Enjoy a quick French getaway

The problem of planning holidays in popular tourist hotspots is that it's all been done before. The French Riviera, the Costa del Sol, the Algarve...

As soon as the sun shows up after the dreary months of winter, everyone flocks down to the southern Mediterranean shores like migratory birds and suddenly you can't take two steps without risking a limb every time you bump into someone...

But if you're one to brave the scary crowds, there are plenty of reasons why these are popular destinations: the weather is amazing, the beaches are everything you could possibly wish for, and the food is absolutely heavenly! Sure, there's also all the cultural and historical significance, but one would always prefer to enjoy those perks in warm weather. ;)

Last time I was in the French Riviera, my Nice car hire and I got intimately acquainted with the region, which is to say I got lost a fair amount. Wouldn't be me if I wasn't struggling with a map at some point. ;) I ended up in some village in the middle of nowhere, speaking not a word of French. After doing that dance that foreigners often do, where I talked really loudly and very slowly, while making wild gestures with my hands, I soon found myself at a table of some small family restaurant, having the best meal of my life!

Now Richard might be able to detail you the finer points of this meal, but all I can tell is it was made of awesome and I shudder to think I might never have anything that tasty and delicate and full of flavor in my life again! My point being, just because you're heading out to a destination that has become a cliche in and of itself, there's no reason why you shouldn't be finding new things that are unique and special and out there for you to stumble upon!

With a car hire in France, getting off the beaten track is almost mandatory, even if it ends up with you lost in the middle of nowhere. ;)

Any suggestions of hidden gems one shouldn't miss?