Shopping in Cannes

Cannes is well known as a shoppers’ paradise, and if you go even slightly off the beaten track, the prices are often very reasonable; who knows, you may even find a real bargain!

Régine, as a local, is in the know about these things, and she loves the small food shops that line the pedestrianised rue Meynadier (off the rue d’Antibes) in Cannes, which are well known for their delicious array of French and Provençal specialities. As you will see from her photos, they are a visual treat even before you start shopping…..

Rue Meynadier is close to the wonderful Forville market, which is open every morning except Monday. It is also very well placed, just behind the port, for a great selection of restaurants, which are open until late in the evening.

A self-catering holiday in France allows you the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy your food shopping, and the smaller specialist food shops ensure a truly cultural experience not to be missed. Don’t just take our word for it - to take full advantage of the best of Cannes shopping, we recommend staying at C385A (sleeps 2, right in the heart of Cannes) or C75A (sleeps 5, private pool, 2km Cannes centre).

Bon appetit!

Eco-friendly holidays in France

France is a great choice for environmentally aware holidaymakers; an overseas destination you can reach by train if you wish, plenty of opportunity to support local events and buy regional produce, and you can hike and cycle (or even recycle!) to your heart’s content.

We are very keen to promote environmentally responsible living, both in our day-to-day work at the Susan Paradise office and in the holidays we offer. Here are some of the reasons why a Susan Paradise holiday in France is an eco-friendly choice:

· We supply information to help our clients support local concerns - small shops, markets, craftspeople, festivals etc - when on holiday in France.

· We give guidelines to our property owners to help our clients enjoy an environmentally friendly stay, for example by recycling, or using regional public transport where possible.

· France is a fantastic country for cycling and hiking; Brittany, Provence & Cote d’Azur – are home to numerous nature reserves and areas of natural beauty.

· Our office is in a redundant agricultural building which we rebuilt using reclaimed traditional materials. There are lots of nesting boxes and feeders for the birds all over the office grounds.

· No water cooler needed! Our office water supply comes from a deliciously cool spring, and is pumped by a water powered ram.

· We do not produce a brochure; our bookings and enquiries are handled by email wherever possible. Office paper, stamps, cartridges etc are recycled. Shredded documents go on our compost heap.

· We regularly support a number of charities – more information on the website.


Click through to the website to view our top eco-friendly self catering accommodation in France.

France - cheaper than you think!

France – cheaper than you think!
Did you know that France is officially the most visited tourist destination in the world – and 79 million people can’t be wrong! You may have seen Fred Mawes’ article in the Telegraph this Sunday, where he points out that France probably works out to be the cheapest overseas country you can go to on holiday, as it’s inexpensive to get to, and many self-catering properties are the same price or even cheaper than last year. He particularly referred to Susan Paradise Ltd, and highlighted the Best Budget Buys section on our website. Above you will see photos of three of our favourite great value properties in this section, C174A (Grasse, sleeps 5), C166A (Antibes, sleeps 2) and C361A (Tourrettes sur Loup, sleeps 4).
Have you booked yet? Remember, the earlier you book, the better choice you will have of our superb range of holiday properties in France. Call us to discuss your individual requirements, fill in our Quick Enquiry form or take a look at our website www.susanparadise.co.uk. We look forward to talking to you.

Family friendly holidays in France

If you are starting to plan your family holiday for 2010, don't forget that France is a great country in which to travel with children.
· It's right on our doorstep! Flight times are relatively short; well-planned train and ferry journeys can be a special treat and great fun for children.
· They are generally welcome everywhere, and young children and babies in particular are always made a fuss of.
· Despite being close, France has a whole different culture - a stimulating and educational experience for children.
· There are numerous family orientated theme parks with excellent facilities.
· Any tourist information office will have plenty of ideas for children's activities locally.
· It's a great chance for them to try out the French they've learnt at school, and find new friends.
· Children under 4 travel free on public transport in France and those aged between 4 and 12 pay half price.
· Museums, galleries etc are usually free to under 12s, and half price for children aged 12 - 18.
· Most restaurants have a children's menu.
· several of the seaside towns have received awards for their child-friendly facilities and attitude.


A self-catering holiday in France is a perfect option for families; more freedom, space and privacy than a hotel, a choice of travel options and plenty of opportunity to experience French culture and meet French people. Look at a selection of our family friendly properties on our website, or call us on 01395 597759 to discuss your individual requirements.

Sunny days ahead!

The long cold spell that many of us are still enduring seems to be inspiring people to book their summer holidays – it’s a real boost, during these bleak dark days, to dream of the long sunny days ahead, and planning well in advance means that you can have the first choice of the best holiday homes available in France. Let our pictures transport you a few months on, when slippery pavements and greying snow are a distant memory, and you are feeling the warm soft sand of a Brittany beach between your toes, or sipping a chilled glass of rosé on a baking terrace of a Provençal café.... Anticipation is part of the fun of your holiday, so book now at http://www.susanparadise.co.uk/ then settle back and really look forward to your 2010 holiday in France.

Looking back and looking forward

It is a beautiful day here as we start the New Year, sunny but very cold outside. Our thoughts turn inevitably to warmer days to come, and holidays. Over Christmas my parents were reminiscing about our first family holiday to France, where we had a wonderful time in a very simple Provençal cottage near Fayence. I still haven’t forgotten the thrill of going to an outdoor restaurant, and having snails for the very first time! Or the pleasure of trying out my few words of French, and finding out it actually worked! We spent hours swimming and on pedalos at the Lac de Saint Cassien, learning to play Pétanque and exploring the beautiful countryside, loving the hot sun and the scent of rosemary and thyme in the air. It was all so exciting, and that sense of excitement and anticipation has never left me when it comes to trips to France – there is always something new to discover. Yet the memories of that first holiday are still very clear even after all these years, and I have a soft spot for the Fayence region to this day. Why not create some special memories for your family with a holiday to France in 2010? Call us to discuss your individual requirements, or browse through the properties on our website http://www.susanparadise.co.uk/
For a superb family friendly holiday home near Fayence, look at C386A (sleeps 10, private pool).

Mimosa time on the Côte d'Azur

Happy New Year everyone!
As January moves towards February, Régine posts us a bit of Côte d’Azur sunshine in the form of a sprig of Mimosa flowers. They are a cheery bright yellow, and the perfume fills the air in the office as soon as they are out of their little parcel - it’s always a lovely reminder that spring is on its way, and reminds us that it is time for the Mimosa forest in the south east of France to come into full bloom – a spectacular sight and unforgettable scent, as this is the biggest Mimosa forest in Europe.
The French love to celebrate all sorts of occasions, and the annual blossoming of the Mimosa tree is no exception. Several of the towns and villages of the French Riviera have their own celebrations, but the little seaside town of Mandelieu-la-Napoule in particular comes alive with parades and all sorts of festivities between 12th and 21st February 2010. As well as watching the processions and enjoying the music and dancing, you can go for a guided hike in the Mimosa forest, or take a coach trip to follow the journey of the flowers from the plantation to the famous perfumeries in Grasse, where they are used in the manufacture of perfumes.
If you are tempted by the thought of February fun and flowers on the Cote d’Azur,
C59A at Pégomas is a great choice for a winter break, ideally placed for enjoying the Mimosa Festivals and all the other delights that the French Riviera has to offer. Or see our website, http://www.susanparadise.co.uk/ for more options.