The wonderful journey I recently took with my girlfriends began with a non-stop evening flight on Delta, taking off at JFK and landing in Nice the following morning. I was impressed with this small airport, which was very easy to get around. We headed to the currency exchange window right outside the baggage area and then continued on to pick up our rental car. Using the service of Auto Europe, the leading car rental company in Italy which searches for the best rates for the car types requested, we had rented the vehicle through National Car Rental. The vehicle pick-up and drop-off for all rental car agencies is just a short walk from the end of the terminal. It was nice to avoid the hassle of waiting for a bus to transport you.

After driving out of the lot, we easily were able to navigate to the road we needed to reach Peymeinade, the town where we would be staying for the next three nights. The roads in this area are extremely well marked and, despite traveling many miles, not once did we get lost. The roads are also in good condition and clean, but be prepared to pay for these luxuries through the expensive toll roads. We didn’t spend much time in Nice, but what I saw was beautiful: beaches, palm trees, and art deco facades.

Once we left Nice, we were treated to quaint hilltop villages with small cobbled streets and artisan shops that one expects to see when visiting France. We stayed at villas in several different areas during our vacation in Cote d Azur, and this helped us to get very familiar with the area.

Biot turned out to be my favorite village that we visited. It is a very picturesque medieval village that sits on a hilltop about two and a half miles from the Mediterranean beaches between Antibes and Nice. It is renowned for its glass-blowing industry, and I enjoyed the town’s old-world charm.

Biot is also home to Villa Vignasses, my favorite of the rentals at which we had the pleasure of staying. An American and French couple own this modern, four-bedroom villa, and together they have teamed up to create a décor influenced by both of their cultures. All the bedrooms are air-conditioned, equipped with television and DVD players and have their own bathrooms with shower rooms and the villa has a basement that has been converted to a game room with a pool table and a variety of the latest video games. The home also features great indoor/outdoor living area with French windows and glass doors that open up to a garden and swimming pool. A water fountain cascades into the pool to bring a feeling of tranquility to the garden. Additionally, a yard equipped with a built-in barbeque and a swing set for the kids set a relaxed tone. We all agreed that this would be the perfect place for a family vacationing with children and grandchildren. But it certainly worked for us, three friends traveling together, as well.

Another villa I would like to give special mention is Mas St. Christophe. Situated on the outskirts of Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, this lovely villa enjoys distant sea views of the bay of Mandelieu and Les Iles de Lérins. Featuring three floors of living space, Mas St. Christophe has been completely restored to provide a modern interior with the traditional exterior and beautiful manicured grounds with cypress trees dating over 400 years old.

The grounds are terraced, and there is a large pool with views across the countryside. The pool faces south so that you can enjoy the sun all day. Both terraced landscaping and the pool are unfenced, however, so this property is not suitable for families with small children. Adjacent to the pool is a beautiful, fully equipped outdoor summer kitchen as well as an outdoor dining terrace decorated with koi ponds and an abundance of natural flora and fauna. This attractive setting encouraged us to spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Inside, three spacious bedrooms all have great views of the ocean, air-conditioning, en suite bathrooms, flat-screen televisions, surround sound, a computer, and a separate seating area. This villa was the perfect size for the three of us.

I asked my friends if they cared to share any of their two cents on our recent trip to France, and they were more than happy to add to my review. In the following passage, Janet reflects on our stays at some of our other favorite villas, and then Alyssa highlights some of our favorite dining spots.

Janet's reflections: The first villa that we stayed in was called La Verveine. This comfortable, four-bedroom home is located in the Cote d’ Azur region making it an excellent choice for sightseeing opportunities in several noted towns, including Grasse, Cannes, Nice, and Valbonne. (NOTE: Most of the villas that we offer in France are within a five-minute drive to a small town or village which usually has cafés, bars, restaurants, bakeries, and a small grocery store.) La Verveine features a swimming pool alongside a terrace for outdoor dining. It was wonderful to dine while we watched the sunset.

