Top Five Tips For Booking a Last Minute Villa in the South of France

If you have ever thought about making a spontaneous decision and booking a last minute holiday in the South of France, keep reading - this blog post is for you! We have a wide selection of last minute villas in Languedoc, Provence and Cote d’Azur and booking one with South France Villas is easy and hassle-free. With so many airlines flying to the Southern France, reaching your dream holiday property could not be easier!

Choosing the perfect French Holiday Villa can be overwhelming because of so many options – we’re happy to help you with any questions regarding our Luxury Rentals in the South of France as well as provide information on the local area.

1. Choose the region

Trying to decide which region to stay in can be difficult since every one of them offers different activities, landscapes and climate. Whether it’s wine tasting, windsurfing, golfing or cycling, we’ll help you when it comes to choosing the perfect location for your holiday in the South of France. If you are stuck between two options, have a look at some of our villas that are on the border of Languedoc and Provence or Provence and Cote d’Azur – this gives you the perfect opportunity to explore more during your holiday!

2. Choose the top three things you want in your villa

When you book one of our French Holiday Homes with a big group, you might need to compromise since everyone’s taste is probably different. Try to write down a list of the three things you want in your holiday property in Languedoc, Provence or Cote d’Azur. This will make your search quicker and you can book your dream holiday villa fast!

3. Travel Insurance

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance before jetting off - this will ensure a carefree journey where you don’t have to worry too much.

4. Enjoy your holiday more with a little bit of help

      Whether you want assistance with babysitting, catering or extra cleaning, we’re happy to organise everything for you. This way you can enjoy your French holiday even more and concentrate on relaxing and exploring the local area.

      5. Research the area where you will be staying

        You have now booked your last minute holiday and will be travelling to the South of France shortly – for you to enjoy your stay even more, research the area a little bit before arriving. This will make you more familiar with the region and you don’t have to spend precious time on doing research while you’re on your holiday! If you would like some tips regarding the local area, please don’t hesitate to contact us.  

      Have a look at some of the last minute villa offers we have in September:

The Baie Bleu close to Ste Maxime and St Tropez is now on special offer! This gorgeous Cote d’Azur villa sleeps 4 people in 2 ensuite bedrooms. It has a private pool, large garden and beautiful sea views.

La Garenne near to Canal du Midi sleeps 6 people and prices are from 700€ in September/October! It is close to Beziers and the beach is approximately 25km away. It has a lovely garden and swimming pool and is a great option when you are looking for a last minute Holiday Villa in the South of France.

La Garenne - garden and back facade

Plenty of sunloungers to relax in

Villa Vinea close to Narbonne sleeps 6/7 people and is only £869 in September and October instead of the normal price of £1250! Not far from the Spanish border and the beaches, this property in Languedoc is the perfect last minute Holiday Villa.

If you are looking for a bigger Luxury Villa, have a look at La Californie – situated next to Cannes, this exceptional Luxury Holiday Villa sleeps 10 people. It has sea views, a pool and a lush Mediterranean garden. The international airport of Nice is approximately a 30-minute drive away so the villa can be easily reached. 

If you would like to find out more about any of the featured properties above, or any of our other holiday villas in the South of France, Corsica or Morocco, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

UK: +44 (0)20 70 60 64 14

France: +33 (0)4 67 36 05 54

email: info@southfrancevillas.com

Christmas Present List: Book a South of France Holiday in Languedoc

Traditional Festivities do, of course, vary from country to country and France is no exception, like some of its European counterparts the French have their main celebration on Christmas Eve - Le Réveillon de Noël - when the family gathers together for an evening of Gastronomic delights - often an enormous seafood platter to start, ending up with a Büche de Noël - followed by Midnight Mass.  

Expectant children leave their shoes in front of the fire for Père Noël!

Seafood Platter

Büche de Noel

Christmas Day too is a very important "foodie" event and will often include a more traditional menu perhaps rabbit or coq au vin.

Conversation throughout the day invariably turns to the memories of heady Summer Holidays spent on the coast and the planning of the next one, which for the French is usually in August.  So why not take advantage of this and come and enjoy the Mediterranean and its fabulous beaches in May and June when you can have them to yourself!

In particular, access to the undiscovered jewel of the south, the Languedoc region, around Beziers and Montpellier, has been made so much easier with the advent of No-Frills airlines. 

The airport at Beziers makes onward journey times short to get to South France Villas  rental properties near the beach where the sea is shallow, ideal for young families.  Starting from only £140 per person per week - great value for money - you can have the pick!

