If holidaying in France, do as the French do and drive!  Many don’t believe in leaving their country, and come August, the city dwellers head straight for the many spectacular French beaches – it won’t be long before you realise why!

Head to the French Riviera otherwise known as the Cote d’Azur and pick up cheap Nice airport car hire with easyCar.  Overlooking the glorious Mediterranean Sea, Nice is the perfect location for a weekend break with its fantastic shopping, Promenade des Anglais walks, historic buildings and popular beach.  Just 20 minutes away by road is Cannes famous for the May Film Festival when it is full of the rich and famous. Take a stroll down la Croissette and see who you can spot (any time of year)!

If you prebook Nice car rental however, the south of France becomes so much more!  The scenic views as you follow one of the coastal roads, Corniches de la Riviera, between Nice and Menton is both spectacular and dramatic, so why not consider hiring a convertible car?  Look towards the east if driving from Cannes Mandelieu through Theoule sur Mer, and you should be able to see the striking mountain ranges – perfect photo opportunities!  There are the pretty villages of the Luberon, the bustling sea side resorts of Saint Raphael and Frejus, trendy and popular St Tropez and just so much more to explore!

Arrange car rental from Toulouse airport and you either drive towards the Languedoc Rouission region and the delightful family friendly beaches close to Perpignan such as Canet and St Cyprien, or closer to Beziers and popular Cap d’Agde.  Driving to the Pyrenees is also easy from Toulouse and the scenery again is spectacular and the villages delightful.  Car hire at Carcassonne airport is popular and having stopped for lunch in this medieval city, just a short drive from the south coast too.

When travelling any distance in France be it through Normandy, Brittany, the Dordogne, Provence or the mountainous Rhone-Alpes, collecting a hire car does make driving easier when using the tolls roads or when overtaking.  The charges to use the toll roads can add up, but there is nearly always less traffic and the roads are well maintained as well as offering numerous picnic stops and toilets.

Accommodation is plentiful and available at any budget for holidays in France. Choose a deluxe four star hotel in the south or a privately run gite in the north. Pick an apartment in a family friendly complex from a huge choice of locations around the coast (north, west or south) or a luxury villa with spectacular countryside or sea views.