Need help planning a summer vacation In July/August. looking to do a combined trip of Monaco and Ibiza. The purpose of the trip is to take a break from 3 little kids under the age of 2 1/2, relax and see something unique and beautiful. We are in are mid 30's. Is this itinerary realistic ? if so how should I structure it ? Where should I go first ? has anyone done this ? What's the best way of traveling between the two cities ? Or should i just visit Monaco and Canne. I'm looking to travel for 8 days leaving NYC. Any feedback is appreciated. What are your thoughts between Ibiza and Monaco ? Which do you think is a must see and experience? Thank you !!

No the two cities are absolutely not practical. You can get a direct flight to Nice, probably stay in town, visit Cannes, Monaco and other stops on the train line. Ibiza you would probably change planes in Paris, Madrid or Munich. However a stay in one of those would be ill-advised, as you would be adding a travel day to get to Ibiza. Also realize you lose a day going over. So either Nice or Ibiza and I would suggest the former.

Vueling has some evening flights from Nice to Ibiza (with plane change at BCN). It takes around 6 hrs and costs about 100 EUR.

What's the real reason for Ibiza? there is, IMO, nothing much "unique" about it unless you are talking about the party and drug scene, both of which aren't unique, either.

All is "possible", but neither place is a "must see.". Might depend on your age. If old, go to Monaco. If young, or young at heart, go to Ibiza. I'd go to Ibiza and also visit Formentera, and Mallorca.

If the 8 days includes the day you fly home, then you have only 5 full days as you lose one day going over. The Nice Ibiza flight takes 3 hours which pretty much chews up the better part of a day by the time you check out of one hotel and are unpacked and walking out of the next.

Frankly I would't stay in either one. Ibiza has no interest for us - we are not party harty teens.

Monaco is fine for a day's amusement - seeing the yachts of the uber wealthy in the harbor, window shopping in the designer boutiques and visiting the casino for the James Bond number (and yes, at night in season you will see a lot of tuxes, gowns and jewels in the inner rooms - not in the outer room with slots).

But IMHO there just isn;t enough to do there to justify more than a day and it's very expensive.

I would do Nice - or a smaller town with a nice beach - and then take some day trips to elegant resorts along the coast and some of the quaint hill towns, small museums etc. Way more to do at much lower cost than Monaco.

>> relax and see something unique and beautiful. <<

IMO neither place ticks you wish list. Pick someplace nicer, less crowded, and prettier

I really dislike both places, and I don't find either unique or beautiful. And no, it's not easy to get between them, even with that flight from Nice.

I'd go back to the drawing board and investiate all the lovely places reachable from Nice that actually are beautiful, if not unique.

I quite like both places. Ibiza is not all about partying, and Monaco has a lot more than expensive yachts. But I have never been to Ibiza in high season, and with only 8 days I'd stick to one place, there is a lot to explore from both.

I'm with StCirq and Janis on this although Ibiza in the off season is pleasant. Don't care for Monaco in any season.

Either the OP wasn't serious or doesn't know how to find he way back to Fodors . . .

Registered, posted, disappeared.

Perhaps the dose of reality was not welcome.