marriedthepoolguy

We are going to Monte Carlo for a week, which I understand from other posts is a long time to be there. However, the motel is free, so I'm not complaining! We are looking for advice and tips on day (or even 2 day) trips that we can do, using Monte Carlo as a base. Tips on train, cab, car rental, and local tour guide agencies you can recommend, etc. We greatly appreciate any and all information! This is the first time either of us have been in Europe as adults, and its a tad daunting.
Thanks much!

Viajero2

What month? Depending on time of theyear are really your options. Off the bat, degfinitely NICE. Also, Menton, Eze, La Turbie, Villefranche Sur Mer, Antibes, St. Paul de Vence, Cannes, St. Tropez. Many more choices than days you have so do take some time and patience to browse the already hundreds of posts on train and sightseeing info fo rthe French Riviera in this forum.

marriedthepoolguy

V-
Thank you! We will be there the last week of November. What do you think is the best way to travel to these places? Arrange tours through a company, rent a car, public transit? Thanks much!

Viajero2

Public transport for major cities. Nice has great train connections with most major towns on the French Riviera. Eze and La Turbie are hilltop villages reached by the Upper Corniche road, a great idea for a car ride for its breathtaking scenery on a nice summer day. HOWEVER, a bit scary if rainy/bad weather day (this is the road where Princess Grace Kelly had the fatal accident...). I would first decide which towns are MUST SEE, which towns are NICE to SEE and then work out the tansportation logistics. I would rent a car to go to Menton, just because you can continue on to Italy (closest town Ventimiglia). That said, there are excellent train connections with Ventimiglia, so your choice. I would not spend much time in Ventimiglia if you decide to go into Italy. I would head out to St. Remo instead and see the Casino ("The Talented Mr. Ripley", James Bond movies!). Have fun! You are going to my favorite part of France!!

marriedthepoolguy

This is GREAT info!! Thank you SO MUCH! anything I should know about driving/renting a car there? guess we should probably pack the Tom-Tom?
Have you ever been there in fall/winter? What can we expect for temperatures in late November/early December? I don't mean to pepper you with questions, but I really appreciate your help!

Viajero2

A car is a great way to see this area. HOWEVER, it is also a pain with parking, etc...I believe, however, some of this would be alleviated in Nov. If you want to check rates HERTZ, Avis, Alamo, Europcar, they all have outlets at the Nice Airport (about 15 miles from Monaco). See if the price is something you would go for. Public transport is good; Monte Carlo-Nice train ride is about 25 mts and they run quite regularly. However, do consider seriously the possibility of driving; it just opens up so many possibilities and flexibility. Ask the motel for parking arrangements and see if this is something doable. BTW, driving in France is no different than driving in the USA; just get familiar with road signs (most guidebooks offer a list). Excellent roads; drivers are for the most part, very courteous (Portuguese and Italians-- another story...)

I have not been to the French Riviera in late Nov/Dec. I have good friends in the area who tell me Nov/Dec can be very nice as in the upper 60's. Rain is not unusual. Layers are the key; it is no wonder that French women are masters of versatility when it comes to using scarves!! A pashmina is a great piece of clothing for this type weather.

List the places that you guys consider must see and that should help you decide which way to go as far as transport in between. Have fun planning!

tdk320n

Public transportation in this area is fabulous. I particularly like the buses. They only cost 1 euro and go to almost any town that you would want to see. I stayed in NICE as my base and used the buses extensively. I know that the bus goes to and from MONACO from Nice. It is about 1/2 hour trip . I am not sure of the schedule from MONACO to other towns however this is the website for the buses
www.rca.tm.fr.
Have fun.

tdk320n

HI, A better website for the bus lines is

www.lignedazur.com

The bus terminal in NICE is calle GARE ROUTIERE

All buses to and from NICE Start and end here. You can pickup bus schedules here if you prefer.

marriedthepoolguy

Everyone, thank you so munch! This is a tremendous help! I'm sure I'll have more questions as we get closer to departure time, but this is a great start. Thank you!!

