Posts Tagged ‘france’
Karen in The Côte d’Azur!
The Côte d’Azur is somewhere I return to year after year and still find new places to explore each time. For me it’s the perfect blend of beach, city and culture – with the bonus of delicious French food and wine! What makes it even more appealing is their seamless public transport with trains and buses that are user friendly and reliable: No car required. If you’re going for 3 or more days then a Sud Azur Explore pass is a good investment if you want to do some excursions. It’s available from the tram ticket machines at Nice Airport and 3 days currently costs only €35 per person for unlimited travel on trains, trams and buses within the region, including Monaco.
These are some of my favourite day trips to do from Nice or Monaco (which you can do with your Sud Explore Pass):
Eze Village. Perched on a hill above Monaco the hilltop village of Eze is the prettiest place I have ever been to. Take the train to Eze-sur-Mer and then hop on a bus to the topmost village 450 vertical metres above. The medieval village has steep cobbled streets winding up the hill, with plenty of independent shops, art galleries and restaurants to give some respite from the climb.
The very top of the hill is adorned with the flourish of a stunning botanic garden full of cacti and sculptures. If you are feeling energetic, there’s actually a walking trail linking Eze-Sur-Mer and Eze Village: named after the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche who supposedly climbed the trail daily while living in the area while contemplating the relationship between man and nature. It’s an arduous hike – even just walking down, as I did, requires sturdy shoes and plenty of water. Your effort is rewarded with stunning views, and perhaps spiritual enlightenment!
St Paul de Vence is another hilltop village that I love – this one sits just to the west of Nice. A regular bus service goes from the train station at Cagnes-Sur-Mer and winds through villages and vineyards to the fortified village of St Paul de Vence. You really get a sense of the varied history of the settlement – over the course of 1,000 years it has been a place of worship, a border stronghold, an artists retreat and it’s currently a hub of art and culture with independent boutiques, art galleries and restaurants galore. Just outside the town walls is a stunning contemporary art gallery and gardens: the CAB foundation is worth a few hours of anyone’s time.
If you fancy getting further into the hills then an adventure in the Vallee des Merveilles (Valley of wonder) is a day well spent. The train line from Nice is currently closed until the end of 2025 but there’s a regular bus service that takes you through the beautiful hill villages in the Roya Valley to Tende which sits at the top. Alternatively you can come by train from Nice or Menton going via the Italian town of Vintimille. It’s around a 3 hour journey to get to Tende, and the scenery is stunning all along the route. Tende itself is a well preserved medieval village without the tourist numbers that you’ll find in other places. The nearby Mercantour National Park is home to over 50,000 rock engravings that date back as far as 3,000 BC ad and there’s a great museum in Tende with lots of information about the petroglyphs. Have a wander round the crooked streets, enjoy the locally produced cheese and honey and breathe the cool mountain air!
If gardens are your thing then you need to get to Menton. This pretty town has been Italian in its past, and is now just on the French side of the border. It retains a lot of Italian character and is reputed to be the sunniest spot on the Cote d’Azur, without ever getting too hot. This makes it the ideal setting for a beautiful garden and the Jardin Botanique Val Rehmeh is just that! With different sections of the garden dedicated to specific planting themes you feel like you’re on a real journey as you wander through. Top tip though – do put on some insect repellent as the mozzies love to take advantage of your distraction! While in Menton be sure to check out the daily market – foodie heaven! Where Provence meets Liguria delicious things happen. Next on my wishlist is a meal at Mirazur – the Three Michelin star restaurant that was voted best in the world in 2019 and is still innovating.
I could go on.. but my best piece of advice for anyone thinking about visiting the French Riviera is: do it. There’s really something for everyone: history lovers, sun seekers, foodies and shoppers. Take me back there now!
To find out more about Karen’s visit to The Côte D’azur or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
Two In One: Shona Explores Paris & Val d’Isere
I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous FAM trip hosted by Experimental Group. Experimental are currently in the midst of an exciting new project building the new Experimental Chalet Val d’Isere, which is due to open at the end of the year. For all ski related enquiries, our sister company, Ski Independence are on hand to help create the perfect ski holiday for your clients.
Day 1
After a smooth flight to Paris Beauvais airport, I hopped on a bus and arrived at Porte Maillot. From there I took the metro to the first hotel I was staying in, Experimental’s Hotel des Grands Boulevards. Wow, what a place! The hotel was marvellous and I was greeted with a warm smile by the friendly reception staff. As I was handed a set of real keys to my room, I already started to feel right at home.
After dropping my bags, I strolled along the beautiful Parisian streets and visited a selection of our fabulous featured hotels:
- 5-star Parister Hotel
- 4-star Hotel Crayon Rouge
- 4-star Hotel Le Milie Rose
Once I had rendezvoused with the rest of the lovely agents in the group, we wandered around and saw some iconic Paris sites and headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner at the hotel. The restaurant has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere, offering a great selection of dishes and unique cocktails made with ingredients from their very own on-site garden!
