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Posts Tagged ‘Real travel diaries’
A weekend in Le Crotoy at the Résidence de la Plage
Last month Pierre & Vacances customer Andy Parker visited Picardy for a weekend get-away. Check out his review of our Premium Résidence de la Plage, and the things to do in Le Crotoy and the surrounding area:
We recently took to the shores of North France for a stay at the Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence de la Plage in Le Crotoy, in the Bay of Somme (just an hour’s easy drive from Calais).
Le Crotoy is a pretty special place. A small town on the bay of the Somme, where Jules Verne wrote the majority of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea whilst staying in the town, just a short drive from Abbeville. Being a fishing town there are several restaurants all serving fresh catches and we managed to visit the morning market to see what was available straight off the boat that morning.
Le Crotoy, Picardy
Only visiting for a weekend trip we decided to eat out both evenings, but had we stayed longer we would have been more than accommodated to cook my own local foods with the fish markets setting up when the trawlers come back in, an amazing butchers, grocers and patisserie all within walking distance of the apartment.
We stayed in a two bedroom apartment which could quite comfortably have slept up to six people because the sofas were also beds. The living space was ideal, the kitchen was fully kitted and exceptionally clean with the espresso machine and complimentary capsules a nice touch.
There were two bathrooms, one with a bath/shower and the downstairs a spacious shower, both were perfect after a long day walking along the coast line watching the wind and kite surfers.
The view from both the master bedroom and the living room/sun terrace were stunning, spanning all the way across the bay and up the coast line.
The view from Residence de la Plage
Being a cold November, we didn’t get an opportunity to dip into the outdoor pool but its location, facing over the waterfront, seemed ideal.
We took a trip to Abbeville which was no more than 20 minutes by car. The town has a wonderful high street with a strong mixture of high street brands and independent retailers (particularly the chocolatiers). The church in the centre of town has been restored several times throughout its history and information was available in English which helped with our lack of reading French!
There are several landmarks dotted around the town which we uncovered from exploring side streets which reflect how much devastation the town saw throughout 1914-1945.
Great War cemetary in Lebucquiere
Our final trip was to a discrete cemetery for those who served in the Great War in the village of Lebucquiere. Although we’ve never been to some of the larger memorials and cemeteries which are considerably closer to Crotoy, this one held personal interest to me.
It was a drive of several hours and we decided to utilise the toll roads. They really do put UK road services to shame! Yes you do have to pay (maximum journey was from Lebucquiere to Calais at 9 Euros) but they’re fast, direct and pretty empty at peak times.
My top tip - I had no problems with driving on the other side of the road, but remember to check your headlights before leaving to see if you should purchase headlight reverse stickers which make sure you’re not blinding on-coming traffic!
Visit Le Crotoy for yourself! Andy stayed at the self catering Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence de la Plage in Le Crotoy, Picardy. Pierre & Vacances also has a wide range of self catering apartments around North Picardy, perfect for mountain-biking, hiking and horse-riding, as well as visiting the the Somme Bay and Compiègne forest for sports and bird watching.
A family holiday to Cap Esterel
Cap Esterel, the flagship Pierre & Vacances Holiday Resort, has recently celebrated its 20th birthday. So Marketing Manager Nick thought it was about time for a visit, here’s the diary of his family holiday in the French Riveria:
The Pierre & Vacances Cap Esterel Holiday Resort is located in the beautiful Massif de L’Esterel National Park between Saint Raphael and Cannes.
Though the resort is under an hour from Nice airport, as our two kids are now both at paying age for flights, we elected to save money and drive and the low diesel costs in France also make this cheaper. But we didn’t need the car much as there’s loads to do on the resort, and the supermarket is more than adequate, the beaches are walkable and there is a train station nearby – what more do you need?!
So driving it was, and we had a great journey across the Channel with Seafrance – friendly staff, great kids play area and loads of room on the ferry! We took an overnight stop in Formule 1 in Chalons en Champagne, then 10 hours later we were at Cap Esterel!
Happy family in our holiday apartment
We were delighted with our apartment: newly refurbished with a bedroom for Granny, bunk beds for the kids (sharing for the first time!) and a sofa bed in the lounge for Mum and Dad. It was nicely decorated with pictures of the L’Esterel National Park and all the usual mod cons including dishwasher, kettle and even a teapot…….Granny was happy!
Cap Esterel teapot
We had amazing views of the med, and the supermarket, shops and bars were only a minute away. Plus we were so close to the swimming pool that when we heard the hourly announcement for the wave machine we could get our trunks on and get down there in time!
