P&V: Tour de France 2009

This weekend sees the start of the 96th Tour de France. The competition will be running from Saturday (July 4th ) until to Sunday July 26th 2009, with the grand start taking place in Monaco.



Tour de France 2009 will visit a total of six countries: Monaco. France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy. Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.

There are many UK fans out there who will be dying to follow in their tyre marks, and find accommodation for Tour de France this year. To help; we’ve tracked down each of the towns that will appear en-route and have listed places to stay during Tour de France, making it easier for you to decide which leg of the race is worth a visit.



P&V have affordable accommodation all over France, with many of those situated alongside the Tour de France route. With a range of self-catering apartments, our residences make the perfect base to watch the race and be as close to the action as possible.

Tour de France route 2009

1. Saturday, July 4
Monaco (MC)
A grand start in one of the grandest cities. This spectacular start will put Monaco on the map in the next week or so. This is also the place the inaugural time-trial takes place. Watch out for steep hills and quick turns in the area, it will surely separate the weaker competitors straight off the bat.

P&V have many properties on the French Rivera, but also have the Adagio Aparthotel Monaco Monte Cristo, centrally located to experience the buzz of the competition just before the starting gun is pulled.

2. Sunday, July 5th
Monaco (MC) → Brignoles
What a beautiful start to the race! This first section takes place along the shore of some of the prettiest seaside towns in the Cote d’Azur. The route is not mountainous, but the rugged terrain could make an interesting stage. First one to spot a pile up as people are distracted by the view wins…

P&V have a wide selection of accommodation along the Cote D’Azur. Stay at Hotel Latitudes de L'Esterel, which is just 1km from the Bay of Agay, and local village. This section of the race is over a weekend, so why not pair your Tour de France fix with a weekend away in a French seaside town?

3.Monday, July 6th
Marseille → La Grande-Motte
Marseille is a perfect base for fans of the race who like a little culture with their sporting events. Competitors will arrive at the historical Old Port, just metres from the water and the boats to La Grande-Motte with a finish in the heart of “French Florida”. This stage will be in the salty sea air and the wind should play an essential role in the crossing of Camargue.

The Adagio Prado Plage is an ideal place to stay to witness the end of this stage. Our club residence Camargue is set in an idyllic nature reserve and also makes a beautiful distraction once you’ve checked out those in the race.



4. Tuesday, July 7th
Montpellier → Montpellier
This is one of the shortest parts of the race leaving plenty of time for you to explore the surrounding region.
PV-Holidays have a residence in nearby Cap D’Agde which is a perfect base for an active stay. Résidence Loisirs Les Rivages de Rochelongue is surrounded by many cycle tracks and hiking trails leaving you to literally follow in the Jersey trackmarks once the tour has passed through town.

5. Wednesday, July 8th
Le Cap d'Agde → Perpignan
The stage is dedicated to Salvador Dali, who called the Perpignan railway station the “cosmogonic centre of the universe”. He also loved cycling and created the 1959 Tour’s postcard.

6 .Thursday July 9th.
Girona (ES) → Barcelona (ES)
After Monaco and Marseille, the 2009 Tour stops at a third “great beacon” of the Mediterranean. The capital of Catalonia will host a prestigious new stage that will take place in the southernmost destination in Tour history. The last inclines on the heights of Montjuic should be more favorable to sprinters than climbers.
PV-Holidays have 4 properties in Costa Dorada. Rent a car and explore the region from one of our residences as the tour defers into Spain.



7. Friday, July 10th.
Barcelona (ES) → Arcalis (AD)
This is the start of one of the highest finishes in history. Starting with a Level 1 mountain pass it will end at 2,200m elevation. Difficulties would already have been spread throughout the rest of the route so far, so this Pyrenees stage shouldn’t be too much of a shock for cyclists, in fact, we recommend watching out for those bold and strong enough to break away from the park here and try to seize their chance at Arcalis.

8. Saturday, July 11th.
Andorra-la-Vella (AD) → Saint-Girons
In part two of the Pyrenees section, the three ascents will offer good climbers the chance to stand out. The Ariège passes which have featured heavily in recent routes may allow some experienced cyclists to ease forward. This stage will undoubtedly have some surprises in store.

PV-Holidays have 11 properties in the Midi-Pyrenees. Watch the race and get active whilst exploring the local area. Don't forget your walking boots!

9. Sunday, July 12th
Saint-Gaudens → Tarbes
Crowds are sure to gather to watch the classic climbs of Aspin and Tourmalet passes. Keep an eye on cyclists who feel inspired to speed up the show just before the rest day in Limoges.



10. Tuesday, July 14th
Limoges → Issoudun
Now back on track to the centre of France, the flat plains around the area will enable racers who can excel in these conditions to move forward from the back after falling behind in the mountain stages. Bastille Day is also on July 14th, and a national holiday for locals, so expect to get caught up in lots of celebrations.

