Rare llarsen Posted January 31, 2013 #1 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hello, I originally posted this under the France port section but have not had any response. I'm thinking that St Tropez is most visited by Oceania passengers. We will be in St Tropez Oct 12, 2013 (Friday) from 8am - Midnight Our other ports in France are Marseille and Cannes. Also going to Monte Carlo and Italy. We are not sure what to do all day in St Tropez. There is no hurry to get back to the ship since we are there so late, but would like to be back for dinner and maybe go back out in the evening around the port. St Paul de Vence sounds like an option, but not sure how we get there...train...bus? How long would it take to get there and which costs less? Marseille 8:00am-6:00pm - Plan to take train to Aix de Provence Cannes 8:00am-10:00pm - Considering train to Antibes and/or Nice? Monte Carlo 8:00am-10:00pm - Considering taking bus to Villafranche, Cap Ferrat and Eze Villages. We have never been to any of these ports, so any experienced advice is appreciated. We are in our late 40s-mid 50s in good shape. Walking/hiking is no problem. We love quaint little places, fountains, gardens, cobblestone streets, medieval villages, forts etc. Not really into museums. If any of the places are better accessed from a different port than we planned, please advise. Maybe we have time to go to Nice from Marseille by train? Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimandStan Posted January 31, 2013 #2 Share Posted January 31, 2013 If you do Vence at all, and it is SPECTACULAR, you're going to want to do it from Cannes. This can easily be combined with an early Morning stop at the Nice Flower Market (leave the ship hungry, the produce and the pastries at the flower market are beyond fabulous!), but to do both in one day, you'll need a car and driver. As the ship is not sailing until midnight, I would strongly suggest that you try for a reservation at Colombe d'Or in St Paul Vence. Truly, a Once in a Lifetime experience: http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/indexEN.html The food is exquisite, and their Dining Rooms and even their Guest Books are filled with one of the most important privately held art collections in France. Going to Aix from Marseilles, is a fine idea. How much you enjoy St. Tropez, especially so late in the season, is going to depend entirely on how impressed you are by the European Jet Set. Lets face it, the whole town is a glamorous beach resort, with LOTS of high end shopping opportunities. We usually spend our day there bouncing on and off of the ship, varying between people watching, and laughing at the exorbitant prices. Ask me someday at the calfskin wallet that Stan though was "cute" in Hermès........:eek:Eight THOUSAND EUROS!!:eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissing Seahorses Posted January 31, 2013 #3 Share Posted January 31, 2013 I don't know anything about Marseille but both Cannes and Monte Carlo are very interesting themselves, I wouldn't bother with the bus or train away from them. In San tropez, at least in summer, most of the better shops(non-beach related) close midday for long lunches, the best thing to do is do likewise, preferably with a nice bottle or two of rose'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wp bob Posted February 1, 2013 #4 Share Posted February 1, 2013 we were in Monte Carlo during the Grand Prix practice races with many barricades. We took the train to Antibes - fabulous yachts, marketplace and beach, then worked our way back to Nice (just ok), then Villefranche (charming) and bus back to Monte Carlo. In Marseille we rented a car to go to Arles and Pont du Gard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare llarsen Posted February 1, 2013 Author #5 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Wow! Thank you all so much for the ideas! JimandStan, I like your suggestions from Cannes. It sounds fantastic! As for St Tropez, I read somewhere on CC $700.00 baby shoes in St Tropez!) I love my grand babies, but there's no way they are getting those as a souvenir, lol Thanks everyone for your replies. Antibes and Arles are also in my notes, nice to hear others opinions! And yes, we will find time for a nice bottle of wine! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEESRE Posted February 1, 2013 #6 Share Posted February 1, 2013 We visited Monte Carlo on our last Oceania cruise and we decided to just stay at the place. Great HOHO buses that you can just hop on and off as you see things that interest you. Also the Grand Palace is worth a visit, you would have to Google to see opening times etc. Also the famous Casino is well worth a visit even if you do not play. In Marseille, yes it is good to go to Aix, hope that by now Marseille will not be the building site it was last year. I am sure you will have a grea time whatever you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare llarsen Posted February 1, 2013 Author #7 Share Posted February 1, 2013 Thanks LEESRE, do you buy a ticket for the Hop on HOHO bus? Yes, we plan to visit the casino in the evening :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEESRE Posted February 2, 2013 #8 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Thanks LEESRE, do you buy a ticket for the Hop on HOHO bus? Yes, we plan to visit the casino in the evening :-) Yes when you leave the ship just walk to the end of the pier and you will find a HOHO bus waiting there. If not just look for the bus stop and usually there is a man waiting to sell tickets for the next bus. They run approx every 20 mins or so. Enjoy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wripro Posted February 2, 2013 #9 Share Posted February 2, 2013 Personally, any time a ship is in port until midnight I make it a point to have dinner off the ship. Yes, St. Tropez is glitzy but there are plenty of small restaurants where you can get some local flavor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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