View from Cap Esterel apartment
The kids loved the main swimming pool’s wave machine and water slide, and when we wanted a longer swim we went to the upper infinity pool which was slightly warmer and with amazing sea views. We also took the train to the quieter Hameau area which has its own swimming pools and supermarket. There is a main pool (good for lengths) and a children’s pool on a large roof terrace area, also with, you guessed it, amazing views.
The Cap Esterel Train
Apart from the swimming pools the main attractions for the family were the train and local beaches. The train handily stops near the main children’s playground and is so popular that every time it arrives there is a mass-exodus from the playground! If you’re like our family you take the train just for the fun of it [up to 3 times a day!], but it’s also quite handy for getting around the Resort and travelling to the local beach at Dramonts. On Wednesdays the train also takes you to the lovely market at Agay.
Beautiful Agay Beach
We alternated between the beaches at Dramonts and Agay, both with their own advantages. Dramonts is a small and quiet pebble beach with beautiful clear water, while Agay is a larger sandier beach with a choice of restaurants, bars and shops nearby. There is a short cut from the train bridge at the bottom of Cap Esterel over the hills to join the Agay road. It’s probably a 30 minute walk and a bit difficult with buggies but worth the time saving if you like a bit of exercise. There is also a little beach on the main road opposite the entrance to Cap Esterel.
Fred playing on Agay beach
In the Resort itself there is more than enough to keep the kids occupied all holiday. The 9 hole golf course is well looked after, the lake is stunning and there are loads of water sports available. There is also tennis, football, and crazy golf – basically you name it they have it! My wife made good use of the fitness classes and the children’s clubs looked like lots of fun!
Live music at Cap Esterel
On Friday night there was live music in the main resort village area. This is an area above the main pool with the feel of a little tourist town and of course amazing views! There are about 10 restaurants, a lovely cafe with shop, bar and ice creams, plus take way pizza and rotisserie. All were good value with family offers and menu du jours. The ice creams became a favourite with the kids who worked their way through all the different flavours! And at the far side of this area is the L’Esterel hotel with its own swish restaurant.
As for ‘eating-in’, the on-site supermarket was fantastic with its own bakery, a selection of toys, a wide range of food at reasonable prices and even a special section for English customers missing their favourite ale or sauce! We didn’t bother going anywhere else.
All in all we had fantastic family holiday in Cap Esterel and can’t wait to return!
Simon’s Family Holiday to Manilva
Hi, I’m the Webdesigner for this very blog! I’ve been working for P&V for some time now, and recently had the chance to take my wife and 2 year old son to the Terrazas Costa del Sol Resort.
For those of you considering the P&V resort at Manilva Costa del Sol, my first reaction would be go for it! and here’s why…
The apartment itself was very spacious, we had a 2 bed with balcony, there were 2 good sized bedrooms with huge wardrobes and dressing table, the master bedroom had an ensuite bigger than our own bathroom at home, tiled from floor to ceiling with a bath, shower toilet and beday. Needless to say, as the resort is brand new the apartment was spotless. There was a second bathroom with shower next to the bedroom. The main living room again was big with a nice kitchen area with everything we needed. Looking back at the P&V website the photographs of the apartments are exactly what we got, it really is that nice.
The courtyard right out side our door.
The view from our balcony
The views from our balcony were amazing, from the resort’s vantage point on the hill side, we could see right down the coast toward the imposing Rock of Gibraltar. The resort is on quite a large plot, divided into apartment buildings, each building is designed in a different way, so there is a really nice flow to the place, with fountains and courtyards dotted throughout. Due to it’s position on the hillside, a refreshing wind often breezes in. It was early season when we visited and the temperatures across Spain were unusually cool, however the courtyard right outside our apartment was a great sun trap, and the perfect place for Isaac, our 2 year old, to build a toy town under the shade of the palm trees.
A peaceful moment by the pool
The Rock of Gibraltar
Later in the week the weather picked up, the winds dropped and we ventured into the pool. Set in the middle of the complex with the bar and restaurant nearby, it too enjoyed the amazing views and garden surroundings.
Our view with Gibraltar in the distance
The Gardens
Having previously been used to holidaying as a couple, my wife and I would normally shy away from ‘Child Friendly’ accommodation seeking a bit of peace and quiet. Isaac is now 2 and a half, and piece and quite is a rare commodity, but in my opinion the Terrazas Costa del Sol manages to keep things mellow for the adults, while amusing the children with free clubs, out door games and play area. Each evening the entertainment staff put on a mini disco for the kids and what ever they pay those guys, it’s not enough! They were so enthusiastic, it’s all our son talked about each day.
The kitchen has everything you need for a family!
