Things to Know on the French Coast

Life is better on the Mediterranean!
Spending the summer in the South of France was an absolute dream. Turquoise waters, medieval history, and enough rosé for a lifetime. If you ask me, the perfect vacation. Even though I had been to Paris before, the south still managed to throw a few surprises my way. So here are my top 5 things to keep in mind when visiting the Coast of France!

Life is S l o w

Have somewhere to be? No you don’t!

The French are definitely not about bouncing from place to place. The American tourist rushing from tourist trap to tourist site is definitely a laughable stereotype there. The French tend to treat every day as a lazy Sunday afternoon. So, to those of your who are go-getters on vacation, keep this in mind!

Péage

If you are planning to rent a car, which you will likely need, the tolls are certainly something to keep in mind. For a day trip, we spent about €50! Coming from a place where tolls are cents at most, I was flabbergasted. This is, of course, in addition to the crazy expensive prices for gas. All in all, it can add up pretty quick. Avoiding the tolls is definitely possible, although it can add a few hours to your drive. But hey, why not take the scenic route every once in awhile?

Fire!

For a majority of the summer there are no-burn restrictions in place. What most people don’t know, is that the climate on the coast of France is not lush and tropical. It is, however, incredibly dry! Couple that with very hot temperatures, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. We personally saw 3 separate forest fires where we were staying. Things like grill embers and discarded cigarettes are the worst perpetrators. So be extremely careful!

Service Times

In line with the “life is slow” concept, it wouldn’t be France if you didn’t spend half a day at the table. Meals are viewed as more of an experience, and less of a thing to get over with. If you are looking for a quick bite in between sights, your best bet is to look for a bakery and grab a sandwich. If you sit down to eat, especially during peak hours, you can promise yourself at least a 2 hour wait. But hey, the food is certainly worth it!

A Little More Than You Bargained For

The French tend to be a bit more, shall we say “free”, when it comes to their bodies. Yes, I mean nudity. Although not explicitly allowed, the French have a laissez-faire attitude when it comes to the human body, especially on beaches. To clarify, this is by far not the norm, but it is also not uncommon to see one or two people exposed. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

This is by far not a comprehensive list of things that surprised me on my vacation in the South of France, just the ones that stuck out to me the most. If there’s anything you think I missed, or had some surprises of your own, feel free to tell me in the comments below!

Happy travels 😉