11. Wednesday, July 15th
Vatan → Saint-Fargeau
Racers are now halfway between Monaco and Paris, but the main stakes will still be up for grabs. Saint-Fargeau is likely to be a decisive stage, and it’ll be exciting to watch riders compete for the Green Jersey around here.

12. Thursday, July 16th
Tonnerre → Vittel
This flat stage could prove to be a competition between the sprinters. If they are strong and determined enough people who have betted on safe bets could lose cash here as the underdogs ease forward.



13. Friday, July 17th
Vittel → Colmar
A medium mountain route but the road between Vittel and Colmar has all the makings of a tricky stage. Expect the crowd to watch with baited breath, but don’t forget to explore the surrounding area of Alsace, which is known as the “Little Venice" of France.

14. Saturday, July 18th
Colmar → Besançon
For the Tour’s first visit, in 1931, the wine capital of Alsace had the privilege of seeing title-holder André Leducq win. After a nasty accident at home early in the season, Laurent Jalabert made a stunning comeback in this area, winning his second stage in the 2001 Tour after Verdun.

Résidence Pierre & Vacances Le clos d' Eguisheim is located in the Alsace area and is located in one of the most beautiful villages in the area. It’s also in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards, making it a perfect hub for following the wine-tasting route of the region.

15. Sunday, July 19th.
Pontarlier → Verbier (CH)
Finally entering the Swiss Alps: witness the contest step up a notch between climbers as the front-runners’ ranks will be thinned. There is just one week to go before the finish in Paris.



16. Tuesday, July 21st
Martigny (CH) → Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Forty-three years later, the Grand-Saint-Bernard Pass is back on the Tour de France’s route. The more-than 30 km climb rises to 2,469 m above sea level. Then the riders will climb the Petit-Saint-Bernard before plunging down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.

17. Wednesday, July 22nd
Bourg-Saint-Maurice → Le Grand-Bornand
This is the Tour’s densest mountain stage with five passes that count towards the best-climber classification. The challenges will rise with the terrain and the relatively short distance promises a decisive struggle between the front-runners. Fans flock to hotels be trackside for the most grueling stage of the competition so take advantage of our self-catering accomodation in the area which will save on money.

Hôtel Latitudes du Golf and Hotel Latitudes du Golf de Courcheval 1650 are located in Courcheval; a popular resort for other fans who have booked accommodation to watch this leg of the Tour de France. A beautiful location, the village is surrounded by a dense forest with panoramic views over the Courchevel Valley.



18 . Thursday, July 23rd
Annecy → Annecy
In this gorgeous setting, the Tour’s last time-trial often marks the end of the struggle. But the 2009 Tour is not over yet because the loop around Lake Annecy is approximately just 40 km long. Watch this oddly shaped leg of the race and see how the competitors weave their way around the water. The Adagio Annecy centre is just 10 minutes away from the famous lake and centrally located.

19. Friday, July 24th
Bourgoin-Jallieu → Aubenas
The 96th Tour de France is almost over, but many racers still have something to prove. It may be the toughest leg, but the route winds through the beautiful Ardeche Gorges, a welcome distraction for even the most tired riders.

20. Saturday, July 25th
Montélimar → Mont-Ventoux
Some of the Tour de France’s most legendary moments have happened in this area, but it has never been on the route just 24 hours from the final finish. Whatever the rider wearing the Yellow Jersey, he will have to face the Tour’s toughest climb yet.

21 . Sunday, July 26th.
Montereau-Fault-Yonne → Paris
The final stage. Winning on the Champs-Élysées is a distinguished achievement and is an incredible sight. The home stretch on the “world’s most beautiful avenue” is always exciting, whoever wins. Expect hotels and other accommodation around the city to be jam-packed but check out availability at one of the 11 Adagio Aparthotels in Paris



We hope this is all you need to help find last minute accommodation for Tour de France. Keep updated on the competition. by checking out the Tour de France official website.

If you can’t afford to fly off for a few days this summer, why not book a last minute family holiday village in France, and fit the Tour de France around your break? Our Beat the Euro deal fits the Tour de France route nicely. This summer, we’re basing our prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05). of up to 45% off all of our properties in the summer break.

The offer is available on all P&V properties on all dates, including the school summer holidays, up until November 2009. Discounts can also be combined with any other P&V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.

Find more information about P&V properties, on PV-Holidays.com, the website for P&V.

Thanks for reading,
PV-Holidays.com

P&V: VAT cut on restaurants in France!

Here at P&V, we love sharing good news with our fellow Francophiles. And we have been very excited to hear that as of tomorrow (Wednesday 1st July 2009) VAT on all restaurants and cafés in France will be slashed from 19.6 per cent to 5.5 per cent leading to big savings for visitors to the country.



This means, you can save around 10% on every meal you eat when dining out whilst away. To break it down, a meal typically costing €15 (£13) will be reduced to around €13.20 (£11.40). The move aims to boost consumer spending in the busy summer period throughout France.

The government has come up with a list of a dozen everyday items that will benefit from the full reduction in VAT. This should include daily specials, basic entrées and desserts, plus coffee.



