When we were first planning our trip to the south of France, I wrote out a plan down to the minute. I mapped out everything: from the lavender fields to every abbey and tiny town. I dreamed of rushing from Gordes to Roussillon, just to get some beautiful photos before the crowds of tourists descended.

But things turned out differently. The coolest thing about this trip happened completely out of place. Real Provence is not in the picture-postcard places, it is somewhere in between.

The morning started with us completely abandoning the route. Instead of endlessly racing through checkpoints, we simply turned off to where the

road meandered between hills. We ended up in some remote place not even on the maps. And it turned out to be the best decision of the entire trip. The market where my grandfather sold some incredible cheese, the coffee in the square... We literally spent half the day there.

After that day, I redefined vacations. It turns out that it is better not to check off boxes, but to let the day decide where it takes you. Now we constantly stop at every roadside stand or family farm, and believe me, that is far more valuable than any «top 10 places to visit.

Why You Absolutely Need A Car In Provence

If you really want to experience the vibe of spontaneous road trips, you cannot do it without your own car. Trains in France are fantastic, of course, but only for getting from point A to point B between major cities. But if you want to detour off-route, stop in a village, or just hang out in a lavender field, you need your own steering wheel. This time, we rented a car through Discover Cars. Honestly, I'm a real stickler when it comes to renting, always looking for a catch, but here everything went perfectly. What really saved us was the «No Deposit» option.

Anyone who travels frequently knows how annoying it is when a ton of money is frozen on your card. But here, you choose the no-deposit option and can spend your hard-earned money on delicious French dinners or souvenirs without having to check your frozen balance in your bank app.

My Top Tips For Renting A Car In France

I can say for sure that the most popular question I am constantly asked about is car rentals abroad. I decided to post about rentals in Europe to provide the most detailed information on why I use Discover Cars, and here is why it really works:

Do not be optimistic about the timing. It is a common mistake when you land at 10:00 and book a car for 10:30. Do not do that. Allow at least an hour for passport control and baggage handling. If you are late, your reservation will be cancelled. I have learned this the hard way.
Filters are your salvation. They are easy to filter out junk. They have thousands of partners in hundreds of countries, so do not waste time on lengthy searches; just set the desired parameters once.
Get comprehensive insurance. Seriously, do not skimp on this. European streets can be so narrow that even a minor parking mishap without insurance will turn your vacation into a quest for paying fines. With full coverage, you can simply enjoy the views.
A card is essential. Almost everywhere, they require a physical credit card in the name of the person who will be driving. Not a debit card, but a credit card. Be sure to check this so they do not turn you away at the counter.
No hidden surprises. This is perhaps the main advantage: all you see when booking is the final price. No «oops, we forgot to add the airport tax» on the spot. And the app clearly explains everything: where to go, where the counter is, what to do.
Flexibility is key. If plans change, you can cancel or reschedule for free up to 48 hours before departure. Very convenient when your travel schedule is constantly changing.

The travel industry was not able to just exist without recognition of how good Discover Cars' service is. In 2025, the company received a gold award at the Magellan Awards in the Travel Marketing – Website category. They also have won the 2025 World Travel Tech Awards, taking home two titles: World’s Best Car Booking App and World’s Best Car Booking Website.

The car was the best thing we had because we stopped rushing around like crazy and just had time. If you are heading to the south of France, do not try to cram your itinerary in. Take a car, roll down the windows, and do not be afraid to go off-road onto all sorts of back roads. Seriously, all the best things in Provence are hidden somewhere between the famous spots, not in the tourist spots themselves.

Let Provence Surprise You

If you want to learn a lesson from my trip to Provence – there is no rush. If you try to squeeze everything in, you will miss out. It is not the top sights that get stuck in my memory, but much simpler details: the warm baguette we grabbed at the first bakery we came across, the beautiful color of lavender, when you are driving with the windows open, and the way we laughed when we got stuck in some dead-end street that was not even on Google Maps.

There is nothing to do here without a car. It is not just transportation, it is the only way to see France without the crowds of tourists. This is the only way to truly ditch the schedule and just go wherever your eyes take you.

So my advice: get a car, throw your things in the trunk, plan out a route and forget about it after an hour. Take any dirt road past the vineyards. The coolest stories always happen when you are a little lost. Have you ever taken a spontaneous wrong turn, and it turned out to be more fun than the rest of your vacation? You should definitely try to do that one day.