Saint Tropez is considered by many as the jewel of the French Riviera and is the favourite spot to visit among celebrities. So book your private jet charter and soon you will be partying alongside Paris Hilton at some of the top beach clubs in the world! Or if you have a similar budget to me, you should grab a Eurail global pass and start a tour of Riviera and take at least a day to visit this exclusive local to see how the celebrities vacation. In the beginning, Saint Tropez was a fishing village back in 68 AD. This is when the Roman Emperor Nero killed one of his citizens, named Tropes, because he declared his Christian religion in public. He sent his body out to the ocean. The boat washed ashore at this little fishing village and St-Tropez some became a place of Christian pilgrimage.
After serving as an important site for the allied forces during WWII and after found its celebrity status in 1956, when Brigitte Bardot decided live there after making a film there. Still to this day, celebrities and the ultra-rich come here to escape the crowds of the rest of the Riviera. Some famous patrons of Saint Tropez include Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, P. Diddy, Magic Johnson, Jack Nicholson, Rod Stewart, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olson, Naomi Cambell, Pamela Anderson, Paris Hilton, David and Victoria beckam and many more. This is also a popular place for the stars to get married as well.
St-Tropez is comprised of charming lightly-colored houses with little twisting streets and the typical French squares where the older generations here gather. It also features exclusive little boutiques and chic restaurants, bars and cafes. Your best bet is to find a seat and a harbour side cafe, so you can people watch and check out the ultra-expensive yachts cruising about. Saint Tropez also is home to some exclusive beach clubs and resorts, such as Nikki Beach and the Byblos nightclub, which are world famous with the jet-set crowd. There are also sailing races in the summer, and it really is a sight to see all the sails flying as boats race around the beautiful coast. So if you can, visit Saint Tropez to have a taste of where the celebrities go to get away from it all.
As the world’s safari capital, Kenya has dozens of interesting animals that attract and entice people from all over the world. These include large cats, the hunter’s “big five”, carnivores, herbivores, primates and rodents. Travel Kenya anytime for the opportunity to see or watch any of the following eight amazing animals on a safari or in Kenya’s world-famous wildlife preserves and national parks.
African Lions
African lions are the largest of Africa’s cats. They are social animals that live in family groups, called prides, with 20 or 30 other lions. There are usually between one and three male lions per pride. The lion’s mane can take up to five years to grow in completely. Typically, the female lions hunt, usually when it’s cooler, at night. The rest of the day is spent in the shade. Once, there were more than 10,000 lions. Now, there numbers are closer to 2,000.
African Elephants
These are the largest land-based mammals in existence. They live in herds led by a big female. Sadly the are hunted illegally for their ivory tusks. Elephant herds can destroy the habitat because of their weight and their eating habits. Since they are hunted for their tusks, they are a protected species. In Kenya, they live in the grasslands and the forested areas.
Black Rhinoceros
Black rhinoceros, like white rhinos, are gray in color, but they’re very aggressive, with smaller heads and narrower mouths than their “white” cousins. Like elephants, rhinos have ivory horns, which are valued, so they’re poached too. The rhino is an endangered species, and in Kenya, there are only handfuls of them still living.
Leopard
This large cat drags its prey into the Savannah’s scrub trees so that scavengers can’t sneak it away. They are well-camouflaged and live solitary lives. Though not currently endangered, they have valued pelts, which makes them a target. Travel Kenya to see leopards swishing their tails, and, quick visitors could might be able to snap photos as they drag their prey into the trees.
Giraffes
Giraffes are the world’s tallest mammals. They have long tongues that help them reach leaves on tall trees. When they walk, giraffes pace, moving both of the legs on the left side of their body, followed by the two on the right side of their body. They sleep for only short periods of time, and rarely enter a deep
sleep. Giraffes are not endangered animals, and over 45,000 giraffes live in Kenya, which makes up for over a third of the entire population.
Wildebeests
Wildebeests have a thick, gray coat, a white beard, a black mane and a tail. Every year, wildebeests migrate from the south to the north and then back down south. They migrate together and often with millions of other animals, making them difficult to miss. Also called “gnus”, they’re related to antelopes and cows.
Rock Hyrax
These small vegetarian animals are very social and often live in a forest and in rocky places. Rock Hyrax are small, with yellowish-gray coats and without tails. They’re similar in size to rabbits and their front teeth grow continuously, like the front teeth of most rodents.
Vervet Monkeys
Vervet monkeys have a gray or yellow coat and a black face that’s fringed with white hair. They live in bands of up to 40 monkeys and have thick, white tails. These are among the most common primates in Kenya.