 Beachfront location (HE067A)

Room with a view

Right on the beach is Villa St Pierre (HE067A) in a family orientated resort, sleeps 8 and is as the French would say "pieds dans l'eau", with amazing views.

Or perhaps "la piece de resistance", the fantastic Les Rocailles (HE044A), which has the best of both worlds - direct access to the beach AND a heated pool!

HE044A Les Rocailles on the beach near Beziers

The Languedoc certainly has it all, sun, sea, sand 

and sensible prices - Happy Holidays!

Summer Dreaming of Holidays in the South of France

Whilst it is lovely to curl up and get cosy by the fire during the winter evenings, thoughts of long Summer days with endless sunshine and blue skies are ever present and images of that swim in the sea, walk along the beach or topping up that tan come to mind.

Next year the South of France has even more to offer because Marseille is the European Capital City of Culture 2013 and there will be a mass of events and much more going on in the city - from Martigues to the lovely La Ciotat - and not too far away in the likes of Arles and Aix.


The Languedoc, Provence and the Cote d'Azur are all amazing locations for that perfect holiday, with history, culture, gastronomy and of course wine all at your finger tips - not forgetting the Mediterranean and the fantastic beaches!

Marseille

To take full advantage of this area, why not stay at one of our properties and explore the region at your leisure. 

Villa Auriol (BR001)is only 20 minutes from Marseille - perfectly placed to enjoy all that is going on in the 2013 European Capital City of Culture.

 House and garden - BR001A

Just a stone's throw from Aix-en-Provence is the lovely "home from home" Villa du Jardin (BR002A), well placed to access this part of the world and ideal for a family of 6-7.  

The villa is very well equipped and has lots of added extras, such as bicycles, the possibility of fishing for trout in the nearby river and a boulodrome for that quintessential French pastime, a game of pétanque.

Villa du Jardin Facade

Don't miss the chance to visit  Aix and see it in all its glory - the Cathedral, famous works of art and the Mazarin quarter.

Alternatively, not far from quaint Sommières and the lovely town of Uzes, (both of which have fantastic Saturday markets),  the delightful Bastide Langlade (GR011A ), a stone building, combining original character features with contemporary decor and modern day living is perfect if you are a party of 10.

Conservatory and Garden

Fully Fenced Pool area

This coming Summer the South of France tops the list of destinations for diversity with a difference -  encompassing a myriad of activities and endless places to explore for people of all ages.  Come see for yourself!

LE VENDANGE – The grape harvest season is here!

The vineyards are buzzing with grape-pickers or vendangeurs as late August sees the harvesting season across France starting up. All the time and effort that has been put in throughout the year will finally prove worth their while. Of course, the warmer climate of the south of France means those jewel–like fruits have been swelling and ripening perfectly on the vine all summer, so that the Languedoc and Provence wine regions see the start of the Harvest season a little earlier than their northern counterparts. 

Vineyard workers spend long days in the balmy, late summer months collecting these wonderful fruits. A passion for the vines and the prospect of a wonderful new year of wines for the caves is what keeps the vignerons and vendangeurs going through this hard work. This treasured elixir is so much a part of the history, economy, lifestyle and culture that it is unsurprising that the whole region comes alive with excitement at this important time of year.

The south of France is an area steeped in wine tradition. All throughout the Provence and Languedoc regions are scattered hundreds of caves, both small and large, with a myriad of different wines to be tasted. The most famous AOC regions in the Languedoc are Coteaux du Languedoc, Corbières, Faugères, Minervois, and Saint-Chinian and in Provence, celebrated of course for its rosé wines, the most well known regions are Coteaux Varois, Cassis, Bandol, Bellet and Côtes de Provence. There are plenty of family run caves that offer dégustations (wine-tasting) to the public, where you can go and sample these wonderful local  wines and buy bottles straight from the source. For more information on the wines of the Languedoc and Provence check out www.winetravelguides.com.

Fancy a wine-lovers holiday in the South of France where you can take some time to explore these vibrant wine growing regions? September is the perfect time to pay a visit to these areas. The warm late summer sun means that the weather is still perfect for that early evening glass of wine on the terrace. Everyone's idea of heaven!  To avail yourself of such opportunities, why not stay in comfort and luxury in one of South France Villas properties?

La Saisonnière

AM011A La Saisonnière is a beautifully decorated luxury villa in the Cote d'Azur. Close by is the Bellet wine-region that surounds Nice. It is one of the smallest AOC regions in France, but produces wines of excellent quality.  Wines from this area are difficult to come by outside of Nice so you are bound to discover something rare and original.

