mystiletto

Bonjour experts! I’m a long time reader and first time poster. I usually post on tripadvisors but experts there suggested fodors for advice. We are super excited to leave for our babymoon this Friday to the South of France. I’ve only been to Paris ten years ago. Hubby has been to Nice and Cannes briefly 2 decades ago in college. We are flying from EWR direct in and out of Nice, and have rented a car for one week. We enjoy seeing lots of sights during vacations, beach, swimming, water sports, fabulous food. I’m not crazy about museums or hiking which my husband enjoys. Im 4.5 months pregnant and may be taking it easier than usual in the luberon heat.

Due to last minute flight change, our hotel stays (using points) had to be split up as follows:
2 nights at Moxy antibes (in Biot outside town)
4 nights at château de la gaude in Aix
1 night at le méridien Nice.

Please kindly critique our itinerary and help with restaurant selections (looking for best tasting food). Tips on parking are appreciated. Merci beaucoup!

Antibes
Saturday June 25 arrive at 12pm
Lunch at Albert premiere
Explore old town antibes, market, Picasso museum, rampart walls, the port, fort carte, lighthouse (if we have time)

ice cream at is Gelateria del Porto or Gelateria Italia?

Dinner at Cote terroir or le petit cageot?

Sunday June 26
Visit villefranche. Lunch at L’Orsin Bleu or Le Cosmo or Les Garçons or la Corderie?

Should we then visit St Jean Cap Ferat, villa Ephrussi, Eze, and/or St. Paul de Vence?

Dinner at L’ambroisie, Chennai, la Farigoule, La brouette (St. Paul de Vence), or le zinc, le Phenicia (Antibes)?

Monday
Have lunch at a beach club and have a dip in the water. I’m leaning towards Pampelonne beach due to its beauty. Should we lunch at Plage Jette (Juan Les pins), or club 55, la reserve, bagatelle, Moorea, Byblos or Les palmiers (Pampelonne) -looking for best food (/atmosphere)?

Check out St. Tropez. I read about the traffic jams but will brave it.

We will drop by domaine ott (Château de Selle) for rose and chateau Vignelaure (reds) for quick tastings/purchases, if there’s time on the way to our hotel in Aix.

If there’s time for a longer vineyard visit on other days or we want a break from villages, we’ll check out chateau Lacoste and chateau de Berne. Which has better wine?

Dinner at Toinou, la Brocherie or (le poivre d’Ane) in Aix?

Tuesday
Visit Gordes and check out tues am market

Lunch at l’orangerie at airelles la bastide, or café de la poste in Goult?

Tour Senanque Abbey. See lavender if there. Check out Goult, Bonnieux, Roussillon, etc time permitting

Dinner at Ferme de la Huppé or Le Carillon, or l’orangerie?

Wednesday
Lunch in Aix at Noname Chinese (may need break from French), chez Charlotte or le zinc Hugo?

Check out main attractions: the cathedral, Cezanne's studio and the four dolphins fountain. Look for other food gifts like honey. We prefer known shops (vs stalls) for gifting. Any ideas?

Pick up pastries from Phillips Segond

Look for lavender/sunflower fields if didn’t see already (Valensole plateau). Anyone have current update on presence?

Gorge du Verdon. Take a dip. Would love to white water raft if I weren’t pregnant.

If ambitious, drive to Sault for sunset

Dinner at chez Charlotte or le zinc Hugo?

Thursday
Visit Les baux, then Saint Remy de Provence.
breakfast/lunch at the Hotel Gounod, St. Remy or Edgar or Salon de Thé/Patisserie/Glacier or Le moutardier du pape or la fourchette in Avignon?

Visit Palais des Papes, then pont du Gard aqueduct.

Dinner at bartavelle (menu less appealing), or le bec à vin (Uzes), or one of the earlier mentioned restaurants in Aix (like le poivre d’âne) or the Luberon (ferme de la huppé)?

Nice
Friday
Drive to Nice. Stop by vineyards to pick up wine if we didn’t earlier.

Visit Old Town, Market, the Chagall Museum and the promenade. Get ice cream at l’arlequin?

Dinner at Bistrot d’Antoine, les viviers (appealing menu), bistrot gourmand, café de Turin, les sens or splurge for restaurant Jan?