"My Cote D'Azur" Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur by vivalasteph

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Travel Guide: 6,665 reviews and 17,229 photos

window, vence - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Provence, the Alpes-Maritimes, and the Cote d'Azur all make up this southeastern corner of France. Each is entirely different, yet they share a history dating back to the Bronze Age. Through Roman rule, the Greeks, the Goths, the Lombards, and eventually the Great British Invasion (Oh No!), this area shows every influence in its architecture, food, culture, and love of life.

How to have a bargain holiday on the Cote D'Azur

the Riviera coastline

The Cote D'Azur is a magical place, and is synonymous with the glamorous vacation. What I found was that you don't need a yacht or a bucketload of platinum cards to enjoy this region.

I traveled here off-season, and rented an apartment instead of staying in a hotel and it was one of my least expensive holidays. Really! Transportation costs are low and if you don't eat out every meal, but shop in the markets for your picnics, you will have extra $$$ for those souvenirs.

It is very easy to get around, with frequent bus services, and many trains, and you will be rewarded with such a variety of cities, villages, and countryside that you will hardly believe the coastline extends only about 40 miles and roughly 10 miles inland.

My Travel Philosophy or How We Got to Nice

the beach at Nice

I started traveling to Europe just 5 years ago, following working year after year saying "I don't have the time" or, mostly, "I don't have the money." After I visited Barcelona in 1999, I vowed to go at least once a year, and spend at least two weeks to see as much as I could see, while having down time to experience more than just the "what can I see in 5 hours" tour.

The internet appeared (poof! like magic!) in my life and the researching, planning and booking became as much a part of my memories as the trip itself. I spend weeks, and sometime months comparing lodging prices, airfares, train schedules, etc. before I finally book.

I want to share what I've learned, starting with this trip to the French Riviera.

So, you ask, why the French Riviera? My travel buddy is Sabine (say hello to Sabine) used to live in Boston until her husband finished his doctorate and accepted a position in Munich. (They are both from northern Germany). They moved in June of 2002, and that fall I hopped on a plane and Sascha handed over his wife to me for a week in Florence, and a drinking partner at Oktoberfest.

We decided that a new habit was taking seed, and we would go somewhere different every fall. So last August I called her and said "Where to? Where to?". Her only priorites were blue skies, near some sort of water, in a city center (so a car wouldn't be necessary)and good food and drink.

Then I took over (she's not on good speaking terms with her computer), went to my favorite apartment rental site and did a search for this: mid-October, studio or 1 bedroom apartment, in a city center anywhere in Europe, for under $500 for a week.

Sound crazy? You would be surprised. My search yielded about 40 properties. After looking at the third listing I called and asked what she thought about Nice. Within a couple of days our apartment was booked.

Please read my travelogue for the rest of the story.

Pros and Cons

Pros:beautiful villages, delicious food and wine, and warm people
Cons:not a one
In a nutshell:I want to live here!

Intro Updated Apr 12, 2004
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (13)

view of Vence from the bus - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

the view from the bus goes on and on Transportation (2)

I traveled by bus during my trip to the region, when I wasn't on foot. It is cheap and frequent to most areas. Some... more travel advice

view towards Cannes - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

the Mediterranean Favorites (3)

One direction you see mountains, the other the Mediterranean Sea. The blue waters seduce you, the smell of the air... more travel advice

view of the Alps - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

the Alps Favorites (3)

The Alpes-Maritimes stretch from the sea near Cannes to Switzerland, running about 10 miles inland from the coast. It is... more travel advice

the sky is falling! - Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

those little surprises Off The Beaten Path (1)

You arrive in a town knowing a little background, having maybe a list of what you want to see. What always surprises me... more travel advice

Things to Do (4)
See All St.-Paul-de-Vence
Hotels (1)
Rent an apartment!

Travelogues (1)

Written Apr 12, 2004

1 photo

and now, the rest of the story

1 - 1 of 1

Comments (7)

Reply
- Report abuse
Herkbert Jun 12, 2007 at 6:50 PM

Stephanie.. Thanks for sharing your tips and pictures from the Cote d'Azur. We are heading there in September and we can't wait. Happy travels.. Tom
Reply
- Report abuse
kucha Aug 18, 2006 at 5:25 AM

Just returned from Provence in June and your pages were fun to read!
Reply
- Report abuse
rozehill Sep 23, 2004 at 4:23 AM

Fantastic photos and what a wonderful idea to search for an apartment as you did.... and it doesn't need to be expensive as you say! Fab tips.
Reply
- Report abuse
freya_heaven May 12, 2004 at 11:52 AM

Your page brought back wonderful memories, It is such a beautiful area. Lovely Page, Happy Travels (~_~)
Reply
- Report abuse
unravelau Apr 30, 2004 at 10:54 PM

A wonderfully nice visit to Nice......it looks like my kind of place really.........and the blue is really blue. Thank you.
Reply
- Report abuse
Dumpymotel Apr 22, 2004 at 2:31 AM

The beach at Nice looks very ROCKY.... I remember it being sandy.
Reply
- Report abuse
pedersdottir Apr 12, 2004 at 10:47 PM

Aha! I see you've been busy creating these delightful Cote d'Azur pages for our culinary pleasure! Just lovely! (Where was the apt.?)