has anyone been to Cap D'Ail?
 

Hello everybody,<BR><BR>I am going to be in Cap D'Ail for a week but don't know anything about it. If anyone knows anything about this town (beach, sites, good and cheap restaurants, etc),please share it with me. <BR><BR>Best regards,<BR>Valeria.

Are you sure that you are not speaking about Cap d'Agde??? ("ail" is French for garlic and I doubt very much that a Cape would be named for it!)<BR>If you are really speaking of Cap d'Agde, you should be made aware that this place has a reputation for being pretty... well let's say liberated. It's France's primier swinger spot.

If you're talking about a timeshare through II, I haven't been there, but I met some people in Giverny who had and they loved it. If you go, I'd be very interested to know how you like it...so please post a report when you return.<BR>Paula

Cap d'Ail is a stone's throw south of Monaco. I don't know anything about it, just assuring you it exists.

Louis, <BR><BR>I swear to God this place exists because I already booked a hotel there :)<BR><BR>I will make sure to tell you all about it in August after my return.<BR><BR>Thank you for your reply.

I didn't think it was that unknown, it is easy to check if something exists by simply typing the words into Google or something before berating someone.<BR><BR>All I know is there is supposed to be a really cool hostel there, a converted old villa. Also, there is a private French language school there, good beach and it's right next to Monaco. I think there's some diving center that Jacques Cousteau founded or something like that. I don't know anything else but here is a web site with a little map and several walking tours of the place, but only I French, I think.<BR>http://www.culture.fr/culture/paca/patr/cap_d_ail/cap_dail.htm<BR><BR>Oh, here's a short description of the town<BR>http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/capail/capail.htm<BR><BR>I imagine it's named after its shape which is very much like a clove of garlic. Other capes are named like that, also, I think.

Hi, <BR><BR>We just spent a week in Cap d'Ail in March at the Grands S&eacute;jours International (timeshare). The only hotel I noticed was the Marriott, so perhaps you are staying there. The port had three "major" yachts during our stay, the largest being a 60 footer. Many smaller boats.<BR><BR>You are within walking distance to a mall (free underground parking for an hour) and the Monaco Palace. However, I think a car is a necessity. There are so many twists and turns that one person drives and the other needs to navigate through the signs.<BR><BR>Visited Nice, Monaco, Eze, Cannes and Antibes. Spent a day touring wine country: start at La maisons des vins where you can taste 18 wines from a vinoth&egrave;que of about 500 wines. Prices to buy a bottle are the same as at the Domaines. Drove into the French Alps where brat daughter skied and got lost (but that's another story).<BR><BR>Don't know much about beaches is it was too cold for anything but sunbathing on our balcony. You should find beaches along the Basse Corniche and, of course, along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Very crowded in August but great people watching...Was very hot in august on my visit a few years ago.<BR><BR>If you have any questions, Valeria, post away. I'd be happy to help.<BR><BR>Tania

bump

Has anyone visited the Marriott in Cap D'ail? Is there a beach attached to the hotel? Do you need to pay to use it? Any information on this property and the surrounding area appreciated.

Oui Oui - my family and I stayed at the Marriott Cap D'Ail a few weks ago - a nice hotel. (The staff is limited and sometimes the service is lacking.) Everyone speaks english. They have a pool on the property facing the harbor and you can walk (about four minutes) to the beach (and further beyond a walking path). The beach closest to the hotel looked a little...hmmm....yucky for my taste. We had just traveled a great deal of the coastal area of the Cote D'Azur and this beach by far was the most unappealing. But, if you have a car travel a bit further west and you can find great beaches to spend the day.

If you are arriving by car - good luck finding the hotel...as you drive in from the west there are great signs pointing directly to the hotel but as soon as you pass into Monaco the signs stop and it is a bit confusing the first time...keep an eye out for the soccer stadium - head for that and you should find it eventually.

Within walking distance of the hotel is the village of Fontveille with some nice restaurants (La Saliere was nice - great service) and &quot;the rock&quot; lit up a night.

There is a wonderful ice cream parlor/cappucino place on the Fontveille harbor - ask at the hotel and they'll point you the way.

The breakfast at the hotel wasn't great (it was included in our room rate) but we preferrd to walk across the street the the market and pick up fresh croissants/pastries, yogurt, etc. - much nicer.

Cap D'Ail is just a tint speck of a place but we found it very relaxing, welcoming and so close to Monte Carlo. Enjoy your time there!

sorry - &quot;tiny speck of a place&quot;

Thanks so much 4totravel! Appreciate your help.