My favorite way to spend a vacation in France is to hire a car and tour. I don’t “do” camping and I’m actually not a fan of swanky hotels, in my opinion they’re more often overpriced for what you get and too stuffy and formal. I’m more of a boutique hotel or classy bed & breakfast accommodation man.

This has always been my accommodation of choice during my many visits to the Languedoc region in the South of France. Chambre d’hotes, guesthouses or B&B’s, call them what you like but there are a veritable plethora of them in this part of France. The standard can vary enormously but there is no shortage of the type that I prefer, that’s to say a small establishment with around six rooms all done up in a sophisticated style. They are invariable run by a couple who are friendly and quite often share their dinner table with you in the evenings. Perfect.