We think these VAT cuts will also be particularly welcomed during the upcoming ski season as us cash-strapped Brits look for more affordable options when heading to the Alps.



In the 2008/2009 season, French mountain resorts came under fire for their inflated prices, but it is hoped that this recent action by the French government will allow restaurateurs to reduce prices for the coming season.



We also spoke with Nicolas Rochedy who runs the Chabichou hotel and restaurant in Courchevel in France’s Three Valleys who says: “It is important for us to support British skiers, particularly in the current climate. From December, we will be passing on the VAT reductions to all of our customers. Although some products are exempt from the cut, such as alcohol, the majority of our most popular dishes will be reduced for the customer. Skiers will therefore notice that their lunchtime meal, bottled water and cup of coffee will be largely reduced from last year’s prices.



“As well as being able to reduce costs for the customer, the VAT reductions will also mean better service and salary increases for staff, as well as more employment at resorts. We therefore welcome the tax cuts as a way of both improving customer service and encouraging more visitors to the Three Valleys – a view that is shared by other hotels and restaurants in the region”.

Our P&V Eurobuster campaign compliments the latest drop in VAT prices, too. P&V offer self-catering apartments in many popular resorts in France, and we’re happy that customers will be able to rely on good value local restaurant food during their stay.



This summer, we’re basing our prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05). of up to 45% off all of our properties in the summer break.

The offer is available on all P&V properties on all dates, including the school summer holidays, up until November 2009. Discounts can also be combined with any other P&V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.

To grab your own saving please enter our special discount code 8258, when visiting our website, PV-Holidays.com.

P&V: Insider guide to family holidays on the Costa Del Sol!

This week, our blog comes from Nick Vowles who has recently returned from the Costa Del Sol

"I’m the web marketing manager for www.pv-holidays.com in the UK and Ireland. We’ve just opened some brand new P&V holiday apartment residences on the Costa Del Sol, Spain. So I thought it was time to roadtest them with the family.

New holiday accommodation on the Costa del Sol
P&V has 2 new holiday residences on the Costa del Sol; Pierre & Vacances Terrazas Costa del Sol Holiday Village in Manilva and the Pierre & Vacances Caledonia Golf Resort Estepona. As we are now a family of 4 with a 2 year old and a 6 month year old we plumped for the Holiday Village in Manilva.

Location
The Pierre & Vacances Terrazas Costa del Sol Holida Village is located on the Gibraltar side of Manilva. Its well sign-posted off the A7. If you are travelling on the motorway don’t get off at the Manilva exit like we did, but go onto the next exit and then get onto the A7 headed back to Malaga. The site itself is located on a hill with fantastic views of the sea and the Rock of Gibraltar.



Accommodation
We booked a 2 bedroom apartment which was perfect for our needs. The apartments are nicely designed and spacious with massive terraces to enjoy the views and the weather. Most terraces are well shaded. Ours had great views of the pool, sea, and surrounding countryside. Plus it gave our toddlers lots to look at during dinner times and its easier to clean up the subsequent mess outside. Given we had one who was just starting solids and another who was potty training this was great news for Mum and Dad!



The 2 bedroom apartment had 2 bathrooms and all the necessary cooking equipment including dishwasher, microwave and hob. It also had aircon which was great to cool down the apartments before bedtime. The two sofas were comfy and had nice big cushions – perfect for building sofa tunnels for Fred, our 2 year old. There was a TV in the apartment but only with Spanish channels – not that it bothered Fred. Mum and Dad were happy with the views, music and a chance to read a few pages of our books.



Residence
The Terrazas Costa del Sol Holiday village is brand new. As a result all the staff were incredibly friendly, enthusiastic and helpful. The pool and surrounding garden are beautiful and there’s both a kiddie pool and play area in the grounds. There’s a lovely air-conditioned restaurant which does a buffet breakfast between 8 and 10 in the morning and evenings. And there is also a poolside snack bar which is open between 10 and 10. We used this quite a lot, it does a nice selection of well priced meals which can be adapted for the little ones. Fred loved the Spag Bol. At 5 Euros so did Mum and Dad, especially as Dad got to finish off the huge portion.



Though there are supermarkets quite closeby they are opening up a mini-market on site. It should be open by July. In terms of supermarkets head either way from the residence on the A7 and you will soon come across a number of supermarkets which are well sign-posted. The closest is called Eroski. The best is the Carrefour which is the Marbella side of Estepona. Though most are closed on Sundays the reception team helpfully advised us that there is a supermarket open 24-7 at Estepona port.

Children’s activities
There are separate children’s clubs for age ranges from 3 – 18 which operate from 10 to 12 in the morning and 4 till 6 in the afternoon. Though Fred is only 2 they were happy for us to accompany him to the club, and he loved it, particularly the play house and the trampoline. The organisers are really friendly, enthusiastic and speak excellent English.

One of the big events each night is the mini-disco at 9.30pm. We would have loved to get our little ones involved but they are just a little too young – maybe next year! This year we let the kids sleep while we watched from the balcony over a bottle of Rioja!