You do need a car to get out and about, as the resort is about half a mile up the hill side, but quite frankly, to get the best from the Terrazas Costa del Sol, you should treat it as a great base from which to explore. Gibraltar is a 20 minute drive and Estaponia about the same, we left this place thinking there is much more to discover, whilst I’m now keen to see what PV’s other destinations are like, I’ll always be happy to return to Manilva.
Estaponia Old Town, v.nice!
Me and two Monkeys
On top of the Rock!
Hot deal: Prices for a one-week break in Manilva start from only €400 for a studio apartment sleeping four at Pierre & Vacances Terrazas Costa del Sol in October 2010.
Group holiday to Antibes
Pierre & Vacances customer Jenny tells us about her recent group holiday to Antibes, France with her friends:
“As a group of four 20-something’s, all with very different ideas as to what makes a good holiday, we always struggle to find a holiday destination that ticks all the right boxes. Specifically we were looking for:
• A self-catering apartment where we could cook our own meals to help keep the costs down
• A beach and/or pool to lounge by during the day
• A lively town nearby for food/drinks in the evenings
• Local cultural attractions in case we felt the urge to explore
• Somewhere reasonably close to the UK with cheap flights
• Somewhere we hadn’t been before …
In the end we decided upon a holiday in Antibes in the South of France after a recommendation from another friend. 
On paper, it looked ideal – close to big cities such as Cannes, Nice and Monte Carlo, but a historical town in itself with a small beach, lots of cafes and a rich cultural heritage.
And so we waved goodbye to rainy England, boarded our 1.5 hour flight from London to Nice, took a €1 bus from the airport into the centre of town and began our holiday in sunny Antibes!
Our Pierre & Vacances apartment
We stayed in the Pierre & Vacances Premium Port Prestige apartments – a gorgeous complex overlooking the Port Vauban harbour and just a stone’s throw from the beach and the centre of town.
We stayed in a two bedroom, air-conditioned apartment that could sleep up to seven people. The apartment had one big double bedroom, a smaller bedroom with bunk beds as well as sofa beds suitable for three people in the living area. There was also a kitchen/dining/living area and an enormous balcony with outdoor furniture – perfect for alfresco dining in the evenings.
Our apartment had a fantastic view of the harbour, which is renowned for its ‘Millionaires Quay’ – the balcony therefore proved very handy for spying on the comings and goings of the super-yachts in dock!
Within the complex itself there were two large swimming pools complete with a waterfall, whirlpools and geysers – ideal for lazy days spent sunbathing. For when we were feeling adventurous, the local beach was just 400m away, right next to the bustling Old Town.
What to do in Antibes during the day
Antibes is a small town, but with lots going on. A huge market at Marché Provençal descends on the town every morning throughout the summer (except Mondays), selling all kinds of delicious local foods/snacks – great for packing a picnic to take down to the beach.
The town is fairly compact but there are lots of hidden gems to discover down the winding side streets including boutique shops, hidden markets and possibly the best ice cream shop we’ve ever come across!
For day trips outside of the town, you really are spoilt for choice with Cannes, Nice and Monaco all within an hours drive of Antibes or just €1 on the bus – brilliant for travellers on a budget.
We decided to visit Monaco and spent the day leisurely walking around the city, visiting the extravagant casino, picking out our favourite super yachts at the harbour and eyeing up the uber-expensive cars lining the streets. It really is a fantastic place to spend the day, but our wallets could certainly not afford any longer than that!
Also near to Antibes is Marineland, a marine park just 20 minutes from the property featuring killer whale and dolphin shows, feeding demonstrations and shows and activities for all ages. We even managed to play a game of catch with a dolphin while we were there!
Antibes in the evening
The centre of Antibes has its fair share of late-night bars and restaurants – great for a relaxing drink in the evening. The majority of the bars can be found on the Boulevard d’ Aguillon in the Old Town, which really comes alive at night.
The award for the best bar in town however has got to go to the Absinthe Bar. This tiny bar is set in a cave with antiques covering the stone walls and is a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike.
Once seated, guests can choose from an enormous variety of more than 30 types of absinthe, which is brought to the table along with water-filled containers used to dilute the drink (thank goodness!) and sugar cubes that are on hand to help sweeten the drink. The owners are fantastic company, offering a brief history of the drink as well as giving instructions on how to create the perfect absinthe to suit your taste (for me = not too strong, lots of sugar!) The atmosphere is truly fantastic as hats and tambourines are passed around to everyone in the bar – creating a relaxed party atmosphere to accompany the live music on offer.