Travel Kenya as an awarding and interesting experience, to see dozens of unusual and fascinating animals.
If you are Canadian, Kenya Airways is giving away 2 round trip tickets from Toronto to Kenya courtesy of Kenya Airways & an all-inclusive 7 day safari for two! Enter to win now!
This is considered the number one retreat for the rich and famous, especially with celebrities, who use jet charters to keep their privacy. Located on the exclusive tip of the California peninsula in Mexico, it features many high-end resorts. One reason this location is so popular with celebrities is its proximity to Hollywood, making it a very short jet ride to another world of fun and relaxation. Cabo and jet travel were even featured in an episode of HBO’s Entourage, where the cast chartered a jet last minute for a quick weekend in Cabo, celebrating with bottle of Patron as they took flight.
Cabo San Lucas 2010 from Ryan Degracia on Vimeo.
Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is the most popular tourist destination in the southern hemisphere and is only a few hours by jet travel, making it a favorite with the jet-set crowd. Rio is famous for its nightlife, shopping and famous beaches, such as Ipanema and Copacabana Beach. From Rio you will also have access to many beautiful areas of Brazil other than beaches, like the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains. Corcovado Mountain is where you’ll find one of the new Seven Wonders of the World on top: the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer. Rio is also host to one of the biggest parties of the year, Carnival de Rio. So if you do have a chance to visit Rio, charter you jet to catch the Carnival, it will be a story you will tell for years to come.
Rio Carnival Samba Queens from theBrazilShow on Vimeo.
Corsica Island, sitting off the coast of the French Riviera, is a real tropical island getaway. This brings all the culture, history and tasty cuisine of France, with all the perks of a tropical island. Note if you have a Eurail pass you get a Eurail discount to take a ferry to Corsica, where I bet you’ll want to stay a few days. The main draw here is the beautiful scenery and beaches. The gorgeous Balagne region is filled with citrus groves, vineyards, and picturesque mountain villages like Speloncato, Calenzana, Zilia, and Sant Antonino. Other highlights of Corsica are the flowery bluffs of Asco Valley, the Cap Corse peninsula and the gorges of Restonica and Tavignano. The Scandola Nature Reserve and the Senino peninsula are known for their bird watching. Across all this you will find scenic trails to hike with guided tours available.
On Corsica you’ll find plenty of little beaches and coves to discover. The town of Calvi has a stunning blue bay and beaches to match, makes it a great play to stay. The tiny fishing town of Algajola in Corsica’s Balagne region boasts great diving and snorkelling. Other popular beaches include the Ille Rousse, Aregno, and Santa Giulia. Out here the sea is swimmable any time of year, but nothing beats the summer months.
Nightlife here is vibrant and full of island fun. While mostly located in the center areas, most little villages know how to party with little sea side bars. Bonifacio harbor has also higher-end bars for a post-dinner drink or two, and the trendy Porto Vecchio offers many stylish nightclubs for the late-night party-goer. Also check out the bars, restaurants, and cabarets in Ajaccio, Bastia, and Calvi if you care to have some appetizers with your cocktails.
Corsica’s history is a rich and colourful as anywhere on the Med. The famous Haute Ville with its lovely ensemble of medieval battlements, churches, steep lanes, and ancient houses, and be sure to admire its white cliffs and 9th century citadel. The university town of Corte is part of a 15th century fortress and many other fascinating historical sites. Erbalunga is known for its fabulous cultural events and music festivals. Corsica’s real claim to fame is it is the birthplace of Napoleon, which they celebrate yearly.
This ferry will give you a break from your train tour to sail the open seas to visit Corsica. Once you spend some time here, you will want to buy a little villa and never leave!
A must-see stop on my Eurail train tour is the Côte d’Azur, known in English as the French Riviera, is as well known for its luxurious lifestyle as its beautiful summers. Here you can enjoy all the pleasures of French culture and cuisine along with the fun and sun of the Mediterranean. This area has hosted man since prehistoric times, but since the 18th century has hosted the upper-class of Europe. In more recent times, it has been synonymous as the playground of the world’s rich and famous. If you’re like me and not in this group of elite, you are still sure to enjoy this world-renowned location. So if you can’t afford a huge yacht or a Maserati, you’re Eurail pass will deliver you to all the must-see location on this strip.
There are several top spots you must visit when in this area:
Nice: The official capital of the French Riviera and is the region’s biggest city. Here you can find any number of activities, from the nightlife to the concerts, museums, galleries and of course all the amazing food. Pebble beach in Nice is also popular attraction that is worth a visit.
