Our 6 Favourite Romantic Villas

France is exceptionally well-known as one of the most romantic countries in the world. The Cote d'Azur makes for the perfect starry-eyed retreat with its stunning coastline views, beautiful architecture and rich culture. 

Whether you're celebrating an anniversary, picking your ideal honeymoon location or finding that unforgettable destination to pop the question, the French Riviera has so much to offer to make that dream a reality!

Here are our 6 Favourite Romantic Villas

Villefranche-sur-Mer  (Ref: VF VFLOR)

Features:

- 5 Bedrooms

- Breath Taking Sea Views

Private Terraces & Balconies

- Heated Swimming Pool

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Cap d'Antibes (Ref: CA 227)

Features:

- 5 Bedrooms

- Uninterrupted Sea Views

- Unique Architecture 

- Cinema Room

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Saint-Tropez (Ref: ST 716)

Features:

- 4 Bedrooms

- Central Location

- Stunning Sea Views

- Contemporary Style

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Mougins (Ref: MO 879)

Features:

- 4 Bedrooms

- Provencal Style

- Central Location

- Children's Playroom

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Saint Jean Cap Ferrat  (Ref: CF 846)

Features:

- 5 Bedrooms

- Magnificent Bay/Sea Views

- Infinity Swimming Pool

- Outdoor Dining Areas

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Cannes (Ref: CN 206) 

Features:

- 4 Bedrooms

- Spectacular Landscaped Gardens

- Heated Swimming Pool

- Beautiful Sea Views

You can view this property on our website for more details and images

Romance is a very personal and individual idea with everyone's preferences being different.
Our extensive portfolio has hundreds of handpicked luxury villas on the Cote d'Azur and can surely help inspire you when choosing your idyllic home from home. 

Contact one of our award-winning South of France villa specialists today:

(0) 1244 62 99 63

enquiries@elegant-address.com

Exciting Times for the South of France

Exciting Times for the South of France

France have had a very historical week adding to the already vibrant country of culture and sophistication. With the upcoming Cannes Film Festival and the summer months bringing glorious sunny weather, France is the place to be in 2017.

The country’s official tourism development agency, Atout France, embarked on a fantastic North American roadshow this year and that included a stop in Toronto, Canada. Canadians are particularly interested in visiting the South of France with there being a contrast in climate and their links to the country in general. Contributing to as much as 1.2 million overnight stays in the area in 2016, they comprise the region’s second international market outside of Europe with big name Canadian stars such as Justin Bieber deciding to holiday in the area. 

June will see direct services from Montreal to Nice or Marseilles allowing Canadians access to 14 weekly flights with two airlines bringing increased frequency to the region. 

Nice Airport; soon to be seeing lots of arriving flights from Montreal!

Ranking as the top French destination for international tourists seeking festivals, yachting or golf, the Cote d’Azur saw a 50% increase in stays during the summer and autumnal months. The destination is still well-known for its glamourous lifestyle and probably always will be however the tourism board are looking to promote an alternative side to appeal to wider audiences. 

The Cannes Yachting Festival

French gastronomy is known to produce some of the world’s finest cuisine and nature is a big part of the newer Cote d’Azur brand. 80 lush gardens can be found in the South of France and their first garden festival was launched earlier this year to celebrate them. 

2017 marks the first year of the 'Jardins de la Cote d'Azur' Festival

Sports tourism is being heavily pushed this year with the Cote d’Azur being home to Europe’s biggest indoor canyoning centre, the Vesubia Mountain Park as well as the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, the biggest tennis facility in Europe. 

The most famous sporting event in the French calendar is the Monaco Grand Prix, bringing in a host of big name stars, plenty of excitement and a buzz to the region.

The Monaco Grand Prix

France is definitely heading into an exciting and bright future with the mood and atmosphere never being more hopeful.

Our expert team of South of France luxury villa and apartment specialists are available to discuss our vast portfolio of world-class properties with you today and help inspire you to visit this beautiful part of the world for a truly unforgettable retreat. 

Contact them today:

+(0)1244 629963

enquiries@elegant-address.com

How to choose your perfect rental property

Finding your perfect villa rental for a holiday can be daunting, especially for a group of people. The array of locations and companies to choose from can get confusing and hard to sort through when trying to find the best choice. What do I need to ask? How do I decide where is best? We have created a helpful checklist to ensure a smooth and simple booking process before arriving at your dream villa. 

Pip-point what most important to you

Beautiful modern villa VF-VB terrace at night

Have a clear vision in your mind of what you want from your holiday experience. Would you prefer a quiet, private hideaway or a villa that is seafront? Are you looking for something with modern interiors and design or traditional features and charm?

