Yachting Events in the South of France

The French Riviera is well known for the plethora of amazing super yachts moored along the coast and April is the real start of the yachting season when the Antibes Yacht Show opens. The show runs from the 23rd - 26th April in Port Vauban in Antibes. This is the pre-season show for crew recruitment and the testing of new products prior to the key season which starts around the beginning of May.

Cannes Yacht Show - Taking place each September this is a much larger show that Antibes and takes place in the port of Cannes and much of the surrounding area. For the 2014 show there will be over 150 yachts exhibiting together with a large exhibition of suppliers to the yachting industry.

Monaco Yacht Show - The most glamorous of the yachting events here on the French Riviera Monaco will be flooded with super yachts, their crews and of course their even more glamorous owners. Take coffee at one of the celebrated restaurants and watch the rich and famous stroll by....

5 things to do before the Tourists Arrive in the South of France

We all love the summer, but it does mean that for those of us living in the South of France then we have to share our restaurants, our beaches and of course our roads with all our visitors who arrive from across the globe. So just before they invade, here are our top 5 tips of things to do before it get's too busy.

1. Lunch on the Beach in Cannes - Right now the beach restaurants and calm and there's no rush for the best sunbeds. Wander down on to the beach, enjoy a leisurely lunch and then sleep it off to the sounds of the Mediterranean lapping in the distance.

2. Drive to St Tropez - It's getting close to that time when all roads - or should we say road- into and out of St Tropez are jammed packed and it takes an extra hour to get into the village. So now is the time to drive down, park on the port and stroll into St Tropez for a little designer shopping.

3. Picnic at the Lake - Either St Cassian or St Croix - take a trip into the hills and enjoy a quiet family picnic by the lake.

4. Dinner on the port at Villefranche - Delicious food and a wonderful setting - something to be enjoyed when it's not too crowded.

5. Market Day - Many to choose from and at this time of year you can stroll easily through the lines of stalls and pick up the early season bargains before the 'tourist prices' arrive.

And of course, out of season your rental villa is less expensive. So contact the team at Cote d'Azur Villas for a selection of over 350 villas throughout the South of France & Provence.

5 Top Tips for Visiting the Monaco Grand Prix 2014

Start your Engines please!.......

It's almost May and very soon Monaco will be alive to the roar of the F1 engines whizzing around the principality. This is one of the most glittering occasions in the South of France calendar and the whole of the Riviera is alive with celebrities, the restaurants and busy but that all inevitably leads to traffic and congestion. So here are our top 5 tips for making the most of your visit to the Monaco Grand Prix.

1. Reserve your private villa in the hills just above Monaco which means that you are away from all the hustle and bustle but within easy reach of the action. Villa Bon Ton with amazing views over the Principality is idea.

View from Villa Bon Ton across the Principality of Monaco

2. Take the train. If you are planning to visit other areas of the South of France while you are here then taking the train is a great option. All areas of the coast are well served and you can even pop over the border into Italy with little difficulty.

3. Arrive Early or Stay Late. Arriving on the first practice day and leaving on the Monday morning is expensive and congested. Nice Airport will be busy, flights will be full and the best option to is arrive a couple of days before and leave a couple of days after the Grand Prix. Treat yourself to a few well earned days of rest and relaxation.

4. Buy your tickets for the Grand Prix from a reliable source. Unfortunately, as with many key events there are ticket sources that are not officially accredited and where you run the risk of ending up without the seat in the grandstand that you've paid for. Go to the Monaco Tourist Board website for all the key information about ticketing for the Grand Prix 2014.

5. Sun Cream and an Umbrella. In recent years we have had everything from 25 degrees of sunshine to lashing rain for the Monaco Grand Prix - be prepared!

Book Villa Bon Ton and over 350 other villas in the South of France with the team at Cote d'Azur Villas.