There are also lots of activities for the adults, one of the most popular being aqua aerobics which we all joined in!

In terms of informal activities both Fred and Mum and Dad met lots of other parents and their toddlers around the kiddie pool. Because there are people from lots of different countries it has quite a cosmopolitan feel – Fred made great friends with a little French girl called Matilde!

Beach
One of the real plus points is the beach closeby. There is a regular shuttle in the morning and afternoon but we chose to take the car to give us a bit more flexibility. I cannot rave about this beach enough – it was amazing. Locally its known as ‘rock beach’ so its not a sandy beach, but because the pebbles are quite small (we come from Brighton) Fred didn’t mind it at all.



And of course, no sand anywhere means no sand everywhere! It was really easy to keep Fred entertained on the beach. There are lots of rocks alongside the coast so lots of rock pools to explore plus little mini sea pools to play in. P&V provide free parasols and deckchairs plus a great drink and snack bar with table service.



It can get a bit windy on the hill, so on these days we headed for the beach which wasn’t so bad.

Pierre & Vacances Caledonia Golf
While in the area we dropped by the Pierre & Vacances Caledonia Golf. It’s a great residence for those wanting to be a bit closer to Estepona and Marbella. Being an aparthotel it’s a bit more like a 4* hotel, with spa, indoor pool, gym and a huge restaurant. The rooms are really stylish and the pool area is just as good as the Costa del Sol Holiday Village. There is also a children’s club on site and Fred loved the cute little play area and pool.

Surrounding Area
There’s a huge amount to do in the area but you definitely need a car to explore. We had numerous outings to Estepona which has a lovely sandy beach and lots of restaurants plus an amazing outdoor play area for children on the front. Fred loved this and the toy bus opposite which must have been his highlight of the holiday. Closer by is Sabinillas, which also has a lovely sandy beach and a selection of restaurants on the front. Marbella and Porte Banus aren’t far away either.



More information
All the information on both residences can be found on www.pv-holidays.com. We are running an amazing deal for UK and Irish residents at the moment where you can get at least 22% off all dates and residences and up to 45% off selected properties and dates.

At Pierre & Vacances Terrazes Costa del Sol prices start from 315 Euros a week for a 1 bedroom apartment and from 370 Euros a week for 2 bedroom apartments.

At Pierre & Vacances Caledonia Golf residence prices start from 372 Euros a week for a 1 bedroom apartment and 435 Euros a week for 2 bedroom apartments.

Teen Appeal: Top five French escapes with P&V

While little ones are delighted by buckets and spades and paddles in the pool, finding an affordable family holiday that will keep teenagers entertained can prove a tall order for parents.

European accommodation specialist, P&V, offers an excellent choice of properties in some of France's most stunning locations, with a wide selection of children’s activities for toddlers to teens.



Many P&V properties feature action-packed clubs for teenagers where your teens can hang out, make new friends and sample a fabulous choice of sports and activities. Clubs are divided into two age groups: 13-15 year olds and 16-18 year olds with a range of activities and events tailored to each. Many P&V ‘holiday village’ properties also include a dedicated teenager-only zone, known as ‘The Spot’ that features sofas, large screen televisions, DJ turntables and a dance floor.



Even better, P&V is offering free children’s clubs at family holiday villages and a ‘Eurobuster’ saving of at least 22% on all holidays taken before November 2009.

Here's our round-up of P&V’s five top destinations for holidays with teenagers...

1. Chamonix
Adventurous teenagers will love the action-packed mountain resort of Chamonix where summer holidays can be spent hiking, biking and rafting against the stunning backdrop of Mont-Blanc. There are many routes perfect for families, and for ease of navigation, many choose routes, which fall between key resort cable car drops. Example routes include the Brevent to La Flegere and Mer de Glace to Plan de l'Aiguille.



P&V’s Residence MGM La Ginabelle is located in the heart of the resort and is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding area, with the Montenvers train and the Aguille du Midi cable car both close by. The resort is also home to the ‘European Adventure School’ (payable locally), suitable for 13–17 year- olds, which offers a wide range of adventurous activities, including land and water treks, mountain biking, camping, orienteering and mountain survival courses. The residence has a heated indoor swimming pool and a health spa.

Hot offer: Eurobuster prices start from £312 (previously £400) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment.

2. Aquitaine
A haven for teens that loveto explore. This lush region is close to both the sea and surrounded by thick forests. Surfing is a popular past time as Aquitaine boasts over 150 miles of sandy beaches. Young people and families also tend to gather around beaches, which sit, between Gironde and the Pyrenees. For sporty teens, many will probably know that some of France's most popular teams are from the region, including Girondins de Bordeaux one of the leading football teams, and several Rugby Union clubs.



The Pierre & Vacances Lacanau Holiday Village is a family resort nestled in the heart of a vast pine forest, freshwater lake and dune area. The village lies just 2km from the Atlantic Ocean where surfing is extremely popular. Teenagers will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of activities on offer through the children’s clubs, including tennis, golf, circus tricks, pony-riding, paint balling, beach volleyball, basketball, handball, table-tennis and mountain biking. The 400m heated swimming pool with upstream swimming and whirlpools, as well as the close proximity to the ocean, make Lacanau Holiday Village an ideal location for an active family break.

