If you have been to Monaco, do you have any good hotel recommendations or can you suggest any tips? Thank you.

My suggestion is to stay in Nice along the promenade- much more to do and see in Nice. Take the 20 minute train ride to moncao for a day trip. Nice is full of great restaurants and has it all. It is also much more English friendly than Monaco, where I found little English to be spoke. I did enjoy my lunch at cafe paris next to the casino in Monaco, excellent food at a hefty price. They are both beautiful cities but if you are going for more than a couple of days I think it makes more sense to stay in Nice

I highly agree with Brett. From Nice the train ride to surrounding towns is quick! Plus the hotels are less and it is charming. We spent a day in Monoco and really felt like we saw it all.

I disagree. I think Monte Carlo is magnificiently beautiful, far more beautiful than Nice, which is quite dirty. Although I do like many aspects of Nice, such as the flower market and the tiny bistos that serve fantastic food, I find Monte so pristine, relaxing, and luxurious.<BR><BR>The last time I was in Monte, I stayed at the Hotel de Paris, which is extremely posh. However, the staff is very snooty and pretentious. But, If you have Louis Vuitton luggage and a Rolls, you will have no problems.<BR><BR>The worst thing about Monte is the tour buses filled with below-stairs people with pockets full of change for the slots. Quelle Horreur.

Well, I disagree with everyone. I think Nice is way overrated, and I would never make that my base for the region. Except for a small part of the old city, it's dirty and congested.<BR><BR>I like Monaco even less. It's nothing more than a bunch of concrete blocks set on top of one another above a rocky beach/port. Ridiculously expensive, ridiculously full of itself, unbeLIEVable traffic jams, and not a shred of culture in sight.<BR><BR>If you want to do casinos and glitz, you might as well go to Vegas at a quarter the price.

Messagerett Am surprised you found little English spoken. We never had a problem that way; in fact, sales clerk told us to be employed in a shop in Monaco you had to be fluent in French, Italian and English. The Grimaldi Palace had tours in English as well.

It's been difficult to find information? Do you know about Google? Do you know how to do a web search? Plug in Monaco on Google and you'll get more info than you can read in a month.<BR><BR>There's also always the tourist office in the city - true for anywhere in Europe. You'll get more info than you can use.<BR><BR>But I wouldn't bother. Monaco's a definite loser as far as European destinations go.

I agree with those who say to base yourself in Nice. I also thought that one evening in Monaco was enough, but we really did enjoy it and were very glad that we went. It's very beautiful at night. If you do have a strong interest in some of the museums and other attractions there, you could still probably get away with one day and one evening.<BR><BR>On the other hand, I take back my Nice recommendation if you have the money to take the helicopter shuttle from the Nice airport, stay at the Hotel de Paris, dine at the Louis XV, and gamble in the Salon Super-Prive, and pamper yourself at Les Thermes. In that case, go, go, go, and report back to let us know how it was!

Wow John G you seem to have the priviledge of staying at all the best hotels of the world..Oriental Bangkok and the likes. What do you do and how much do you make? I'm interested cos I'm your fan.WHile at Hotelde Paris did you also eat Alain Ducasse? What is your opinion of that r'rant? You must publish your global travel journal one day.

Hello M-bound,<BR><BR>I’m afraid I only spent a few hours in Monte Carlo, and it was just a day or two before the Grand Prix, so I don’t have a lot of first-hand information for you. But I will tell you that I, for one, would prefer to stay in Monte Carlo than in Nice, but then again I prefer small, quiet, and serene to busy and active. So I guess you may want to take that into consideration.<BR><BR>I also found this website to be extremely helpful: www.businesssriviera.com. Go to the bottom of the page, and in the small box called “Relax,” click on “strolls.” On the next page, you’ll see “Monaco” on the right hand side. There, you’ll find the history of the place and itineraries for a two-hour, a one-day, and a two-day stay in Monaco.<BR><BR>Have a great trip!<BR><BR>s<BR>

No one stays in Monaco--it is too crowded--LOL !<BR>And, Nice is not your best answer. Go to www.menton.com for the solution.

Just back from 12 days on the Riviera - 4 in Monte Carlo. Stayed at Hotel Hermitage - great! I must have missed the crowds rumored in August - not a crowd in sight anywhere I was - Menton, Beaulieu, Cap Ferrat. Hermitage - Elegant hotel, fabulous food & much to do - great base for exploring. Excellent spa.

I would like to go to Monaco just for the reason that I saw a rerun of Larry King the other night and he had Prince Albert on and he was extremely gracious, kind and charming. Just my opinion.

If you now have doubts about both Monaco and Nice, due to the respective detractors, might I present a third option - Cannes. <BR><BR>My wife, son and I spent 5 nights there recently at the Carlton Intercontinental. There are some great little bistros and restaurants within walking distance to most hotels. The beach was very clean and seemed much nicer than the beaches at Nice.<BR><BR>In terms of location, you are only about 25 minutes from Nice via highway A8. I wasn't overly impressed with Monaco. Frankly, the day we went the town seemed overwhelmed with passengars from two cruise ships docked just outside the harbor.<BR><BR>

Agree that Cannes is a lovely place- try miramar beach if go when beach weather. I also agree that Monaco is very overrated, but I really liked Nice. Nice had some great restaurants and the Promenade in Nice is great if you go when the weather is nice. It is true the beach in Cannes is much nicer than the beach in Nice.

John G is a complete poser. hasn't anyone seen that thread someone posted about his double life, a few weeks ago?

I love Cannes was there in June and stayed at the MAjestic and it was lovely. I would not stay in Nice as I also found it to be Dirty and a tad tired . Monte Carlo is lovely and the trip into Italy is not to be missed. Stay in Cannes anywhere you are is only about a 10 minute walk tot the train, which can take you to Monte Carlo, Italy and the likes.