If you need staff, drivers or private security it is best to let us know in advance so that they can be easily organised in good time before your holiday. It is important to communicate your needs as clearly as you can to a specialist rental company such as Elegant Address South of France, so that our experts can efficiently match you with your ideal rental property for the perfect holiday experience.

Location, Location, Location

ST-001 is a stunning beachfront villa in St Tropez

You may prefer to be ‘close to a beach’ but there are a few to choose from along the French Riviera coastline so you’ll need to be sure where you would prefer to be. People enjoy visiting particular areas for different reasons, for instance if you want to see the Grand Prix you need to be in, or near Monaco, and if you want to be close to beaches, shopping and glamour you would choose Cannes or St Tropez. Even if you prefer a more quiet and cultural trip there are beautiful medieval towns that will charm you and invite you back each year. There really is a place for every taste on the Cote d’Azur, just try to narrow it down to your top 3 to help rental specialists find your perfect villa.

Have a budget in mind

It can be difficult to create and set a specific budget, especially if this is your first time visiting this region. You don’t have to divulge this information straight away, but it is always a helpful indicator for the specialists to know the limits of what you are willing to spend for the level of villa and lifestyle that you are looking for. A price range will really help narrow down our search, helping us to give you a clear overview of the market and what we can offer.

Pick up the phone

The team viewing properties in May 2016

Browsing villas on an agent’s website can give you a good idea of the property with images and description, but to find out the finer details and inside knowledge it’s best to talk to a specialists – That’s what they are there for! We know the regions inside out. We pride ourselves in our unrivaled level of knowledge of each region on the French Riviera and can recommend villas first-hand and answer questions you might not have thought of such as “Where is the nearest grocery store? What is the best local restaurant? How long is it to drive to the nearest beach?” Our specialist consultants also has access to more rentals that are in our private portfolio or that are new to market that they can offer to you after your ideal property.

Take advantage of extras

Villa ST-VS has its own helicopter

There are many of our rental properties that offer additional services and luxurious extras such as private chef, helicopter transfer, personal driver or even sometimes a boat with the villa. When enquiring about a property it’s always useful to see whether there are any of these services included in the rental price or if the rental has any trusted companies they regularly use or could recommend at a fair price. We have a great team of trusted contacts on the ground, allowing us to organise concierge services or any special requests with ease and discretion, allowing you to sit back and relax, with the arrangements in place to allow you to focus on enjoying the very best of the French Riviera. 

5 steps of buying property in France

France is one of the most popular countries to buy property abroad, and it's not hard to guess why with the countries fantastic landscapes with coastlines and countryside, rich history, incredible food and of course the world famous wine. 

Whether you are looking for a holiday home or want to relocate; buying a property in France is straight-forward as long as you know the process! Here are our five top things to consider when buying a property in France. 

1. You need a 'Notaire'

Notaires is very similar to UK solicitors, they represent and act on behalf of the buyer and seller during the purchasing process of any piece of land or property in France. They are a mandatory if you are thinking of buying a house as their primary role is to ensure that everything about the sale is legal, follows the correct protocols and the appropriate taxes are paid on purchase of the property. 

Taxes can vary from 2.5% for a new build, up to 8% depending on the property's value. A proportion of the taxes also involve the french equivalent of stamp duty. 

2. Survey the property

Surveys are not common in France but it is possible to arrange one and we would advice you having one done before the inital contract. This is so there can be conditional clauses added into the contract if needed, on completion of the survey. If you do not choose to conduct a survey, sellers are still required by law to provide reports on lead, asbestos, termites, gas, energy efficiency, water drainage and natural/technological risks. 

3. Compromis de Vente

A compris is the preliminary contract between the buyer and the seller which is drawn up by the notaire once an offer has been accepted. There can be 'suspensive' clauses added into this first contract which means there are conditions to the sale, such as the buyer obtaining a mortgage. If the conditional clauses are not met then the seller does not have to accept the offer. 

4. Cooling off period

Once the Compris de Vente is signed by both parties, there is a 10 day cooling off period to allow the buyer to withdraw from the sale if they wish, without loss of their deposit. The deposit is usually 10% of the property price. 

5. Acte de Vente

This is the final contract which is signed by both parties. If the buyer cannot attend for any reason, they can appoint a power of attorney to sign on their behalf. This is then the stage when the final sale price is paid, along with the fees/taxes. 

We are award-winning specialists in the South of France who offer luxury properties for sale and rental. We will happily search the market to find your perfect property and personally assist you in the purchasing process! Contact us today to talk to our dedicated French Riviera specialists today for more information on how we can help.