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.
