Through the centuries, Nice has often played a pivotal role in Franco-Italian history, holding strong influence over Savoy for hundreds of years. As France’s fifth largest city and second most popular tourist destination in France outside of Paris, there is no denying that Nice still remains an integral part of regional politics.

If you want to experience the past, Nice has many options. You can take a trip to the Terra Amata and learn how some of our earliest ancestors lived. Go up to the Parc du Chateau and look 92 metres down below for a breathtaking view of the Baie des Anges and Vieux Nice. Visit the Place Garibaldi and marvel at the architecture and statue of Nice-born Giuseppi Garibaldi, the hero of Italian unification who advocated strongly to make Nice a part of Italy.

You can stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, so named after the many English people who flocked to spend their winters in Nice during the later half of the eighteenth century. There you can take in the fresh air and sights that have served as inspiration to countless artists, including Marc Chagall and Henri Matisse. Then, go to the Musee d’Art Moderne et d’Art Contemporain to view masterpieces by world famous artists. Also be sure to check out the Galerie Jean Renoir to see artwork by young locals and get a glimpse of where Nice is headed in the future.

Getting to Nice is easy and there are many ways to do so. One way is to fly to the third most important airport in France, Nice Cote d’Azure Airport. Due to its proximity to Monaco, it also serves as the primary hub for that city-state. If you are starting your trip in Paris and want to see more of the country, you can take a six hours long train ride to Nice from the capital via Nice’s primary railway, Nice-Ville.

Nice also makes a good base for people wishing to travel to other locations. Marseilles is less than three hours away by train, and two expressways, the A8 autoroute and Route nationale 7 go through Nice en route to Italy. Nice is also home to Lympia port from which ferries to and from Corsica go. Additionally, Cannes, which hosts the international film festival, is nearby.
Nice is a perfect place for people who are looking to bask in the sunlight and relish in fresh air. With history part of Nice’s very atmosphere and so many things to see and do in and around Nice, visiting Nice is a must for every traveller to France.

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Nice
When the idea of holidaying in south of France comes to mind, then the city of Nice should strike your mind. Thanks to its broad avenues, golden beaches and wide sweeping bays, this holiday paradise attracts up to three million visitors every year. It is only rivaled by Paris when it comes to breathtaking tourist sites. The city boasts of so many things to do and see. Top on the list include the famous Matisse museum, Promenade des Anglais and the Russian cathedral, just to mention a few.

Arles
Arles is another enticing city worth visiting when holidaying in this part of the country. Famed for its Roman heritage which includes amphitheatres, century old masons, modern museums and its wide rolling river, the city has it all for a perfect and unforgettable holiday experience. It is also home to some of the famous painting masterpieces that date hundreds of years. It also at Arles that the famous Camargue region can be explored in its entirety.

St. Tropez
Relaxed, sunny, beautiful and glitzy – these are what describe this south France holiday resort. The city has long been associated with celebrities, something that makes it referred to as the summer home of the famous, rich and beautiful. The city’s beaches are considered as some of the best in the world, and its harbour comes only second to Monaco in terms of impressive array of yachts on show.

Gorges Du Verdon
This is France’s equivalent of the world famous Grand Canyon. With a dramatic and breathtaking 700m drop to the river bed, this is a perfect place to take a day trip. Set in a scenic and beautiful countryside, Gorges Du Verdon is a famous spot that has remained a must visit with most holiday makers in south France.

Avignon
Avignon is not only the Pope’s palace, but also boasts of being the biggest Gothic palace in the whole of Europe. It once became the center and symbol of the Christian power in the 14th century, thanks to its several ceremonial rooms, private papal apartments and rooms. A visit to Avignon will take you to the center where culture meets history. Set on the river Rhone banks, it captured the attention of the world when the vatican was moved from Rome to its peaceful pastures.

Aigues Mortes
Spending leisure time in Aigues is truly relaxing and joyful. This walled town is located in a romantic setting among the plain and dunes of Camargue. A trip to the town’s streets is a must during a visit to south of France. Even though it is a popular summer holiday resort, you can still find plenty of enticing activities to engage in. Spending a pleasant day wandering around the pavement restaurants and shops is a perfect way to spend a lazy afternoon.

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Saint-Tropez
St Tropez has been the favorite destination of Hollywood stars for years, and it’s pretty obvious why. The beaches found in this city are one of the world’s best, and all the resort services are top-class. What’s more, the array of yachts on display adds an extra touch of luxury. There are also several clubs where you can spend your free time. Glitzy, relaxed, chic, beautiful… there aren’t enough adjectives to describe this resort.

