Coronavirus Lockdown #3 France

Although it never went away, it feels like it’s back with a vengeance, the Coronavirus situation continues here in the French Riviera along with the rest of France.

A third wave of the epidemic is sweeping much of France including the Alpes Maritimes. with Prime Minister Jean Castex announcing last night a new four-week confinement from Friday, March 19th at midnight for the Alpes-Maritimes, in the face of the progression of the Covid-19 epidemic. It also applies to fifteen other departments.

You could tell it was going to come back strong as the rules over summer seemed not as strict as usual with our numbers then spiking again in September, to the point that all cafes, bars and restaurants have been closed since October, along with museums and basically anywhere else in buildings where people can gather.

With the ski season not happening at all, it felt like no one was going to stay home during Christmas and New Year's, the amount of people sneaking across borders and then posting pics of their travels was crazy and continues to be and we are constantly being asked to help with possible loopholes to get into the country which we are refusing. Shortly after the holiday season our numbers in France started to hit high again in the new year and this was with a curfew that had already been in place for at least a month that we continue to have to adhere too.

Although now instead of 6pm to 6am where we are supposed to stay home, it will be moved to 7pm to 6am this weekend because of the days starting to be longer.

According to Jean Castex, there is confirmation that the epidemic is accelerating rapidly and we are in a third wave at a time when France is approaching 100,000 deaths. Us here in the French Riviera and a couple of other departments, except for Paris (which is surprising) have had the past few weekends as partial confinements but it has not been enough the stall the epidemic.

It probably didn’t help that when a lockdown weekend would approach, thousands traveled to other regions that didn’t have a lockdown situation and the news is stating today that after the announcement was made last night about a four-week lockdown, the trains to leave Paris became completely booked with those planning on leaving the city.

This lockdown though, after tonight, no one will be allowed to slip in and out of other regions without having the proper documentations stating why, such as moving or part of your work.

Stores and supermarkets that do not fit into the list of those “selling essential goods and services” will have to close during these 4 weeks of this new confinement.

The Prime Minister also specified that the areas of stores that are open selling non-essential products will no longer be accessible. One thing that was worrying with this new lockdown was if like the last one, we would only be allowed outside one hour a day for exercise and only within a 1km radius from home.

Thankfully that is not the case this time, you still have to fill out your attestation app to show you are going out for exercise but the time to do so is unlimited between curfew hours and you can go up to 10kms from home.

Which, in this beautiful part of the world, even to get 10km radius gives you plenty of outdoor options and everything that comes with it, so this will be better for the mental health of individuals out there.

Vaccinations with Astrazeneca will also resume immediately as the European regulator has judged this vaccine “safe and effective”.

Goals are to have vaccinated, by mid-April, at least 10 million people, all over 75 years and, among people over 50 years, those who present extra risk factors.

The objective is also to have vaccinated by mid-May at least 20 million people, or the entire volunteer population over 50 and by mid-June, 30 million people.

There are so many theories behind this new lockdown, many of us here are thinking this will be one last hard push before summer. Tourism is such a huge market in France and you could tell last summer some borders shouldn’t have opened when they did but it seemed done to get some movement in the economy.

So please everyone, if our border opens to your country, stick with the local rules governed for not only your safety but others if you are visiting.

With more people vaccinated, more people following rules, eventually we will all get there. The local LGBTQ community has been very supportive of each other and look forward to getting back to normal life again, in whatever capacity that might be.

Stay safe everyone!

Happy Anniversary To Us!

 

As of today, February 11, 2021, it’s been 10 years since Experience The French Riviera first began and just over a week from when Gay French Riviera also started!

What started as a small idea to help those traveling to France from North America has grown exponentially to now serving people from every part of the world!

The six months before Experience The French Riviera initially started, in observance at the time, I had noticed some local key elements missing in what visitors were looking for in planning a trip to the French Riviera, and so after speaking with some close friends about some ideas I had in mind, the steps were taken for the journey to begin.

What really got the ball rolling was some friends who owned a villa in the perfume capital of Grasse and had been using the usual platforms at the time to try and get bookings for their holiday rental. A bit disappointed in how it was all working with those online platforms, they wanted more of a human touch.

This is when the importance of building a network came into place. Utilizing social media along with speaking with new and old friends, by word of mouth I managed to quickly book up their villa for the whole season.

