Future Bucket List Adventures - France and Monaco

France is, rightfully, among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. We have visited France on two occasions for family trips. The first trip was to Disneyland Paris with a day trip to the city of Paris. The second was for a stay in the Cote'd'Azur with a day trip to Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix. As I was very young, I have very few photos of both trips, therefore, I would take another trip to Paris, Disneyland Paris, Monaco and the Cote'd'Azur in the future. I would also like to visit Mont Saint-Michel, Loire Valley, Dordogne, Montignac, Lascaux, Sarlat, Strasbourg, Colmer, Kaysersberg-Vignoble, Meribel, Alpe d'Huez, Tomorrowland Winter Festival, Provence, Carmargue, Antibes, Saint-Tropez, Monaco and Corsica.

Paris

Paris, France's capital, is a major European city and a global center for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture. Paris is often dubbed “the City of Love”, and it’s one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world. It’s no secret that this city is often featured in lists of the most romantic places worldwide. For 130 years, the Eiffel Tower has been a powerful and distinctive symbol of the city of Paris, and by extension, of France. Paris has often claimed to be the epicentre of fashion: a city of haute couture, whirring ateliers and terribly good taste. Paris Fashion Week is a series of designer presentations held semiannually in Paris, with spring/summer and autumn/winter events held each year.

Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris is an iconic theme park and resort in the small French town of Chessy. Located just 40 minutes out of Paris city centre, the park is known as the most visited theme park in Europe. We visited Disneyland Paris in 1998 as a family. I love Disneyland, and will be returning to Disneyland Paris one day!

The Ritz

The Ritz Paris is a luxury hotel in central Paris, overlooking the Place Vendôme in the city's 1st arrondissement. The Ritz is a true grand dame of the Parisian hotel scene.

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge is a famous cabaret in Paris, and is the birthplace of the famous can-can dance.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, formerly named Place de l'Étoile—the étoile or "star" of the juncture formed by its twelve radiating avenues.

Notre-Dame de Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris, referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France. The cathedral, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.

The Louvre

The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is a national art museum in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement and home to some of the most canonical works of Western art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.

La Favorite

Café culture is as engrained in Paris' identity as its wide boulevards, iconic architecture, and haute couture. Favorite in Paris is a charming café that boasts a beautiful floral display and a springtime atmosphere. La Favorite serves many of the French culinary delights, such as croque monsieur and croissants.

Nina's Vendôme

There's no better place to stop for a cup of tea in Paris than Nina's. Selling and serving tea and cakes following Marie-Antoinette's favourite recipes.

Le Rooftop

Le Rooftop is a roof top bar located on the sixth floor of the Peninsular Hotel. Le Rooftop is the perfect place to sip on cocktails whilst admiring the panoramic view over Paris.

Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about 19 km west of Paris, France.

Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel in France is located on a small island just off the coasts of Brittany and Normandy and is a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. A magical island topped by a gravity-defying abbey, the Mont-Saint-Michel and its Bay is amongst France's most famous sights.

Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is a place full of splendour and is seen as one of the main highlights of France. Along the valley of the country's longest river lies a rich seam of spectacular castles and pretty towns.

Château de Chenonceau

The Château de Chenonceau is a French château spanning the river Cher, near the small village of Chenonceaux, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire. The Chateau de Chenonceau is a masterpiece of French Renaissance architecture and is one of the most famous and photographed in all of the Loire Valley.

Dordogne

The Dordogne Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful places to visit in France. The Dordogne is famous for its stunning medieval castles, historical villages and towns.

Château des Milandes

The Château des Milandes is a manor house in the commune of Castelnaud-la-Chapelle in the Dordogne département of France.

Montignac

Montignac is a town in southwest France. It’s known for Lascaux Cave, with Cro-Magnon–era paintings of large animals. Nearby are Lascaux II and The International Center for Cave Art.

Château de la Treyne

Chateau de la Treyne - Relais & Chateaux, is a luxury boutique hotel set in a 14th-century castle on the banks of the Dordogne River, France.

Lascaux

Lascaux is a network of caves near the village of Montignac, in the department of Dordogne in southwestern France. Over 600 parietal wall paintings cover the interior walls and ceilings of the cave. The discovery of the monumental Lascaux cave in 1940 brought with it a new era in our knowledge of both prehistoric art and human origins.

Sarlat-la-Canéda

Sarlat is one of the most beautiful towns in France and is situated in the heart of the Dordogne department, in the region referred to as the 'Perigord Noir'. As modern history has largely passed it by, Sarlat remains impeccably well-preserved and is considered as one of France's best examples of a 14th century town.

Strasbourg

Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region in eastern France and lies on the border with Germany, giving it a unique flavour of both countries. The city is home to a number of world-class museums, theaters, and opera houses, as well as a thriving food and nightlife scene. Strasbourg is also known as one of the best European Christmas market destinations.

La Source des Sens - Hôtel SPA Restaurant

The La Source des Sens - Hôtel SPA Restaurant is an adults only hotel with wellness spa located 30 minutes from Strasbourg.

Colmer

Located in the Alsace region along the border between France and Germany, Colmar is known for its colorful houses and the Christmas market. The city is a photographer's dream, with its labyrinth of cobbled lanes, flower-lined canals, and timber-framed houses painted in a rainbow of pastel hues.

Kaysersberg-Vignoble

Kaysersberg-Vignoble is one of the most charming towns in Alsace, with its cobbled streets and richly decorated half-timbered houses.

