Archive for 'Beaches in France'

Those who have found a vacation rental in Provence-Alpes-Côte D'azur - or a holiday rental in Cannes or a rental in Marseille, in particular - who are looking for fun adventures to be had and things to see and do along the French Riviera, should consider planning a trip to the utterly beautiful island of Porquerolles. The largest of the three Îles d'Hyères islands in the Parc National de Port-Cros, Porquerolles is located off the coast of the region, between Marseille and Cannes. It is home to one village, founded in the 19th century, which was purchased, along with the whole island by the Belgian explorer François Joseph Fournier as a gift for his wife Sylvia. When she passed away in 1971, the French state procured 80% of the island, making it a national park and protecting its incredible natural beauty forevermore. Development and cars were both banned and, today, it is a bucolic paradise of perfectly picturesque Provençal landscapes and perfect beaches. Those spending time in this part of France who make the trip to this amazing place are certain to never forget her plentiful charms…

I don't know about you but I, for one, use Instagram as a handy tool to plan trips. Once my destination is set, I simply search hashtags related to the place (e.g. #discoverfrance, #discoverparis etc) or geotags (for specific cities or areas) and start saving things that catch my eye. This is a great way to save art galleries, viewpoints, beautiful buildings, restaurants, bars and more all in one place. Then, if more research is required, I can simply look up the places in question. So far, it has been an incredibly useful tool and has helped me find both secret gems and must-see hotspots, where to grab a bite, what attractions to put on the list, and where to go to simply wander and soak up the unique atmosphere of a destination.

One particularly good destination for a little Instagram detective work is France. A long-time favourite among travellers, with a massive tourism industry, it is really well-documented and snapped for Instagram. It is pretty easy to find photos and accounts specific to an area that you might be interested in but we have compiled a list of some accounts that we are particularly fond of from a few different places around the country to help you get started. If you have always wanted to plan a vacation in France, these are the best French travel Instagram accounts to follow...

One of the most famous couturiers of all time, Christian Dior, was born in 1905 in the seaside town of Granville, in Normandy, into a wealthy family. He was raised by his mother in Villa Les Rhumbs, a 19th century Belle Epoque clifftop villa that overlooks the sea. This idyllic and beautiful place is now the only "Musée de France" labelled French museum that is wholly dedicated to a couturier. Celebrating Dior's life and career, the museum also boasts stunning views and surroundings and a wonderful garden in the style of an English landscape park that was designed by his mother, Madeleine Dior, and is a rare example of one of the few remaining early 20th century artists' gardens.

Nice is a stunning holiday destination as it offers the best of a major urban destination in France – with all the restaurants, bars, cafes, stores, cultural hotspots, and things to see and do that that implies – and a seaside getaway on the French Riviera. There really is an endless list of things to keep you occupied and the type of setting that gladly facilitates those who don't want to do anything at all, however, there are some absolute must-sees and things to definitely pencil into your itinerary. These are our picks of the ten best things to and do the next time you find a vacation rental in Nice...

1. Visit the beach

As Nice is on the coast – on the French Riviera, one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in France, and the world – it would be inexcusable not to spend some time wandering the beach, playing in the water or strolling along the promenade.

No matter who you are or where you come from or what you could possibly demand of a beach, you'll find all you need in France: from almost tropical gems to private celebrity favourites, and surfers' paradises to historic site. There are all kinds of beaches along France's incredibly long coastline and there is a vast amount of choice. To help you narrow down the list and find the right one for you, we have compiled a list of some of the best of the best. Here are our final picks for some of the best beaches in France…

9. Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel is one of the most striking and iconic buildings in the world. Perched atop of a rocky islet, it dominates the bay where Normandy and Brittany merge and can be seen for miles away.