Stay at a 2* in Nice or Cannes. We enjoyed the Hotel Windsor in Nice (but like Cannes more on Hilton points). Fly out of Nice on Delta. PERFECT two week trip. I did it this time last year!

so you don't care where you're heading to - just the best beaches and best weather i suppose - the Anglet/Biarritz and north and area around Perpignan are fine sandy beaches - wide expanses of sand. Riviera is largely rocky except Cannes. Nice beaches in Brittany but weather can be dicey even in summer. You can leave your tops at home - pretty much topless the rule - not everyone will be topless but many will. Still not bottomless except in a very few secluded locales.

TXgal is very much serious, rich... see her other posts...

<<You can leave your tops at home - pretty much topless the rule - not everyone will be topless but many will.>>

There have been several posts in the past year that the incidence of topless beach/sunbathing seems to be declining in France. TXgal can make the choice.

The beach at Antibes is fairly nice, and warmer, I think than Biarritz (which truly is beautiful, I will say)!

Biarritz is the Atlantic Ocean, and so has (modest) waves. The Mediterranean has essentially none.

Best wishes,

Rex

Okay, Starrsville- you're about to become my new best friend!! Do you have a trip report/itinary I could look at? That all sounds great! And Nice would be good because Delta flies into/out of there. We *might* be able to hop a flight from there to Paris...:)
Ohhh- we could take a cooking class in Provence...

Decide quickly on where you're going to stay and book hotels FAST! High season is arriving, and many of the best hotels will be full by now.

A few days ago someone posted about a nice B&B between Antibes and St-Juan-les-Pins, with a good beach within walking distance. Here's part of the trip report:

"Antibes: In Antibes we stayed at La Bastide du Bosquet, a beautiful restored mansion in a residential neighborhood between old Antibes and Juan les Pins. It is just a gorgeous oasis, set in a peaceful garden full of birds (and two cats). Our hostess, Sylvie Aussel, presented us with a city map, helpful directions, and a slew of restaurant recommendations, and after a much-needed nap we were off.

We were just a five-minute walk from the gorgeous beach and coastal walkway of Antibes, and about 15 minutes from the market and museums."

I'm in GA too, TX gal.
That pretty much was our trip. I didn't like the hotel we stayed at in Paris but you've got some other suggestions on your other thread. I'd stay in St. Germain first, then Latin, then Marais (my preferences, don't shoot me folks!) I did like the 2 star experience - it felt more like Paris - just had a problem with that particular hotel. Do a search on this board for recommendations. I just emailed several hotels (recommended here) and booked what was available. you will have problems finding something next week. Another option is to see if you can book via Priceline. Check out biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com to see what hotels folks are getting and at what prices to bid.

I'll send this and post more.

I found the other hotels by reading the tripadvisor.com reviews. I liked the Hotel Blauvec in Avignon very much and LOVED the Hotel Windsor in Nice.

Staying in the Hotel Blauvec was the sterotypical small European village experience. On a little lane in the middle of the city - you felt like you could reach out and touch both walls of the lane with your arms. No air cond. but it was fine. There is a bit of noise through the open windows. Was awoken in the early morn by a mom with a child in a stroller and a child tossing a ball for the dog walking alongside. Could NOT believe I was a tennis ball and footfalls woke me up - but what a magical moment!

The Hotel Windsor is a great deal with a funky attitude. Loved it! They serve dinner and drinks in their little courtyard garden.

Riviera is not all rocky beaches.
St Tropez has some great sandy beaches (outside of town; Ramatuelle etc.).

I liked Nice but LOVED the beach day in Cannes. That was my splurge day. Didn't care what the tally was for the chaise rental and lunch and drinks served by the chair. Have wanted to do that all my life and it was one of my dreams come true. Yes, there may be some toplessness but who the heck cares! I stayed in Cannes on Hilton points but the city is so walkable you can get anywhere you want easily. Friends like the Hotel Splendid.

I wish we had had more time to spend in Provence. There are places recommended on this board that I'd like to try out. I'd check into the prices of the Mas outside St. Remy first. (Do a search). I loved visiting Gordes. We were lost and discovered the "E town" and would like to go back. Cig and others who live or visit in Provence a lot can give you the real name of the town and rec's on places to stay. I'm looking at pictures of E and Gordes on my wall right now! Spectacular! Runner-up to St. Remy for me would be Arles. Then I'd just spend 2-3 days driving around, going to markets, eating well and relaxing.

Gites would be an inexpensive option in the countryside.

