Planes
The closest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur, 14km from the hotel. To reach the hotel from the airport by car, take the A8 highway and then the Cagnes/Vence exit, followed by the RN7 to Cagnes-sur-Mer. From here, keep following the CD36 to Vence. Alternatively, take a bus from the airport (www.cg06.fr); the 94 or 400 should get you to Vence in roughly an hour.
Trains
The closest station is Cagnes-sur-Mer, from which you can take the 400 bus to Vence. For the TGV from Paris, you will need to arrive in either Nice or Antibes; the Eurostar will get you there from London St Pancras, with a single change in Paris.
Automobiles
La Maison du Frene is situated off the A8 motorway, past Cagnes-sur-Mer. Nice and Antibes are 30 minutes away by car; to Cannes or Monaco, allow 45 minutes. Estimated driving times from nearby cities are an hour and a half from Toulon, two hours from Marseille, and four and a half hours from Lyon. Secured underground parking is available.
Worth getting out of bed for
There are some excellent art galleries in Vence. Have a browse around Brett Rhodes Neal’s studio on La Place Du Peyra. Some of his works can also be seen at La Maison du Frêne.
Local restaurants
With two Michelin stars, Restaurant Le Moulin de Mougins on Quartier Notre Dame-de-Vie in Mougins has suitably excellent cuisine. Book a table in their sculpture garden. The Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence (+33 (0)4 93 32 80 02) is as famous for its fabulous art collection as it is for its fine food. Le Château du Domaine St Martin on Avenue des Templiers in Vence has a Michelin-starred restaurant, La Commanderie, with fantastic panoramic views across the Côte d'Azur, as well as an excellent, less formal grill restaurant in an olive grove. La Farigoule on Rue Henri-Isnard (+33 (0)4 93 58 01 27) has rich, comforting Provençal dishes and a beautiful rose garden.