Cote d’Azure winter breaks

[stranded]

We’re planning an Interrail trip for a month or so in February, mainly France. Plan to spend a few days pottering along the eastern med coast hoping to find a bit of sunshine. If the weather’s not playing nicely we’ll probably head down to Italy and do a bit of culture instead.

Anyway, hoping your collective wisdom might point us to some nice towns/villages east of Marseilles to stay for a day or three (or maybe more): on the sea, small would be nice, but big enough to have a bit of winter life (never been before, so maybe it’s year round down there anyway?). Good, preferably informal, restaurants would be lovely. Rail station would be great, but not essential.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Think you have to be a European resident to use Interrail. Another Br**it dividend.

 

[stranded]

Nah - I’m up on that part of it.

UK can do Interrail. And everyone else in the world (I think) can get Eurrail, which is the same thing with a different label.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Nah - I’m up on that part of it.

fair enough.

 

[Bouba]

Have you seen my review of La Ciotat ?
My View. Let's See Yours
And don’t forget Cassis
The whole Calanques make a great sea and walking trip
But there is so much more after that......Toulon bay, Porquerolle etc etc it truly doesn’t end....all the way to Antibes (great coast road) and beyond

 

[stranded]

Have you seen my review of La Ciotat ?
My View. Let's See Yours
And don’t forget Cassis
The whole Calanques make a great sea and walking trip
But there is so much more after that......Toulon bay, Porquerolle etc etc it truly doesn’t end....all the way to Antibes (great coast road) and beyond

In February?

 

[Bouba]

In February?

Well, it’s January
Like everywhere in the world....we have great winters, crappy winters....and even great ones have crappy months....pot luck !

 

[stranded]

Well, it’s January
Like everywhere in the world....we have great winters, crappy winters....and even great ones have crappy months....pot luck !

I’m good for pot luck with the weather - but is ‘stuff’ open - where will I find places that aren’t boarded up for winter - it was the question!

 

[Bouba]

I’m good for pot luck with the weather - but is ‘stuff’ open - where will I find places that aren’t boarded up for winter - it was the question!

Ohh....most of these places are all year round...they have local populations and lots of visitors....every sunny weekend throughout the year these places fill with Marseille people looking for a little escape from the gunfire. Porquerolle is a little different because many of the restaurants are closed...but some are open and more importantly the ferries are still running (same applies to most of the islands)....obviously it’s quieter but still most places have maybe upto a third of restaurants open

 

[stranded]

Ohh....most of these places are all year round...they have local populations and lots of visitors....every sunny weekend throughout the year these places fill with Marseille people looking for a little escape from the gunfire. Porquerolle is a little different because many of the restaurants are closed...but some are open and more importantly the ferries are still running (same applies to most of the islands)....obviously it’s quieter but still most places have maybe upto a third of restaurants open

Fab - how will I spot you in La Tiotat and inflict a beer on you!?

 

[Bouba]

Fab - how will I spot you in La Tiotat and inflict a beer on you!?

If I can persuade the wife to drive me home then inflicting beer on me is relatively easy

 

[Bouba]

If you read the whole of the My View thread....you’ll find my gastronomic tour of the whole coast

 

[stranded]

If you read the whole of the My View thread....you’ll find my gastronomic tour of the whole coast

I can feel an appetite coming in already.

 

[Bouba]

I can feel an appetite coming in already.

Any advice on traveling around just ask........you do drive a Tesla don’t you ?

 

[stranded]

Any advice on traveling around just ask........you do drive a Tesla don’t you ?

Sorry mate - never a Tesla - but quite attracted to a Hyundai, which I understand are superior in every way…

 

[Bouba]

Sorry mate - never a Tesla -

I don’t think I can help then......

 

[Bouba]

Just kidding

 

[TiggerToo]

For a day or three I'd say Hyeres. That could include a day out on Porquerolles and/or walking around the Presqu'ile de Giens. Hyeres is still alive in winter.

 

[Nautibliss]

The south of France has so much to offer even during winter. We apparently have 2 weeks of sunshine coming. If you have a couple of days I would start with Aix en Provence which is on the way if you are coming from up north. beautiful little town, very friendly people and they are always ready for an "aperitif". Then there is a train that follows the coast, you can hop on in Aix and stop along the way, Cassis, La Ciotat, Cannes... Antibes and Nice are still decently alive this time a year. You can also visit the small villages above all these cities.

 

[stranded]

The south of France has so much to offer even during winter. We apparently have 2 weeks of sunshine coming. If you have a couple of days I would start with Aix en Provence which is on the way if you are coming from up north. beautiful little town, very friendly people and they are always ready for an "aperitif". Then there is a train that follows the coast, you can hop on in Aix and stop along the way, Cassis, La Ciotat, Cannes... Antibes and Nice are still decently alive this time a year. You can also visit the small villages above all these cities.

Fabulous, thank you. We’ve now reversed our intended direction and committed to Amsterdam and Prague to start off, so we will be making our way down to France from there - haven’t figured out the route yet but guess we’ll probably be coming in from northern Italy. So lots of places we can take in on your list - might have to get a two month pass!