GreenFamily

Antibes is closer to Cannes by train and is very easy to navigate with a stroller. Since the train is hop on hop off (between closest and farthest station on your ticket) you can stop at Juan Les Pins on your return for toddler friendly beach time.

The tour will probably drop you off at the Aix tourist office, that might have a self guided walking tour map. There are walking tours from the tourist office every morning. Check out the Hotel de Caumont because it’s going to have a Pierre Bonnard exhibit that looks great. Book reservations first,

Thank you so much!

I found a few private guides who are art historians. I really like what they offer and can’t afford to use Context Travel. Thank you for reassurance that the tours may be legitimate. I’ll reach out to them by email. I agree the walking tours are the best way to get oriented. The themed walking tours in London are the best.

This is a general question for cruises in Europe. I am a first time cruiser. What would be the risk of booking a private tour that accepts cash only on the day of the tour? Some require a small deposit using a credit card but don’t state the cancellation policies. I see these tours advertised everywhere, but it doesn’t come up in the forum. Thoughts?

If your cruise stops at Villefranche (Nice) you may not need to go to Cassis because it’s also a small fishing town with colorful buildings.

Nice-Ville is about 2.3 km walk from the old town. If you walk about a block it is possible to catch the tram from Gare Thiers to Opera - Viellle Ville.

Rick Steve’s’ Mediterranean Cruise book is useful for this port. He explains how to catch the train to Nice. It requires a change of trains, but it’s not complicated at all. It’s a better option than sitting in traffic.

The hop of hop off bus appears to have four stops in Villefranche, including one by the harbor. I assume if you have tickets you can use any stop?

Another foodie option is for you to catch the train to Menton from Monte Carlo. It’s a gorgeous town 10km away. The train ticket will cost about 2 or 3 euros each way. Menton is on the Italian border so the food is Italian. Menton is famous for citrus fruits so you can treat yourself to a lemon gelato after lunch. Menton is also a little warmer and has more sunshine than the rest of the coastal towns, which might matter to you in April. You could spend the rest of your afternoon in Monte Carlo, Monaco which is overly developed and not charming.

Aix is mostly flat and the pavement is smooth. You can sit on the fountains, which are in every square, and park benches. Cezanne’s studio is uphill about 1km from the old town, but I doubt it’s included in your tour. There is a lot of history in the old town and hidden gems.

Another note: The elevators and escalators might be hard to find. If you get confused, ask for help.

Parking des Pecheurs near the Oceanographic museum has elevators/escalators to the top level where you can access the palace, cathedral, and old town. The Oceanographic museum also has an elevator. There is rush hour traffic into Monaco before 9:00 and after 4:00. La Turbie is known for its great views of Monaco, but scary drive. Most cruise passengers flock to Eze for its amazing views, although I would only go if it’s before 10:00 am. It’s hard to find a good restaurant in these tourist areas. If you are driving from Cannes, maybe you can stop in Antibes on the way for lunch.

A tour that includes Les Baux de Provence might be fun. Most of these tours include an optional visit to the Carrierrs-Lumieres immersive light show. https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/fr Side note: If your cruise stops in Liverno and you choose to go to Florence, stop by the small Leonardo Da Vinci museum. It’s a hands-on children’s museum of replicas of his inventions. When my kids were little, they loved this museum so much, we had to go multiple times. We bought some builder sets from the gift store. This was so much better than the leaning tower of Pisa, which is an absolute disgrace of a tourist trap.

Most people will recommend Cassis with a boat tour of the Calanques. I’m not sure if your group will be able to stay together on the boat, if that matters. Cassis has a colorful old town and a beach. Aix-en-Provence is 30 min away and easily reached by regional train or bus. The kids might enjoy a scavenger hunt tour with a prize at the end. Aix is quintessential French with beautiful architecture and fountains. The Luberon villages tours will take all day and might be tough for little kids because of thr long travel time on a bus.

What a fun problem to have! I would choose Option 1 with more days in London. Book your own flight home. London is a huge place with so many amazing sights. There’s no way you can see it in half a day. If you choose option 2, prepare for rail strikes, especially in May. Have a contingency plan. Since you speak the language in England, it will be easy to catch the double decker bus (fun!) or subway to all the famous attractions. Here are my favorite things to do: 1. Tour of Westminster Abbey that includes Parliament. Reserve in advance. Love this! 2. Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. - take a free morning walking tour (pay with tips) that includes this ceremony to get the most out of your day. 3. Tower of London to see where Elizabeth I was imprisoned, where Anne Boleyn lost her head, and the Crown Jewels. 4. The British Museum 5. The London Legal walking tour 6. The Tate Britain (not Tate Modern). Research pre raphaelite painters and watch the movie Effie Gray. Love this! 7. A play at the outdoor theater in Regents Park (reserve in advance). Love this!! 6. Shopping on Oxford St. If you have time for a day trip. It’s easy to travel by train to Bath, the most beautiful town in England in my opinion. The hop on hop off bus has an option to go into the Cotswolds. Windsor is another great day trip. I believe you need to book the castle tour in advance. It’s interesting to see how the royals live. I hope this helps.

Look into a tour to Cassis and the Calanques. Cassis is more authentic than Port Grimaud.

The sandy beaches in St Tropez are about 20 minutes drive from the old town and may not be included as part of your excursion. Port Grimaud is very cute and has a beach. The old town of Grimaud and Ramatuelle are beautiful villages nearby and would be a great additions to a St Tropez itinerary.

One issue being overlooked here is all cruise lines have policies that do not allow minor children to be left alone on cruise ships unsupervised. A child cannot consent to medical care in the case of an emergency and the cruise line does not want to be held liable for injuries or crime.

This boy is a young teen, so I’m assuming he’s in 8th grade or maybe 9th. If it is an important project, then the parents should cancel their excursion to be with him.

Since this project won’t effect whether or not he gets into college, you should take him on your excursion. Trust me, he won’t remember the project 20 years from now, but he will remember being left behind on a cruise ship while his parents enjoyed their holiday.

Nostos cruises operate out of Agios Nikolaos and nearby Elounda, which is slightly closer to Spinalonga and in a pretty bay. I believe the 12:30pm cruise from Agios Nikolaos includes a swim stop, but it’s crowded. These boats have a thin ramp and a few steps into the boat. The best way to reach Spinalonga is from Plaka on the smaller boats. This is the fastest option, cheapest, and best way to avoid crowds. Of course you need to catch a taxi to Plaka first. These boats are not appropriate for people with mobility issues. I’m not sure what time they leave, but it seems there is is a regular schedule, so I suggest you research this first,

Here is the marathon route: https://www.athensauthenticmarathon.gr/site/index.php/en/event-en/races-en/marathon-en/15-marathon-course-maps-en

I would rent a car a drive to a southern beach. The rental car agencies are close to the Heraklion port and there’s a national road that takes you directly south in about an hour and a bit. Matala beach is popular and crowded but Kommos beach near by is very pretty. I believe you can hike there from Matala and see the most beautiful scenery. The ruins of the Minoan palace Phaistos and the ruins of the roman town Gortyna are nearby but you would have to stop at the Heraklion archeological museum (walking distance from port) for these ruins to have an meaning. The museum is one of the top archeological museums in Greece, but requires some research on the Minoans before you go.

Look at tours from Elounda and somehow find transportation there. It’s a little closer and much nicer than Agios Nikolaos. You could stop at Agios on your way back since it’s on the route. Edit:: I assumed you were docking in Heraklion. New plan. Get a taxi to Plaka and the boats leave from there. Agios is nice to walk around when you return.