Cannes: The famous host city of the Cannes Film Festival. You can imagine all the excitement during the Film Festival, when the city fills to the brim with celebrities. If you didn’t receive an invitation to the film festival, this city is a real treat to visit any time of year.
Monaco: The exclusive town of Monte Carlo must be seen to believe. It is home of the Monaco Grand Prix and the legendary Monte Carlo Casino. Here you can spend all day watching the mega-yachts in the bay and the countless super-cars zipping by on the hilly roads.
Saint Tropez: This is the most classic spot to visit on this trip. Saint Tropez has barely changed in the last 100 years, and remains a timepiece of the culture and lifestyle of the area. These days it is known as the number one spot for the rich and famous to get away from it all in the lap of luxury. Here you can relax at the beaches during the day, then party at the beach clubs all night (if you can afford it..).
Now here is my top list of beaches to help you avoid the busy crowds (and high prices) of the more common tourist beaches:
Paloma Plage: This beach in Cap Ferrat is better known by the rich and famous for the Paloma Beach Club. This leaves its public beach relatively un-crowded, giving you room to enjoy the gorgeous views.
Plage de Passable: This pebble beach is peaceful place to swim or just relax. It also has a 4km cliffside hike around the Cap Ferrat that is great for the casual hiker.
Port de Crouton Plage: This perfect beach is secluded and is near the lovely resort town of Juan-les-Pins and will satisfy all your sun and surf needs.
Mala Plage: While visiting Monaco, this is a great beach to get away from all the attention of the beaches populated by the ultra-rich. It has a ten minute walk down a steep hill, but it beats the crowd and makes it worth the trip. It still includes full beach activities, from jet-skiing to snorkelling.
This area of the Mediterranean is my personal favourite for the beaches and the cuisine, but it does get quite pricey. If you’re looking to save a bit before you head click here for Eurail discounts before you pack your bags. If not, check out a Eurail global pass to take you all over Europe via train!
Madrid is the capital and largest city in Spain, making it the perfect starting point to tour Spain by Eurail pass. This city is population is 3.2 million and ranks along side cities such as London, Paris or Berlin in being a truly historic and cosmopolitan city.
Start with a ride on Madrid’s cable cars for an overview of the city. The cable car is 2.5km long and is from Pintor Rosales in Parque del Oeste, and it leads up to the large Casa de Campo park. Here you can gaze down over the historic old town.
Plaza Mayor is a huge square near to Puerta del Sol, another famous plaza in the city. It is quite attractive with lots of traditional shops and cafes to stop at. This square has been the historic center of Madrid since 1589!
Gran Via translates to ‘Great Way’, and is one of the most significant shopping streets in the whole the city. It is a flamboyant street that leads all the way from Calle de Alcala to Plaza de Espana, and has a number of interesting features along the way, including lots of hotels, cinemas and shopping areas. It is worth going just to walk down the street and admire the amazing architecture all around.
Museo del Prado is one of the top art galleries in the world, being home to an extensive collection of European art dating from the 12th to the 19th centuries. You can easily pass the day walking through its great halls and admiring the unlimited variety of art and exhibits.
Templo de Debod is a real Egyptian temple located right in the middle of Madrid. It dates back to the 2nd century BC, and was given to Spain in 1968 by the Egyptian government as thanks. It comes from the Nile Valley and was taken apart stone by stone and shipped to Spain, where it has been open to the public since 1972. It is located in Plaza de Espana.
Palacio Real is the Royal Palace and is the official house of the King of Spain, but is only used for state ceremonies. It holds the distinction of being the biggest palace in Europe.
Mercado San Miguel is your best bet for market shopping and is one of the best in Madrid. It is located in a delightful old building and is worth going just to walk around just to see it.
Bernabau Stadium is a stop any football fan can’t miss. It is one of the most important and prestigious stadiums in the world of football. Home to Real Madrid, one of the biggest football teams today, the Bernabau opened in 1947 and can hold over 80,000 spectators. It’s not as big as rival club Barcelona’s Nou Camp, but if you get to see a match here it will be an experience to remember.
Las Ventas is the most famous bullring in the city and is considered the home of bullfighting in Spain. It dates back to 1931, and has a capacity of 25,000. If you are a fan of bullfighting and want to visit then the season lasts from March to December, but the ring is worth seeing on its own if you don’t fancy watching a real fight.
Parque del Buen Retiro is for you if you want to get away from the bustle of the city. This huge park is the main one in the city, and it’s huge. As well as finding plenty of open space, you’ll also come across monuments, galleries, sculptures and even a lake. There is also a beautiful rose garden to walk through.
So grab a Eurail pass and start your adventure across Spain in Madrid!