Saumane

VU014A Saumane a large Provençale house with stunning views, near the Coteaux d'Aix en Provence region close to famous Châteauneuf-du-Pape, A wine lovers dream!

Domaine de Montarel

HE054A Domaine de Montarel a spacious stone house  in the Languedoc near to the Coteaux de Languedoc AOC region and with easy access to all the other excellent wines that the Languedoc has to offer. Its hill-top position affords panoramic views of rolling hillsides covered in vines. 

Villa du Jardin

BR002A Villa du Jardin, a charming Provençal style villla, close to Aix-en-Provence in the Bouches-du-Rhones. The Vins des Sables made from vines grown in the sandy ground that surrounds the Camargue are worthy of note.





Are your taste buds are tempted? Why wait to check out these, and our other fabulous holiday properties? Click on the blue links or go to our website www.southfrancevillas.com.

The Famous 5 Day Feria in Beziers & Much Much More

Once the Languedocien stronghold of Catharism, the modern day Beziers offers you festivals, history, the Canal du Midi and Mediterranean beaches just 6kms from the town, what more could you want!  

Peyrepertuse Cathar Castle

(Our property La Garenne ( HE029A) is ideally placed to explore all of this and more).

The Cathedal in the centre of Beziers - Sainte-Nazaire rises above the cobbled streets the panoramic view over the Orb River is stunning and the town boasts boutiques galore and a plethora of restaurants including the L’Ambassade, which recently got a good review in the local Anglo/French Magazine – the Herault Times.

Cathedral at Beziers

This region is also a prolific wine producing area offering a vast array of wonderful wines for you to enjoy - Check out: www.languedoc-wines.com 

People come from far afield for the famous 5 day Feria of Beziers held around 15th August every year – bull fighting may not be to everyone’s taste, but the spectacle is amazing and the street party atmosphere with open air bodegas and live music is enthralling and definitely worth a visit - www.ville-beziers.fr

Beziers Feria

Pezenas - Famous for Moliere, Bite Sized Tower Shaped Pies & Saturday Markets

The lovely town of Pezenas , only 20 minutes from the Mediterranean beaches and Beziers, offers history, lovely architecture, culture (Moliere lived there for a time),  restaurants and bars galore, cafes and boutiques plus a fantastic Saturday market.

The town is with walking distance of  Les 3 Pins (HE042A) which has  it’s own tennis court
and is also only 6kms from the fabulous luxury property,  Chateau du BeauParc  and just 8kms from the lovely Maison de Maitre (HE030A).

Chateau du Beau Parc
(HE068A)

HE030A Le Manoir

Don’t forget to try the “Petit Pate de Pezenas”  (bite size savoury tower shaped pies) originally brought to the area by Clive of India!          

 To top up your tan, the family resorts of Grau d’Agde and 
Rochelongue  and Valras Plage are easily accessible -

SETE- The Venice of Southern France

This romantic port town has been named the Venice of Southern France for its numerous canals and quaint streets. It is also admired for its beautiful beaches, scenic views and the rusty ochre tones in which the buildings are painted.

Although the area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, it was sparsely populated until the 1600's, when work on the creation of the port of Sète began. The construction of the port and city took 15 years, and the work included the building of dozens of dykes, basins, bridges and aquaducts. Today, Sète's pretty port is not only a drawcard for travellers, but still functionally important, acting as a major centre for fishing in France.

The town is divided into two parts - the Port and Mount St Clair.

The Port:

Sète is great for water sport enthusiasts: sailing, swimming, scuba diving, water jousting tournaments -- Sète has almost every water sport you could imagine! The closest beaches to the town are Lazaret Beach and Corniche Beach, which are lovely. You can also see some of the fastest sailboats in the world, as Sète is where the French do their training for the America's Cup.

Jousting tournament -- Every summer, the "Joutes Nautiques" is celebrated in Sète on the canals. It is similar to the traditional medieval jousting on horseback, except that the 'horses' are special canal boats, manned by ten oarsmen, and the knight gets a swim in the canal if he is 'de-horsed'! The winner of the tournament gets their name engraved on a shield, which can be seen on display in the Musee Valery.

Gastronomy - Sète has many good restaurants and a number of delicious local specialties:
Bourride - monkfish in garlic mayonnaise or "aioli"
Bouillabaisse - A hearty stew combining fish and shellfish
Le Tielle - A fish and tomato tort
La Rouille de Seiche - A mix of fish, tomato sauce and aioli.

Daily markets - The daily open-air market offers an array of fresh produce. On Sundays, there is a great flea market.