Méribel

Méribel is an attractive chalet-style, purpose-built ski resort situated right in the heart of the Les 3 Vallées ski resort in the French Alps.

Le Refuge de la Traye

Le Refuge de la Traye is an eco-luxury chalet retreat in the Alps, offering rustic-chic accommodations, a spa, and stunning mountain views.

Alpe d'Huez

Alpe d'Huez (1,860-3330m) is a sizeable, modern resort known for its sunny, extensive terrain and spectacular views across the Southern Alps. The resort is also the home to the Tomorrowland Winter Festival - the world's most spectacular winter electonic dance music festival.

Tomorrowland Winter Festival

The worlds most impressive winter dance festival is held high up in the beautiful Alps in Alpe d'Huez in France. The Tomorrowland Winter Festival is a unique experience filled with snow, music, skiing and snowboarding, together with the spectacular views of Alpe d’Huez’s mythical slopes. The only thing that comes to my mind when I see images of the Tomorrowland Winter Festival is 'that looks amazing!'

Les Grandes Rousses Hotel & Spa

Hotel Les Grandes Rousses is strategically located at the heart of Alpe d'Huez ski resort.

https://www.hotelgrandesrousses.com/en/

Provence

Provence, a region in southeastern France bordering Italy and the Mediterranean Sea, is known for its diverse landscapes, from the Southern Alps and Camargue plains to rolling vineyards, olive groves, pine forests and lavender fields. To the south is the Côte d'Azur (or French Riviera), where the elegant city of Nice and glamorous resort towns such as Saint-Tropez and Cannes line the coast.

Past Holiday to the Côte d'Azur

We visited the Côte d'Azur and Monaco as a family in 2003. During our trip we visited Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez and Monaco for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Cannes

Monaco

Camargue

Dramatically beautiful and historically famous for its wild white horses, Camargue is a region located in the south of France, home to one of the oldest living breeds of horses in the world. The Camargue is a rugged horse that breeds true to type. They are lively but have a good nature and are particularly suited for riding.

Antibes

Antibes is a resort town between Cannes and Nice on the French Riviera (Côte d’Azur). It’s known for its old town enclosed by 16th-century ramparts with the star-shaped Fort Carré. This overlooks luxury yachts moored at the Port Vauban marina. The forested Cap d’Antibes peninsula, dotted with grand villas, separates Antibes from Juan-les-Pins, a chic resort with buzzing nightlife and the Jazz à Juan music festival.

Plage de la Garoupe

La Garoupe Beach Antibes is one of the most famous and exclusive sandy beaches on the Côte-d'Azur, located in a picturesque bay with cliffs.

Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc

Dramatically positioned on the southern-most tip of the Cap d’Antibes, Hotel Du Cap-Eden-Roc has been the ultimate place to stay on the Riviera for the luxury traveller, and is the choice for royalty, celebrities and VIPs when staying in the region. The incredible views of the French Riviera are best taken in from the iconic heated infinity seawater swimming pool carved into the rock face.

Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez is a coastal town on the French Riviera, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France. Long popular with artists, the town attracted the international "jet set" in the 1960s, and remains known for its beaches, nightlife, yachts and boutiques, which still attract celebrities from all over the world.

L'Opera

L'Opera is a unique experience in the heart of the Saint-Tropez village. Built as an arena, the restaurant mixes with refinement an exceptional gastronomy.

MUSE Saint-Tropez

MUSE Saint-Tropez is a rare sanctuary situated along Route des Marres, minutes away from Place des Lices, one of the most elegant epicentres in the world.

Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez

Since its debut in 2002, Nikki Beach Saint-Tropez, located on the beautiful beach of Pampelonne, has become one of the most popular beach clubs.

Monaco

The Principality of Monaco, more commonly known as Monaco, is a sovereign and independent state in Western Europe located along the French Riviera and is a playground for the rich and famous. Monaco is home to the biggest event in the Formula One calendar - the Monaco Grand Prix. Monaco is also famous for the fairytale romance between the Hollywood icon Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Prince's Palace of Monaco

The opulent Prince’s Palace of Monaco is the official home of the country’s rulers, the Grimaldi family, which is currently headed by Prince Albert II, the son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.

Corsica

Floating between the west coast of Italy and the north coast of Sardinia, Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Known as the ‘Island of Beauty’, it’s a European holiday hotspot thanks to its glittering beaches, wild hinterland and lively towns. The Corsican pig is one of the emblems of the Corsican countryside, and is unique as it's been crossbred with wild boar.

Corte

A small town in the heart of Corsica, Corte was the capital of the island from 1755 until 1769. Having an elavated position on the top of a rock, the impressive Corte Citadel dominates the town and is one of the most iconic buildings in Corsica.

Hôtel Misincu

A visually stunning five-star boutique property located in the heart of Cap Corse, Hôtel Misincu would be my first choice for an indulgent holiday to Corsica.

Montemaggiore

Montemaggiore is a pretty hill village surrounded by mountains including the majestic Montegrosso.

Bonifacio

Bonifacio is a town on the southern tip of the French island of Corsica. It’s known for its lively marina and medieval clifftop citadel.

Plage du Petit Sperone

The Petit Sperone Beach is a secluded paradise near to Bonifacio that remains an unspoiled beauty of white sand and turquoise water.

Porto-Vecchio

Porto-Vecchio is a port town on the French island of Corsica. The walls of a 16th-century Genoese citadel are the backdrop to the old town and offer views over the yacht-filled marina. Shops, bars and restaurants line the town’s narrow streets and main square. Porto-Vecchio is considered the Saint-Tropez of Corsica.