Pommie Travels the World

Tips for Visiting the French Riviera on a Budget

vantastic_sa — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 12:15:00 GMT

This summer I went to the south of France to celebrate my 30th birthday with Turner aka American Travel Blogger. We started off in Juan Les Pins staying at Hotel Belle Rives, a famous hotel that was once the villa of Great Gatsby author F. Scott Fitzgerald. From there we booked an AirBnB in Nice, and spent 5 days exploring all the beaches along the coastline.

This place is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited and I love going back. The water is so clear and blue and the beaches have plenty of character, ranging from pebbly coves to beautiful stretches of sand. What makes the coastline so dramatic is the cliffs, and if you travel by bus you get to see the beautiful scenic views as you hug the coastline towards Monaco.

Book an AirBnB

Hotels on the French Riviera can be super expensive - expect to pay hundreds of euros per night. However, AirBnB can be really affordable in Nice - we paid around £67 per night for a gorgeous one bedroom apartment with balcony overlooking the Old Town. This is definitely the way to go if you want to save money on accommodation.

Make packed lunches

Again, food and drink can be really pricey in the beach bars, so we preferred to make our own sandwiches at the AirBnB and take them with us to the beach. Carrefour in Nice has everything you'll need, and you can also pick up some ice cold beers in supermarkets by the beach. I'd recommend buying a cooler bag and ice packs as it can get pretty hot in France. If you do go out for dinner then I'd suggest choosing a restaurant with a set menu as you'll get three courses at a fixed price. The food in France is delicious - I'd personally recommend Les Garcons in Nice.

Visit the beaches, they're free!

The beaches in the South of France are incredibly beautiful. My personal favourites are Juan Les Pins, Beaulieu sur Mer and Cap d'Ail. Take a look at this suggested itinerary for the French Riviera for ideas of things to do on a budget.

Take public transport

The number 100 bus goes from Nice all the way to Monaco, stopping at most of the beaches and towns along the way. You can also take number #82 bus to Eze Village, a beautiful perched village on top of a mountain overlooking the coast. To find out the timetables, just use Google Maps to enter your destination and look up the public transport options. You can also travel by train, which is also inexpensive, air conditioned, and a bit quicker. There's really no need for a car as you can get everywhere so easily by public transport.

Video - FINAL DOCUMENTARY - "SOUTH AUSTRALIA: IT'S HEAPS GOOD!"

vantastic_sa — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:33:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

In their final documentary for Van-Tastic Adventures, Trent and Victoria count down their top ten highlights of their trip around South Australia. From the ocean to the outback, from swimming with every sea animal imaginable to soaring the skies in a tiger moth, Victoria and Trent have had the time of their lives on their 6 week trip around South Australia. Their conclusion? South Australia's heaps good!

Far out! Victoria and Trent would like to thank World Nomads, South Australia Tourism, Nullabor Traveller, Surf and Sun, Groovy Grape, Heading Bush, big shano, Wallaby Bob, Limestone Coast Helicopters, YHA Central, YHA Port Elliot, YHA Robe, Glenelg Beach House, Coodlie Park, Hanson Bay Backpackers, Temptation Sailing, Jacob's Creek, Penfolds, Barossa Trike Tours and, of course, The Dutchies! Thank you so much for making this possible everyone!

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

VANTASTIC'S OVER! (SNIFF SNIFF)

vantastic_sa — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:14:00 GMT

After 6 weeks of action-packed, fun-fuelled adventure, Vantastic South Australia has come to an end!

We celebrated the end of our trip at Marble Bar in Adelaide with Alicia from World Nomads, Mark Leopold from Tourism South Australia and a bunch of tour operators at the Sabia Networking night.

With Geoff tucked up in the garage waiting for the Northern Territory winners to take to the wheel, we went on a wine tour of the Barossa Valley with Groovy Grape! Having been to Barossa before to have dinner at Jacob's Creek and make our own wine at Penfolds, it was nice to be able to have few glasses (or two or three) of wine without having to worry about driving!

