The Best of the French Riviera and Provence

Arrive in Nice by midday by train or air. Then, hop into a cab and check into the 4-star Le Meridien Hotel facing 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 tour of historic Nice and learn more about the southern capital of France. Then, we’ll venture into the hills to explore the charm and near perfection of the medieval village of Eze. We’ll lunch here and pretend we’ve stepped back in time. We'll take time to peruse the Cours Saleya market in the old town, which is a must-do in Nice!

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

After a short rest at our hotel, we'll head to Chez Davia, known for its sophisticated Niçoise cuisine.

Today, we’ll wander the grounds of the Maeght Foundation, a legendary sculpture garden known for its collection of abstract works by Calder, Leger, Jean Arp, Eduardo Chillida, Erik Dietman, Barbara Hepworth, Joan Miró, and others. 

We’ll drive up to St. Paul de Vence and 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 our legendary lunch, we’ll stop to enjoy the scents and history of Fragonard, the perfume house at the forefront of making French perfume, the rave in the beau monde. 

Tonight, after we return to the Nice hotel that now feels like home, the night is yours to wander and find a café or spend time relaxing at the hotel.

After breakfast, we're off to Antibes. We’ll head to the Picasso Museum in Cap D’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. 

You’ll enjoy some free time in charming Antibes to shop or take a bite on your own. 

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. 

We'll have a short rest in town and check into our 4-star hotel, the Regalido, for a rest before a relaxing dinner. 

We'll dine at the colorful Le Patio in Fontvielle and enjoy proper Provençal food.

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

After a final stroll around this appealing town, we’ll stop to photograph the Pont Du Gard, the ancient Roman Aqueduct,

We'll have a short rest in town, then dine at Mistral Blanc in 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.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit Van Gogh’s Monastery just north of the walled town. 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. 

Transfer back to Paris via train from Avignon for your flight home.