Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

I would like to take the opportunity before the last hurrah of the festive holidays to say thank you to all my fans, followers and clients for a great 2016.

2016 has been a year of new connections and interesting work projects mixed with a dose of laughter, tears and trials from my family including a few bouts of chicken pox and kids illness that comes part and parcel of being a parent.

To all the followers, likers, sharers of anything ‘Access Riviera’ without your clicks and shares my blog is nothing worth getting up for so please do keep following in 2017!  I have also (finally!) stepped into the Instagram-a-sphere, so if you fancy checking out some of my photos from the French Riviera and other travel pics of mine please drop by to say hi www.instagram.com/ariviera06   

Last but not least, to my family – thank you for your support of my work deadlines this year, my typing in the quiet of the night and general unpredictable nature and bad jokes – I love you all.

I want to wish all of you a safe and enjoyable New Years Eve whether you are staying in for the night or planning on fuelling your next hangover.   Happy New Year, Joyeux Réveillon and see you in 2017!

Becks

 

 

New Years Eve ideas on the French Riviera

Tomorrow, New Years Eve, marks a traditionally large celebration for Anglophone residents around the world.

In France, I have seen the occurrence of New Years Eve parties, special dinners and events increase each year.

Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre (New Years Eve) image: stpauldevence.com

New Year traditions in France

As with the tradition of Christmas cards that is more widespread in the USA or United Kingdom, in France is it more customary to send best wishes for the New Year in January.

New Years Eve in France is marked with a feast – le Réveillon de Saint-Sylvestre – with dinner items very similar to what is eaten on Christmas Day including goose, turkey or hen, foie gras, oysters, smoked salmon and of course, champagne.  At midnight, you kiss under the mistletoe (which is usually done at Christmas in other cultures) and give best wishes for the coming year.

Interestingly, if you intending to be in France for New Years Eve many restaurants put on events such as special dinners or themed dances – it’s a good time to splash out the wallet on a dinner date as the chefs are all trying to outdo each other with the best celebration menus.

The first of January, New Year’s Day (le jour de l’an) is a bank holiday in France, and is a day of family celebration with a large lunch, traditionally featuring seafood of various kinds.

Here are my suggestions for things to do on New Years Eve on the French Riviera:

ANTIBES

La Cantina, has a New Years Eve menu with DJ and electro/pop band https://www.facebook.com/lacantina06600

Restaurant Le Figuier de Saint-Espirit near the old remparts has special New Years Eve and New Years Day menus. http://www.restaurant-figuier-saint-esprit.com/

Le Figuier de Saint-Esprit, Antibes (image: FranceVoyage)

Le Jardin restaurant has a New Years Eve menu www.restaurant-lejardin.fr

Marineland has a special New Years Eve event including dinner and show www.marineland.fr/fr/reveillon/le-reveillon-2014

CANNES

Free fireworks display on the Croisette.  Music from 11pm, followed by fireworks in the Baie de Cannes at midnight set to ‘James Bond’ theme music.

Fireworks in the Baie de Cannes (image: cannesdestination)

JW Marriott Cannes has New Years Eve menus www.jwmarriottcannes.fr

Majestic Barriere has New Years Eve menus www.hotels-barriere.com

New York New York opposite the Cannes port has a New Years Eve menu www.nynycannes.com

CAP D’AIL

Hotel Marriott Riviera La Porte de Monaco has a New Years Eve dinner menu and accommodation offers. www.marriott.com/mcmcd

LA COLLE SUR LOUP

Chef Alain Llorca has New Years Eve and New Years Day festive menus available at www.alainllorca.com

JUAN LES PINS

AC Ambassadeur Hotel has a New Years Eve dinner with kids menus also available http://www.achoteljuanlespins.fr

Hotel Belle Rives has a circus themed New Years Eve ‘Diner du Réveillon’ menu (and also a New Years Day menu) www.bellesrives.com

New Years Eve 2014 -Hotel Belle Rives, Juan les Pins

Hotel Juana has a DJ for New Years Eve, as well as special New Years Eve and New Years Day menus and accommodation packages.  www.hotel-juana.com

New Years Eve 2014 – Hotel Juana, Juan les Pins

The View Restaurant Club in the Palais des Congrés is having a ‘Great Gatsby’ themed party. More details on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theviewjuanlespins/info?tab=overview

LE CANNET

Bastide Bruno Oger has New Years Eve and New Years Day lunch menus www.bruno-oger.com

MONACO

Entertainment from 9pm with DJ, Christmas market, ice-skating followed by a free fireworks display on quai Albert 1er.

NICE

AC Hotel by Marriott, has a New Years Eve menu with entertainment by DJ. www.achotelnice.fr

Hotel Splendid & Spa has New Years Eve packages which include accommodation, dinner and hot buffet breakfast. http://www.splendid-nice.com/en/new-years-eve-package-2014/

OPIO

Château Begude has a New Years Eve menu www.chateau-begude.com

SAINT PAUL DE VENCE

Restaurant La Caruso has a New Years Eve menu www.lecarusodesaintpaul.fr

Bonne année 2015 !