South of France Vacation Ideas
 

Hi, i and my husband will be going for the Monaco Grand Prix 2011 (race day) and am trying to build a 7 day vacation around it. I was thinking of spending a few days in Cannes and a few in Nice.

- We dont drive so we would be using taxis, trains etc.
- We're not too interested in parties
- Budget is not an issue

This is what we had in mind
Spend 4 days in Cannes, the 2 Days in Nice and 2 days in Monte Carlo. But we plan on staying in Monte Carlo on Monday and Tuesday after the race is over so the hotels are cheaper.

or

Stay in Cannes for 4 days and stay somewhere else for 4 days. We go to the race while staying in Cannes.

Please advice.

I would spend 4 days in Cannes and 4 days in Nice. Monaco holds little appeal to me.

Have no idea what you mean by not too interested in parties - do you expect to be invited to some?

I don't like to move around much (well my luggage that is) so I might base myself in Nice where there is excellent bus service to the whole area - cheap too! You could do alot of day trips from there. If the budget is wide open, I'd go for a sea view room at Le Peruse - very nice hotel (has a pool) near Vieux Nice, looking out over the sea and the promenade. There are several nice musueums in Nice - some nice restaurants and shopping. Have a great trip!

No way in the world would I stay in three places in such a short time. I would also do the Cannes/Nice split if those appeal to you. I don't go to Monaco because the Grimaldis are always begging me to go to their parties, and I just can't be bothered, so I know what you mean.

26/5 should be no problem. Monaco dulls-ville unless you like casinos, fast yachts or expensive women. N or C better but not really the true france. I'd head off to Avignon or Arles

stcirq, i meant clubbing/ parties/ bars etc.

Agree with bilboburgler...Arles, Avignon, or Aix area..Much to see and if $ is not a concern try to get onto a driver for the plus beau villages!!! Outstanding. Google "plus beau villages" in Provance for a run down...You have my deepest envy!!

Nice and Cannes are 16 miles apart. Why move from one to the other? Why not just take a train for a visit?

As others have mentioned, there are many towns to visit on daytrips. You can get from Cannes to Marseille by train in 2h01 -- it's a great neglected gem of the Cote d'Azur, IMO.

amer_can, the villages sound good. The one that we've heard off is EZE and its close to nice. Do you recommend others.

By the way, cheers everyone for the help. Thanks.

Check out the days for the Cannes Film Festival; it's usually just before the grand prix. You either do or do not want to be in Cannes at that time; hotels will be hard to find.

If you stay in Nice, you will be able to easily visit Monaco, Cannes, Antibes and other places by train. For 7 days, I would pick Nice as a base.

I would go to Cannes for 1 day !! Go Nice 2 days, hit the antique market, then go see the real people of France and go to dinner in la Ciotat, nice cruise in the am and onto Narbonne for rest away from the crazy crowds.