All Things South of France
Perhaps one of my favorite regions to visit, The South of France is a vibrant, fun, and luxurious place to kick back, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. European Summer is a time of year where everybody who is anybody flocks to the European continent for the beaches, food, parties and to pretty much “be seen” if we’re being completely honest. If you’re looking to turn some of your favorite hip hop artists lyrics, The South of France is one of those places so have your outfits and coins ready! Here is all you need to know:
When to Visit:
The South of France is beautiful all year round. However it isn’t always warm. If you’re into warm/hot weather you want to visit between May-September. Peak Season will be June-August so expect higher prices and less availability. You should plan as much in advance as possible such as your accommodations, dinner reservations, etc.
Currency:
The local and only currency excepted in France is the euro. Most establishments accept all major credit cards.
Getting Here:
To start your adventures in the South of France, it would be easiest to fly into Nice (pronounced Niece), France. There aren’t many direct flights to Nice from the U.S. as of now. So your best bet would be to either book a flight to Nice which will have a layover or fly into a major European city and stay for a night. Luckily you can grab one of these flights from most European cities for $100 or less. The first time I visited, I stayed in Dublin for two nights then flew direct to Nice for $60. The second time I stayed in Rome for one night then flew direct to Nice for $95. I recommend Nice as a starting point for South of France due to its accessibility to other regions such as Menton, Cannes, Saint Tropez and Monaco. All of these are easy to get to either by Taxi, train, or ferry.
Where to Stay:
Choosing your base in South of France can be tricky and it really comes down to preference. I’ve stayed in both Nice and Cannes (30 mins apart) and enjoyed both. However I found Nice to have slightly more affordable accommodations and restaurants than Cannes (pronounced Kahn). It’s also important to note that most hotel rooms are smaller compared to American ones. So if you’re traveling in a group (more than 2) you will definitely need multiple hotel rooms or an Airbnb. On my most recent trip we stayed at a Cannes Airbnb linked here and also a hotel in Nice ‘Hotel Le Royal Promenade des Anglais’ where a double room (In August) for one night was €479.
Nice:
If it’s your first time visiting the South of France, I would recommend making Nice your base. It’s easiest to get to most places from Nice via train, bus or rental car. Nice also has a lot to offer with beaches, restaurants, cafes, bars and nightlife. If you stay at a hotel along the Promenade, you’re directly across from all the beach clubs and a strip of restaurants. I stayed in Nice both times I visited South of France and I would definitely do it again.
Restaurants:
La Favola- A great Italian spot for pizza and pasta. It’s first come first serve and Dinner/drinks for two came to €75.
Fleur De Jade: A very affordable Vietnamese spot. Dinner/drinks for two came to €50.
TIP: The beaches in this region are NOT sandy. They are rocky. Please be sure to pack either waters shoes or comfortable flip flops/sandals to wear on the beach. I learned the hard way when I had to step on rocks and it was not pleasant.
Saint Tropez:
*Grabs Megaphone* Have your coins and your looks ready ! I cannot stress enough that Saint Tropez is the rich’s playground so be prepared to spend. There are some “moderately priced” cafes and restaurants but if you’re looking for a good dining experience and an overall fun time, Saint Tropez is very expensive. There are a few ways to get to Saint Tropez so depending on your time / budget, you can decide on which is right for you.
Taxi: This is probably the easiest but the most expensive option. From nice or Cannes, a taxi/uber to Saint Tropez will run €200 or more. Now if you’re traveling in a group of 3-4 people this might not be too bad. Note: Visiting Saint Tropez in the summer months (June-August) warrants loads of traffic. So although a car might be the easiest option, your drive can easily be 3 hours with traffic.
Rental Car: This is another easy option but the same applies with traffic. Your best bet would be to head out early around 8am. Rental cars range from €50 to €70 per day.
Train: This option is the cheapest but will take the longest time. There are no direct trains to Saint Tropez but you can take the train from Nice or Cannes to Saint Raphael (€10). This ride is about 30 minutes to one hour depending on your starting point. From here you can take a bus (just outside the train station) or taxi the rest of the way.
Ferry: This option is also easy but not the most convenient due to time constraints. You can take the ferry from Nice to Saint Tropez however it leaves once daily at 9am and returns once at 7pm. The ride is 2.5 hours and costs €85 round trip.
The first time we decided to rent a car (€40 per day) and drive from Nice to Saint Tropez. The drive was around two hours with moderate traffic. Note: This was in September when most of the summer crowds die down. The second time we took the train from Cannes to Saint Raphael then the bus which took close to 4 hours due to traffic. Coming back we took an Uber from Saint Tropez to Cannes which came to €200.
If you’re visiting Saint Tropez during the spring/summer months you’ll definitely want to hit up a beach club or two. On my most recent visit we spent the day at Shellona which hosted the Dior pop-up and it was divine! Food and drinks were on point and so was the music. Note: Drinks at these beach clubs range from €26 and up. After you had a time at the beach clubs, hop in an Uber/taxi and head over to the harbor and admire the extravagant yachts. Then walk over to the designer boutiques and restaurants. Also stop at the Dior Cafe located outside of the Dior mansion for a coffee or cocktail.
Beach Clubs: Shellona, Verde Beach Club, Lulu’s, Nikki Beach and Indie Beach.
Restaurants: Table du Marche (3 course lunch for €29), Club 55 or L’Auberge des Maures (3 course dinner for €49 and Pablo Picasso once ate here).
Honorable mention to a small and cute bar called Manko. Drinks are around €15.
Menton:
A quick and easy day trip from Nice (via train) Menton is the cutest colorful town with gorgeous cafe’s and narrow streets that are great for photo ops. There’s also quite a few beaches in the area to check out when weather permits.
Monaco:
Another quick and easy day trip. Although there isn’t much to do here, I always tell people to take a quick train ride to Monaco because Monaco is actually a country. So if you want to get more bang for your buck, go visit two countries for the price of one. Monaco is the land of the rich, literally. One out of three people living in Monaco is a millionaire! So stroll around the city and take in those rich vibes. Stop at the legendary Monte Carlo casino and have lunch at Nikki Beach.
Cannes:
A lovely city which I had the pleasure of staying in during my last visit. It’s mostly famous for the Cannes film festival but even without the celebrities, Cannes has a lot to offer. It’s about 30 mins from Nice and there are lots of beach clubs, restaurants, etc. I hopped on the bus right outside of Nice airport for €20 (one way) and our apartment was a 10 minute walk.
One restaurant I always rave about since I visited was Medusa. It’s a great dining experience with live entertainment and the food was top tier. Dinner and drinks for 2 came to €232. For cheaper eats, I had a really good burger (fries and drink) at Big Fernand for €23. Another recommendation which I actually failed twice at getting into is Baoli. It has good reviews so if you’re able to check it out, let me know.
From yachts, to high end restaurants, designer pop-ups and strips of luxury boutiques, it’s safe to conclude luxury lives in the South of France. After two visits I definitely can’t wait to visit again. Other destinations in the region I plan to visit are Marseille and Provence, Eze and Antibes in the future.