Off-Season France

This November, after a wonderful week at DUCO France, I took the train down to Avignon, rented a car, and explored Southern France for a week. While it wasn’t quite warm enough to swim, the weather was still extremely temperate, and the fall colors were stunning.

I spent a glorious night among vineyards in the Provençcal countryside at the Château de Fonscolombe, followed by a visit to the legendary La Ponche Hôtel in Saint-Tropez. Even though Saint-Tropez was almost completely empty - save for a smattering of yachts - La Ponche stays open all year-round, making it a perfect off-season destination. I then headed east, nearly to the border of Italy, for a stay at the incomparable Maybourne Riviera, which features a “Three-Country View” of France, Monaco, and Italy. Finally, I dropped off the rental car and headed north for a stay at the luxurious and exclusive Villa Maïa, perched above Old Lyon, overlooking France’s second-biggest city. I spent my last night in Paris, at the magical La Fantaisie, a brand new, Instagram-worthy boutique hotel tucked away in the 9th arrondissement.

Traveling anywhere in the offseason comes with its perks and drawbacks: for example, many beach clubs and hotels were already closed for the winter, but there were no crowds and no traffic anywhere. If you’re looking for a way to see some of the most beautiful places on earth without the summer markup, I’d highly recommend considering an off-season vacation!