UK demand for region soars
Cannes are selling well as luxury short-break destinations or for special occasions, the diversity of products developing throughout the region is more widely priced.
Cresta head of marketing Jane Williams said the South of France and the Riviera is the third fastest-growing region in its dedicated France programme after Pas de Calais and Provence. Sales for this year were up 14% on 1998 levels and the operator plans to add four new apartment complexes in the Provence and Riviera region for next year.
Williams said: “Nice is the only French destination to see any real impact from the entry of low-cost airlines, though Ryanair’s new routes to Carcassonne and Biarritz may have more effect in 2000.”
Carcassonne, near Toulouse, is an alternative gateway to the sandy beaches, vineyards and walled cities of the Languedoc Roussillon region.
Biarritz, near Bilbao, could equally serve the southwest Aquitaine coastal region.
Scheduled air fares fluctuate according to season and demand. Low-cost fares include Ryanair’s lead-in one-way rates of £49.99 from Stansted to Carcassonne and £29.99 to Biarritz, including tax.
EasyJet operates a Luton-Nice service four times daily from Monday to Friday and five times daily on Saturday and Sunday. From November 1, this drops to three daily, seven days a week. Fares are from £72.70 return including tax.
Debonair has ended its low-cost Luton-Nice summer service but reintroduces it for summer 2000.
Bridge Travel Service said the south of France is increasingly attracting the more cost-conscious self-drive market.
General manager of SelfDrive Jackie Willcocks said: “The traditional areas of St Tropez, Cannes and Nice are still very popular, although there are some better-priced coastal resorts about 30mins to 1hr drive away, such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Merton.”
French Life is to increase its villa range in the south of France. Group business development manager David Stamp said: “The product is very good value and our target market is families. The average price of a villa is £1,500-£2,000 per property including ferry crossings and car.
“It is not so expensive when you consider that most properties can accommodate between eight-12 adults, which means two or three families can utilise the capacity.”
Proving that the South of France doesn’t have to be an expensive destination, EuroSites is offering savings of up to 10% on summer 2000 holidays booked before October 31 bringing the cost of two weeks in low-season at a site near St Raphael on the Cote d’Azur down from £319 to o£296. Three weeks for the price of two offers are also valid on sites in the southwest of France on certain departures next summer. The riviera is also establishing itself as a short-break destination. Travelscene reports that Cannes is its third best-selling city introduced since 1997 and that Nice has maintained its number 10 spot in the overall cities league.
MENTIONthe South of France and most people will automatically think of the fashionable and sophisticated resorts of Nice, Cannes and St Tropez or maybe glamourous Monte Carlo with its famous casino and high-profile royal family.
But in reality the Cote d’Azur and the principality of Monaco account for just a tiny strip of France’s Mediterranean coastline which stretches from the Spanish border to San Remo in Italy.
While places like Nice and Cannes are selling well as luxury short-break destinations or for special occasions, the diversity of products developing throughout the region is more widely priced.
Cresta head of marketing Jane Williams said the South of France and the Riviera is the third fastest-growing region in its dedicated France programme after Pas de Calais and Provence. Sales for this year were up 14% on 1998 levels and the operator plans to add four new apartment complexes in the Provence and Riviera region for next year.
Williams said: “Nice is the only French destination to see any real impact from the entry of low-cost airlines, though Ryanair’s new routes to Carcassonne and Biarritz may have more effect in 2000.”
Carcassonne, near Toulouse, is an alternative gateway to the sandy beaches, vineyards and walled cities of the Languedoc Roussillon region.
Biarritz, near Bilbao, could equally serve the southwest Aquitaine coastal region.
Scheduled air fares fluctuate according to season and demand. Low-cost fares include Ryanair’s lead-in one-way rates of £49.99 from Stansted to Carcassonne and £29.99 to Biarritz, including tax.
EasyJet operates a Luton-Nice service four times daily from Monday to Friday and five times daily on Saturday and Sunday. From November 1, this drops to three daily, seven days a week. Fares are from £72.70 return including tax.
Debonair has ended its low-cost Luton-Nice summer service but reintroduces it for summer 2000.
Bridge Travel Service said the south of France is increasingly attracting the more cost-conscious self-drive market.
General manager of SelfDrive Jackie Willcocks said: “The traditional areas of St Tropez, Cannes and Nice are still very popular, although there are some better-priced coastal resorts about 30mins to 1hr drive away, such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and Merton.”
French Life is to increase its villa range in the south of France. Group business development manager David Stamp said: “The product is very good value and our target market is families. The average price of a villa is £1,500-£2,000 per property including ferry crossings and car.
“It is not so expensive when you consider that most properties can accommodate between eight-12 adults, which means two or three families can utilise the capacity.”
Proving that the South of France doesn’t have to be an expensive destination, EuroSites is offering savings of up to 10% on summer 2000 holidays booked before October 31 bringing the cost of two weeks in low-season at a site near St Raphael on the Cote d’Azur down from £319 to o£296. Three weeks for the price of two offers are also valid on sites in the southwest of France on certain departures next summer. The riviera is also establishing itself as a short-break destination. Travelscene reports that Cannes is its third best-selling city introduced since 1997 and that Nice has maintained its number 10 spot in the overall cities league.