France’s most dazzling region is crammed full of spectacular hilltop villages, glamorous seaside resorts and an excellent range of villa rentals.
A charming villa in the south of France (Photo: Booking.com)
Squeezed between Italy, Spain and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea, Southern France is a vast region that encompasses rolling vineyards, endless sandy stretches, bustling cities and medieval hilltop towns. It’s one of the country’s best-loved destinations, as beloved by glamorous jet-setters as it is by adventure enthusiasts. Unsurprisingly, the villas on offer are as diverse as the terrain. There are thousands of properties scattered across the country, but to ensure you get the most out of your trip we recommend booking with a reputable agency or booking platform. To help lend a hand, we’ve selected three of the best places to rent a villa in the south of France for a range of budgets and tastes.
Plum Guide
For those looking for a villa as glamorous as the location, Plum Guide is an excellent option. The platform currently offers 210 luxurious villas dotted across the French Riviera in many of the region’s most sought-after locations. Unlike many booking platforms, each home is hand-picked following a rigorous multi-stage vetting process and must meet 150 criteria. Properties range from a design-forward two-bedroom cottage on the Côte d’Azur coastline to a sprawling 10-bedroom mansion nestled into a lavender field. The website is easy to navigate, with handy filters to help whittle down your search.
Find out more at Plumguide.com
Booking.com
Booking.com offers the most comprehensive range of villas in the south of France, at unbeatable prices. There are a staggering 12,900 properties listed on the site, though you’ll need to use the filters to refine your search for villas. You can sort your search by price, guest reviews, rating and discount or narrow down your search by selecting features such as ‘swimming pool’ and ‘hiking’.Each property is reviewed by customers based on staff, facilities, comfort, cleanliness, value for money and location. For those who are concerned about the planet, the website has launched a Travel Sustainable Program, which rewards properties that have taken specific ‘sustainability steps’ with a special badge.
South France Villas
The aptly-named South France Villas specialises in villa rentals in Languedoc, Provence and Cote d’Azur. Founded in 2000, the family-run business was one of the first villa companies to set up shop online and it’s since grown to become one of the most reputable in the region. It’s an ideal option for those who prefer to have a human point of contact. The website currently lists 128 properties in the South of France, all rented out for a minimum of one week. Users can filter their search with tags such as ‘toddler friendly’ and ‘pet friendly’, duration of stay and location.