We ate a few chocolate rocking horses and enjoyed a free cup of coffee at the world's biggest rocking horse, where Trent also got spat on by an alpaca.We only have one argument over the World's Biggest Rocking Horse- it doesn't rock!

It was then off to the Whispering Wall where you can stand on person at each end and hear each other's whispers before beginning our day of drinking!Apparently this little feature was only discovered after they built the wall.

We tasted as much shiraz, cabernet, cabernet sauvignon and port as we could in 3 wineries including Jacob's Creek, Seppeltsfield, and Vinecres, before enjoying a BBQ in the shade. Off the bus, we continued the partying back at the hostel with our favourite tipple- port.

We celebrated our last night by going to the Adelaide Oval to watch the Rugby Sevens with Mark Leopold from Tourism South Australia. Great atmosphere although England were beaten by the USA! Australia won against Niue so Trent had the last laugh.

Now its time to edit the final video and await the vote from July 2nd! Hope you like what we've got in store and thanks to everyone who's followed us!

We'd like to thank World Nomads, the tour operators, tourism SA and all the people we've met along the way. We've had a great time.

M-ADELAIDE!!!!

vantastic_sa — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:53:00 GMT

Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide?? Come March Adelaide changes itself into Madalaide. The place turns into a circus, literally. From the end of February to the middle of March the Adelaide Fringe Festival is on, with street performances, comedians from all over the globe, cabaret shows that really get the mind going and everything in between, including some aussie blokes making some rather interesting shapes from regions of the body that are un-thought of. That’s just the beginning.

Enter petrol head heaven. In roll the V8 supercars for a weekend of burning rubber, breakneck speeds and a rivalry that is so entrenched in Australian folklore that you must witness it to believe, this is known as HOLDEN vs FORD.

We just so happened to be in town for this session of octane fuelled fun. Staying at the Travellers Inn we could hear the cylinders ripping apart the streets of Adelaide. It grabbed our attention enough to stroll up the street to see some mean machines zip by.

We hooked up with Bel, a local Adelaide-ite who’s as mad as a cut snake, she ended up getting us some tickets to go into the race track to see Adelaide’s very own Hilltop Hoods perform live. Really fun show and you could really feel the hometown vibe.

So after fun and games in Adelaide we got out into the Adelaide Hills for some filming at Cleland Wildlife Park. We were lucky enough to spend some quality time with one of Australia’s more cuddly creatures, the Koala. Happy snaps, a spot of kangaroo feeding and then we jumped aboard Geoff towards Port Elliot for some final filming and editing.

If only life could go so smoothly. We managed to misplace, forget, lose, drop, leave or have stolen the charger for Vic’s laptop at the hostel. It was to late at night when we realised to do anything about it other than drink a few tins and deal with it in the morning.

Turned out fine after a little drive and a search around the hostel it appeared under a bed tangled up with some girls hair straightener. All good.

Bring on the final video……

SWIMMING WITH STUFF: TUNA

vantastic_sa — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 21:00:00 GMT

Port Lincoln- where danger is just under the surface, just when you think it’s safe to enter the water after tempting fate with the notorious Great White Shark, look out here comes something most people are accustomed to finding on shelves in Woollies in a can……..TUNA.

Can you imagine a 40 kilo can of tuna moving at 70km/hr with razor sharp teeth? Well I have the injuries to prove that they can make a mess of one’s fingers. I wasn’t too overjoyed to be in the water with them initially; it’s like being in a massive goldfish tank at dinner time except you’re floating around with fish that have a cutlery set in their mouths.

A little daunting at first but I’m a bit of a chicken. Vics was straight in there loving it and most of the tuna weighed more than her, she’s nuts!

It’s an interesting process that goes into farming tuna; they’re wild tuna caught then brought into a bay where they can be fattened up to be exported mainly to Japan. Over there they’re fetching at the prime market price around $250,000 a tonne. To me for some raw fish dipped in soy sauce and wasabi that’s up there.