Canal du Midi - The historic Canal du Midi ends in Sète, 240km from where it begins in Toulouse. The Canal was originally constructed as a short-cut, saving a whole month of sailing, and avoiding hostile parts of Spain and Barbary pirates. The Canal du Midi was opened officially as the 'Canal Royal de Languedoc' on May 15, 1681. The Canal is quite complex, consisting of intricate locks, bridges, aqueducts, dams and a tunnel. It was still used commercially until 1989, but now the Canal has become more of a tourist attraction and place for leisure activities - such as rowing, canoeing, fishing and cruising on luxury hotel barges.

Mount Clair:
The climb up from the port to Mount St Clair is well worth the effort. There are great views of the village and port below, and also of the Pyrennees. The main cultural attractions are also to be found up here too.

Chapelle Notre Dame de la Salette - This church has been many things - first, it served as a fort for the Duke of Montmorency, but when it was dismantled in 1632, is became home to hermits. The hermits spent their time charitably, praying for the souls of fisherman and lighting fires to warn of approaching pirates. In 1897, the structure was converted into its present form - the church, decorated with scenes of life in Sète.


The Sailors Cemetary (Le Cimetiere Marin) - This cemetary was constructed in 1843 as a resting place for sailors. It was built using old rock that had been used in the building of the port itself. The cemetary was immortalised by the poet Paul Valéry, in his poem "Cemetery be the Sea". Valéry was born in Sète and is buried here.

Musée Valéry - Nearby to his resting place in the Cemetary is a museum dedicated to Valéry. Here you can find not only mementos and works of the poet, but also exhibits relating to the history of the town. There is also a room devoted to another famous inhabitant of Sète - the singer Georges Brassens.


Sète is also a good base for exploring the South of France - it is nearby to many other attractive towns and cities, such as Montpellier, Agde and Beziers.

Villas

We have two stunning modern villas in this area that we recommend in particular.

HE063A Villa Setoise

HE065A Villas St Clair

Chic, spacious, and overlooking the beach, a holiday in either of these beautiful holiday homes would make for an unforgettable experience.

Luxury greets you from arrival, with a champagne reception awaiting you. The lovely soft furnishings ensure that you'll immediately feel comfortable and at home. Both villas contain many conveniences, such as an espresso machine, home cinema, sauna, children's games room, board games, wifi and secure on-site car-parking - as well as much more.


There is even a 4 half days complimentary water sports package, organised and provided by our in-resort water-sports manager and instructor. Enjoy water skiing, a kayaking trip, and paddle boarding. There is also a good range of bicycles for adults and children and our in-resort staff can also arrange additional activities and excursions as part of the service
.



But wait, there's more! Fresh bread, pastries and papers will be delivered on a daily basis, and the bathrooms are stocked with gorgeous l'Occitane products.

A holiday in one of these villas is truly a luxury experience!

For more information or to make a booking, please visit our website. If you have any questions, please contact us - we would be more than happy to respond to any queries you might have.


Contributions by Katarina Byrne

PERPIGNAN The French Catalan Capital

Nestled right down in the bottom corner of the country, Perpignan is something a a hybrid. Though it is now officially part of France, this area has been bandied around between powers for centuries - sometimes finding itself a French city, and at other times part of Spanish domains. It also acted as a place of refuge for Spanish refugees fleeing the Civil War in the 1930's, which has strengthened the town's links with Spanish culture even further. It is not a surprise that when visiting this town today, both Spanish and French cultures are strongly represented.

Today, Catalonia is a region in north-eastern Spain which borders France, of which the capital is the vibrant city of Barcelona. It is an autonomous community within Spain, with its own government - a result of the independence of the Catalonian people. For 40 years during the mid 20th century, Catalan culture was suppressed. But it has enjoyed a gradual renaissance since the 1980's. This sense of pride in the Catalan culture can also be seen in Perpignan, where the street signs are written both in French and Catalan. And in 2008, Perpignan became the Capital of Catalan Culture in France.

Festivals

Perpignan is also known as the "City of Festivals". It is famous for its full calendar of events and festivals - with Summer being especially busy.

Le Festival d'Ete de Perpignan aka "Estivales" is held during July. It was created in 1987 to showcase Mediterranean culture and features an eclectic program of dance, music, street theatre and film.

Another popular festival is a free 3 day festival called Guitares au Palais which occurs every August. The festival has a broad main stream focus with pop related music as well as traditional acoustic guitar music and alternative music

Then for two weeks in late august / early September, the international festival of photo journalism festival "visa pour l'image" takes place. It features the greatest photo-journalistic work from around the world in exhibitions across the city, as well as film screenings, symposiums and conferences. It's a wonderful experience for those who have a passion for photography. For more details, see: http://www.visapourlimage.com/index.do

And during the summer, make sure you experience "Les Jeudis de Perpignan". Every Thursday the whole city centre is animated with free music in cafes and squares throughout the old town. It's great for all ages!

