Villas in Cote d'Azur, France

The picturesque harbours of the Côte d’Azur are interspersed with pebbly inlets and stretches of golden sand that represent some of the most glamorous beaches in the world. Head to the beautiful Frejus and Antibes areas for the best sandy beaches, whilst the beach along ‘La Croisette’ – Cannes’ golden mile of prime seafront hotels and restaurants – is the place to be seen. Beaches in the main resorts are a mixture of public and private sections, many offering a wide range of watersports and hiring out sunloungers and parasols for those who want to relax

Eating out is a passion in France, and no more so than on the Cote d’Azur. A wide choice of restaurants serve local fresh seafood prepared in a number of ways, and you might want to also try the locally produced vegetables and soups which this part of France is famous for. Meat is fresh and locally produced, and always cooked rare to maintain the highest of flavours. If you want to eat in, fresh local produce is always available at the local daily markets, and is often the cheapest way to shop. Try making a fish soup or ratatouille with the wonderful fresh goods on sale or sample some of the nut and olive breads, perhaps dipped in olive oil for a true taste of the region.

Whether you’d like to spend hours soaking up the glamour of some of the world’s greatest designer boutiques in Cannes, or hunting down traditional mementos in a village craft market, the Côte d’Azur is the perfect place to put your holiday money to good use. Well known local produce includes the perfumes of Grasse, made from the wonderful aromas of flowers from the surrounding hillsides, and the beautiful coloured glassware from the hill village of Biot, revered by collectors the world over.

With its rich cultural heritage, a sense of history permeates the Cote d’Azur. The landscape in the Cote D’Azur is dotted with a beautiful old chateaux, medieval villages and Roman remains, while museums are scattered across the region, housing fascinating artifacts dating back to Greek and Roman times.

• Pick a seafront bar in any of the famous local towns, such as Cannes, Nice or Antibes, to watch the world go by – and perhaps a film star or two.

• Pack a picnic and relax in the grassy park at Frejus, beneath the remarkable Roman aqueduct.

• Take a day away from the beaches and shop ‘til you drop in Cannes, home of the designer boutique!

• Cross the border into the tiny principality of Monaco for the day to admire the luxury yachts and drive some of the famous streets that make up the Monte Carlo Formula One circuit.

• Head inland to the town of Vence to shop for local produce such as soaps, perfumes and flowers.