Beach Holiday, Provence, August, am I insane?/Recommendations

[sniffydog]

We've left it late to book somewhere this year and like the idea of Provence for scenery and beaches. Flights still look reasonable. I know it'll be very busy but any recommendations for areas/specific beaches that are nice and might not be properly heaving?

Gorges du Verdon

Bumpity bump, any other suggestions pls?

Antibes?

Antibes is busy until the last week of August where it seems to calm down a lot.

Antibes is lovely although I'm not sure I think of it as Provence.

Menton in the same area is gorgeous and will probably be a little less busy.

If you do go to that area try and visit the Villa Efrussi. Magnificent.

I love Antibes

I would say most places on the French med coast will be very busy in August as well as very hot (likely mid to high thirties, or low forties if you are unlucky). The last week in August would likely be your best option for it to be quieter.

We go at the end of August and have had really nice - high 20s weather. We’ve only been once where it got above 30.

If you want to get away from it all and do not a lot, fly into Toulon and get the boat across to Porquerolles. Spend the time cycling around the island, it has some lovely beaches.

Saint-Raphaël

Stay in land and travel to the coast there are some beautiful inland villages

Thanks for the replies. We are locked into the 3rd week in August due to everybody's different commitments. I've found some nice houses near Toulon and Cassis. Trying to find some decent beaches around there. It looks very suburban on maps but should still be nice...?

Not Provence but wonder if Corsica might suit? I think S of France will be heaving in the 3rd week of August tbh.

Toulon isn’t as old French charming as Villefranche or Antibes but it does have lovely beaches!
Theres some man made white sand ones near the park that have some decent restaurants surrounding them.
Then theres a costal path with lots of different coves - these are sandy with rocks . Ones a nudist beach but that’s a good way round the back.

Thanks Peony1985, that might be enough at this point. Very tricky to find decent villa that's not astronomically expensive near Antibes or Villefranche. The teens just want rocks to jump off, is there somewhere like that near Toulon?

minipie we've done Corsica for a few years but still found the nicest beaches in the south really busy and flights are much trickier now than a few years ago.

Agree - I went there ages ago and it was utterly lovely. Would love to go back.
If price is an issue, the Giens peninsula where you can hop on the ferry to the island seems nice and has some cheapish looking accommodation - air-conditioned caravans, flats.

Air Bnbs aren’t too expensive - although they’ve definitely increased in price over the last few years.

Cassis beach is lovely as is La Ciotat a bit further along the coast. Superb walks or boat trips around the Calanques. We also enjoyed a trip to Marseille on our last holiday in the area.

Ooh that all sounds pretty good. But DW is having stress about mosquitos. Lots of talk about them - especially the daytime Tiger ones in south France in summer. Her + 2 of the kids get eaten alive. Anyone had any experience of them in August?

"The teens just want rocks to jump off"

Did you look up my suggestion of the Gorges du Verdon? Granted its an hour or two's drive from Toulon but your kids would be in heaven here. It's a beautiful place to visit.

mosquitos not too bad imo but both me and DD react badly to them so I’m quite liberal with the deet and air con

Airbnbs are such a rip-off. Book via Gites.fr.

In wonderful Nice at the moment and Antibes today. Very hot. The beach at Antibes was very busy. We love Nice because of the ease of travel to a different place every day on public transport, as there is so much to see.
Last month we travelled to a number of resorts by car along the South Coast from Cassis to Porquerolles, which I didn't like at all, grubby and over hyped imo but I see others love it. The clear winner for us was Sanary sur Mer, followed by Bandol.

Not been troubled by mosquitos. A/c is on as I type.

Toulon has lots of small coves with rocks to jump off. It’s a nice costal walk, well defined but not overdone and too neat. The made made beaches are good too - they curve inwards so a bit resortey with white sand but fabulous restaurants for lunch there.

It’s also a naval town so the harbour has boat trips to look at the fleet. Theres obviously the rugby too - the pitch is right in the middle of town plus a huge market.