French Riviera Cost: What We Actually Spent for a Week in the South of France

I’m not going to lie… the French Riviera always felt like one of those places you look at, not somewhere you actually go.

Too glossy. Too expensive. Too… not for us.

But this trip taught me something big.

Beautiful doesn’t have to mean impossible.

Here’s what the French Riviera really cost our family of four… the good, the “ouch”, and the bits I’d absolutely do again.

Accommodation – Club Colombier

This was our base at Club Colombier. It was simple, comfortable, air con (needed lol) and that little decking space for slow evenings with a glass of wine. Perfect! This is where the magic is.

We stayed at Club Colombier, and honestly? It was the perfect base for exploring the French Riviera. Unfortunately, it looks like this site is no longer listed on the Eurocamp site, but the location and style of stay still reflect what you can expect from similar Riviera bases.

We booked a 3-bed standard caravan for mid-August, which came with:

Linen hire

A welcome pack (salt, pepper, wine of course, water, juice… just enough to land softly)

It was comfortable, clean, air-con did its job, and the outside space made evenings feel easy. Cards, chats, winding down after busy days.

Cost: £1,444 for 7 nights

Not cheap… but for August, the French Riviera, an excellent base, and a family of four?

It felt… doable.

Getting There – Flights, Car Hire & Driving

We hired a car and drove. This is where the trip started to feel like freedom. The views, the stops and the ability to go wherever we wanted. I would do it this way every single time.

We flew Gatwick to Nice, which couldn’t have been easier.

Flights (return for 4): £827

At Nice Airport we picked up a hire car… a newish Nissan Qashqai, which we needed for this kind of trip.

Car hire (1 week): £400

Petrol: ~€30 (literally just topping it up before returning it)

Having a car is non-negotiable on the French Riviera if you want freedom. Trains are great, but the magic for us was hopping between towns, viewpoints, beaches, and pulling over when something caught our eye.

Parking reality check:

Around €6 for 4 hours depending on location

Tight bays, tight car parks… and my husband stressed more than a few times

It genuinely became a running joke 😂

(Top tip: smaller car = happier driver)

Food & Drink – Let’s Be Honest…

We ate out most days… and this is where a big chunk of the budget went. But the food. Trust me.. Worth IT!!

Mate… we ate out.

All the time.

Morning pastries and coffees.

Lunches out when we fancied.

Evening meals every night… sometimes casual, sometimes fancy.

It was expensive.

And it was worth it.

Food & drink total: ~£1,400 for 7 nights

(This includes drinks, snacks, dinners… everything)

One standout was La Ramade in Saint-Tropez.

Chef’s kiss. Over €100, but honestly? Comparable to a decent UK restaurant… just with better views and better vibes.

And Cannes… the ice cream.

From La Gelateria Cannes… about €5 each and worth every euro.

Would I cook more next time?

Absolutely.

Will I regret eating my way through the Riviera?

Not even slightly.

Towns, Villages & Exploring the French Riviera

Kayaking through the Gorge du Verdon was one of our favourite days. Simple, fun, and full of memories you hold for a lifetime!

This trip wasn’t about big excursions… it was about exploring.

We visited:

Costs were mostly food, drinks, and wandering… but two small extras stood out:

Èze gardens: €8 per person… worth it (for me anyway)

Verdon Gorge kayak: ~€30 for a few hours

Everything else? Park up, explore on foot, get lost, stumble into moments.

Extras (Because… Us)

Souvenirs, trinkets, and a few clothing bits because… let’s be honest… me and my girl can not not shop.

Extras: ~€200

Total Cost – French Riviera Family Holiday

Accommodation: £1,444

Flights & car hire: £1,227

Food & drink: £1,400

Activities & entrances: ~£60

Souvenirs & extras: ~£200

Total: ~£4,331

For August, the French Riviera, and a week of memories that still live in my chest?

I’ll stand by it.

And let’s be real for a second…

For what we paid, we could’ve booked a standard all-inclusive TUI holiday in the middle of the school holidays. Same price. Same chaos. Just with a wristband, buffet queues, and absolutely zero personality.

Instead, we had medieval villages, cliffside views, cold wine, kayaking through gorges, ice creams in Cannes, and the freedom to do what we wanted, when we wanted.

I know which one I’m choosing. Every. Single. Time.

For everything we experienced. Places..food.. memories. It felt worth every single penny.

What I’d Do Differently Next Time

Cook more at the campsite… breakfasts and a couple of dinners would’ve saved a chunk

Still eat out… just not every night

Same setup. Same freedom. Same style of travel

Was It Worth It?

Oh my days.

Yes. Yes. And another yes.

The French Riviera was everything I imagined… and more.

Glitz and glamour, yes… but also old-school charm, quiet moments, laughter, and stories that’ll weave themselves into my travels forever.

And that’s the real ending of this Eurocamp series.

These holidays weren’t about luxury.

They were about access. About proving that places we think are “not for us” actually can be… with the right setup.

This might be the final chapter of our Eurocamp stories for now…

but it’s definitely not the end of this way of travelling.

Love always,

Zo x

If you’re planning your own Riviera trip, I’ve shared more from this same holiday across a few posts that might help you see what it’s really like, not just what it looks like online.

• Where to Stay in Fréjus, France – Our Eurocamp Base at Club Colombier (French Riviera Guide)

• French Riviera Diaries: Cannes Day Trip from Frejus

• Èze Village, French Riviera – A Fairytale Stop on Our Riviera Road Trip

• Gorge du Verdon: Planned, Petrifying and Completely Worth It

• Nice – The City That Held Our Final Hours

It wasn’t luxury.

It was just done right.

Walking up the cobbled steps in Eze village on the French Riviera

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