Provence + French Riviera in 6 days late September
Sep 3rd, 2013, 11:18 AM
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Provence + French Riviera in 6 days late September
Hi everyone,
I'm planning a trip with my husband in late September to Cote D'Azur and Provence. Unfortunately it will be a short trip - 6 full days total. We were planning to split that in between Cannes (2 nights) and somewhere in Provence (3 nights), using them as a base and then exploring the towns around them.
From Cannes we're thinking of doing Grasse/Vence and Nice/Monaco, and perhaps a boat ride to Ile St Marguerite or do some type of sail in the area.
In Provence, we certainly don't want to miss Aix, but haven't decided yet where else to go.
Does that seem reasonable for the time we have? Are there other places that you would recommend instead of the ones mentioned above? Is it worth getting a tour guide for Grasse/Vence (or anywhere else)? Any suggestions on sail tour company that would do Ile St Marguerite or just an afternoon sail around the area from Cannes?
We're already set with a hotel in Cannes, but still looking for a charming place in Provence, perhaps a farmhouse in a winery or some place that is unique but not too remote so it's still accessible for us to go on our day trips and visit other towns (we'll have a car during the whole trip). Would love to have recommendations.
We're in our mid-thirties, love good wine, good food and beautiful views, enjoying our last big trip before the baby comes, so looking for something romantic.
Look forward to your suggestions, thanks!
I'm planning a trip with my husband in late September to Cote D'Azur and Provence. Unfortunately it will be a short trip - 6 full days total. We were planning to split that in between Cannes (2 nights) and somewhere in Provence (3 nights), using them as a base and then exploring the towns around them.
From Cannes we're thinking of doing Grasse/Vence and Nice/Monaco, and perhaps a boat ride to Ile St Marguerite or do some type of sail in the area.
In Provence, we certainly don't want to miss Aix, but haven't decided yet where else to go.
Does that seem reasonable for the time we have? Are there other places that you would recommend instead of the ones mentioned above? Is it worth getting a tour guide for Grasse/Vence (or anywhere else)? Any suggestions on sail tour company that would do Ile St Marguerite or just an afternoon sail around the area from Cannes?
We're already set with a hotel in Cannes, but still looking for a charming place in Provence, perhaps a farmhouse in a winery or some place that is unique but not too remote so it's still accessible for us to go on our day trips and visit other towns (we'll have a car during the whole trip). Would love to have recommendations.
We're in our mid-thirties, love good wine, good food and beautiful views, enjoying our last big trip before the baby comes, so looking for something romantic.
Look forward to your suggestions, thanks!
Sep 3rd, 2013, 01:42 PM
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Tjo begin with, the Côte d'Azur is part of Provence--the easternmost part.
With only 2 nights in Cannes I would skip Grasse and Monaco and concentrate on Nice for one day and then Villefranche-sur-Mer, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Eze village for the other.
You don't need a tour guide, just a good guide book. I recommend the Michelin Green Guide to the Côte d'Azur and/or the Fodor "Exploring Provence."
Aix is not our favorite city in western Provence. Since you will have a car, consider staying somewhere like Isle sur la Sorgue or Uzès, possibly St-Rémy or even one of the Luberon villages (Gordes, Bonnieux, Ménerbes). For a charming farmhouse, just below Gordes is La Ferme de la Huppe, a farm now converted into a small inn with a good restaurant. It's on one of the roads going down from Gordes to the main road through the Lubéron.
With only 2 nights in Cannes I would skip Grasse and Monaco and concentrate on Nice for one day and then Villefranche-sur-Mer, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, and Eze village for the other.
You don't need a tour guide, just a good guide book. I recommend the Michelin Green Guide to the Côte d'Azur and/or the Fodor "Exploring Provence."
Aix is not our favorite city in western Provence. Since you will have a car, consider staying somewhere like Isle sur la Sorgue or Uzès, possibly St-Rémy or even one of the Luberon villages (Gordes, Bonnieux, Ménerbes). For a charming farmhouse, just below Gordes is La Ferme de la Huppe, a farm now converted into a small inn with a good restaurant. It's on one of the roads going down from Gordes to the main road through the Lubéron.
Sep 8th, 2013, 06:55 AM
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Underhill - thanks so much for your suggestions, very helpful as I work on the details around each area.
It sounds like the Corniche Inferieure is what you'd recommend to go to Villefranche, St-Jean-Cap etc. I also heard that the Grand Corniche has great views. Perhaps we can go through the Inferieure and come back through the Grand after going to Eze? Not sure if we'll have time, but would be great to squeeze in a quick trip to Ile St Marguerite or do some type of catamaran ride, we love being on the water...
As for the Western part of Provence, we'll probably go with one of the villages in Luberon instead of Aix.
Any good restaurants, markets or shops that you'd recommend on any of those areas?
It sounds like the Corniche Inferieure is what you'd recommend to go to Villefranche, St-Jean-Cap etc. I also heard that the Grand Corniche has great views. Perhaps we can go through the Inferieure and come back through the Grand after going to Eze? Not sure if we'll have time, but would be great to squeeze in a quick trip to Ile St Marguerite or do some type of catamaran ride, we love being on the water...
As for the Western part of Provence, we'll probably go with one of the villages in Luberon instead of Aix.
Any good restaurants, markets or shops that you'd recommend on any of those areas?