They in turn told their friends about my more hands-on approach to help with their villa rental, who in turn told their friends and so on and so on...to the point we now have over 200 villa rentals throughout France and in neighboring countries such as Spain, Italy and Greece to where we expanded to The Villa.

To combine my initial ideas surrounding villa rentals, I thought it was important that a shared economy network also be set up and now it’s to the point we have now exceeded easily over 60 legal partnerships.

To be honest, the first couple of years were tricky learning how to navigate the bureaucratic system and getting people used to an idea of sharing work to benefit each other was no easy task but now as the years have moved forward, with many lessons learned, even during these Covid19 pandemic times, things seem to be have gone tremendously well so we continue to feel positive for the future.

Some of the key lessons learned is to stay focused, always move forward and be consistent and open to new ideas, take risks, don’t be afraid to meet as many people as you never know who will open a new door for you. It’s always important to expect change and to evolve in any circumstance.

Even though my small team and I feel we have a wealth of information and an extensive network of business partnerships in most any field imaginable. You cannot stop learning and growing.

If it’s tickets to a VIP event, private car service, charter jet and helicopter bookings, wedding and event planning, tours, yacht charters, hand-holding immigration services, holiday and long-term villa rentals, luxury real estate sales...whatever you require, including in the LGBTQ community, we can help you acquire. We have definitely seen and heard it all which makes every day different and most enjoyable.

From the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my team, thank you for all the ongoing support throughout the years and here’s to many more in the future!

Saint-Tropez Living

 

For some reason it seems a bit strange to be writing about Saint-Tropez in January as that’s the time of year the area goes back to the locals in a sense but it is a beautiful place to visit in any given season.

Living near Monaco, it can be tricky for me to get the opportunity to visit Saint-Tropez and the area as often as I would like, also because of my busy work schedule but it is one of those must visit places if you have never been.

If it is your first time traveling to Saint-Tropez, it should be noted that trains do not go into Saint-Tropez itself, however, you can take the train to Saint-Raphael train station, and from the Saint-Raphaël bus station (right behind the train station) where there are regular buses (more frequently in the summer) to the Saint-Tropez bus station which can take 1 1/4 hours (depending on traffic).

Alternatively, in the summer months there are ferries that can take you from places such as Nice, Golfe-Juan and Cannes to Saint-Tropez daily. Those trips can take at least two hours so plan ahead but it is a spectacular way of seeing the coastline with its varying colors and landscapes, you might even see dolphins.

If you are driving, also factor in your time. There is only a two-lane stretch to get right into Saint Tropez and at the height of the season, traffic can be a nightmare.

Saint-Tropez has a very long history and was a military stronghold and fishing village until the beginning of the 20th century, it was and still is to an extent a small town but surrounded by lush greenery in the hills.

It was also the first town on the coast of France to be liberated during World War II. After the war, it slowly became an internationally known seaside resort, renowned principally because of the influx of actors such as Brigitte Bardot (who still lives in the area) and Alain Delon amongst many others. Its laid back summer lifestyle helped make it became a resort for the European and North American jet set and tourists.

To this day St.Tropez is still a very much sought-after place. When the Covid19 restrictions were slowly being lifted after the first lock down here in France during the Springtime, it was the first area getting booked out by the nationals looking for a summer villa retreat through our own luxury villa rental business experience, with a stream of people from other countries clamoring to get there but couldn’t because of borders being closed.

To purchase a property there is also a great investment given the heated rental season.
But I digress...

The local beaches in the Saint-Tropez and Ramatuelle area are also a huge draw for everyone. Compared to other seaside places in the region, here places like Pampelonne and Tahiti beach offer miles of sand with the clear blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea enticing you in for a swim.

The beach restaurants are the places to see and be seen in the summer months and if yachting is your thing, here you will see yachts of every brand, make and model on show.

The town of Saint-Tropez is a highly regarded tourist destination. The colorful buildings at the edge of the sea are quaint and offer much charm. The port itself was once a very commercial destination but now is more of a place for tourists and for those with yachts to moor while they decide on their next destination or enjoy the local amenities.

