Hôtel CASAROSE, Cannes Mandelieu, Côte d'Azur, France

Just west of Cannes, Mandelieu is an upscale district well placed for exploring the Côte d'Azur, without the crowds that sometimes clog up the coastal roads in peak summer. The ritzy coastline is peppered with manicured golf courses, soft sandy beaches, swish marinas clinking with the sound of rope on mast, and forested parks, like Parc Forestier du San Peyre – perfect for a short hike with mesmerising views (particularly at sunrise). Cannes is just a quick hop east for shopping on rue d’Antibes or lounging on the see-and-be-seen sands of Croisette Beach. Top off your day on the Côte d'Azur with an evening amble along Boulevard de la Croisette for dinner and drinks with stunning sea views.

A car at your disposal opens up a huge choice of day trips, though you can still get around using the charmingly efficient rail network. Villefranche-sur-Mer is a delightfully colourful town to the east of Nice, with a pretty bay overlooked by hilly streets lined with pastel-hued houses. Other options include a boat trip out to the old fort of Île Sainte-Marguerite or the fifth-century Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, hunting for perfumes in Grasse or daydreaming of art collecting in the quaint hilltop town of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.