Hot offer: Eurobuster prices start from £333 (previously £382) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment.

3.Vendée
Famed for being one of the cleanest regions in France, Vendee is very proud of its 200 km of sandy beaches, most of which have "blue flags" for cleanliness. Coupled with a mild climate, this is perfect for families who wish to inject a little adventure whilst relaxing on holiday. Popular resorts include: Les Sables-d'Olonne, La Tranche-sur-Mer and Saint-Jean-de-Monts. For teen David Attenboroughs', inland teens can explore the Marais Poitevin, an area of marshlands famed for wildlife whilst also checking out the forested area around the village of Mervent. For father-son bonding time, fishing is popular in the ocean or in the Vendee’s rivers and lakes.



The Port Bourgenay Holiday Village is a superb location for a family holiday in the Vendée region of France. Located 9km south of Les Sables-d’Olonne, this 90-hectare car-free village offers numerous activities for all ages, ranging from a 9-hole golf course to an aquatic centre with three swimming pools. Veillon beach is just 1.5km away and is accessible either on foot or via the seasonal tourist train. Teenagers can meet at ‘The Spot’ where a range of daytime and evening activities are organised, or they can take advantage of the bicycle hire, archery and flying trapeze courses available within the resort.

Hot offer: Eurobuster prices start from £361 (previously £404) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment.

4 Ardèche
With its rivers and streams, Ardèche has become a favorite place for canoe and kayak enthusiasts from around the world. Ardèche contains a part of the Cévennes National Park. For families visiting to the region should note that there are 5 key aspects to the region which nature and adventure lovers should aim to explore: the mountains, the plateaus of the Haut-Vivarais and the Cévennes, the Bas-Vivarais, the plateau of the Coirons, and valley of the Rhône.



Le Rouret Holiday Village is a 100-acre multi-activity resort located in the Ardéche region of France. The resort offers extensive activities for families with teenage children with a number of activities arranged through the onsite children’s clubs. Teens can choose to take up mountain biking, canoeing or horseback riding, as well as taking advantage of the onsite facilities that include mini golf, table tennis, circus training and a large outdoor swimming pool. This property also features 'The Spot' teenagers-only zone.

Hot offer: Eurobuster prices start from £384 (previously £545) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment.

5. Normandy
Perfect for families looking for a short break in France filled with a ton of activities. Normandy has a variety of zoos, water parks, gardens to include Monet’s at Giverny, butterfly pavilion, the Bayeux Tapestry, Mont st Michel, the D Day Invasion Beaches, Regional National Parks, beaches, rivers, lakes, forests, marshlands, valleys and hills, and much more!



An excellent choice for families with sporty teens, Branville Holiday Village features the 'Aquaclub' - a huge outdoor water sports complex with swimming pools, water slides and wave machines. Free children’s clubs and ‘Le Spot’ teenage meeting place is available on site. Villers-sur-Mer is less than 10km away, where families can sail dinghies and catamarans or try their hand at wind surfing. Fencing, horse riding, circus training and tennis coaching are all available onsite at an extra cost.

Hot offer: Eurobuster prices start from £476 (previously £717) per week for a family of four in a one-bedroom apartment.



All properties are eligible for P&V’s ‘Beat the Euro’ discount. This deal has been introduced to offer the Euro-Sterling rate of 2008 when holidays were at least 22% cheaper than they are today. All properties are self-catering and come with a fully fitted kitchen and living area. One-bedroom apartments include a double bedroom and a living area with pull out sofa bed. Find out more on the Beat The Euro section of our website.

Thanks for reading,
PV-Holidays.

P&V: His ‘n’ Hers Holidays in Normandy

For him and for her, Normandy has it all. There are plenty of things you can enjoy together like strolling the promenades, relaxing on the beaches and exploring the very best of the local restaurants. And when he heads for one of the golf courses, she can hit the chic shopping or opt for a pampering treatment at a spa.



Doing Deauville
Deauville has grown from humble beginnings into a stylish resort town famous for its elegant high life. It was the racecourse that first brought Parisian aristocrats here, and racing is still a very popular sport throughout the entire region.



Elegant villas, chic shops and stylish cafes, restaurants and bars are the hallmarks of the town. Take a stroll along its wide beachside promenade and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped straight out of the pages of a belle époque novel.



During the summer it’s all beach and parasols, and in September you may bump into a Hollywood movie star on their way to the casino, here for the annual Film Festival.

Try out Trouville
Trouville rubs shoulders with Deauville just across the Touques River, but in contrast it’s far less formal betraying its roots as a fishing village. Here, you’ll find bustling quays, busy markets and narrow streets full of quaint shops to explore.



However, the one thing Trouville does share with Deauville is a very impressive beach. For the more actively inclined there’s also sailing and horse riding. Nothing beats a good early morning gallop along the beaches in Normandy.