Day 2
Off to an early start, we had a fabulous continental breakfast with plenty of pastries and had a tour of the hotel. Afterwards, we were treated to a superb food tour run by Through Eternity Tours, which included wine, French onion soup, galettes, chocolate and a lot of cheese!
Very happy and our bellies full, we took the scenic route back to our next hotel – The Grand Pigalle Hotel, a smaller, yet equally sophisticated slice of Paris. The Grand Pigalle hotel had a classically Parisian feel, with chic bedrooms and an elegant interior. My room had a beautiful balcony, perfect for a coffee and watching the world go by in the mornings.
In the evening, we had dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, Frenchie Pigalle, restaurant of the one-starred chef Gregory Marchand. The waiting staff were incredibly professional and knowledgeable, offering a description of each dish we had and the food was just to die for!
Day 3
After a blissful sleep in the comfiest beds, we had another delightful breakfast and were all feeling very excited for the journey ahead to Val d’Isere. Experimental will soon be opening new accommodation in Val d’Isere, which will be replacing the current L’Aigle Des Neiges.
We set off to Gare de Lyon and had a very easy journey to Chambery, before being picked up by our transfer to take us to our next accommodation.
When we arrived, snow was gently falling down around us. The resort of Val d’Isere is stunning, surrounded by cosy looking lodges and picturesque mountain backdrops. We stayed in the Chalet Marco Polo, which was absolutely breathtaking. Kitted out with a swimming pool, hot tub, games room and gym, it was a dream!
As the construction works of the new accommodation are still ongoing, we were taken on a tour of the showroom, which was mocked up to replicate one of the rooms at Experimental Chalet Val d’Isere. Equipped with hard hats and welly boots, we visualized what the accommodation will look like.
We were given a presentation from the Val d’Isere Tourist Office and afterwards treated to a mixology class by one of Experimental’s specialist mixologists. We had a private dinner which consisted of a spectacular 3-course meal, which was also to die for!
If you want to find out more about ski holidays with Ski Independence, visit our dedicated travel agent pages here. If you’re already registered with Osprey, that means you’re also registered with Ski Independence, and you can enquire today.
Day 4
After a wonderful breakfast with views of the mountains and gently falling snowflakes, we set off on our final activity – snowshoeing. I had never done this before and it was a great opportunity to get on the slopes and see the Alps in all their glory!
Sadly it was time to say goodbye, and after an incredible 4 days we packed our bags and headed to Geneva airport. The entire experience was the perfect mix of city sightseeing with a glorious alpine setting, and a fair few laughs along the way!
‘Til we meet again!
To find out more about Shona’s trip to Paris & Val d’Isere or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
New UK Flight Routes for 2018
Below are a list of UK airports and the new flight routes being offered for 2018 if they haven’t started already. Read the rest of this entry »
Europes Best Luxury City Spas
Pool at D’Angleterre, Copenhagen. Credit: dangleterre.com/en/spa-fitness/spa
Europe is home to some of the worlds most sophisticated, stylish and luxurious spas. Below is our top pick of five of the best luxury city spas that encompass anything from ‘One of the 25 Wonders of the World’ to some Vogue Magazine recommendations – be ready to become pampered! Read the rest of this entry »
Best Cities for a Sweet Tooth
Always the one to look at the desserts on the menu first? Well we have just the cities to keep those sweet tooth taste buds at bay. From creamy cold Gelato to a warming Portuguese custard tart, these destinations have the best dessert spots waiting for you to explore.
Paris, France – Macaroon’s
Box of Macaroon’s, Laduree, Paris, France. Credit: commons.wikimedia.org
Win a City Break to Paris!
– COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED –
We are giving one lucky person the chance to win a fantastic city break for two to the beautiful city of Paris! Read the rest of this entry »
Our French Riviera Adventure
Lisa & Emma at the Hotel La Perouse, Nice, France
We ventured to the beautiful French Riviera for three nights – two in Nice and our last in Cannes.
As soon as we stepped off the plane the warm weather hit us – we were officially on holiday! We headed straight to our 4-star Hotel La Perouse in Nice from the airport where we were staying for the first part of our trip. Our sea view room couldn’t have been any more perfect – from the fresh pastel colours to the incredible private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. We could have stayed here all month! Read the rest of this entry »
Great 2014 City Events
A wealth of exciting events are taking place in the coming year in some of our top city break destinations. While each city offers its own unique appeal, visiting during one of these special occasions can make your holiday even more memorable.
Mark your calendars – here are just a few of the great 2014 events that we are looking forward to. Read the rest of this entry »