Nice
This city features broad avenues, a golden beach and a wide sweeping bay, so it’s easy to why this is a favorite destination of most tourists. Some places to visit while in Nice include the famous Matisse museum, Promenade des Anglais (English Promenade), Vieux Nice (Old Nice) and the Russian Cathedral. There are many colourful markets, cozy streets, baroque churches, bars and nightclubs to visit, so you’ll never get bored in here.

Arles
Arles is another beautiful destination to visit. This is the place where Van Gogh has painted some of the most stunning artworks, whose market value keeps increasing over time. The Roman heritage can also be found here, including its Forum, Theatre, and Amphitheathre. Other wonderful attractions of Arles include its mazy streets, the
wide river, modern museums, and also the impressive mansions built in the 17th Century.

Gorges du Verdon
The place here might be seen as a second Grand Canyon, since it features a dramatic 700 metres drop untill the river floor. The city is set among the beautiful countryside Provence, allowing for a pleasant view of the natural landscape. You also have the occasion to practice many sports in here, such as sailing, kayaking, paragliding, mountain biking and so on, so it’s a great place to escape from your daily routine.

Avignon
Set right in the middle of Provence, Avignon is the city which hosts the famous Papal Palace, the biggest Gothic-style palace in Europe. The palace has various capels, ceremonial rooms, and private papal apartments, and it used to be the home of Sovereign Pontiffs in the past. Avignon also has an impressive history and culture. Sert on the River Rhone, Avignon attracted worldwide attention in 1303, when the Vatican chose to leave the anarchic violence in Rome and resort to the peaceful scenery of Provence. They remained here for 70 years only, yet there are still traces of their legacy on the fascinating streets of Avignon.

Nimes
Featuring a lot of historical monuments, this city is inevitably bond to its Roman past. Some of the most popular attractions in Nemes include its Amphitheatre, the temple of Diana and the Maison Carrée. You’ll find a huge commercial district inside, made of several boutiques filled with clothes and souvenirs. There are also tow art galleries, and, if you’re lucky enough, you might attend the colourful February’s Carnival or the Feria de Pentecost (held in September, every year).

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The resort is easy to visit in a day-trip from Paris. The complex actually contains two parks: the original Magic Kingdom, with five fun-filled lands, and Walt Disney Studios Park, where you get to see how movies are made.

Disneyland Paris has now overtaken the Eiffel Tower as the most popular tourist destination of the Paris region, and is the fourth most visited theme park in the world. This means that crowds at the parks are huge and the queues for rides can be daunting.

The secret to a perfect Disneyland experience is forward planning. Visiting at off-peak times (avoiding school holidays and week-ends) can help you miss the worst of the crowds. You should also check out the range of great value Disneyland Paris tickets on offer and see which suits your holiday plans best.

For families who have more time, there are four or five day tickets to the parks. If you need a shorter time, then you can book Disneyland Paris park tickets for just one, two, or three days. Tickets including park-hopper passes allow you to visit both parks every day at whim, and four or five day Disneyland Paris® party tickets give you an extra day in the parks for free.

If you are staying in the centre of Paris, there are Disneyland Paris® tickets that include minibus travel to and from the Disneyland parks, either from your hotel or a designated pick up point in the centre of town, depending on which ticket you book.

Another useful tip for enjoying Disneyland Paris is to do your homework and decide what you want to do before you get there. Find out where the attractions are located and which you want to ride first, that way you’re not wasting time when you get to the park.

It is a good idea to arrive early at the parks and head straight for the most popular attractions. At Disneyland Park these are Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, and Fantasyland. The busiest rides at Walt Disney Studios are Crush’s Coaster and Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

To beat the queues you can also take advantage of Disney’s FASTPASS service. This allows you to get a ticket to return to an attraction at a certain time and skip the regular queue.  Get FASTPASS tickets for the rides you want to do early in the day, then go off and enjoy other attractions until your FASTPASS turn comes around.

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In February, the Mardi Gras Festival, also known as Carnival De Nice, held in Nice is comes to life and is recognised world round for its major impact on the south of France and all of its visitors as it touches on all points of intrigue for the travelling guest. Never again will you see the absolute brilliance that can be seen through the Mardi Gras Festival. Indulge in authentic cuisine as you listen and dance along to the music throughout the streets of Nice. Vendors will be going about selling their brightly coloured and lively items that are yours to keep as record of your unforgettable experience. Dancing shoes are a MUST for this event! The music that is played throughout the streets wakes up your soul and brings out your youthful spirit! More information on the Mardis Gras Festival can be found on the official website at: nicecarnaval.com