Arty Honfleur
Honfleur is another delightful harbour town which as well as attracting holiday visitors has long been a magnet for famous French artists, drawn by the scenic views and beauty of the light. It made a big “impression” on Monet, Renoir and Cezanne amongst others.



So it’s no coincidence there are 15 art galleries in the town. Nowadays, you’re more likely to see wealthy yachtsman thronging the town squares and pavement cafes enjoying the fresh seafood rather than struggling artists. But the atmosphere is still as charming as it was a hundred years ago.



Love Le Touquet
They call Le Touquet “Paris bythe-sea” and you’ll quickly see why. It may not have an Eiffel Tower but otherwise it certainly looks the part as many of Frances’s most famous architects have erected buildings here.



During the 1920s Noel Coward and his smart set of literary chums took over at weekends, but now Le Touquet is popular with couples from all over the British Isles who are drawn by the beach, the wild dunes, casino, and walks amongst the elegant villas of a bygone era in shady woodlands.




The beach at Cabourg
Considered by many to be the most spectacular beach on the entire Normandy coast, Cabourg is also famous for two other things: its racecourse, and that the famous French writer Marcel Proust used to visit here.



Proust came here for his health, but today’s visitor can enjoy a great deal more including golf, tennis, mini golf, sailing, horse riding and there’s also a swimming pool and a casino.



And if you fancy a bet of a different kind, the racecourse is just opposite the Mercure Hotel.

Chic boutiques

You’ll find shopping with a certain “je ne sais quoi” in all the chic resort towns of the Normandy coast, and the area continues to attract the stylish and the fashion conscious, just as it always has. All a girl has to do is find something else for him to do for a few hours.



Golf
Golf is played widely throughout Normandy and to all standards. The Deauville area has some of the best courses, including Champ de Bataille, known as Normandy's Wentworth.



Spas
Many of the larger resort hotels have spas that are open to the public. The Algotherm Thalassotherapy Spa in Deauville is especially well recommended being centrally located and offering a wide range of treatments.



Getting there
Normandy has more cross-channel ferry routes than any other region in France and is easily reached from the UK via ferry from Portsmouth, Newhaven and Poole.

Brittany Ferries prices Portsmouth to Caen and Poole to Cherbourg are as follows:
17 July - 27 August: £142 return based on a car plus 2 and a stay of up to 5 days

Portsmouth to Cherbourg:
1 July - 24 July: £152 return based on a car plus 2 and a stay of up to 5 days

Air France, Ryanair and Sky South also operate regular flights to the region from a number of UK airports.

Ryanair return flights London (Stansted) to Dinard and London (Luton) to Brest from £99.

Where to stay
European self-catering accommodation specialist P&V will open its brand new four star property, Residence MGM de Houlgate, overlooking Normandy’s Deauville Bay in August 2009. Those who book now for a stay during the residence’s first month will receive a discount of up to 20 percent.



Situated 600m from the beach, Residence MGM de Houlgate features 82 apartments and 44 cottages, many with capacity for up to eight guests. All properties are self-catering with fully equipped kitchens, WiFi Internet connections and LCD TVs. Onsite facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, health spa and children’s activity area. Find out more about the property by visiting P&V's website, PV-Holidays.com,.



PV-holidays have also just launched the Beat The Euro campaign, where customers can claim at least an extra 22% discount and in some cases even up to 45% off on their summer holidays. To help out families the discount can also be used on peak dates during school holidays. To claim your discount, customers need to visit here:

www.pv-holidays.com/beatstheeuro_ms

And enter the code 8258

PV-Holidays have also just launched their golf brochure for 2009. If you are considering a golf holiday in France please click on this link to view the brochure and find out more information.

P&V: So chic - Girly weekend in Cannes!

This week we have a travel diary from Melissa Wood, who recently jetted off for a weekend in Cannes with her friend Laura.

“I’m a city girl through and through but lately, the big smoke had been getting to me. So- when my friend Laura proposed a girly weekend in France I couldn’t think of anything better. We went to Cannes for a weekend just before the festival started and decided to involve ourselves in all things chic…



Saturday
After a relatively easy (but early!) flight with Easyjet we arrived at Nice armed with our overpacked suitcases, big sunnies and a handful of French phrases. It was recommended to us that we get a bus from the airport to Cannes centre- and I’m glad we followed this advice. The bus terminal is the first thing you see, as you exit arrivals. For just 11 euros we managed to get a straight bus from Nice to Cannes (Hotel De Ville). The driver was friendly and actually helped us with our bags straight from the arrivals door.

Hotel De Ville is situated right next to Cannes Harbour and the main location when getting busses/taxis into town. This quickly became the hub of our stay. Buses depart here for local areas and cost just 1 Euro. There is also a taxi rank which always has at least five cabs waiting for pick up.