For those interested in staying out all night – Juan-Les-Pins is the local student town of the Cote d’Azur, full of great bars and just a ten minute bus ride from Antibes. It’s much busier than its neighbour, but has some fantastic nightclubs that are well worth a visit.
Overall review of Antibes
We found Antibes to be the perfect choice for our group holiday as it offered a happy compromise for everyone – plenty of activities and attractions to keep us occupied, but also a great place to just chill out and relax by the pool or on the beach.
By day, the town was a great place to shop, try out local foods and grab an ice cream; by night the town comes alive with bustling bars and live music. Having such fantastic cities as Cannes, Nice and Monaco within an hour of the apartment also made sure that there were plenty of options for day trips too.
Unlike many other locations on the Cote d’Azur, Antibes is unpretentious and not at all brash or ‘showy.’ with some fantastic historical elements to discover too. For a new experience on the Cote d’Azur therefore – Antibes comes highly recommended!”
Jenny and her friends stayed at the Pierre & Vacances Port Prestige in Antibes, you can find out more information about the property and current offers below:
Pierre & Vacances accommodation in Antibes
One week at the Pierre & Vacances Port Prestige in Antibes starts from €504.01 for a one bedroom, air-conditioned apartment suitable for up to five people. You can book on www.pv-holidays.com, the website for Pierre & Vacances.
Current offers from Pierre & Vacances
Save 30 per cent on your Antibes holiday by booking early! Pierre & Vacances are currently offering 30 per cent off bookings made six months in advance. Find more information about this offer and others by visiting the PV-holidays discount and offers page.
A skiers guide to Flaine
Our blog today comes from Liz at Ski Concierge, an experienced skier who tells us all about the French ski resort of Flaine. Check out her own blog at
www.ski-concierge.com/blog
Location
Flaine ski resort sits in the Grand Massif ski area and is one of the best ski resorts in France. Flaine and its surrounding areas are known for record-breaking snow levels. It has a tasteful purpose-built style, making it really accessible and an easy place to visit if you’re on a short ski holiday. Most of the properties are ski-in ski-out and all of the amenities are within easy walking distance.
Getting to Flaine
Getting to Flaine is possible by all methods of transport. Being only 44 miles from Geneva airport makes it an attractive option for those not so keen on long airport transfers. The closest train station is Cluses (about 20 miles) and regular shuttle buses or taxis are available to take you from the station to the resort. Alternatively the drive from Calais or Dunkirk will take about eight hours and if your accommodation doesn’t have its own parking, there are free car parks at the entrance of the resort.
Accommodation in Flaine
There are plenty of places to stay in Flaine, but I’d recommend choosing self-catering instead of ski chalets in order to save some money! The Pierre & Vacances Flaine Montsoleil Terrasses d’Eos is a newly built residence in the Flaine/ Grand Massif area. It has 145 plush rooms and the residence itself has a swimming pool, sauna, steam and fitness rooms which are all available to guests on-site. The residence also has a Jacuzzi with panoramic views, and is big selling point 0with guests.
This residence was only built in 2008 by Intrawest, and was recently acquired by Pierre & Vacances.
Four people can stay in a 1 bedroom apartment at the Pierre & Vacances Flaine Montsoleil Terrasses d’Eos from just 602 euros during December 2009.
Pierre & Vacances also have another property in the area called Residence Pierre & Vacances Flaine La Foret has recently been refurbished to a high standard, and is one of the funkiest resorts in the area. It also has apartments that can sleep up to 7 people, so are great for groups having a ski holiday in Flaine.
The Slopes
The Grand Massif ski area links the resorts of our favourite, Flaine alongside Morillon, Les Carroz, Samoëns and Sixt-fer-a-Cheval.
The runs on Flaine include 265km of pistes that offer great choice for all levels of skier, from beginners to experts, with 14 black runs, 53 red runs, 60 blue runs and 17 green runs.
Novices are welcome as a few of the runs have been set-aside specifically for beginners and can be accessed by four free lifts. There is also a jampark for those wanting to try hanging with fellow freestylers and trying out their latest moves. The Combe de Gers provides a challenge for those who like to go off piste.
Les Carroz
Les Carroz should definitely be visited as it is just six miles below Flaine and really accessible. Skiing in Les Carroz makes a great stop for families staying in Flaine due to the free shuttle bus to the slopes leaving Flaine every morning and afternoon. It’s really pretty and is laid out in a traditional French village style. There is also a pedestrianised main square, which has bars and cafes surrounding the edges, making it a perfect place to people watch in between runs!
For families wanting to stay away from the action, I’d recommend the Résidences MGM Les Fermes du Soleil in Carroz d’Arâches it is a short way down from Flaine, in Carroz, but has everything to ensure a comfortable ski holiday, including an on-site spa, swimming pool and an a skating rink to distract the kids!