Cannes Lions: Cannes

To be held in mid-June, 2012, is the infamous Cannes Lions Festival! This festival which is put together by almost 10,000 people from around the world who join together through creative communication industries to really blow each other away with new ideas and inventions that have all been developed and created to foster growing creativity! Educational, adventurous, and fun, the Cannes Lions is sure to be unforgettable! Information for one of the most thrilling and thought-provoking festivals found in the south of France, or even the world, can be found at: canneslions.com

Nice Jazz Festival : Nice

A Nice tradition since the 1940s, the Nice Jazz Festival occurs at the end of July. People from all over the world, especially music lovers, are drawn to this festival every year. World renowned jazz musicians perform their own music as well as tributes to the greats such as Miles Davis daily. There are plenty of free children’s events to enjoy at this festival too, which makes it a great option for a family vacation that no one will forget! More information on the Nice Jazz Festival can be found at: nicejazzfestival.fr

Whatever time you plan your trip to the south of France, you can be sure there will be some sort of festival or activity to keep you entertained during your stay. Flights to the south of France take less than two hours and with a number of budget airlines flying daily from the UK and other local airports, it’s a great destination for a last minute break.

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Family holidays in Paris usually involve a visit to Disneyland Paris®. Everyone above the age of 3 needs a ticket to get into the theme park. Disneyland Paris tickets are easy to buy when you are at the resort but you can save time and money by getting your tickets in advance.

The magical Disney resort consists of two parks – Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studio. Disneyland Park includes big thrills and family adventures plus lots for little ones to do. You can enjoy a heart-pounding ride on Space Mountain and a nail-biting experience with Indiana Jones. Or join forces with the Pirates of the Caribbean and take a flight with Peter Pan. Roam around in Alice’s amazing labyrinth and hang out with the Swiss Family Robinson in their Tree House.

At Walt Disney Studios® Park you get a real taste of movie magic. Peek behind the scenes at the four studio lots, meet your favourite Disney characters, brave ‘The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™’, find out how stunts are performed, enjoy the fabulous parades and much more.

Disneyland Paris tickets are available in single day or multiple day options. Ideally, a good overview of Disneyland Park takes 2 days whilst Walt Disney Studios Park takes 1 day. However, the longer your visit, the more you’ll appreciate the experience – you won’t have to rush to fit everything in and can enjoy the attractions when queues are shortest.

While Disneyland Paris may be the highlight of the holiday for younger ones, adults may be longing to explore the art treasures at the Louvre.

Originally a royal palace, the Louvre is now one of the largest and most popular museums in the world, attracting at least 15,000 people a day. The queues for tickets can be very long indeed. Booking Louvre tickets in advance, as part of a tour or separately, can save hours of waiting at the entrance.

Be warned! The Louvre is huge. There are no fewer than 35,000 works of art and 380,000 museum objects on display and on your first visit it can be overwhelming. It is a good idea to take one of the guided tours that will show you the main highlights. ‘Must sees’ include the Venus de Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and of course Leonardo da Vinci’s matchless Mona Lisa. You can even pre-book a guided tour that includes skip-the-line Louvre tickets.

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The French Riviera

Cannes is known for its exclusive spot on the French Riviera. With more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it is no wonder people travel here to visit the 18 golf courses; 3,000 restaurants, bars and cafes; 14 ski resorts; and 71 miles of coastline and beach. Every month there is a special event that occurs in this area, so visitors will be sure to experience at least one great French tradition.
Sailing by the French Riviera, swimming at the Cannes Beach, shopping in Rue d’Antibes and a stroll along The Alles de la Liberte Charles de Gaulle are other things that can be done.

Parc Zoologique de Frejus

The French Zoo is a great place to take family and friends. You are never too old to see some of the greatest creatures on Earth. In the 20 hectare park, visitors can see over 110 species of animals by foot or by car.

Accommodation

When looking for accommodation in Cannes, staying at the exclusive area La Californie can give people privacy and comfort. Apartments and villas can be rented out for a variety of days/weeks and even months. The luxurious apartments have a great view of the city, which are only minutes away. For more information, take a look at a local rental site such as Bel Respiro.

Museums

Visiting some museums can really give the visitor a cultural experience they will not get from the Internet, books or magazines. The Musee de la Castre has many beautiful paintings, sculptures and art pieces dating back to the Mayan times. The Musee de la Mer features underwater archaeology dating back to Roman times. The Musee International de la Parfumerie gives visitors an idea of how perfume was made.
The Musee d’Art et d’Historie de Province in Grasse is home to many historical pieces of art. The Musee de la Photographie, Musee de la Marine, Musee et Domaine Renoir and Villa Musee Jean-Honore Fragonard are other wonderful attractions to visit while exploring the Cannes region.