Naples sits in a glorious bay in the south west of Italy and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded 2800 years ago by the ancient Greeks and later settled by the Romans. While it received the most damage by bombs during WWII, its historic center survived and is the largest of its kind in Europe. It is now classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site. If touring the west coast of Italy by Eurail pass, stop in Naples to see these attractions.
The center of Naples is the Piazza del Plebiscito. San Francesco di Paola, is a massive domed church on top of it. There is also a nice rooftop garden that offers a great view of Naples. Spaccanapoli is the main street that cuts through the center of Naples. It has always been the center of activity in this city, and is full of interesting churches, shops, and other buildings, ever since the times of the Romans and the Greeks.
Naples has a 13th century Gothic cathedral dedicated to their patron saint, San Gennaro. A traditional festival is held when a vial of his preserved blood is taken out for a ceremony to see if it will liquefy. Near this cathedral is the 4th century Basilica Santa Restituta which is the oldest church in Naples. It features columns believed to be from the Temple of Apollo and archaeological remains from the Greeks through to the Middle Ages. Naples Archaeological Museum host one of the biggest and best collections of Greek and Roman antiquities and artifacts. Many are from excavations at Pompeii and other local archaeological sites.
Santa Chiara Church is part of a large complex that includes a monastery with attractive cloisters highlighted with majolica tiles and frescoes. San Lorenzo Maggiore is a 13th century medieval church with extensive Greek and Roman remains underneath. Castel dell’Ovo is the oldest castle in Naples, has a great view of the bay, and hosts concerts and shows nowadays. Castel Nuovo, is home to the Civic Museum. Inside are 14th-15th century frescoes and paintings, silver, and bronzes from the 15th century to present. Teatro San Carlo, famous for having perfect acoustics, is the best place to hear opera in southern Italy. It is the world’s oldest surviving opera house and was built in 1737.
The Capodimonte Museum and Park was originally built as King Charles III’s hunting lodge. It now houses one of Italy’s richest museums with a top-notch picture gallery. The San Martino Museum and Monastery, has a famous display of Neapolitan nativity scenes, beautiful cloisters and gardens, frescoes and mosaics, artwork, and nice views. So grab you Eurail map and pass and swing by Naples on a train tour of Italy.
Provence is a big and beautiful region of France claiming the south-east coast, making up the legendary French Riviera. This makes the Eurail Flexi Pass a perfect choice while exploring the regions of France. There are so many things to enjoy here, it is impossible to mention them all, but here are some top towns to introduce you to the region.
Avignon rests on the banks of the Rhone River and is home to the Papal Palace. The Palace was built in the 14th century after the Popes left Rome. Seven Popes lived in the Palace between 1305 and 1378. The town has several museums, a belfry and Notre Dame des Dommes which date back to the 14th and 12th century respectively. The local cathedral contains the mausoleum of Pope John XXII.
Aix-en Provence is a small town that is famous for being the home of artist Cezanne and also for its many fountains. The biggest and most well known fountain can be found on the Cours Mirabeau. Bell towers also feature in the town along with many centuries-old building. You can visit the flower market at the Place de l’Hotel de Ville and of course some culinary delights can be had at the food market at Place Richelme.
Briancon`s claim to fame is being part of the Tour de France cycling race. Featured no less than 22 times as a starting point for a stage of the tour, it has also been a stage finish 22 times. Briancon is a popular base for skiers during the winter season, and has produced some of the best ski racers in the world. Last year the local forts and surrounding stone walls were classed as World Heritage Sites.
Gordes is mountain that played an important part in the French Resistance during WWII and received the Croix de Guerre (1939 – 1945). The major tourist attraction in the town is a castle which was restyled in Renaissance fashion in 1525. A fact to note about Gordes is that all the buildings are made of stone and have terracotta roof tiles. Electric and phone cables are all underground, and the streets are paved with stones. Nearby tourist attractions include Village des Boires and the Romanesque styled Sénanque Abbey.
Draguignann started out as a Roman fort. On that very same hill today you will see a 17th century clock tower. Draguignan gets its name from draco, the Latin word for dragon. Legend has it that the dragon terrorized the local pilgrims here in ancient times. Today is is home to the military barracks of the French army artillery school. One of two museums here is the Musée Municipal was a 17th century convent. Look out for paintings by Rembrandt and Renoir and some local archaeological pieces. The second is the Musée des Traditions Provencales, which deals with the history of the region and local industries.
Taking in all the gorgeous hillsides and sparkling seas is perfect for a Eurail flexi pass. Hope little article this helps you out on what Provence has to offer.
Check out these two links on info on other popular regions of France:
