Nice Home Base?
 

Has anyone taken a trip from Nice to Florence?

I would like to check out Monaco/Monte Carlo. Do you recommend making Nice Home base Or traveling through Monaco on the way to Florence?

Any help is appreciated?

I've done it in two parts with Milan as the cutting point. Monte Carlo is just a posh city by the water where the tourism centers mostly around the casino and perhaps also the palace. It's an urban sprawl, I always think of it as Hongkong on the French Riviera. We just stayed there last September and had a wonderful stay near the casino even though none of us are gamblers. You can enjoy Monte Carlo as a day visit as hotels are more expensive then in Nice unless money is no object. I think your plan to land in Nice and leave from Florence is interesting.

Thanks DAX- Actually, you might this this is really interesting. This is what we have scheduled:

- Nice (2 days)
- Train to Genova then to San Margarita (excuse spelling)
- Spend about a day at Cinque Terre
- Drive to Cornoa (4 days in Tuscany)
- Drive to Florence (3 days)
- Train to Venice (4 days)

What do you think?

It seems that your focus is Tuscany & Venice, the rest are just additional destinations fitted into your limited extra time. Are you planning on just getting your feet wet in Nice and Cinque Terre just to see if you care for those areas? It's quite a long ride from Nice to the Cinque Terre. If it were me, I would start by flying into Genova directly and save the French Riviera for another trip.

You are exactly right, we decided to start at Nice just to add another quick destination. But this is a Northern Italy trip.

We are looking forward to Cinque Terre, but will probably not spend too much time there. How many days would you recommend staying there?