After swimming and reboarding the boat to head back they had a taster on the boat of sashimi. I was keen to try something new and after having them chew on me I figured I could get one back on them, oh how I was wrong! Those suckers got the last laugh because they taste so bad even my stomach turns as I write this, YUK!! Spew!

Sorry Japan but you can keep that expensive stuff you call a delicacy and I’ll stick to meat pies with tomato sauce.

Video- "SHARK CAGE DIVING"

vantastic_sa — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:52:00 GMT

Trent and Victoria go in search of the GREAT WHITE SHARK with Calypso Star Charters in Port Lincoln. Although they don't find any sharks swimming around off the Neptune Islands, they do find lots and lots of fish! They also get to meet a boxing champion and a couple get engaged underwater in the scary SHARK CAGE!

IN SEARCH OF THE GREAT WHITE SHARK!!!

vantastic_sa — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 09:46:00 GMT

After a whole lot of fun swimming with sea lions we prepared to face the ultimate predator of the ocean, the Great White Shark!

We arrived into the Harbour at 6am to board the Calypso Star boat with a couple of Kilkennys and a few tablets to prevent sleeping sickness. We heard the ocean gets a bit choppy out there and the rocking motion of the boat makes you feel a little bit nautious!

We were joined on board by boxing champion Danny Green- I had no idea who he was but the reporter from the local news with the big TV camera sort of gave it away!

Danny was the first person to turn Green (like my pun?) and was vomiting over the side of the boat. Not long after a few other people started throwing up but Trent and I could sit there smugly after a few Travelcalm!

When we finally anchored up the crew threw the tuna bait in the water, lowered the shark cage and it was game on! Everyone relaxed a bit, stopped hurling off the side of the boat, got the fishing rods out and did a spot of fishing. We caught plenty of fish but there were no white pointers to be seen!

We waited...and waited.

Trent got into the shark cage for a swim with no wetsuit on so many times that he was starting to look blue!

They let us all have a dive in the cage and one man proposed to his girlfriend underwater. Awww. He held up a sign whilst they were underwater saying "Will you marry me" and she said yes! Everyone on the boat was in on it but she had no idea. After the event she said she wasn't quite sure if he was joking until she came up to the surface and everyone was clapping.

The cage itself is creepy without the sharks being in the water as you look out at the bait with all the fish swimming around it.

The crew prepared us an amazing lunch of oysters, mussels, prawns, chicken, salad...we were fed really well on the boat and on the way back there was free beers!!! The engagement was an excuse for a little party on the top deck with everyone drinking a few West End Draughts and having a good time.

So there were no great whites but everyone had an awesome experience- great food, great day out on the water, great people, a proposal and a boxer.

Back in the marina everyone including Danny Green and his crew stopped for a few drinks and pizzas and bonded over the events of the day! One of the highlights of our trip.

Video - "SWIMMING WITH TUNA"

vantastic_sa — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:26:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

In the latest episode of Van-Tastic Adventures, Trent and Victoria go swimming with tuna off Port Lincoln. They are taken out to a tuna farm with Adventure Bay Charters to go swimming with the scary buggers! Trent, for the first time may have been a little bit scared after he had his finger bitten...After swimming with these big fish they try some tuna sashimi, yum!

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

SWIMMING WITH STUFF: BAIRD BAY SEA LIONS

vantastic_sa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:37:00 GMT

After all that wine drinking inland it was time to get back to the ocean. We drove Geoff the van up from Adelaide to Port Augusta and down to Cowell, where we stopped at Turners Oyster farm to taste some oysters. The Eyre Peninsula is famous for its great sea food- oysters, lobster, snapper, Australian salmon, tuna...you name it we've eaten it.

Lisa shucked some oysters in front of us and we had the opportunity to eat them natural with a bit of lemon. They're an acquired taste and whilst Trent pulled a funny face when he ate one, I loved them! We had a quick tour of the oyster farm where we were shown how they sort through the oysters to get the right size.