GalleySlaveKelly

Marriedthepoolguy,

I think you are on the same "junket" that I am. If so, parking at the hotel is outrageously expensive so you may want think about single daily rentals instead of a weeklong rental.

alsoapoolperson

I think I am on this trip, too, and was wondering the same things you were! Thanks for all the helpful replies. We are thinking of renting a car for part of the time and signed up for two of the tours; the provence wine tasting and the trip to San Remo, Italy. I found a pashima at TJ MAXX for a very good price that is 100% cashmere and am so glad to know it is a good thing to take! I am also planning to take a trench coat and a couple of light jackets.

Are jeans ( nice ones) ok to wear for day trips or are those frowned upon? We are supposed to get a box with information in it the first week of November. We have been on lots of the Polaris trips and they are always super nice. I am so excited about going on this one!

isabel

I'm going to be in Nice that same week so this info is very helpful. I will definitely not be renting a car and wondered about the logistics of bus/train for getting to Eze. Which is best? Also, I see Eze and Villefrance are very close, but one is on the lower road and the other the middle road. So it is possible to combine both in one day from Nice? Would you need to go back to Nice in between them?

alsoapoolperson

My daughter did a study abroad in France and also recommends Avignon as a nice place to go. We may try to get there on a day trip.

GalleySlaveKelly

Polaris always puts on a great trip so we should all have fun. (I'm also planning to do the wine tasting so I'll see you there maybe.) I think if we get the bug to go exploring, we'll arrange for a daily car rental after we get there.

We are spending the first two days in Nice. Last time I was there for an afternoon (on a BioGuard cruise), I really enjoyed the markets, but that was summer. They say the wind (the Mistral) can be very strong in November/December.

I've found the France Forum board to be very helpful for planning things also.

zoecat

alsopoolperson,
Avignon is very nice, but I would not consider doing a day trip from Monaco- it's too far.

alsoapoolperson

Thanks galleyslave and zoecat- we will check out the distances for the day trips. Galleyslave, we have been in the business almost 40 years now and have had some very fun trips. We will be going to the convention in Vegas, too- husband won some design awards. How cold does it get with that wind?

GalleySlaveKelly

Not sure on the temps while the Mistral is blowing. I hear you can have beautiful, bright blue sunny days or cloudy, rainy gloomy ones. The highs seems to be in the upper 50s low 60s and the lows in the mid-40s.

I'll be in Vegas as well and will cheer you when you win your awards. Congratulations!

kellyreed at watercrafters.com

Palenque

For a short sweet walk along a pristine part of the Riviera, not much of which is left really, you can walk from Monte Carlo west about two miles to the Cap d'Ail train station - passing a totally untouched Riviera coast redolent of Cote d'Azur beauty etched in our minds' eyes but which once there many do not find.

The flat paved footpath hugs the coast all the way - a coast of rugged boulders anchored by cypress trees that tumble to the azure-hued and uncannily clear water - there are isolated swimming holes and neat picnic spots - you can hop the train back to Monte Carlo or of course, walk back - you cannot get lost because straying off the path means going steeply up the rocky coast.

marriedthepoolguy

Wow! I'm so sorry I hadn't checked this posting in a few weeks! PoolPerson and Galley....yes, it is the Polaris trip that we will be on, and we are doing the full day wine tour on Tuesday. Hope to see you there! Beyond that, we're wide open for whatever. Perhaps a few of us can go in on a van rental for a day trip or something? Might be more economical? Who knows.
So glad to see I'm not the only crazy planner trying to map out this trip!
Cheers!

alsoapoolperson

marriedthe poolguy, we would be up for going in together on a car with somebody for a day trip or two. My daughter has been to Provence twice and gave me her travel books for the area yesterday and had some good suggestions.Kelly, will look for you in Vegas. We are Wise Pools at the design awards and will be at the ceremony Monday afternoon on the convention floor. Weird they are giving the awards that way this year but I guess they are trying to save bucks.

Palenque, that walk sounds gorgeous and we might try that- thanks for the tip.