Bonjour Nice!

Fast track at Gatwick (would definitely recommend – only £5) and hand luggage made for a very smooth airport experience so in no time at all I had arrived!

I was staying just outside the City – in Cagnes Sur Mer which is a pretty sea front village a with a small centre with a lovely market, but is mostly known for Haut de Cagnes where old narrow lanes and steps lead up to the Castle.

The beauty of this part of France is it’s very easy to get around on an extremely efficient, clean and beautifully air conditioned train, reasonably priced and very reliable, so firstly I made the short journey to the very pretty walled town of Antibes. It has a lovely relaxed feel about it, with the impressive superyacht port, and lots of narrow cobbled streets leading to lots of cafes, bars, restaurants, shops and ice cream parlours.

The train also took me to the oh so glamorous Monte Carlo, with its world famous Casino, designer shops, top hotels and marina, and of course I had to do the touristy thing and have a glass of champagne in the Café de Paris! My bank account didn't thank me :)

The last stop before you get to Italy is the truly wonderful town of Menton. Perhaps not as well known as some of the more glitzy resorts of this beautiful coast, but in my opinion it’s simply fabulous. The main town centre leads to the older town, with traditional villas with terracotta roofs, lovely beaches and lemon gardens. You can climb the winding cobbled streets up to the Cathedral, passing pretty coloured houses and stunning villas.

I thoroughly enjoyed my few days in France, everything from the food, to the beaches, traditional authentic old towns rubbing alongside glitz and glamour. I would 100% recommend for either a short stay – you can get lots done in a few days – or for a more relaxing longer break.

Au Revoir!