Frequently Asked Questions
Covering the French Riviera in general, and Haute Vue Villa in particular.
French Riviera
An excellent question. With no simple answer. In French, the phrase used is the « Côte d'Azur » (or “azure coast”) and – whilst there are no official boundaries – most people define it as the Mediterranean coastline from Toulon in the east to Menton on the Italian border in the west:
It all depends on what you like. The Alpes-Maritime is much more built-up, with more things to do that are closer together and easier to reach by public transport. So perfect if you like an “urban” vibe. The Var is more rugged and beautiful, with fabulous countryside and charming Provençal villages - like Montauroux - providing larger and better-value accommodation. Put simply, it is all the best.
The nine hilltop villages of the Pays de Fayence are blessed with year-round sunshine, cooling breezes, panoramic views, leafy squares, and photogenic cobbled streets. Whilst in the heart of the Provençal countryside, they are just a short drive from the beaches and sights of the mediterranean coast (in one direction) and the mountains and lakes of the Alps (in the other). This is where people who really know the area chose to stay.
Chose a central location near the border of the Var and Alpes-Maritimes, so that all the sights are within a one hour drive. If you like an urban and touristy setting near the sea, chose an appartment in Cannes or Antibes. If you prefer a pretty Provençal village in the countryside, then you could afford a larger villa rental in one of the perched villages of the Pays de Fayence; blessed with 300+ sunny days a year, fabulous views, and picturesque cobbled streets.
Cannes is a proper town, with great shopping, a stunning food market, and vibrant nightlife. Antibes is more like a fishing village, complete with an old town, cobbled streets, and leafy squares. Both have lovely beaches, tourist attractions, and great restaurants. Cannes better for hotels. Antibes better for apartments.
The best time to visit is the "shoulder seasons" of late spring or late summer. At the end of spring, you get the maximum hours of sunlight and it's warm with low rainfall. At the end of summer, the sea is at its warmest (so perfect for swimming). Either way, you avoid the heat, thunderstorms and crowds of peak summer. Year round, there is always a strong and cooling breeze.
Example Temperatures for Sainte-Maxime in the Var
Many choose the the "shoulder seasons" of late spring or late summer, when the weather is warm, rainfall low, prices more reasonable, and beaches less crowded. However, the Riviera is fantastic at any time of year and peak season in the 19th Century was actually the winter months, where you can enjoy the Nice Carnival for Mardi Gras, or the fabulous Mimosa Festivals in Provence.
The Riviera has lots of luxury hotels, high class restaurants, and designer boutiques. So yes, it can be expensive if you want it to be. But stay in a self-catered Provençal Vacation Rental, shop at LeClerc Hypermarket, and seek out the cheaper villages of the Pays de Fayence and you can thrive on a budget. There are lots of lovely public beaches (e.g Camp Long) and free events throughout the summer (e.g. the Montauroux Guitar Festival).
At least four days. In short, you could come back 20 times and still have many wonderful places to see that you haven't visited before. For a short trip, we'd recommend a B&B in Villefranche-sur-Mer (where you can use the train to hop along the Med between Menton and Cannes). For a longer-stay, hire a car and base yourself centrally in one of the beautiful hilltop villages of Provence (e.g. Montauroux), where all the sights are within a one-hour drive.
So many to chose from. Èze is popular (for the wonderful sea views), Saint-Paul de Vence (for the art galleries), and Saint-Tropez of course (for the shopping). For somewhere to stay, however, it must be one of the fabulous hilltop villages of the Pays de Fayence (e.g. Montauroux) with their leafy squares, cobbled streets, and panoramic views.
Haute Vue Villa
We welcome all pets at Haute Vue, including any number and any size of dogs (for example). Our only ask is that you keep pets off the beds. And kindly note the large provencal garden is enclosed by an electric fence, so best to keep any pets leashed when outside.
There are five bedrooms; each with a double bed, sheets & towels. So we advertise the capacity as 10 guests. We do offer a multi-use room (which can serve as an office, nursery, games room, or sixth bedroom). This room has a sofa bed with a firm mattress, but if you want to use that you need to bring your own bedding and towels (just for that room).
The pool can be heated, yes. Normally, guests would opt to heat the pool from April to May and during October. From July to September, it is not needed and in the off-season (from November to March) the pool is covered and closed. We charge 100 Euros per week for heating the pool and it adds 2-3 degrees to the water temperature only if kept covered at night with the solar /bubble cover.