HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP in SOUTH OF FRANCE ? OUR TIPS AND ADVICES

1. Choose your destination

Where should you go in the south of France ? Stay in one specific place or go on a road trip between the French Riviera and the countryside ? This decision will depend on your budget, the time you have available,and your personal preferences. You can first find inspiration on this blog :

• Do you need to recharge your batteries close to nature ? We recommend a stay in the Verdon region, discovering villages, gorges and lakes with emerald-coloured waters. Horse riding, canoeing in the gorges, museum visits, you will also enjoy plenty of original things to do in Verdon, to discover it differently.
• Do you prefer relaxing and enjoying paradise-like beaches along the coast ? Then the Var is the ideal destination ! To get you dreaming, here is our top 10 of the most beautiful beaches in Saint-Tropez.
• Are you a fan of human experiences and discovery ? Immerse yourself in culture during a weekend in Marseille : between typical neighbourhoods, the Marseille way of life and original museums, you will be delighted !
• Finally, for a fast-paced holiday, a 15-day road trip in the south of France will appeal to those thirsty for discovery and adventure.

Other sources of inspiration are also available, especially our Instagram : the short videos shared there have the advantage of giving you a more precise idea of the place to choose. You will also find detailed information on tourist office websites (cultural events, festivals, etc.).

Once you have your destination in mind, you can then decide when to go: depending on the weather (personally, we tend to trust the forecasts from la chaine météo) and on prices (travelling in the off-season is the best option).

2. Book your transportS TO GET THERE

Before starting to build your holiday itinerary, you will first need to book your transportation :

• The train : depending on your departure and arrival points, book your train ticket on SNCFconnect. The website specialises not only in comparing train fares, but also bus and car travel. For us, it’s a complete and very practical solution!
• Plane : personally, we use the Skyscanner comparison tool to find the best flight deals. It is easy to use and offers great deals in addition to the cheapest flights, whether direct or with stopovers.
• Car : this may be your own car. Remember to check distances and calculate a fuel + toll budget using ViaMichelin. You can also rent a vehicle on site if you want the freedom to move around more easily. This is often what we prefer to do, as it allows us to explore more widely ! Our favourite tool to compare and book a car : DiscoverCars.

In any case, as with all bookings, remember to plan ahead in order to benefit from attractive prices !

3. Prepare your holiday by creating a SCHEDULE/ITINERARY

We always create a day-by-day itinerary,or at least a fairly detailed plan of what we will be able to discover during our holidays. To do this :

• Travel blogs are the first useful resource. You will also find plenty of information and ready-made itineraries to visit the region on Exploresouthfrance.com !
• You can also create a small list of points of interest thanks to the attractive content available on specialised Instagram accounts.
• By doing a simple internet search with the right keywords (for example, the place where you will be staying). Tourist office websites and others will also be interesting for regional news (cultural events, festivals, etc.).
• Creating an itinerary also means finding good little restaurants or original activities nearby. For this, Tripadvisor is perfect, with rankings, reviews and photos !
• Finally, our favourite tool that helps us make sure we don’t miss anything in the area we are exploring : Google Maps. It allows you to assess distances between point A and point B and to create routes. By zooming in on the map, you will also uncover interesting places (natural or cultural sites, etc.), all accompanied by reviews and photos.

Plan your holiday is essential in our opinion if you want to avoid missing the main attractions and hidden gems to see. So that you can save time once you are there. But it all depends on your mindset, you may prefer the charm of the unexpected and discovering things at your own pace on the day !

4. Book your accommodation

After preparing a roadmap for your holiday, you will have an idea of the most practical location to stay. Here are our two essential websites for comparing accommodation :

• Booking : we always book our hotel room here. As on most websites, reviews and photos are very useful to get an idea of the place. You can also regularly benefit from promotions and perks. Tip: remember to read the negative reviews. If the same major issue comes up repeatedly, move on to another property !
• Airbnb : the advantages are that the accommodation usually has all the necessary equipment (washing machine, kitchen ustensils, etc.), and that it is possible to find cheaper nights (renting a room in a local’s home instead of the entire place). Cooking your own meals will also help you save money. Staying in an Airbnb is also a more human and enriching experience thanks to meeting locals.

5. Plan activities and excursions

Before going on holiday, we sometimes need to book activities on GetYourGuide. Whether it’s guided excursions, sports activities or visits (museums, monuments, etc.), it is sometimes necessary to do so in order to avoid long queues or being unable to buy tickets on site during busy periods.