Monte Carlo with a group of people

[vickintx]

Going off a ship to Monte Carlo with a group of people including adults and a bunch of kids ( ages 6-17). What is the best route and what is the best places to visit.

Eze first? Or MC first?

What is there to do with kids in MC?

So they charge to go inside the famous casino?

 

 

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[4cats4me]

Which port will you be disembarking from, Nice or Cannes? Do you have a driver prearranged, and what time of year, because this will all factor into your plan to make the most out of your trip.

We toured with a party of four and were able to haul through the area. Most vans accommodate up to 12 people. We used so nice Tours, but there is a very popular company on this board and it slips my mind, and they are highly recommended

With larger parties, the cost usually ends up costing around 50€ pp for a half day cruise

We didn't go to Monte Carlo, but many of our group did.

You must be dressed to the nines in order to go inside

 

For our day, we tendered to Cannes, had a driver waiting, who whisked us to Nice. We drove along the promenade, shopped at the flower market, bought wonderful soaps, lavender, herbs to take back home, drove up to St Paul de Vence, a darling old city like Eze, shopped, drove through Antibes on the way back with arrival at the port by 4 pm for a six pm departure.

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited April 22, 2017 by 4cats4me

[4cats4me]

The tour company that many in our group used was Riviera Premium Tours and everyone was happy. Many on the board here recommend them. You can read about them on trip advisor

jerome@riviera premium tours. Vans of 8 max

 

 

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[vickintx]

We will be arriving to nice, villefranche. I was planning to take the train to eze and then to Monte Carlos. If time permits, maybe back to nice to walk around before boarding the ship. What do you guys think doable?

Train recommendations?

 

 

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[4cats4me]

We will be arriving to nice, villefranche. I was planning to take the train to eze and then to Monte Carlos. If time permits, maybe back to nice to walk around before boarding the ship. What do you guys think doable?

Train recommendations?

 

 

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Will you be docked or tendering? How many hours in port? What cruiseline? The reason I ask is if tendering, it can take a lot longer to disembark, and if you are not in the first group off the ship it will cut into your time severely. Last year we were independent touring and so we had group one tender tix and luckily made it off, even before the cruise lines own tours. However, four in our group got stuck behind due to a delay and couldn't disembark for three more hours, so it left them with only six remaining hours, which is not a lot of time really.

Have you pulled up the train schedules to see how frequently the trains arrive? Are you traveling in July or October? Big difference with crowds.

Have you checked out the France travel forum here and do a word search for trains and Nice? The forum helped us immensely a few years ago. We learned so much.

Pull up the train schedules on line. I can't recall the names, but a simple Google for train travel from Nice to Monte Carlo should be a good place to start.

 

 

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[4cats4me]

The average journey time between Nice Ville and Monaco—Monte-Carlo is 21 minutes and the fastest journey time is 13 minutes. On an average weekday, there are 51 trains per day travelling from Nice Ville to Monaco—Monte-Carlo.

Nice Ville to Monaco—Monte-Carlo Train from €3 in just 13min | ...

https://www.trainline.eu › trains › monac...

 

 

 

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/to-the-west/round-trip-train-from-nice-to-eze

 

 

 

 

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[4cats4me]

Villefranche to St Paul de Vence or Eze

 

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=24703&share_tid=2467816&url=http%3A%2F%2Fboards%2Ecruisecritic%2Ecom%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D2467816&share_type=t

 

 

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[buggins0402]

We will be arriving to nice, villefranche. I was planning to take the train to eze and then to Monte Carlos. If time permits, maybe back to nice to walk around before boarding the ship. What do you guys think doable?

Train recommendations?

 

 

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The train does not go to Eze Village, which is where you probably want to go, it goes to Eze Bord de Mer. There is a bus (not very frequent and not at all on Sunday) that goes between the two. Or you could hike up for about an hour. The only way to get to Eze Village by public transportation is by bus. You can get there from Nice and Monte Carlo by bus also.

 

MC is not my favorite in the area, but with young kids, it could be a good choice....there is a palace, a changing of the guard, botanical gardens, and an oceanographic museum.

