Stephens is Owner of Olives & Vines. Olives & Vines is a luxury holiday company based in the South of France offering stays at their beautifully designed holiday house and boutique hotel in Le Castellet.
If you wake up in one of the small boutique hotels that are within distance of Bandol, then your day is already perfect. The light in Bandol and surrounding areas in the morning is glorious; it will flood your room with warmth. Looking out across the view will leave you breathless, the big open skies […]
Go to Provence, they said. You will love all that you see. And they were right. But Provence-Alpes-Cote d-Azur is a region over 31,000 km2 in area and with over 5 million residents. It is close to the Italian Cinque Terre; it borders other beautiful areas of France, such as the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes. When everything is […]
When you need to keep your distance from people, but you also need some beauty and wide-open space, what better way to spend your day than with a long hike. Travelling to Provence-Alpes-Cote-d’Azur and walking the coastline could be the best decision you could make this autumn. The Var region is an area of outstanding […]
It has been a challenging year. We may have booked our holidays and then seen our hopes scuppered thanks to the closing of borders and travel restrictions. The recent resurgence in virus outbreaks and the possibility that advice could change in an instance all but destroyed most people’s hopes of time abroad. Of course, this […]
We are free to roam the world once more and seek out its beauty. It has been a troubled year, and we have grown used to your homes and the company of a few. It might feel too much to fly out to a major resort to sit amongst thousands of people again. The perfect […]
The tourism and leisure industry has been one of the worst hit sectors around the world since the outbreak of COVID-19. With bars, restaurants and hotels closed plus significant travel restrictions in place, France (along with most other countries around the world) has been devoid of tourists since March. It was therefore incredibly exciting that […]
It’s incredible to think that it’s been nearly two months at the time of writing that the whole of France was placed into a strict lockdown which prevented anyone leaving their homes. In common with the rest of the world, there were of course some exceptions such as being allowed to exercise or shop for […]
Another month and coronavirus continues to dominate the news. The lockdown’s being experienced by countries around the world have for the most part remained in place which of course has put paid to the best of laid travel plans for millions. Here in France, President Macron has announced that there will be a partial let […]
Under normal circumstances, many of us would choose to visit a beautiful place like Provence to enjoy some rest and rejuvenation in order to improve our Health & Wellbeing. In the midst of today’s Coronavirus pandemic, health concerns are an order of magnitude more serious. Whilst travel plans for the immediate future have been put […]
The mere mention of Provence conjures idyllic images of lavender fields bathed in evocative inspiring light. Whether you imagine the enchanting countryside clasping precarious hillside villages, or consider the cooler climes of medieval caves, Provence will not fail to delight. Here we offer ideas on things to do and places to visit in Provence from […]
Claimed by the Romans, this charming region of South-East France was christened ‘La Provincia’ by Caesar. The Romans are remembered for many things, not least the incredible network of roads they built. Today, whilst original Roman roads are few and far between, Provence is criss-crossed by some fabulous stretches of tarmac which lend themselves perfectly […]
Winter in northern Europe can feel like it drags on and on. With the excitement of Christmas over, Spring can feel a long way off. And, with more clement weather only beginning to appear in places like the UK come early May, it’s understandable that you might want to book a week or two away […]
You might not think of winter as the ideal time to visit Provence and especially not to see the top tourist attractions on offer across the region. Surely the summer is the best time? Well actually late Autumn to early Spring offers a superb window of opportunity to enjoy a holiday in this fabulous area […]
Christmas can be an incredibly exciting time of year to enjoy a holiday. Although the temptation is just to do the ‘same old thing’ and chill out at home, making the effort to get away for a few days over Christmas can be well worth it. So, this year, why not book a flight and […]
With such a lot to see and do in Provence, it can sometimes become overwhelming trying to plan a holiday in Provence… especially if you have never visited before! To help you enjoy the perfect Provence vacation I’ve listed some top attractions and well as lots of useful information about the region. If you’ve got […]
Wow, what a Summer we’ve been having in Provence! With soaring temperatures, it really has been amazing for those of us who love to make the most of the heat of the summer. Still, there are times when even the most ardent heat lovers want to cool down for a bit. Luckily, there are plenty […]
