DESTINATIONS — FRANCE & ITALY
Nice
SAMPLE PRODUCT
Spring: Osprey Holidays offers two nights’ B&B at Hotel de Noailles in Paris
from £279, including flights.
ospreyholidays.com
Summer: A week in a Rossini mobile home at La Croix du Vieux Pont starts at £939 accommodation-only with
Al Fresco, starting August 8.
alfresco-holidays.com
Calvi Beach, Corsica
classical music, rock, jazz and other eclectic genres together. Alan Cross, trade sales manager at Jet2holidays, says: “Toulouse is a beautiful city. During the Summer Festival, the city buzzes with visitors looking to take in the array of emerging sounds – the ideal time for budding musicians to enjoy this gem of a city.”
l AUTUMN What: Self-catering in Corsica Why: Prefer to avoid summer crowds? The beaches are still as beautiful and the sea still warm enough for swimming in autumn, especially in Corsica, which basks in mid-20s temperatures until early October. Villa specialist Corsican Places has added 11 properties across the island this year, including stylish two- bedroom Apartment la Cuve in lively Porto Vecchio, just moments from the harbour but with spectacular mountain views.
What: Walking on the Côte d’Azur Why: While a walking holiday would be a bit on the sweaty
side in the height of summer, it’s ideal in autumn, which is why the Cote d’Azur tour from singles specialist Just You takes a break in the summer months and resumes departures in September, October and November. The six-day tour includes four to five hours’ walking per day, strolling through Nice, Monaco and smaller villages, and hiking along the coastline for some magnificent views. The tour starts at £1,099.
What: Lyon by Eurostar Why: This new Eurostar route, starting on May 1, will open up a host of possibilities for travel in central and southern France, not least of which to Lyon itself. Often regarded as France’s culinary capital, Lyon is famed for its hearty home-cooking in local bouchons, best washed down with a few glasses of beaujolais. Despite its oft-maligned reputation, this young, fruity red wine is cause for much celebration in the region, especially on Beaujolais Nouveau Day – the third Thursday in November – when the first wine of the season is marked with fireworks and parties. Accommodation and rail packages are set to go on sale shortly through SuperBreak.
l WINTER What: Skiing in the Alps Why: Come winter, France’s mountains become a playground for all manner of snowsports. Inghams product manager Bryony Moger says: “France is known for high-altitude skiing, ski-in ski-out resorts and large ski areas. Many resorts like Tignes, Val d’Isere and La Plagne have glaciers, which means guaranteed snow. The lower resorts – still at around 1,500m – have beautiful tree-lined runs which provide great cover on snowy days with poor visibility.” Inghams operates in 16 resorts
across the French Alps, while Club Med can be found in 15 of the region’s best ski spots including new 4T-rated resort Val Thorens Sensations, which combines alpine skiing and snowboarding with a Carita spa for après-ski relaxation.
What: Christmas markets Why: Market tours book well in advance so it’s worth getting a head start on this year’s festive season. France’s Christmas markets are easily visited by coach, rail or river, with many northern towns also including some battlefields visits. See the Christmas lights at Amiens, have
Autumn: Corsican Places offers a week in Apartment la Cuve in Porto Vecchio
from £599 based on four sharing, with flights, car hire and a welcome pack, arriving September 13 or 20.
corsica.co.uk
Winter: Newmarket Holidays’ Christmas on the French Riviera is a six-day tour departing December 22, starting at £739 including coach travel and Christmas Day lunch.
newmarketholidays.co.uk
a festive pint at Arras and watch the illuminated Ferris wheel in Lille on Shearings’ five-day tour of Lille, Amiens and Arras (from £269).
What: Festive French Riviera Why: Christmas fun doesn’t have to end with gift-shopping – clients who fancy a Christmas getaway will find France’s mild winter and charming coastal towns a refreshing way to spend the season. Think Christmas Eve in Cannes, Christmas Day on Nice’s famous Promenade des Anglais, and Boxing Day exploring the jaw- dropping marina in Monaco. TW
26 March 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 81
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