When you arrive, head straight down to the Promenade des Anglais, next to the sea, and take one of the famous blue chairs. This is the finest people watching in the south of France and the beginning of your perfect road trip. Travellers have been coming here for 300 years and it's easy to see why. Find a tucked away bistro for a typical Provençal beef stew. Before leaving, take a dip in the Mediterranean - and don't forget to stock up for a picnic at Saleya market. Art lovers shouldn't miss the Musée Matisse.
The efficient A8 autoroute whisks you to the heart of Provence in less than three hours. L'Isle Sur La Sorgue is a small, highly atmospheric Provencal town with a plethora of inviting antiques stores. Browse and buy at your leisure. On Sundays, L'Isle Sur La Sorgue hosts a typically Provencal food market, taking over all the streets of the town. This is sensory perfection and shouldn't be missed. Your picnic needs over the next few days are spoken for.
In less than an hour on the D900, you're one in one of the south of France's most famous destinations, Avignon. Take in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the 14th century Palais des Papes, the medieval gothic popes' palace, before meandering around the old city, enclosed by miles of ancient walls. The Avignon Festival each July is one of the finest cultural events in France. Foodies should head to Les Halles Market for local produce on a grand scale.
Renowned as the home of the jet setter since the 1960s and still sparkling with glamour, Saint-Tropez is a drive of under three hours from Avignon on the way back to Nice and journey's end. Find an inviting harbourside cafe and order a Tarte Tropézienne, a crème pâtissière creation named by Brigitte Bardot herself. The bustle of the fish market is a flavour of the real St Tropez.