[vickintx]

How can I get from the ship port to Monte Carlo then? Bus? Or train? It will be June 7 which is a Tuesday

 

 

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[buggins0402]

How can I get from the ship port to Monte Carlo then? Bus? Or train? It will be June 7 which is a Tuesday

 

 

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Either the bus or the train will get you to Monte Carlo from Villefranche. With a large group, the train would be more certain ( and more expensive) that you all get on. The busses can be crowded at certain times.

[vickintx]

Do you know the name of the train so I can pre purchase?

 

Also any recommendations for teens in Monte Carlo?

We will probably stay for 2-3 hours in MC but will probably head back to nice to wonder. You think that's a good idea? Or just go back to villefranche to wonder before heading back to ship?

 

 

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[marazul]

Do you know the name of the train so I can pre purchase?

 

Also any recommendations for teens in Monte Carlo?

We will probably stay for 2-3 hours in MC but will probably head back to nice to wonder. You think that's a good idea? Or just go back to villefranche to wonder before heading back to ship?

 

These are commuter trains. You buy the ticket at the station.

 

Consider going to Nice first. The flower market closes around 12 to 1.

 

Also consider a private excursion for all of you. Go to Nice first, stop in Eze and then Monaco. You are going to waste a lot of time catching trains, going to the station, rounding up 10 people. Check http://www.friend-in-france.com and get a quote. You really do not need a guide, just the transport.

[4cats4me]

Vickintx, I agree with marazul regarding transportation time. The last thing you need with such a large group is trying to corral everyone. We too were going to go that route until we realized a private driver or transportation service was the way to go. Cruise ship excursions were so pricey, so we didn't do them, so the various companies have vehicles for 8, from what we researched and it was around $50 pp to go everywhere, beat the cruise ship crowds, have leisure time, and not worry about schedules and IF we could even see it all. Because you already have such a large group, you can get a good price per person. We were a party of two and had to meet people on Cruise Critic to split the cost. So worth it. I wouldn't tour any other way [emoji846]

 

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[vickintx]

What company did you use for $50 per pax?

 

 

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[4cats4me]

I posted it in post number 3. You have to reserve the whole vehicle, and it breaks down to approx 50 pp depending on what you want to do. Depending on half day or whole day. We did half day with so nice Tours but many in our groups used the one I posted above

These tours though we had booked several months in advance.

Definitely check Riviera premium tours. They did respond to me very quickly within a day. They had so many wonderful options.

Also, we booked in 2015, so prices could have increased.

 

 

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187234-d1846714-Reviews-Riviera_Premium_Tours-Nice_French_Riviera_Cote_d_Azur_Provence_Alpes_Cote_d_Azur.html?m=19904

 

rivierapremiumtour.com

 

Link to TripAdvisor link above, and when on their page, link to the words Open Web Site to get to their site. For some reason, I am not able to get to their site through my browser

 

 

 

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Edited April 23, 2017 by 4cats4me

[4cats4me]

http://www.rivierapremiumtour.com/cruises.php?lang=uk

 

Here you go. It is 380 euros per van of 8 and that is for a six-hour tour, so depending on your ship time that might or might not work. We always request a 9:00 or 10:00 meet time so that we are back by 4:00 if we sail at 6:00

 

Keep in mind, because it is YOUR private group you can do what YOU want to do, so you can tailor any tour to suit your needs. These are outlines of what you can do, but if you aren't interested in going everywhere, then you don't.

 

Shore excursion N°3 The scenic Riviera (6 hours)

Departure from Villefranche : Monaco / Monte-Carlo, La Turbie, Eze village, Nice.

 

6 hours private

tour from :

 

47,50 €

per person

 

Details...

Shore excursion N°4 Nice and the artistic medieval villages (6 hours)

Departure from Villefranche ou Nice : Nice, Saint-Paul de Vence, Eze village.

