Help - leaving Thursday - need Nice/Monaco/Eze info

[leela14]

Hi everyone,

 

We are docking in Nice this Sunday, May 18 and want to visit Eze and Monaco. At first we were thinking of trains and/or buses, but from what I've been reading, they don't run very often on Sundays, so that may not be feasible, esp. since we want to do both places.

 

Can anyone let me know if the public transit system operates enough so we could use it to get from Nice to Monaco and Eze and back to the Nice port in a 6 hour time frame?

 

We are also thinking about renting a car. Can anyone tell me if there are car rentals close to the port of Nice? If so, would we have a shot at renting one on the spot or does this have to be done ahead of time?

 

MANY, MANY THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

[Susan-M]

Leela, will you be docking in Nice or Villefranche?

 

I think 6 hours is too little time to get to Eze and Monaco and back using buses/trains...esp. on a Sunday. We did it on a weekday and took 7 hours from V.F./return. We had about 1 1/2 hrs. in Eze and 3 hours in Monte Carlo/Monaco. I think the logistics (without bus #112 running on Sundays between Eze/Monte Carlo) would make it complicated for you.

 

Good luck with your plans ... and enjoy your cruise!:)

[CorgiGuy]

Hi everyone,

 

We are docking in Nice this Sunday, May 18 and want to visit Eze and Monaco. At first we were thinking of trains and/or buses, but from what I've been reading, they don't run very often on Sundays, so that may not be feasible, esp. since we want to do both places.

 

Can anyone let me know if the public transit system operates enough so we could use it to get from Nice to Monaco and Eze and back to the Nice port in a 6 hour time frame?

 

We are also thinking about renting a car. Can anyone tell me if there are car rentals close to the port of Nice? If so, would we have a shot at renting one on the spot or does this have to be done ahead of time?

 

MANY, MANY THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Boy, talk about last minute planning!!!:)

 

Here is a site you might find helpful:

http://www.eze-riviera.com/emotions/deplacement/ang/bus.htm

 

The bus line 112, does not run on Sunday, but if you scroll down the page, the schedule for line 82 (Which does run on Sunday) is shown.

 

Have a great time.

 

CorgiGuy

[leela14]

We were supposed to dock in Villefranche, but NCL changed it to Nice sometime in the last few days. The only reason I found out is the roll call. My TA called NCL 4 TIMES and was told there is no change, but I think she's getting wrong info. I'm not 100% comfortable booking a car rental ahead of time in case we wake up in VF instead of Nice, which is why I'm wondering if it's possible to book it when I wake up and actually see what port I'm in. Stupid NCL.

 

I didn't want to be at NCLs mercy for this port, it is the one I was looking most forward to and wanted to do it on my own (well DH and I). DH has driven around there himself before and would love to do it again.

 

All the places we really wanted to see we seem to be at on a Sunday or Monday when most things are closed or hard to get to, it's such a pain.

 

I looked at the train schedule many times, but it's hard to figure it out unless you are actually there.

[Jade08]

Hi, there,

 

We're also docking on Sunday, but at Villefranche-sur-Mer, from 10am to 7pm.

 

We plan to go to Eze first.

 

The rest of time I don't think can fit both Nice and Monte Carlo. So, we have to make a choice between Nice and Monte Carlo. We have hard time to decide.

 

Consider the time frame, transportation, of course the city itself, Nice or Monte Carlo? which one is better?

 

Any suggestion is appreciated.

[Susan-M]

I don't remember seeing rental vehicles at V.F., but I wasn't looking for them. We had looked into renting prior to our cruise, but I think the arrangement was that a rental company would meet us at the port, or we would have to find our way to the rental place ... sorry, it's been a while.

 

If you are using public transportation, I think I would choose either Eze or Monaco but not both, depending on where you end up.

 

If you are in Nice, as Coriguy mentions, bus #82 runs from Nice-Eze. But to get from Eze to Monaco will be difficult because I don't think there is a direct bus other than #112. If you skip Eze and just go to Monte Carlo/Monaco, bus #100.

 

If you end up in V.F., getting to Monte Carlo/Monaco will be fairly easy by bus #100.

Going to Eze will mean a transfer.

 

If you can figure out a schedule that leaves very little transfer time at Eze bord du Mer, you might be able to fit in Eze and Monaco.

 

Please let us know about your day there when you get back.

[leela14]

Clear winner for us. But we are HUGE Formula 1 fans, and I've been looking forward to "walking the track" in Monaco ever since we booked this. #1 for us is Monaco, and then Eze. We dock at 8:00 and leave at 5:00, so I'm hoping we can somehow fit in both Monaco and Eze.

 

And on top of that, the forecast is rain there for Sunday. Bummer. I don't care though, I will be walking the track and I don't care if I'm a drowned rat by the time I get back to the ship. We are going to 10 ports, and this is the one I've been looking forward to the most.

 

Murphy's Law (and I'm a Murphy!) - (a) we dock on a Sunday when everything is closed, (b) the ship excursion can't get into Monaco because of the Grand Prix happening the following week, © it's going to rain all day and (d) I can't even confirm if we are docking at Nice or VF so I can book a car rental. :mad:

[Destin Mom]

6 hours is too tight I think. I would cut something. If you dock in Nice, there is a Hertz location about 4 miles away by the McDonalds on the Promenade. If trying to get in as much as possible, I would get a car for sure. Beautiful driving and you will want to stop for a few pics along the way I suspect. Eze is amazing.

