From sunshine to skiing, from countryside to culture, France has it all. To enjoy the good things of life is what France is all about. So where do we begin? We'll begin with the sunshine!

The Côte d’Azur – Azure Coast – is very aptly named. Anyone who has visited the area will vouch for this. To wake each morning to the dazzling blue of the Mediterranean is a truly heavenly experience. From Marseilles to Monaco, the French Riviera, once monopolised by the rich and famous now welcomes just about anyone. There are camp sites, palatial hotels, apartment blocks, or luxury villas.

Wander the streets of such colourful towns as Antibes with its narrow streets and squares within 17th century ramparts and its picturesque port full of sleek yachts. Or nearby, the more fashionable and sophisticated Cannes, host to the glitterati, where the elegant tree-lined boulevard curves gently past cafés, boutiques and glamorous hotels. Or St Tropez made famous by the hedonistic lifestyle of Brigitte Bardot or Nice for its famous market of exotic fruit and flowers.

Take a trip inland to the sleepy medieval villages of Provence, some perched perilously on hillsides of olive trees and vines as described so evocatively by Peter Mayle in his books. The scent of lavender, thyme and rosemary and the chirping of crickets are simple pleasures too good to be missed.