 

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[vickintx]

Does it cost money to go into the MC casinos? What if you have kiddos? [emoji51]

 

 

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[4cats4me]

Does it cost money to go into the MC casinos? What if you have kiddos? [emoji51]

 

 

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My husband and I didn't go to Monte Carlo or Monaco, but many of our group did. They won't allow you in unless you are dressed up formally, and they didn't allow photos to be taken. I seem to recall one of my friends mentioning that they tried to take a photo in the lobby and they were told no, by security. Can't recall if there is a charge, but I do recall my friend saying that her boyfriend was disappointed that he couldn't go to the casino due to not being dressed appropriately. I don't know what kids would like to do, but I do know that kids are not allowed in casinos, period.

 

 

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[4cats4me]

http://www.casinomontecarlo.com/plan-your-stay/casino-entry/

 

Dress code for Monaco casino and a charge to get in and No photos allowed, as I had suspected. You can only view the gaming rooms from 9 am to 12 pm. 10 euro pp to tour

For Monte Carlo casinos, no dress code, 18 and over may enter.

 

 

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[marazul]

Keep in mind, because it is YOUR private group you can do what YOU want to do, so you can tailor any tour to suit your needs. These are outlines of what you can do, but if you aren't interested in going everywhere, then you don't.

 

Shore excursion N°3 The scenic Riviera (6 hours)

Departure from Villefranche : Monaco / Monte-Carlo, La Turbie, Eze village, Nice.

 

6 hours private

tour from :

 

47,50 €

per person

 

Details...

Shore excursion N°4 Nice and the artistic medieval villages (6 hours)

Departure from Villefranche ou Nice : Nice, Saint-Paul de Vence, Eze village.

 

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Again, customize if you take Tour No. 3. Ask to go to Nice first or you will miss the flower market. Then ask them to go to Eze by way of the Middle Corniche (Moyenne Corniche), NOT the Autoroute. That is the iconic approach with the wonderful views of the Riviera. Then go to Monaco/Montecarlo. La Turbie is by the exit from the Autoroute in the mountains above Monaco. You can miss that unless you are truly interested in Roman monuments. So leave La Turbie for last.

[vickintx]

I haven't really looked at Nice but since now I'm hiring a car do you have recommendations for teens in Nice?

 

 

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[marazul]

I haven't really looked at Nice but since now I'm hiring a car do you have recommendations for teens in Nice?

 

There is plenty to look at and see in the market and around the old town. The teens will enjoy seeing the town just as much as the adults. Have them try a slice of socca at the market for a snack. Given the time you have for the whole tour (6 hours?) you will only be in Nice for over an hour.

[Tranquility Base]

We dock at Monte Carlo.

 

Was looking at bus to Eze village , then next bus to Villefranche, and then train back to Monte Carlo.

It appears however the Eze bus is only every 2 hours.

 

I understand both train & bus leave from the same station by the Saint Devote Church ?

 

Does anyone have any advise regarding a bus / train plan for these 2 places ?

We are docked from 7am - 5pm.

 

Thanks.

[marazul]

We dock at Monte Carlo.

 

Was looking at bus to Eze village , then next bus to Villefranche, and then train back to Monte Carlo.

It appears however the Eze bus is only every 2 hours.

 

I understand both train & bus leave from the same station by the Saint Devote Church ?

 

Does anyone have any advise regarding a bus / train plan for these 2 places ?

We are docked from 7am - 5pm.

 

Thanks.

 

Have you been to Monaco/Monte Carlo before? If not, go back there after Eze and spend some time in Monaco going to the Prince's Palace, the Cathedral and the Aquarium. Then, get over to Monte Carlo and look around the Casino area for a bit before going back to your ship.

 

While public transport is practical, it is also time consuming. Consider 1 hour for disembarking, finding the bus stop and waiting for the bus. Then two hours in Eze. Another half hour waiting for the bus and half hour taking the bus to either Villefranche or Monaco. That is at least 4 hours out of your day. If you go to Villefranche, you need to consider the additional travel time back to Monaco, time getting to the ship (tender or dock?), plus a little fudge factor so you don't miss the boat, all of which could amount to 2 hours. So you need to choose between spending some quality time in Monaco or riding the buses around to Villefranche.

[Tranquility Base]

Thanks Marazul,

 

Yes, I tend to agree that the bus / train option for Eze / Villefranche is too time consuming.

At this stage probably just looking at train to & from Villefranche for the morning, and Monte Carlo for the afternoon.