Be sure/ without a doubt/ no questions asked/ there are no other options....

take a Fat Tire Bike Tour in Paris. I recommend the Evening tour. Even if you don't think it appeals to you, DO IT! It was one of the best experiences of my life. Cutting wheelies in the Louvre courtyard. Cycling under the Eiffel Tower at night and feeling like you were all by yourself. A fabulous way to see the city - even if you have already seen the city.

I buy the 2 day tickets for the off-on sightseeing buses. Great way to get an overview of the city and use as transportation around (limited options of course).

There are big fans of the metro here. I will go on record that no, I am not scared of subway systems and use them masterfully in other cities. But, Paris is to be walked IMHO and when I get tired I get a taxi so I can see what my feet are too tired to show me. One big tip - you can NOT hail a cab on the street. I learned the hard way. Go to a hotel or a taxi stand to get a cab.

There are foodies on this board. My other big splurge was lunch at Jules Verne in the ET. About $150. Worth every penny. Skip the line for the elevator. Great food and spectacular views. Then you can catch the other elevator the rest of the way up.

We ate when we were hungry or tired, whichever came first. Enjoyed every meal in Paris whether it was a crepe from a sidewalk vendor or a sandwich at a bistro. Even enjoyed the Quick burger we ate standing in line for the Lido because we ran out of time sightseeing. We ate at only 1 other big name/ guidebook restaurant and while we enjoyed it, we didn't enjoy it more than our other meals. You can eat inexpensively and well in Paris.

Having said that, our favorite bistro meal was at Cafe Bonaparte, which I learned was a favorite on this board after we returned.

I'm jealous. Can you tuck me into your luggage?

I'd love to show you our pics. It was just the best trip ever - and I've been on wonderful trips!

We flew back from Nice to Atlanta via JFK.

TXgal,
OneWanderingJew and I have been emailing about meeting up to have lunch at my favorite family-owned Italian restaurant in Alpharetta. If you are at all interested, we may be able to do it one day this week and I can bring some of my guide books and pics. Just a thought....

Here's a link to the market days in Provence that PBProvence posted earlier - www.marches-en-provence.com

Mas des carassins is the name of the place 10 minutes walking distance outside St. Remy that Fodorites have liked. It's probably booked and I'm not sure how much it costs, but I want to check it out for my next trip back there!

Star- I would love to, *but* we're not in Atlanta yet, still in Ft. Worth. We're trying to sell our house, and then we'll move out there, hopefully by the end of this summer.
I've found a hotel in Paris- Trinite Plaza (using AA Miles). I'm about to go to Barnes-n-Nobel to buy Rick S's book. Getting excited!!!

That's great! Booking a hotel in Paris would have been the hardest part of the trip. If you've already got one booked, it's all downhill from here!

Have a great trip! (I lived in Bedford for one miserable year. Missed the hills and trees of Georgia!)

We were in Le Lavandou last week. That's halfway between Toulon and St. Tropez in the southernmost tip of France. We prefer this area over Nice/Cannes because of its beautiful sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere.
A beautiful hotel right on the beach is Le Club de Cavalière. Not cheap, though! Les Roches looked nice too.

Re. Hilton points -- which hotels did you try?

Thanks

I stayed at the Hilton in Cannes. The rest of the trip I stayed at 2 or 3* small hotels. Loved the location of the Hilton. The decor reminded me of a cruise ship, but enjoyed the perks, the rooftop pool and bar and the beach chaises and service. Valet parking was pricey but convenient for Cannes. Harder to find street parking in Nice.

My husband and I stayed at a lovely Dutch owned hotel just east of Cannes in Mandelieu-La Napoule(or is it La Napoule-Mandelieu ?) I believe the name of the hotel is the Riviera Beach Resort. It has large balconies overlooking the water where you can enjoy a delightful breakfast that is delivered to your room, and is adjacent to a public beach ---- the beaches in this area are sandy; however, as you approach Cannes, they become less so. I haven't carefully read the other entries, but as for the accommodations in villages in Provence, the Bastides de Gordes is a very comfortable hotel, but if you are looking for something a little less expensive, there are many quaint inns. I'm hoping that the "akkkk!" was referring to the last minute aspect of your trip planning and not to your opinion of the French! All it takes to bring out the best in any Frenchman/woman is a simple "Bonjour, Monsieur" or "Bonjour Madame"! Bonnes vacances!

The ackkkk was for the short turn around...which became even shorter. She later learned that they can't get on the Paris flights and now are planning a trip to Amsterdam and Munich in less than a week! I'm sure they'll have a great time though wherever they end up! Sounds like a nice option in Cannes!

Not that this is relevant to this request, but for a charming town with a great beach to just hang out, I recommend St-Jean-de-Luz. Train in and out [or fly into Biarritz], no car needed.