The Best of the French Riviera and Provence

Arrive by mid-day via train or air to Nice. Hop into a cab and check into our hotel, the 4-star Le Meridien Hotel which faces the Mediterranean Sea.

Meet with your guide, Nancy, at 6:30 pm for a rooftop cocktail or bubbly followed by dinner at the iconic Negresco Hotel. The pink-domed Belle Epoque hotel has been famous for over a hundred years, hosting celebrities, royals, millionaires, and politicians.

We’ll begin our day with a stroll around the historic Nice and learn more about the southern capital of France. We will get to peruse the Cours Saleya market in the old town, which is a must-do in Nice! Then, we’ll venture into the hills to explore the charm and near perfection of the medieval village of Eze where we will pretend we’ve stepped back in time. 

We will transfer in our comfortable van to charming Antibes, where you can enjoy some free time to shop or pick up a bite on your own. 

After browsing around, we’ll head to the Picasso Museum in Antibes. The museum is built on the ancient Greek Acropolis of Antipolis, which later became the Chateau Grimaldi in the 14th century, a mix of ancient and modern. 

We'll have dinner at Chez Davia, known for its sophisticated Niçoise cooking.

Today, we’ll drive up to St. Paul de Vence to wander the grounds of the Maeght Foundation. The sculpture garden is legendary. It's known for the collection of abstract works crafted by Calder, Leger, Jean Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Erik Dietman, Barbara Hepworth, Joan Miró, and many more. 

We'll enjoy lunch at the celebrated Colombe d’Or, one of France's most famous restaurants. Be sure to order the crudité while you ponder the Matisse and Picasso paintings. 

After lunch, we’ll visit the stunning Villa Rothschild, imagined and designed for Béatrice de Rothschild by the famous French banking family. The castle sits pretty and proud in pink, and its gardens are to die for.

Tonight, upon your return to our hotel, which, by now, feels like home, the night is yours to wander and find your own café or spend time relaxing at the hotel.

After breakfast, we'll check out from our hotel and transfer to Provence. On our drive to Cassis we will stop at Fragonard in Grasse. Who doesn't love perfume? 

This afternoon, we’ll head down to Cassis for a boat ride to see the Calanques (similar to fjords), just offshore from this quaint harbor town. (Weather dependent). If the weather changes our plans we will head into Cassis and visit L'eau de Cassis. 

When we arrive in Fontvieille, we'll check into our 4-star hotel, the Regalido, for some rest before a relaxing dinner. 

After some rest and unpacking, we will dine at the colorful Le Patio in Fontvieille to try some authentic Provençal food. 

Today, we’ll head up into the Luberon to Uzès, an ancient market town, where we’ll take a guided stroll with Deborah, the barefoot blogger. We’ll lunch together at Villa Curti. 

After a final stroll around this appealing town, we’ll stop at the Pont Du Gard, the ancient Roman Aqueduct, to take photos. On the way back to our hotel we'll stop in Les Baux-de-Provence at the Carrières des Lumières to appreciate the light show. 

Back in town, we'll have a short rest. Then we will dine at Mistral Blanc at the hotel. 

Today, we’ll visit the historic St. Remy de Provence, where Nostradamus was born, where Van Gogh resided for a time, and where Princess Caroline of Monaco summers. Most agree it's a near-perfect French village with shopping to make every woman's heart skip a beat. 

We’ll start with a market visit followed by lunch at Da Pepe for a change of pace.

We’ll visit Van Gogh’s Monastery just north of the walled town in the afternoon. Van Gogh lived here for some time after the ear incident. You’ll visit his room and see where he painted many of the 100 masterpieces he accomplished during his short stay here. 

We’re going all out for our final meal together. We’re having an olive oil and a wine tasting at the gorgeous Chateau Estoublon, followed by a stupendous dinner.

All things must come to an end, but your photos will keep fresh the memories of the magical time with new friends in one of the most beautiful places in the world. 

We'll all head together to the Avignon train station. Make sure to book a flight leaving in the later afternoon or evening so you're not rushed. A private car back to Nice can also be arranged at an additional cost.