Thankfully we could get a bus straight to our apartment in La Bocca (Also known as ‘The Old Cannes’) within 15 minutes. Because of our cases we decided to plump for a taxi and this cost us 10 euros. We were staying at Pierre Vacances Cannes Beach in La Bocca- purely because if we stayed in town, we’d never go home and our main aim for the break was to find some time to relax!

We were really impressed with Cannes Beach, it’s a pretty big residence but it’s clean and has a very relaxed atmosphere. The receptionists are fine with our embarrassing attempts at French and were happy to speak English when we gave up. Our apartment was adorable, we had our own balcony overlooking the pool a little kitchen and dining area, a living room with 2 fold out beds, a double bedroom and a bathroom and toilet.

Self-catering is always better for girls like us. Yes we wanted a girly holiday, but we were on a budget. I’d also promised Laura I’d cook for her and was excited about showing off some of my cooking skills whilst we were there. By the way, I’ve now been christened The Omelette Queen!



The sun was blazing, so we decided to walk out of the other entrance, under the subway and onto the beach, which backs onto the residence. Our tip would be to use this route as a really pleasant walk into town but not as a place to sunbathe- the beaches towards Cannes are much more accessible, vibrant and have cute little stores to buy ice creams, crepes etc.

In a cab or by bus, you are 10 minutes away- but the walk to the harbour took us around 40 minutes. It was such a beautiful day and we weren’t in any rush.





Once there, we explored. We spoke to people who had boats, visited the tourism office, browsed the market in the square, walked around the cobbled streets and finally, decided we had better eat some lunch.



There are lots of lovely coffee shops and cafes overlooking Cannes Marina. Take note of which hotels also own the restaurant/beaches on the sea front. Nothing signifies a girly weekend like sitting on a beach in Cannes having a waiter serve you a cocktail! We visited a café which backed onto the market and decided to have some savoury crepes. The French know their food so this was a much-appreciated meal, and with drinks cost us 15 euros each.

It was early evening now, so we decided to walk back to La Bocca and pick up some supplies for our break. There weren’t any supermarkets in town, but there are three or four dotted along the bus route on the way back to La Bocca. We ended up at one with the most gorgeous range of cheeses. Forgetting our no-carb diets we filled up on essentials. All in all, our food for the next 4 days cost us just 40 euros.

Tip: Bus routes into La Bocca- I’d recommend route 1,2, 14 and 22. They are the quickest and all can be found at Hotel de Ville.

That night I cooked us a lovely chicken salad and we decided to stay in and chat and read on the balcony instead. Thankfully we remembered our Ipod speaker, and it provided nice background music as we relaxed. Cannes Beach is set up so that most rooms look over the swimming pools. There is also an outside eating/bar area where people seem to congregate. We popped down for a drink and met lots of people from all over the world- however; everyone seemed to be in town for the Festival- bar us!



Sunday
This was our day of exploring. We both wanted to get on a boat, so got up early and made it down to the dock. The Îles de Lérins are a fabulous side to Cannes. Filled with extreme beauty and history, both islands; Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat make a great day out. From Cannes harbour you can also catch boats to Monaco and St Tropez- we would have loved to have visit if we had some more time.

St Marguerite is an area of “extreme beauty” and was also home to the Man in the Iron mask. We decided to visit Saint Honorat After being told its very serene, peaceful and full of old churches to explore. This is as far removed from London as you can get, and injected some culture into our chic visit.



After arriving, we walked around the island and stopped to explore little coves and bays which were relatively untouched.





We walked round and explored old churches, chapels and a castle which we climbed to the top of the one so we could see Monastery- Laura was very amused to find that even Monks use solar panels!



We took in the views for a while and then decided to explore the churches more fully. We had been playing around the whole day, laughing and joking- but the “silence” rule in the monastery meant we had to explore calmly and we were glad, it made us take in the surroundings better.



We passed a few monks amongst the lush surroundings and they were so peaceful and happy- a model to us all!

We then explored the vineyards and decided to have the snacks we packed sitting amongst them. Chickens were running around, the sun was beating down and I was very, VERY happy. Then we made our way back to the restaurant where we had hot chocolates over looking the bay before we went back to the boat and the mainland.



We caught the bus back to the apartment to grab some dinner. I made an amazing omelette and salad in our kitchen and it set the evening off nicely. It was 5pm and the pool was empty, so we grabbed our bikinis, ran down and had a swim for a good hour or so. Once ready, we got a cab back into town.

There are plenty of bars and clubs in Cannes, depending on what you like from a night out. Jimmy’z is on the marina and seems like the biggest club- but that isn’t our thing. We just wanted to have a drink and chat to people. Because of the festival, there were so many people about. It was so funny to see the town magically transform over night- the shops, bars and restaurants are heaving with people from all over the world. I can imagine how kitsch the town is for the rest of the year, too.

Tip: for other girls is to venture up to Rue D’Antibes if you aren’t confident with your language skills the first day you arrive. There are a few English/Irish bars, which serve nicely for your first drink. This gives you a chance to practise your French and talk to the barmen who will also recommend other traditional places in the local area. All the drink was very well priced, but we are used to London prices so we are rarely shocked at a bar bill!

