Budget Travel Ideas in Southern France

Southern France continues to be a major draw for all types of holidaymaker, from families and honeymooning couples to partiers and adventure tourists. The verdant countryside and wonderfully varied landscape lends itself well to adventures in the great outdoors. The cities and larger towns of Southern France make great weekend breaks and are, generally speaking, a better bet for budget travelers than a trip to Paris. The French love of food and wine means that there are any number of affordable places to eat and drink, from rustic cafes in small towns to cheap and cheerful corner cafes in the cities.

Budget Travel in Southern France

Happily for travelers looking for a budget break in the South of France, there are increasing numbers of low-cost airlines offering flights to cities such as Marseilles, Avignon, Nice and Toulon. Easyjet, RyanAir and FlyB offer good links to many destinations across Europe, and budget travelers who are able to be flexible with dates and destinations will find that there are some great value flights to these cities, with Nice in particular being very well served by the ´no-frills´airlines. Th0ose traveling from further afield can often find reasonably-priced flights with the national airline, AirFrance, particularly if booking well in advance. Southern France also offers excellent rail links with the rest of Europe, with the Eurostar service providing good connections with the United Kingdom, and the InterRail rail pass offering excellent value for those who plan on visiting a number of destinations in Southern France.

When to Visit

Heading to Southern France outside of the main tourist season will help tourists to slash the cost of their trip to this beautiful part of the world. Tourists flock here during the European and North American summer holiday season, making July and August very expensive times to visit. Prices begin to drop from mid-September, and are at there lowest from October through to mid-December and from mid-January through to early May. While temperatures can be somewhat chilly during the mid-winter, it´s not uncommon to see plenty of warm sunshine as late as November and as early as March. The winter can be a wonderful time to visit the South of France, with crisp days and even the chance of snowfall.

Where to Visit

The South of France has developed a reputation as an expensive place for tourists to visit, but prices in many destinations compare favorably with those of Paris. Cannes, Monte Carlo and St Tropez are exceptions, with accommodation and the price of drinking and dining being prohibitively high, but Marseilles, Avignon, Toulon and even Nice offer decent value breaks for budget travelers, with many agencies offering affordable self catered apartments, and plenty of backpacker options available. Sites such as www.hostelworld.com and www.hostelmania.com offer prices and reviews for cheap hostels across the South of France. The beautiful countryside of Southern France is dotted with campsites, most of which are very well-equipped and great places for families to get to know other travelers.  

Exploring Southern France

From sunkissed beaches to rolling hills and jutting mountains, the South of France is awash with opportunities to enjoy the landscape without spending a fortune. Renting a car is a good way for travelers to see the region without being reliant on public transport, and makes low-cost picnics in the countryside an easy option. Country walks, bicycle rides and swimming all cost nothing or next to nothing, making it esy to enjoy the South of France without spending a fortune.