French Riviera

Whilst it may seem like a bit of a contradiction in terms given the personal wealth of most of those who choose to holiday in the south of France, backpacking on the French Riviera is actually quite possible. Obviously if you’re travelling on a shoe string then the yachts, five star hotels and private beaches of the area are probably out of reach, but there is still plenty to explore without breaking the bank. Here’s how to get the most out of backpacking on the French Riviera!Travelling to the French Riviera on a backpacker’s budget is fairly simple. Avoid flying if you want to save money and instead make use of France’s excellent network of trains (http://www.sncf.co.uk). A single ticket from Paris to Nice will cost you around £80 and the journey takes around 6 hours. If you’re planning on seeing lots of France then it’s worth looking into an Interail pass as these can cost as little as £30 for all your travel within one country (http://www.interrailnet.com).

Once you reach the south then you will need to find accommodation on the French Riviera to suit your budget. Forget the hotels on the Croisette at Cannes or the villas and chateaux of the area, and look instead at the large number of excellent youth hostels. The French equivalent of the UK Youth Hostels Association is the Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse, which lists plenty of youth hostel options on the French Riviera on its website (http://www.fuaj.org). Larger towns like Nice tend to have the best selection of accommodation and you will generally pay around £17 a night. Camping is another great option in the summer months, particularly if you already have your own tent. There are campsites within easy reach of most of the major hot spots on the Riviera, with prices from around £23 a night for four people in peak season.

One of the main reasons many people travel to the French Riviera is because of the beauty of the area and the fantastic weather – both of which are free! Whilst winter temperatures can fall as low as 8 degrees centigrade, in summer the area can reach between 35 and 40 degrees, making it the perfect place for hiking along the coastal routes, swimming, sunbathing and exploring the beaches. One thing to bear in mind with the beaches of the French Riviera is that there are lots of private beaches, where you will need to pay upwards of £10 in order to sunbathe (for sun lounger hire and facilities like toilets and drinks service). Most of the large towns, such as Nice and Cannes have public spaces mixed in with the private, although obviously the best stretches of sand are reserved for those who will pay.

Even if you don’t have a huge budget there are plenty of activities for backpackers on the French Riviera. Most towns here will have a weekly market, which is a great place to explore, taste the free samples and pick up cheap supplies. You don’t have to shell out for a three-course meal to enjoy café culture in this area as one of the greatest pleasures here is simply sitting in a café with a coffee and watching the world go by.

Particularly in the summer there are lots of festivals in the French Riviera, celebrating everything from motorbikes to VE Day. Most are free and a great way to get to know the local culture and join in with fun activities, drinking and dancing. If you’re interested in art and culture, there are many museums in this area that have free days or discounts, which can make sightseeing much less expensive – the Matisse Museum in Cimiez and the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nice are two worth investigating. You can also soak up the architecture of the Riviera by simply walking around – most cities in the area have an ‘Old Town’, which provides a great example of the local architecture through the ages.

Eating and drinking on a budget on the French Riviera is easy to do. If you want to eat out then look for cheap ‘prix fixe’ menus, or choose local specialities, as these tend to cost less. You can self cater very cheaply indeed in France, without missing out on any of life’s luxuries. Boulangerie and Patisserie supply fabulous bread and cakes for just a few pounds and the cheapest wines – even the ones in the plastic bottles! – are very drinkable. Try heading to a supermarket and buying a picnic for a day out – you can do this easily (with wine and chocolate) for less than £10.

Backpacking on the French Riviera doesn’t mean you have to miss out on everything the area has to offer –  in fact, if anything, you get to enjoy more of it being outside of the confines of a five star hotel. Plan your trip carefully, avoid tourist traps, expensive restaurants and private beaches and you can have a great time backpacking on the French Riviera!

Amy is a guest writer from Easyjet who offer cheap flights to Nice from London, Edinburgh and over 20 other airports across the UK and Europe.