 

If choosing between Nice or Monte Carlo/ Monaco...definitely a matter of preferences. Nice is wonderful to stroll along the water, get lost in the old town, and walk the steps (or take the elevator) up the chateau (you'll see it at the end of the Promenade overlooking the water- closest to the port). Amazing views, some neat ruins and history. Monte Carlo has the casino (along with some cars that collectively might fund the social security shortfall); Monaco has beautiful gardens, the palace and an acquarium. I'm not a big gambler and Eze gardens are beautiful as well. Although, in Eze, you don't get all of the soap opera history of the royal family which is interesting and brings Monaco to life. I would lean towards Eze with a drive by of the casino and then on to Nice...but just my opinion. I don't think it would be possible to make a mistake as they are all great places. Have a wonderful trip.

[Susan-M]

Leela, with docking/tendering at 8, you'll be able to catch a bus by 9 and be in Monte Carlo before 10. Or if the train schedule works better, that will be even faster. Depending on how long you spend in Monte Carlo/Monaco, you could take a taxi to Eze (probably expensive, but maybe less than renting a car.) You could then take a bus back from Eze ... but you'll need to have a few schedules with you, #82, 83 and 100.

[leela14]

The problem with being there on a Sunday, is that the public transit system is greatly reduced, buses and trains run much less than on other days - just my luck.

 

Thanks.

[Susan-M]

The problem with being there on a Sunday, is that the public transit system is greatly reduced, buses and trains run much less than on other days - just my luck.

 

Thanks.

 

Bus #100 still runs every 20 minutes (after 8 a.m.) on Sundays, which gives you a lot of flexibility. #82 and #83 are less frequent, but if you print the schedules and plan an itinerary, you might be able to accomplish your goal of getting to both Eze and Monaco. The biggest problem is not being sure of where you'll dock or tender, and having to plan two itineraries. I would print the schedules and work on it on your flight over. Here's the schedule for #100 on Sunday (just a note that the stop in Villefranche is Octroi): http://www.lignedazur.com/horaires_ligne/index.asp?rub_code=6&thm_id=538&gpl_id=0&lign_id=1092&sens=1&date=18%2F05%2F2008&index=1

If you are using public transportation, it would save a lot of hassle by just going to Monaco.

 

A rental car would be an easier alternative in some ways...depending on how easy it is to pick it up/drop it off, and what the parking is like in Monte Carlo/Monaco.

[leela14]

I printed this out along with another one someone posted earlier, and since I can't sleep on planes, I'll pour over these for the 7 hour flight.

 

Thanks so much everyone. When we get back I'll post on how we made out!

[Susan-M]

Good luck Leela .... & be sure to get back to V.F. (or Nice) in plenty of time.

 

Here's a map of V.F. to show where the bus stop and SNCF stops are. The bus is to the left of Port Sante (near the T office in the park ...not the T office at the port) and the train is towards the top of the map. http://www.villefranche-sur-mer.com/pages/plan/planville.html

[leela14]

My TA just got a fax confirming the port change to Nice. So now that I know that for sure, she is looking into a car rental close to the port for me.

 

Just FYI, and thanks again.

[Belle]

What size ship are you on?

Nice port is small, why they go to VF.

So I'm pretty sure

you will have to tender. Figure

that into your time frame.

 

I know there is one small cruise ship

in Nice port on the 18th. This ship is doing

three night stop in Monaco for the

Grand Prix. Have friends on her.

 

In your time frame and really wanting

to see Monaco and try to walk the

track, forget EZE, just go to Monaco

and if time after, visit Nice. The Chateau

is near the port, go up there as Destin Mom

said, great views. man made waterfall, park

and a snack bar to rest at. Walk along the sea.

Flower Mart not far away either. (old town)

 

Bon Voyage! Have fun what ever you do.

Just ENJOY!

[Susan-M]

My TA just got a fax confirming the port change to Nice. So now that I know that for sure, she is looking into a car rental close to the port for me.

 

Just FYI, and thanks again.

 

You're welcome ....have a great trip Leela! :)

[GloriaF]

Our ship docked in Cannes recently (April 30, 2008) and we were on a private tour with some of the people from our roll call. We went with Med Tours and Paschal was our guide. We were able to cover more territory than trying to do it on our own, and saw much more and more cheaply than the ship's excursions.

 

Paschal met us at the port and we had arranged for 8 hours since we had plenty of time in port. We visited Cannes briefly, Eze, Nice, St Paul de Vence, and Antibes and a lot of beautiful countryside. There were four couples on the tour and each couple paid 122.5 euros for the day, which was paid at the end of the tour and could be charged to all major credit cards. We felt the tour and the day was well worth the money we spent!

 

No matter how you decide to spend your day in France, I hope you have as wonderful a time as we did! Bon Voyage!

[NYCeb]

We are docking in Villefranche. We plan to goto Eze and then on to Nice. Which of the Eze stops should we get off at? Also, which bus should we take from Eze to Monaco and how should we get back from Monaco to Villefranche?

 

Thanks!

[Susan-M]

We are docking in Villefranche. We plan to goto Eze and then on to Nice. Which of the Eze stops should we get off at? Also, which bus should we take from Eze to Monaco and how should we get back from Monaco to Villefranche?

 

Thanks!

 

In Eze Bord de Mer get off at either Eze David or Eze Gare SNCF to transfer to bus #83 up to Eze Village. I think there is only one stop in Eze Village & you'll recognize it when you get there.

 

Eze to Monaco: Bus #112 (unless it's Sunday)

 

Monaco to Villefranche: Bus #100 or train.

 

More detailed info in this thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=763646