It was then onto Elliston and over to Coodlie Park just before Venus Bay and Port Kenny. We had a great time at Coodlie Park- as someone rightly said, "It's like Hotel California, you can check in anytime you like but you can never leave!"

We joined the Nullarbor Traveller tour to go swimming with sea lions in Baird Bay, something well worth doing! The sea lions are really playful and will come right up to you. We were all given wetsuits to help keep us warm in the cold water and hopped aboard the boat to go in search of the sea lions. We anchored up in a pool off Baird Bay where the sea lions were chilling out on rocks and playing in the water. Snorkelling with sea lions is amazing- they look you right in the eyes and will copy your movements. If you roll over or dive they'll mimic you and try to play. Some will even touch you on the nose and cuddle you!

We would reccommend swimming with the sea lions in the wild to anyone! After the sea lions we swam with a school of dolphins, a great day!

Video- "BAIRD BAY SEA LIONS"

vantastic_sa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:32:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

Victoria and Trent swim with cute cuddly sea lions in Baird Bay on the Eyre Peninsula. Beginning a week of swimming with stuff, they stop at Coodlie Park and join the Nullarbor Traveller tour to get up close and personal with these amazing sea animals. After playing with the sea lions they spot a school of dolphins and go swimming with those too!

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

Video- "BAROSSA WINE VALLEY"

vantastic_sa — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:21:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

As their Van-Tastic Adventures continue, Trent and Victoria head to Barossa wine valley for a spot of relaxation. They take a joy ride around the wine region in a trike and head to Jacob's Creek for a vineyard tour, wine tasting and lunch. To top it off they go back to the science lab and blend their own wine at Penfolds!

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

A BREAK FROM GOON IN THE BAROSSA VALLEY

vantastic_sa — Sun, 7 Mar 2010 20:11:00 GMT

After all that action on Kangaroo Island we decided to go for a relaxing break in the Barossa wine valley. Barossa is South Australia's main wine producing region and we were certainly in need of a change from all that goon slapping on KI!

We picked up the keys to the Wilderness YHA in Adelaide and headed on up to stay at the Barossa Valley Farmhouse which we had all to ourselves!

We toured Barossa in something a little different- a joy ride in a trike! We put on our bandanas and helmets and hopped aboard the trike with our guide for a 30 minute tour of the area and stopped at a beautiful lookout in Angaston.

The following day we went to Jacobs Creek for a vineyard tour and some wine tasting- hic! Trent attempted to create a surfing terminology of wine- although we're not sure our guide was impressed! We also enjoyed a tasty lunch and to wash it down, wine, wine and more wine.

Finally we had the opportunity to blend our own wine at Penfolds. Rather like scientists in a laboratory we had three wines and three goes at blending them together to create our own special wine in our personalised wine bottles!

Video - "THRILLS, SPILLS AND KILLS"

vantastic_sa — Sat, 6 Mar 2010 10:32:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

On their roadtrip through South Australia with Van-Tastic Adventures, Trent and Victoria explore Kangaroo Island. In this episode they try sandboarding in the Little Sahara and encounter a little surprise whilst kayaking. To top the day off they go fishing with a difference with Wallaby Bob's night fishing tours.

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

THRILLS, SPILLS AND KILLS ON KANGAROO ISLAND

vantastic_sa — Fri, 5 Mar 2010 10:10:00 GMT

On our last few days on Kangaroo Island we went sandboarding, kayaking and night fishing! Sandboarding is so much fun but believe us when we say you'll be finding sand in places you never knew sand could get for weeks after you hit the dunes! We went to Little Sahara and nearly passed out in the heat trying to climb up that steep sand dune!

