Hello,
We are planning a trip to France possibly this summer is things calm down. Would you recommend our family (we have 5 school age children) stay in Provence in a villa with a pool or a little town on the coast? We went to Italy last summer and loved our beach stay in the cinque terre. If we do a coastal town, which one is quaint and less crowded in the French Rivera?
Thanks so much!!
Cara
The entire Mediterranean coast in France is quite crowded in July and August. Worst period is the first half of August.
But inland Provence can be sizzling at that time of the year. For instance I was in a house with a pool near Aix in late June last year and the temperature was 105F.
Therefore I would opt for the coast. If you want to avoid the Riviera proper and stay further west, I could suggest Cassis (pretty but crowded), Sanary sur Mer (great little town, but lacklustre beaches), Le Lavandou (less quaint, but good beach), Cavalaire sur Mer (similar to Lavandou)... List not exhaustive.