Saint-Tropez is also an artist's haven because of the history and ever-inspiring natural beauty. Here you can step into an abundant choice of artist galleries to suit everyone’s tastes. Speaking of tastes, the town has an amazing selection of top-notch restaurants for your culinary delight.

Known for its glam component, for all you fashion fiends, if it is luxury goods you are after, every imaginable, highly regarded designer shop can be found here for you to discover and often behind the gates of magnificent mansions: Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Hermès, to name a few.

As for the nightlife, that is also ever-changing seasonally with the parties being all night events, filled with hedonism and eye candy, although there is no gay-scene per se, the area does attract those internationally from the LGBT community so if you play your cards right, a party can be had.

Overall, whether you want to relax and retreat or have a most enjoyable and entertaining time, Saint Tropez can’t be beat.

Christmas In The French Riviera

Winter in the French Riviera overall is a more subdued time of year but still very pleasant when compared to how quickly things are moving here in the summer months with everyone trying to take in as much of the atmosphere and scenery as possible, especially if they are on vacation.

So, what is the Christmas season like? Well, it depends on what you are doing, if you live here or are on holiday, we still get a tremendous amount of sunshine during the winter season and there is always something to see and do in the Cote d’Azur.

Pre-Covid19 times it can feel very much like anywhere else, except there is no snow and if it does happen to snow, it melts right away. To experience the snow you would have to go into the back country at the French Alps, depending on where you are it could be as close as an hour drive away and where you can take in all kinds of activities like skiing or skating in the mountainous villages.

By the sea, all the small towns and cities during Christmas still go very grand and bold when it comes to colorful light displays which are quite beautiful to see when walking through the streets at night. Even the palm trees are lit up.

And many areas have Christmas markets set up, even this year with the pandemic going on you will find them in places like Monaco, Cannes and Antibes, just a bit smaller in size right now for safety reasons concerning gatherings of people.

People also love their Ferris Wheel rides here, which are also lit up at night and give a wonderful perspective from above of the city you are in during the season.

During normal times, the LGBTQ night clubs are open and celebrating with a festive cheer, bars and restaurants would also be open so this gives people both visiting and that live in the region a chance to have a holiday drink with each other. New Year's Eve has also become a much bigger celebration as time passes to ring in the year.

Traditionally for the season itself, Christmas Eve is the big night in which everyone gathers with friends and family most of which includes quite a gathering of gourmet food items, drinks and desserts along with swapping presents.

Christmas Day is still set for the children but it’s also a quieter time where people will visit with other or take leisurely walks along the beach, go for hikes in the mountains or just relax at home.

Of course, with the Coronavirus, that has all changed this year, especially with curfews and restrictions in place. A drastic change for many but in other ways it’s also a chance to perhaps reflect and start new traditions with one another and be very grateful for all our day-to-day blessings.

Whatever you are doing this Christmas, make it a good one and stay safe.

LGBTQ+ Real Estate in France

 

The world is an ever-changing place when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community these days. With widespread tolerance, acceptance and even a warm welcome now being the norm in many parts of the world you wouldn’t think there could be any more issues to tackle. Yet, there are still some basic human rights that unfortunately still need to be addressed when it comes to equality for individuals.

The real estate industry has thankfully been coming to grips with these changes over the decades and is now seen in a much more positive light.

No longer are we as a LGBTQ+ community made to feel confined to live in a certain part of a city or hometown. For quite some time now we have been able to freely pick and choose where and how we want to live.

In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear the term ‘pink dollar’ when it comes to LGBTQ+ finances.

Many of us are well educated professionals wishing to initially invest or expand our property portfolio. In addition, for a segment of the LGBTQ+ population, where and how we invest is important. Our propensity to be more community minded means we are usually doing this not only for ourselves, but also for those around us.

Much of it comes from a basic understanding built through business relationships. However, this is not yet completely commonplace within global real estate agencies so my business partner, Rhodri Ellis Owen, and I, Jameson Farn, wanted to do our part.

We want to show there is a more open-minded way of renting, selling or buying a property.

Our obsession with real estate in France and globally goes way back. If what you are searching for is very rare, or you're looking for your future forever home or simply wish to expand your property portfolio, we love nothing more than taking on the challenge with our private, extensive network to hand.

We have developed over the past number of years a very dynamic and diverse team of business partnerships in the global real estate industry. We work with those who are not only hard-working, but also considerate and professional in their approach.