We then took kayaks down to the river and had a leisurely cruise in the afternoon sunshine. We stopped for a couple of breaks along the river bank so that Trent could play with the Kangaroos and admire the trees (Trent really likes the Kangaroo Island tree, the Black Boy). On the way back we were paddling along when we spotted a snake on a tree branch. The Dutch Boys were kayaking by when all of a sudden it launched itself at their kayak! The snake had clearly been trying to hitch a ride for a while and looked a bit pieved that it missed its chance! At least we avoided a couple of snake bites and a trip to hospital.

We visited Hanson Bay Koala Wildlife Sanctuary and stayed the night in their lovely homestead playing some snooker on their billiards table and the boys went on the koala nocturnal tour whilst I caught up on some video making.

On our last night on Kangaroo Island we were fortunate enough to go and stay with Wallaby Bob, a local who says "With a name like Wallaby Bob I can get away with things." Bob was up for a laugh and pretended to fillet a fish with a chainsaw for our video! We slept the night in his beautiful home at Baudin Beach and we were made to feel so welcome. It wasn't like a tour but more like relaxing at a friends house and swapping stories. We enjoyed beers and Trent and the dutchies put their war paint on to go spear fishing! Bob cooked us an amazing fish supper on the BBQ- best fish I've ever had! I had a fever so unfortunately I couldnt go spear fishing but the boys came back with plenty of fish for a fish breakfast the following day! It was one of the highlights of our trip!

Video- "KANGAROO ISLAND: SURF N SUN"

vantastic_sa — Thu, 4 Mar 2010 09:58:00 GMT

In the final chapter of the Kangaroo Island trilogy, Trent and Victoria go on a 2 day tour with Surf n Sun. They visit some of the islands top beaches including Pennington Bay, get up close with cute, cuddly seals at Seal Bay, quad bike around the bush with the kangaroos, enjoy honeycomb ice cream at the Island Beehive and strike poses at The Remarkable Rocks. To top it off a game of slap the goon!

K.I. DONE WITH SURF AND SUN

vantastic_sa — Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:44:00 GMT

Well after a big day at the Kingscote races we jumped on board a guided tour of Kangaroo Island, (more affectionately known as simply K.I.) with Surf and Sun. So I was thinking it would be a great chance to take it easy and be shown around the island with a relaxed group of people. Oh how I was wrong! Those damn Canadians and their goon bag(bag of wine) slapping brought us undone.

So we met up at Peneshaw with the crew to start the mission around K.I, greeted by our legend tour guide Brendo and a bunch of 3 Canadian chicks a few older maple leafers and some Swiss cheeses. We cruise on from Peneshaw to a beautiful beach by the name of Pennington Bay for a little team bonding which involved some silly beach shenanigans which only pictures could describe, a bit of a surfing and a sandcastle building comp. All good!!

From there we cruised towards the camp at Vivonne bay for a bbq and that’s when the goon slapping begun and didn’t stop till the next afternoon.

After a good feed we were back on the bus to Seal Bay which isn’t just a clever name but on that particular beach there is actually a couple of hundred seals from big fellas to mummas and their pups, I must say being only 10 metres away from them is an experience that will stay for a while to come. Amazing experience.

Time for some extreme adventure, bring on the QUAD BIKES Yeeeewwwww! Settle down boy! This was sick, a dusk ride around the scrub and fields of Vivonne Bay on some fast quads tearing up dust into each others faces and putting some fear into the local Kangaroos, when I say fear I mean they pretty much bounced off shaking their heads. A great way to end the day before going back to camp and some more slapping of the goon on the way.

Day 2 was different as in the way of locations but attitude was still the same good times and a plenty of slappin! So we’re off to the Remarkable Rocks which are really very remarkable indeed, and it seems a real aussie thing to call things simply as they are. These rocks have a history obviously which involves many years of exposure to the elements and are in some amazing forms. Worth seeing for sure. Needless to say there was more goon featuring in more than one photo. Then its on to Admirals Arch a cool walkway down to another seal colony that is surrounded by some seriously sharky water, you probably haven’t the cash to dare me to spend ten minutes in that water especially after the stories you hear.

