Need hep/advice/comments on Provence Itinerary-- especially where/when to fit in a day-trip to Monte Carlo

I have pretty much mapped out our itinerary for a 9-day trip to (mostly) Provence June 20-29th. I’ve been to the area before but Mr. TravelGlutton has not. His one request is that we fit in a visit to Monte Carlo. Trying to figure out whether to fit it in in the middle of the itinerary as a day-trip, or tack it on at the end with a night in St. Tropez for change of scenery. Does a round-trip from St. Saturnin to Monte Carlo seem like a lot of driving in one day?

Hoping for advice on where/how to fit Monte Carlo in (it only matters to him that he go; he doesn’t seem to be too picky about what we do there or for how long), as well as comments/advice on the itinerary in general. To give you and idea of our priorities, we generally don’t spend more than 80-130 euro per night on lodging, but we love food and wine and wish to experience lots of it. We are looking for a slightly more relaxed experience than our usual method of hectic non-stop activity (hence the shortage of “sights”), but not too slow!

FRI
Arrive Marseille 11:20am; pick up rental car and drive to Saintes Maries de la Mer; check in to Mangio Fango for one night--has anyone ever stayed here? Any dinner recommendations for the area?

SAT
Travel/photograph the Camargue landscape; drive to Arles for late lunch and viewing ruins; head to Saint Remy and check in to hopefully either Maison du Village or Moulin d’Aure (waiting to hear back from both) for one night. Seem to be lots of great dinner options in Saint Remy.

SUN
Early morning departure to l’Isle sur la Sorgue to spend several hours at the market; pick up lunch items for picnic (where? Right there in town, or are there better, less crowded locations close by?); drive to Gordes to check in to Le Mas de Beaume for 2 nights (already have reservations--stayed there last year and absolutely loved it!). Would like dinner somewhere within walking distance so we can indulge in much wine. Have already been to the Clos du Gustave (willing to go again since I thoroughly enjoyed it) but any other recommendations? La Mas des Romarins, La Bastide of Gordes, perhaps?

MON
We will make a day of either Stu’s recommended “Visiting the villages in the Luberon” route, his “Lavender Fields” route, or his “Vaison with Roman Ruins & Serious Wine Country” route, hoping to get lost and stumble onto some finds of our own, open to exploring, and if we’re lucky, fit in some pool time.

TUE
Check out of the Mas de Beaumes; morning visit to the market in Gordes; then we will make a day of either Stu’s recommended “Visiting the Villages in the Luberon” route, his “Lavender Fields” route, or his “Vaison with Roman Ruins & Serious Wine Country” route, hoping to stumble onto some find of our own, open to exploring, and if we’re lucky, fit in some pool time.

Check in to Le Mas Perreal in St. Saturnin-les-Apt. Any recommendations for dinner?

WED
We will make a day of either Stu’s recommended “Visiting the Villages in the Luberon” route, his “Lavender Fields” route, or his “Vaison with Roman Ruins & Serious Wine Country” route, hoping to get lost and stumble onto some finds, open to exploring, and if we’re lucky, fit in some pool time.
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OPTION 1
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THU
Head out super early for a jaunt to Monte Carlo (spend 3-6 hours there), maybe a stop in Cannes or Antibes if time permits on the way back.

FRI
Check out of the Perreal and drive back to Avignon; stop in Arles for lunch if my timing was off at the start of the trip and we missed Arles the first go-round; return car; catch the 8pm TGV for late arrival into Paris. Or should we head to Cassis for a bit of sights and lunch and take the TGV from Marseille (departs about 7:15 pm)?

Usually stay in Mont Martre for longer trips but this time thinking of staying at airport hotel because of late arrival Friday and then super early departure Sunday. Novotel as a reasonable rate; don’t really want to spend more than 150 euro per night (2 nights). In some preliminary research, have seen some mention on the boards of an arrondissment that is convenient to the airport with hotels close to the metro?? Any ideas?

Option 1B could be staying the night in Cassis and taking the TGV to Paris Saturday morning. Seems like there is enough of a nightlife in Cassis to go out for drinks and dinner—wouldn’t have been able to do much in Paris with the 11pm arrival anyhow??

SAT
Either arrived in Paris last night or will arrive today at noon; spend the day in Paris

SUN
7am departure back to NYC
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OPTION 2
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THU
Check out of Le Mas Perreal and head to Tropez (tentative reservation at Le Sube). Does anyone have cheaper parking alternatives than what I did last time? (Parked in a lot in town and it was 42 euro for 24 hours—I was splitting with 3 other so didn’t mind then) Either today and tomorrow, fit in a trip to Monte Carlo (should we drive or take a bus/train? Difficult to park there?

FRI
A little beach bumming if we got Monte Carlo out of the way yesterday; if not, head to Monte Carlo, then return car to Nice and catch 5:30pm TGV to Paris. If we wait until today, will we be able to fit in a drink at a casino and simple lunch somewhere in town before having to drive to Nice? Seems like a short drive but maybe I need to consider traffic?

Arrive late in Paris—same hotel issues as OPTION 1.

SAT
Spend the day in Paris

SUN
7am departure back to NYC