Several days later, we explored the Provence region. I must say, this was my favorite! The distant mountains and the lavender fields were so beautiful. Throughout our travels in this area, we passed through small, charming hilltop villages with views from every direction.

I especially enjoyed our visit to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the town where van Gogh painted The Starry Night. Provence is also the gateway to the Alpilles, a quaint old village with cobblestone alleyways and a square with small shops, boutiques, and picturesque markets. I was so impressed with the quality of the local produce, spices, olive oils, cheeses, breads, and wines, and the Provençal fabrics were delightful.

My favorite property in this area was La Belle de Crillon. Situated in the heart of Provence, this villa offers six bedrooms—all with luxurious en suite bathrooms. The views from the property are panoramic, overlooking vineyards, orchards, and winding country roads. Most impressive is the clear view of the famous Mount Ventoux in the distance. Mount Ventoux, of course, is the setting of one of the most punishing stretches of the Tour de France bicycle race. Not only is this a great location because of the views, the villa is also an easy walk away from a 5-star restaurant and a cute hilltop village.

Each floor of La Belle de Crillon offers a separate and elegant salon area. The property also features many lavish amenities, including an elevator, a fully equipped, professional-style kitchen, and televisions with satellite service in every bedroom. Very spacious, this villa was a little large for our purposes, but it would be perfect for a family holiday.

And here is Alyssa’s report of our favorite restaurants:

Lou Pichounel - Charming restaurant off-the-beaten path in Peymeinade . . . Lou Pichounel was the prefect way to begin our week in France. This intimate restaurant has wonderful service and a traditional Provençal menu that perfectly highlights the local cuisine.

Try: Salads and pizzas . . . This restaurant has an excellent wine list as well.

Les Palmiers - Breezy, oceanside restaurant five minutes from St Tropez with a magnificent décor that makes you feel like a celebrity . . . This restaurant is noted for having a better location and more exclusive clientele than the famous Nikki Beach a few doors down.

Try: Anything! The food here is beyond words. Everything was fresh and prepared with the finest local ingredients. I especially enjoyed an artichoke carpaccio with a melted truffle puree.

La Folie du Pain - The favorite of our escort Nicole, this restaurant in Coustellet features outdoor dining and an extremely kind owner who was eager to use his limited English to converse with us. This restaurant also offers an array of local gourmet goods, such as flavored chocolates, honeys, and even Nicole’s son’s private label olive oil!

Try: Open-faced grilled vegetable and fresh mozzarella sandwich or Provancale Salad with goat cheese crostini

Author Bios

Gisele Pawson - I joined Villas of Distinction in October 2007, building on 21 years in the travel industry with the last eight focusing on customized international travel. I am a specialist in the art of traveling, and I received my Certified Travel Agent (CTA) degree from the Travel Institute in 1998 and my Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) degree in 2000. I have since become a Destination Specialist (DS) in Hawaii, South Pacific, Spain, and Northern and Central Europe. Travel has always been my passion, and my enthusiasm for exploring the world has made me knowledgeable and given me on-hands experience in many corners of the globe.

When I am home, you can find me outside in my garden or polishing rocks that I have just added to my collection from my travels.

Janet Levine - I started my travel career 22 years ago as a reservation agent at Ralph Locke Islands Inc, a reservation company serving many small luxury resorts and hotels throughout the Caribbean. I remained at Ralph Locke Islands until the company relocated to Brentwood, California. After enjoying a year off, I applied for a position at Villas of Distinction, and the rest, as they say, is history!

When I’m not working, I enjoy traveling, gardening, reading, cooking, and great food!

Alyssa Rumrill - Prior to coming to Villas of Distinction, I worked as manager at a high-end stationary store and printing company. I joined the Concierge Department of Villas of Distinction in 2006 and have since become the department’s supervisor. In the two years that I have been with Villas of Distinction, I have met so many great people—including my customers—and enjoyed some wonderful experiences traveling to remarkable destinations, like Tahiti, Puerto Vallarta, Italy, St. Martin, St. Barts, Anguilla, the South of France, and Costa Rica.

In my spare time I am a make-up designer for photographers and short films. I also enjoy sewing and sculpture.