Flights are available to Nice Cote d'Azur airport from any one of 24 countries, including the United States. Traveling from Paris to Nice takes about eight hours by car, but campers who are packing fairly light might prefer the five-hour ride on the bullet train. Known as the TVG, the train allows two bags with no limit on size or weight, as well as one personal item.
Camping season is roughly from April through October, although Riviera winters are mild and some RV campers might venture out in the chillier months. If weather is a concern, be aware that the hottest months are July and August; the beaches are blazing, but cooler temperatures prevail in Cote d'Azur's inland areas. Rain is infrequent, but during spring you should be prepared for an occasional downpour.
If you fancy a yurt, a tepee, an eco-lodge or even a gypsy caravan, the Cote d'Azur offers a panoply of unusual campsites. The area of Cote d'Azur includes Alpes-Maritimes, Hautes-Alpes, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Var. In these regions you will find campgrounds that offer rental accommodations with swimming pools, playgrounds, bars and restaurants. At the very western edge of Cote d'Azur lies the historic Camargue village of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, where ancestors of Buffalo Bill's "Show Indians" reside alongside the Gypsies. Here, you may sleep in a true Gypsy caravan in the midst of grazing white horses and giant pink flamingos.
Although the mention of the Riviera brings beach life to mind, the mountainous hinterland area of Cote d'Azur allows tent camping in a number of small campgrounds that offer hiking, paddling and fishing. Hikers will enjoy the Gorges du Verdon, the French version of America's Grand Canyon. In this area, campgrounds are smaller and have fewer upscale amenities, but most provide laundry facilities, pools and small grocery stores.
Glamping is the term for upscale and glamorous camping experiences that can range from gypsy-style caravans to luxury tents and tree houses. In the woods above the French Riviera, wooden pods resembling wine barrels offer a respite from the city while still providing amenities such as a swimming pool and petanque, the French form of lawn bowling. Rent a Cote d'Azur tree house with an en-suite bathroom and partake of a variety of activities including canoeing, soccer, volleyball and fishing.