Historic sites

Cannes City Hall, also known as Hotel de Villa, is a gorgeous piece of history found just below the Cannes Castle. The hike up to the castle gives visitors a grand view of Cannes. Next to it can be found one of the museums we mentioned above, the Musee de la Castre (Castle Museum). The Notre Dame Esperance Church is on the same hill located in west Cannes. Completed in 1648, this church has historical significance.

To ensure you get a great deal when booking your flights from the UK to the south of France, make sure you use a flight comparison tool to find the best prices.

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There are many reasons people to go to France, from its amazing culture, its world-class art collections, stunning beaches, picturesque rural landscapes and towering snow-covered mountains. But one thing you don’t normally choose a French holiday for is the price.

Ever since adopting the Euro, prices in France have sky rocketed. Even the small rural backwaters in the south and central plains have seen beer, wine, cheese and meat prices rise. Fuel has increased, so have holiday rental prices, yet still, the whole world flocks there.

However, don’t be put off just yet. If you haven’t been to France you won’t know what all the fuss is about and we recommend that you do go and find out why so many millions of people want to holiday here. But, bear these things in mind so you can have a value-packed and affordable holiday in France.

Self-catering vs. all-inclusive

A decade ago self-catering was always the cheapest way to go and depending on where abouts you are travelling to, this is still the case. But sometimes all-inclusive packages actually work out better value for money.

For example, if you are travelling to the south of France for a beach break with the kids and need to budget well in advance a paid-for-up-front all-inclusive holiday could be the answer. You will know how much you are going to spend before you even leave the UK and you might even be able to bag yourself a Euro-busting bargain.

On the other hand, if you want to sample French food in all its glory, wandering from café to café and restaurant to restaurant, then self-catering may offer you more flexibility. However, if you want to save cash, make the most of the local food markets and buy and cook your own meals.

Travel as a group

Packing as many people as you can into a large villa with a pool to save money ‘per person’ is nothing new, but you can now also do a similar thing in a hotel. Some last minute or cheap package deals offer the best prices based on four or six sharing. Look out for odd numbers too; groups of three, five and seven could strike it lucky. However, this does usually just work on an adult-only basis. But take note that many tour operators offer free kids’ places.

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Mexico

Mexico is a long, slinking country lapped on both sides by oceans. To the east you have the warmer and calmer waters of the Gulf of Mexico and to the west you have the powerful, cool waters of the Pacific. The coastlines are lined with palms and the sand on the beaches comes in various shades of off-white. The resorts take luxury and exclusivity to a new level with personal butler services, private beachside bungalows and palatial-sized sea-view suits. All this comes at a surprisingly affordable price. Just make sure you travel between June and October to avoid hurricane season. Winter sun holiday anyone?

Greece

White-walled villas and blue-domed churches matched by white-sand beaches and azure-blue waters, Greece is truly stunning. From the unique and picture-perfect islands to the rural and rugged hinterland there is much more to Greece than disco bars and ouzo. Hotels here tap into the country’s mythical past of gods and goddesses and offer something truly luxurious. From sunset dinners to sunrise massages every ounce of the upscale market in Greece is devoted to relaxation. Many hotels offer excursions to monumental landmarks of great historic importance, while others offer yoga and spa retreats surrounded by pine, olive and lemon groves. You can travel right in the middle of summer and still find your own private idyll.

Turkey

Like Greece, Turkey is devoting much time, care, attention and money to its top-end holiday market. New remote and hidden away resorts are opening up appealing to spa and nature lovers, as well as those looking for something special and away from the crowds. The Mediterranean coastline is where you will find most of the most romantic hotels. Many resorts also offer sailing experiences on yachts the size of some people’s houses dining on food cooked by Michelin-star-worthy chefs.

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The Monaco Grand Prix has been taking place for over 80 years since the first race in 1929 that was organised by Anthony Noghès. Car races in Monaco originally were organised and run through the ‘Automobile Club de Monaco’.  In 1928 the club applied to the international governing body of motorsport, so they could change their status from a French regional club to a national club. Today, this race is said to be one of the most famous and to some, the most important car races worldwide.

The race is held on a narrow course laid out on the streets on Monaco. Drivers finish this specific race with a relatively low average speed compared to other Grand Prix races. This is due to the fact that the course has many “humps and bumps”, tight corners and a tunnel. In total, the race is 8 laps long with 19 corners and is just 2 miles long. In the off peak season, you can walk the racing route to see just how challenging it is for the drivers!

Spectators of this sport come from all over the world. Most hotels in Monaco during this time of the year host exclusive parties and charge for the privilege of using their hotel views. At a premium, you can get a three-course lunch accompanied by wines, water and coffee, a champagne reception and open bar whilst watching the cars go whizzing by in an energetic atmosphere.

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