This has also been beneficial when it comes to owners wanting to sell a property.

We are known for respectfully listening, observing and giving honest feedback on an owner’s property and to learn more about what their intentions might be for it. By doing this, progress is much quicker and smoother for everyone involved, whether an owner wishes for the property to be sold publicly or privately off market.

Despite a lot of progress to date, there unfortunately continues to be gaps in gender, ethnicity and socio-economic equality, along with LGBTQ+ awareness.

On a more uplifting note, it’s clear progress has been made in all these areas in recent years and is something we simply wish to maintain for the benefit of everyone long term.

Feel free to connect with us for your property request for not only France but globally at: Info@experiencethefrenchriviera.com

A Change To The Ski Season in France

Well, what to say, because of the Coronavirus, this has certainly been a tricky year for us all.

The ski season here in France officially started with a couple of big destinations already open, but as of last week the whole of country is now on lock down until at least December 1st so what will this mean for your holiday travel plans?

Like this past summer, none of us knew what to expect and monitored the news on a daily basis intensely for any travel restriction changes. 

So, how will the ski season be different this year with coronavirus-related regulations in place?

The director of the tourism office at l'Alpe d'Huez, François Badjily, admitted it would be complicated, but he was confident of having a normal season.

“We’ve put everything in place to reassure people: Barrier gestures in shops, ski stations, slopes etc.,” 

The director of France Montagnes, Jean-Marc Silva, an association that groups French mountain tourism sectors, agreed.

“Our mountains can handle the concerns that our clients have in terms of health well.

“We are convinced that the value of the mountains will match the expectations of people. People need to feel good; they need the mountain air.”

Here is the current safety update:

Skiing

Masks will not be mandatory while skiing.

Catered chalets

One big change is that there are likely to be fewer catered chalets this year. For obvious reasons, those traveling as a group should stay within their own bubble. We understand each booking situation so will be different and adjustments can be made for your stay.

Public transport

The rules on public transport for getting to the ski stations will remain the same as in the rest of the country. Masks will be mandatory.

Chairlifts

Wearing a mask is compulsory while in queues and on the chairlifts. Chairlifts will be disinfected daily. 

Shops / Ski Rental Shops

Wearing a mask will be mandatory and hydro-alcoholic gel should be made available. All rental equipment should be regularly disinfected.

Restaurants / Bars

Bars and restaurants will, in theory, be open. However, as time will tell, this may change depending on the government recommendations and local requirements. 

If an option, bars and restaurants will only be offering seated consumption, and masks will be mandatory when customers are moving around and not at the table.

Accommodation

Masks will be mandatory when in a communal area. There are no extra requirements if you are in self-catered accommodation.  

Everything is a bit of a prediction right now, but one thing going in everyone's favor is that it is only the beginning of the ski season which means hopefully things will be cleared up even more for European Gay Ski Week in March 2021.

With this past summer, as a bit of awareness, we noticed since France lifted restrictions within the country first, French nationals were booking very quickly and at every location so if you get the opportunity once things are clear, don't hesitate in supporting the European Gay Ski Week or the slopes in general for that matter.

We're all in this together!

Why Gay French Riviera?

The Gay French Riviera blog started almost 10 years ago on February 4, 2011. At the time I was still living in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada but was making frequent, yearly trips to France and more specifically to the French Riviera which I had first visited upon a suggestion by a French friend on my first trip to Europe in the early 1990’s. The Cote d’Azur was nothing but love upon first sight.

I remember very well the evening I started this blog. I had never written anything before for any kind of publication, I obviously had heard about blogs, yet really wasn’t sure where to start so thought I would just give it a try to see what would come of it.

It was dreary and raining outside on that typical Vancouver winter night and since I was constantly missing all aspects of the beautiful French Riviera and France, after searching around online I noticed there really wasn’t anything geared towards the LGBTQ community in that part of France.

There was random website listings of nightclubs, bars and beaches that you could tell no fact checking had been done to see if the places even still existed and apart from one small French blog that was also outdated, I gave it a shot and registered Gay French Riviera.

I had kind of mapped out a plan of what and where to write about at first to start setting things off as an introductory guide of sorts but overall, I wanted it to have a feel about what to expect on a first visit, current events, places, news items, whatever an individual or group might be want to experience.

