Cannes to Monaco

You seem to have answered your own question. Yes, there are regular trains along the coast. See www.voyages-sncf.com for details.

Sit upstairs on the right hand side if you get a double decker. Sit on the right at a clean window without grafitti if you are unlucky enough to get one of the ancient single deckers.

From my observances this week I'd say it is about 15 percent of the trains are the single deckers.

The PACA TER train crew are in fairly constant dispute at the moment with management, so they do go on strike from time to time. Even if they do go on strike some services are guaranteed.

There are buses from Ligne d'Azur from Cannes to Monaco (change in Nice) but it is a long way from Cannes to Monaco by bus.

Don't miss Antibes.

When you arrive at Monaco, go to the ticket window and purchase a return ticket right then. The ticket window is not manned until mid-morning or late afternoon and you will be stuck if you want a late train out. Upon arrival there is a phone on the wall right outside the doors that when you pick up you are connected to a taxi company. Tell them you want to go to the casino which is in the heart of things. Order a martini, shaken, not stirred, and see how long it takes you to lose 50 Euros at baccarat..... or the slots for us uninitiated gamblers from the US. It's around 10-20 Euro to just get into the casino. Go to www.tripadvisor.com, Monaco forum, for details about the changing of the guard, Grace Kelly's tomb, or the Oceanographic Institute founded by Jacques Cousteau. Lots of great eats and it's great to wander around. We commandeered a table at a cafe adjacent to the casino, nursed a 15 Euro beer or two, tipped the waiter, and spend 3-4 hours watching the beautiful people enter the casino. Not much else to do other than shop in the haute couture shops... or take photos in front of the shops with the sign prominently displayed for the folks back home. :-)

no need to get a return ticket at Monaco, if when you get your ticket at Cannes you get an aller-retour. Be sure to validate.

I rode that line several times this week and had my ticket checked every trip, three times on one trip.