Food
Perpignan and the surrounding area is a great destination for food-lovers. (And who doesn't love food?!) Due to the rich alluvial soil, abundant sunshine and water, crops flourish in this area.

The city's main marketplace is on Place Cassanyes. This area was once home to the Jewish quarter, and now the population has shifted to Gypsy and North African families. It feels much more like Algiers than the streets of southern France. The Cassanyes market is open every day until about 1 pm. There isn't much you can't find here and it's especially good on the weekend. Specialties include local sausages, olives, spices, snails, cheese, bread and locally grown fruit and vegetables.

On the Rue Fabriques-Nadal, you can find a fantastic restaurant by the name of Cafe Sansa. Once the haunt of the artist Dali, it now drips in nostalgia with its bullfighting posters and maritime memorabilia. It's full of atmosphere and very popular with the locals.


Perpignan is a lovely city -- a meeting place of cultures different cultures with a vibrant atmosphere. The Catalan artist, Salvador Dali, one even went so far as to declare the city's railway station the centre of the universe, as he apparently got all his best ideas sitting there in the waiting room. This might be a bit of an exaggeration, but we certainly think it is a charming city!


Where to stay?
AU016A Villa Peyriac-du-Mer

This lovely stone 200 year old 'Bergerie' is perched up on the hillside above the small picturesque town of Peyriac-de-Mer and has stunning views over the salt water lagoons and the Mediterranean sea, vineyards and hills. It is set in approximately 2 hectares of land with a well kept garden area around the pool with fig trees, olive trees, a few palms and plumbago. It stands by itself and has no immediate neighbours.

The house is only 3kms from Peyriac-de-Mer so it is possible to walk or cycle to town and get to the small beach, which is just out of town. It is within minutes drive of the salt water lagoons, where live flocks of pink flamingos, or any of the other beaches around Narbonne. The house has been beautifully restored retaining many of the original features like beams, a winding 'Provencal' staircase and an 'old style' ceiling in the living room. There is an independent 'Studio' with a separate entrance looking out on to the pool.

The pool has a covered summer kitchen with a bar, nice garden furniture, a large built-in BBQ, a pergola and a tiled terrace around the pool.

At 62 kilometres from Perpignan, it is an easy drive to visit the city for a day.



Contributions by Katarina Byrne

NARBONNE - c'est bon!

Narbonne first bloomed when the Romans made it the Capital of their first colony outside of Italy. It remained a vital port throughout the Middle Ages until the harbour silted up in the 14th century. Narbonne then fell out of prosperity until the 19th century, when the wine industry helped get the city back on its feet.

One of the main attractions in Narbonne is the cathedral, which looms over the city with its gargantuan size. When the town was first drawing up the plans for the cathedral, it was actually planned to be even bigger! However if it had been built according to plan, it would have meant destroying parts of the city walls, so it's probably a good thing they decided on building a more modest version. There are sweeping views from the cathedral of the surrounding vineyards from the towers - although at 194 feet tall it is a little bit of effort to haul yourself to the top..!

Narbonne is famous for its fantastic markets. There are markets for food, second-hand clothing, crafts, organic produce and flowers. The food markets on Thursday and Sunday morning are particularly popular: you will find more than 300 shops settled alongside both sides of the Robine Canal, on the Promenade des Barques and the Cours Mirabeau. Nearby, you will find the Baltard Pavillion, which celebrated its centenary in 2000. It houses the 'Halles Centrales' which is one of the best food halls in France. Food lovers will be ecstatic with the choice of incredibly fresh gourmet food from more than 70 shops.

If you love a glass of wine, Narbonne is great base for exploring the nearby Minervois wine region. Vine were first introduced here by Roman legionaries. The wines in this region are mostly reds. They are a full-bodied wine and are good even when quite young.

Narbonne also has a good beach. It is a large, spacious beach and very lively. In summer, it's large enough that you can escape the crowds and have your own space. There's also quite a lot for kids - with trampolines and swings and merry-go-rounds.

Villas near Narbonne
We have some delightful villas near Narbonne.

AU023A Maison Henri and it's sister property Nadine AU022A Maison Nadine. 

These properties are perfectly placed for exploring Narbonne and the surrounding area.

If you have any enquiries or would like to make a booking, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Contributions by Katarina Byrne