Gay French Riviera has turned out to be a great way of spending some free time and back then a way to connect closer to France while I planned out my next trip there to what I now for years have called home.

The blog was never about obtaining the most online hits (although the numbers are substantial every month) or to make money, it’s truly just become a way to promote the French Riviera and France itself to not only those around the world who consider themselves to be part of the LGBTQ community...but for everyone who has an interest in the country.

Surprisingly, within three months of posting blog articles online, the Nice Tourism board contacted me as they were starting a big promotional push to also bring the gay community into the area as a year round destination and within a couple weeks of that, Cannes Tourism and Monaco Tourism also connected with me.

Together we had set out a plan for my next visit where I would be introduced to various hotels, restaurants and businesses who consider themselves to be gay friendly. Plus, I was given personal tours to explore parts of the cities and attend events during my time.

I found this thrilling to no end; I was always happy just to be in this place of the world I loved and now all these extras were coming my way which have been great to experience and in turn write about.

This also helped open other doors to various owners and managers of places whether they be nightclubs, boutiques and a variety of businesses that I thought may interest a member of the community planning a vacation in France.

Many of these people have become lifelong friends and since finally making the move here many years ago, in a sense this blog has helped establish not only myself but my businesses starting with ExperienceThe French Riviera.

I am consistently grateful and in awe of the chance to get to live in the French Riviera. For me there really doesn’t seem to be any bad days. There is a sense of freedom here no matter your sexuality and if you have dreams you want to accomplish; this is one of the best areas of Europe to be given it garners such a culturally diverse and extensive international audience.

No matter what happens in the future, especially in the time of Covid19 right now, I am forever in love with France and all it has brought to my life and others I know.

If you are hesitant about things in your life, don’t know where to begin, all I have to say is taking the chance on writing Gay French Riviera has been nothing but rewarding so go for whatever you have in mind, be consistent and make it happen.

Gay Voyageur

Being in the luxury villa rental and real estate business for almost 10 years focusing mostly on properties here in the beautiful French Riviera and other parts of France. My company, Experience The French Riviera has always been open to meeting new clients from every type of background and nationality from anywhere around the world.

In fact, it’s one of the most exciting things, getting to meet new people on almost a daily basis, learning more about their lifestyle and customs that what will make a trip to France memorable.

With that, an individual’s sexuality has never been an issue, not with myself or any owners I work with, everyone deserves a holiday and why not have the most luxurious one imaginable. 

So late this summer, my fellow Canadian friend Danny of Gay Voyageur and I started discussing how we could showcase some of my villa rentals available to rent for those coming to this stunning part of France on his work website.

Gay Voyageur is a longstanding, reputable LGBTQ travel and information guide specifically geared towards community interests. And not only is it for those in Europe or planning on coming here, but the website also focuses on other parts of the globe as well such as Asia and North America.

Vacation rentals, nightclubs, beaches, sports, Pride events, relevant news items, are just a small number of informative items available through the Gay Voyageur website to help make your destination planning that much easier and effective no matter where you want to go.

Currently in my property portfolio we have well over 150 villas to choose from, so for this undertaking we have started with some of the best in the region and as time allows more villas will be added to the Gay Voyageur website. And not only will there be luxury villas, but also apartments in Paris and chalets for your ski holidays in the French Alps plus our other concierge services as well.

We all deserve a taste of the good life and one of the many ways clients can obtain such a sumptuous villa for a vacation is to travel as a group. This way you are together and have your own private space to do as you please in both a safe and secure environment considering the current Covid19 situation. Or, if you would like, feel free to rental a villa on your own or with your partner. 

There is a wide variety to choose from with many of the properties starting with three bedrooms going all the way up to 10-15 bedrooms. The locations also vary with many at seaside areas close to all amenities or even in the countryside as private retreats.

Most of the villas offer additional services such as cleaners, chef, car service and we can even provide private charter jet service through one of our partners. Whatever you require, if your budget allows for it, we can make it happen, just let us know what you require and when. Have a corporate or private event in mind? We can help with all your planning requirements. 

So be sure to refer to the Gay Voyageur website frequently for updated property listings from us at Experience The French Riviera. We want to provide you with ideal villa rental and all- around experience for your vacation or business trip in France!