You can spend seven nights in an apartment, which sleeps four from just 657 euros in January.
Les Cascades in Flaine
I should also mention ‘Les Cascades’, which at 14km long is a fantastic, often pretty much empty, run that takes you all the way from the top of Les Grandes Platières down to Sixt. Unfortunately, to get back to the main ski area you do then have to take a shuttle bus but I think this is a small price to pay for being able to ski 14km without a single lift!
Getting around Flaine
As you can imagine, such variety means that the skiing in Flaine is great. The slopes are usually relatively quiet compared to some of the larger French resorts, and the scenery is pretty breathtaking at times, with the view from the top of the Les Grandes Platières cable car being a particular favourite of mine!
The lifts seem to be brilliantly laid out so that the minimum level of effort is needed to reach all of the runs. Also, from a lot of the lifts you get the option of taking a red or a blue, making this a great resort for groups with skiers of different abilities.
As well as providing motorway-wide blue and red runs and picturesque tree-lined routes, Flaine also has a lot to offer for the more experienced skier. The black runs in the Sixt area of the resort are amongst the most challenging that I’ve skied and many of the higher red and black runs seem to be deliberately left un-pisted after a snowfall. It is also pedestrianised, meaning it’s great for families skiing together.
Ski passes in Flaine
Grand Massif lift passes for six days will cost 204 euros for adults, 156 euros for children and 183 euros for seniors (over 62). It’s worth checking out the Flaine website before you go as they often offer special discounts. For example during the week of 10th – 18th April 2010 if you buy a six day adult pass you can get one under 12’s pass absolutely FREE! Also if you’re travelling as a family at any time of the season you can buy a discounted ‘extended family pack’ offering you savings of up to 65 euros on a six day pass.
Other activities in Flaine
If you fancy a change from a day on the slopes, there are plenty of other adrenalin rush activities to keep you occupied, from ice driving to snow kiting. Or alternatively, if you want to spend the hours doing something slightly more sedate, the resort has a cinema, an ice rink and a bowling alley.
Apres ski in Flaine
There are several mountain restaurants to try in Flaine, L’Eloge has a cosy feel to it on colder days, or you can relax on the sun terrace when the skies are blue. L’Epicea, just above the main lifts in Flaine, offers a range of dishes as well as a couple of daily ‘Plats du Jour’, if you want a good spot on the terrace here you’ll have to book! Or alternatively if you want a fantastic view to go with your chocolat chaud then you can’t really beat the restaurant at the top of the Grandes Platieres cable car.
Flaine is host to a handful of bars and pubs, and although it’s quieter than the likes of Val d’Isere there are still plenty of options and if you really want a wild night you can usually have one! The Flying Dutchman is one of the more lively bars in the village and puts on a variety of themed nights from Karaoke to ‘Booze and Bubbles’!
There is also a wide variety of entertainment on offer for families, from street theatre and puppet shows to sledge races and snow sculptures to marvel at. You may also get the option to take part in a torch light descent if you’re really lucky!
There are plenty of affordable places to go for a bite to eat; in the Sucre Sale you’ll enjoy your meal surrounded by artwork, or head to Les Chalets du Michet if the sound of dining in an ancient sheepfold appeals. The Pizzeria Chez Pierrot has a take-away option if you fancy a night in. La Perdrix Noire is one of my favourites and won The Great Skiing and Snowboarding Awards’ Best Resort Restaurant award in 2008. It offers a wide selection of choices from the more traditional Fondue Savoyarde to fresh meat and seafood from the rotisserie and grill; it also has a pretty impressive whisky collection!
All in all, Flaine is a very friendly resort, great for families and offering something for skiers of all abilities. 
Pierre & Vacances ski offers
As well as having superbly located resorts in Flaine and Carroz, Pierre & Vacances also currently has a selection of offers for UK skiers wanting to save pennies on their ski holidays this winter.
Firstly, the fantastic Beat The Euro offer allows customers to book their ski holidays to France at last years’ prices. This means, customers save money by not paying out for the additional rises within the euro, leading to savings of up to 15%, and up to 35% when using the early booking discount. The great news is that this offer can be used alongside any other offers being promoted on www.pv-holidays.com and can even be used against any dates, including Christmas school holidays. To grab this discount, all customers have to do is enter the exclusive code, 8258, at the point of booking, or visit the dedicated Eurobuster page for more information.
Some of the aforementioned offers include a 20% early booking discount, alongside one night free offers.
Visit www.pv-holidays.com, the website for Pierre & Vacances to find out more.
