Tahiti, Bora Bora, the San Blas Archipelago, Turkey, Sardinia …. for Daniel, the 40 odd years at sea as well as those with his daughters have made him passionate about travel and sharing his stories with guests staying at Villa Port d’Attache.

Gillian and Daniel met in Greece, in the Dodecanese islands. Gillian, a graduate of journalism committed to ending Apartheid, wanted to explore other shores and discover the Mediterranean. At that time, they listened to Sixto Rodriguez, Miriam Makeba, David Bowie and the Rolling Stones. After several seasons, Gillian made her home in Europe.

When distance learning for their daughters became more challenging, the idea of creating Villa Port d’attache (home port) was born. Together, they fell in love with this hillside villa built by a potter from Vallauris. François planted the decor with fruit trees, grape vines, cypress, olive and fig trees over a period of twenty years. Gillian and Daniel then enhanced it with new terraces, a new floor and new rooms to open its doors fifteen years ago.

Together they created a little paradise that they wanted to share with other travelers. They are appreciated by their regulars for their friendly and caring welcome. Gillian knows all the good restaurants, the hidden corners that make the Côte d’Azur coastline so rich. The Port d’Attache is a time for yourself, but Gillian is never too far away to advise you on your itinerary for the day or to book you into the best restaurants.

Daniel loves to go to the market and pick out juicy fruit and other delicacies for your breakfast. On board or at the dock, he can fix anything: he transformed the villa into the lovely guest house it is today. In the afternoons, you can sometimes catch him with a comic book or a thriller by Maxime Chattam or his favorite: “La Longue Route” by Bernard Moitessier.

The couple also share their favorite spots. When Gillian is not at home, she likes to have tea in the gardens of the Villa Rothschild with her sister and her friends or to walk around the Cap d’Antibes with Lucy, their boxer dog. With the excuse of ordering new welcome toiletries for the guests, you can also find her in the Galimard factory happily smelling the new fragrances. Restaurants such as L’Amandier de Mougins, Le Café du Coin in Vallauris or Les Dilletants are among the HQs where guests go to share a romantic and privileged moment.

Don’t be a passing traveler, come and enjoy all the best addresses and the most beautiful places to visit whilst staying in the wooded domain of the Port d’Attache.