Monday
The next day we had a lovely breakfast overlooking the pool. We had friends who had flown in for the festival, and were staying just down the road at Villa Francia. We decided to meet them for lunch and were told to bring our swimming gear- we were glad we did! Situated in the hills above La Bocca, Villa Francia has the most gorgeous infinity pool, which looks right over the bay.



We ate lunch on the terrace and finally were dragged away from the gorgeous view because Laura wanted to explore La Croisette. This is the more uptown part along the coast, you will notice endless of amounts of designer stores such as Dior and Gucci, but the prices of the restaurants and cafes increase also.





We jumped on a bus again, and decided to take in the different hotels. Overnight Cannes had transformed into a Hollywood mecca. Paparazzi had begun to gather, the red carpet was being put up, hotels had film posters, cars with blacked out windows were cruising the streets, tents for the illustrious press conferences were being put up- it was an amazing sight.



It was during our walk I noticed the town is very accessible by foot, as you do not even realise how far you have walked. The town itself if beautiful with Artwork on buildings and artwork in sand, you are consistently entertained by small characteristics of the town. I think we were very lucky to experience the town both before and during the festival.





We decided to play tourist and spent some time on the walk of fame. We ventured down to the sandy and walked up as far as we could. Everyone was so friendly. We treated ourselves to a massive ice cream before heading back to the hotel for dinner and spent some time in the restaurant chatting to both staff and other customers. After venturing into town for a while, we went back to the apartment, absolutely shattered.





Tuesday
This was our last day, so I finished up the last of our supplies by creating a great breakfast. Laura popped to the markets in La Bocca to pick up fresh fruit and orange juices. We finally managed to shut Laura’s suitcase and made our way down to reception- the receptionist was really nice, our bags were taken into a room to be looked after for the day and she also asked the shuttle bus to wait for us.

Tip: During summer months (starting with the festival) there is a free bus into town, which saves on cab and bus fares- the driver was so friendly and told us a few places to stop in at before we left.

Tuesday meant one thing for us- shopping! Normally I’m not brave enough to walk brazenly into designer shops back home, but we had so much fun exploring Dior, Gucci and the other shops. We spent a fair bit on clothes, but I also managed to stake out a few French shops where we could pick up a few summer items.

We hit the beach again, after making our way through the crowds.



Festival fever had really hit. We stopped at a pavement café and decided to people-watch for a while. Then we started on the souvenir hunt. Our driver had recommended a traditional sweet shop and a few film memorabilia stalls to pick presents from. The market was on again, and was filled with antiques and art- we made a few guilty purchases there, too.





We took a stroll around the marina and were amazed at the size of the boats after pausing to look at them in detail. Eventually we made our way back to Cannes Beach to grab our cases. We decided to leave a little earlier and save money on getting the bus back to the airport, where our flight was delayed, but we didn’t really matter because we were so content.



All in all, Cannes was exactly what we needed- the chance to be girly, cultured and relaxed in one swoop. I still can’t believe somewhere as beautiful as this is just 1 ½ hours away. We had the most glorious time. Choosing self-catering meant we had the time and money to indulge in French food and drink without breaking the budget.

La Bocca was so adorable. Full of bakeries, butchers, tiny bars and an exciting mix of people from all over the world- I’m glad we stayed here. La Croisette is a gals dream, and a great place to indulge for an afternoon- everyone likes to pretend they are in a fairy-tale, don’t they! Îles de Lérins- Never overlook these islands if you visit Cannes, those islands seem more magical than Gucci ever will!”

Where to stay
Melissa stayed at Pierre Vacances Cannes Beach, and flew in to Nice from Gatwick with Easyjet. Melissa also visited friends at the Pierre Vacances Villa Francia. Both properties are situated in La Bocca but PV-Holidays have many other properties in the Cannes/Nice area.

Save at least 22% on your next holiday with PV-Holidays by taking part in our Beat the Euro campaign. If you visit the website and enter the code: 8258, you can claim your discount. Great news for all is that the code can be used in conjunction with any summer holiday dates- which is ideal for any other girly mates, families or couples who want to visit France or Spain this summer.

Visit www.pv-holidays.com for more details.

Thanks for reading,
PV-Holidays

PV-Holidays: Beat The Euro!

Hello all,
We thought you might like to know about the latest offer from P&V! Introducing... Beat The Euro!



The Deal

PV-Holidays.com are returning travellers to the dizzy days of 2008 Euro exchange rates, saving them up to 45 per cent on the cost of summer family holidays to France or Spain. The offer is available on all P&V properties on all dates – including the school summer holidays, making it great for families!

The Discount
These latest deals can also be combined with any other P&V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.

The campaign will be running for the whole of this summer, basing its prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05)

The Code
To claim your discount, the discount code for Beat The Euro is: 8258. Enter it on the Beat The Euro page on the website. The offer is valid on all holidays until November 7th.



Find more information on the Beat The Euro page and as always, find a wealth of information on P&V's website PV-Holidays.com.