Ok enough rocks lets hit the sand, onwards through the Flinders Chase National Park that was ravaged by bush fires back in 2007 and the impact is still very visible today however the beauty of our Gum Trees is that they rejuvenate fast after such fires and the park is full of trees again. We arrive at Western River Cove for a bite and a dip in the salty abyss. Back aboard the bus till we get to Stokes Bay probably one of the coolest beaches to go to. You walk through a kinda tunnel come rocky passage way to arrive on a pristine beach great for snorkelling the water temp was perfect refreshing but nice to stay in for a while. Go there its really good.

So the rest of the afternoon involved some beehive place that had some interesting things facts and merchandise then onto a pelican feeding show in Kingscote which was fun to see for a gold coin donation. The tour was starting to wind down by mid afternoon but the crew were just winding up and the need for goon was strong so after 2 more bags were purchased we were on the way back to Peneshaw which seen us dispose of both bags and a splash of nude swimming before the goodbyes to each other and hellos to hangovers the next day.

Good time, Good crew and Good tour. Cheers to Surf and Sun and the Slappers

Video - "KANGAROO ISLAND- A DAY AT THE RACES"

vantastic_sa — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:29:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia. In this video Trent and Victoria head to Kangaroo Island for the Coopers Kangaroo Island Cup horse races. Hats, fashions of the field, champagne, strawberries and cream and a spot of betting...

KANGAROO ISLAND: A DAY AT THE RACES

vantastic_sa — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:36:00 GMT

After a week on Kangaroo Island, we finally have an internet connection again!

We took the Sealink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penishaw on Kangaroo Island for a weekend of partying last weekend in Kingscote. It just so happened that the Coopers Kangaroo Island Cup horse races were on so we went to the Twilight Street Party at the Ozone Hotel and drank a bottle of Coopers (or two or three!)and partied away with the locals.

After a night of partying we woke up in the campsite and continued the festivities by getting dressed up to go to the races with the Dutchies. The Kangaroo Island residents were dressed in their best as they drank champagne and had a flutter on the horses. Despite it being a pretty cloudy day the weather was perfect for a day of drinking!

A perfect way to begin our stay on Kangaroo Island!

Video - "THE OUTBACK"

vantastic_sa — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 09:48:00 GMT

Roadtrip Australia: Van-Tastic Adventures South Australia

On their roadtrip through South Australia with Van-Tastic Adventures, Trent & Victoria go on a 3 day trekking adventure into the Flinders Ranges - the outback of South Australia.

Follow the adventures at http://www.vantastic.worldnomads.com, or on Twitter @Van_Tastic and @VictoriaBrewood.

SURFING & SEALS IN PORT ELLIOT

vantastic_sa — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:56:00 GMT

Port Elliot is a beach resort on the Flerieu Peninsula just about an hour south of Adelaide.

We stayed at the brand new YHA hostel, Port Elliot Beach House, for a couple of nights in Ikea luxury. We'd highly recommend staying there, the man who runs the hostel, Ray, is a legend and helped us plan our forthcoming trip to Kangaroo Island.

We took the iconic horse drawn tram, a symbol of South Australia,to Granite Island where we saw a seal chilling out in the ocean and penguins relaxing on the rocks! Trent went surfing at Waitpinga Beach and quickly jumped out of the water when he saw a black shadow circling beneath him! A man told him he'd seen an 20 foot shark just a couple of weeks ago! Just a little taster for the shark diving in Port Lincoln. We've also been staying a couple of nights at the Holiday Park on Horseshoe Bay, drinking beers and relaxing on the beach.

Despite the surf conditions being not so ideal, I had a surf lesson at Middleton Beach with Trent as my teacher!

Tomorrow we're getting on the ferry to Kangaroo Island where we'll be going to the Twilight Street Party in Kingscote, attending the Coopers Kangaroo Island Cup horse races, hanging out with the seals on Seal Bay, tasting the fresh seafood, quad biking, sand boarding and Kayaking. We'll let you know how it goes on here!

Happy Travels,

Vic & Trent