French Riviera

Re your rental car choices. Auto Europe is not a rental car agency with its own fleet of cars. It is a 3rd party booking site. Were you thinking of Europcar?

Aaah, yes. Now I recall that they're agents for the big three. Do you recommend that I check Europcar as well?

If you use the AutoEurope site, it will show all of the available suppliers in the place you select, which would likely include Europcar, as it is one of the largest agencies in France.

Appreciate the update. Thanks.

Not preferable as jumping off points, especially when you plan to drive everywhere: Menton (it is at the end, unless you plan to go into Italy). Antibes (traffic in and out to the highway can take a lot longer). Grasse --- there are a lot of windy roads and lovely villages but getting to the coast takes time. You are smart to avoid Cannes during the Film Festival -- it is just overloaded and lots of temporary buildings are blocking everywhere.

On driving, just learn some basic differences in France. Always yield to the traffic to the right, unless otherwise signalled or marked. This includes roads where cars may enter abruptly from the right. No rid on red. Don't stay in the left lane. Understand that speed limits can be strictly enforced.

Autoeurope covers more than three companies, so they are a good source for comparisons. Also, if you do book through them, they have good customer service. We have used them as well as the individual companies in the past. Do check your insurance options. We used to always rely on what our credit card covered, but nowadays we buy the extra coverage for peace of mind and ease of resolution should something unforeseen happen.
There is no such thing as an international driver's license. There is an International Drivers Permit, which you would have in addition to your state driver's license. The IDP allows for translation into French of your own license. You will need to have your up-to-date state license with you.
Picking up a car in one location and dropping in another in the same country has never been a problem, fee-wise. There may be a small one. However, dropping in another country could cost 500-1,000 euro. (Not applicable in your case.)
My personal hint....get a Michelin paper road map to plan and to look at the overall picture and perhaps to find an intriguing place to stop, even if briefly. #527 covers Provence and the Cote d'Azure. When driving in the countryside (if you do) and you come to a roundabout, follow the signs to the place you are headed. The GPS systems don't always give you the correct roundabout exit. (Of course, if in doubt, just continue on around the roundabout again until you are sure.)

How many nights after the cruise are you planning on?

Planning on a total of 6 nights within the region then back to Marseille for flight home. Will definitely get a Michelin Paper Road Map beforehand.

if you plan to drive in Monaco you should know that only cars with the French Alpes-Maritimes Department number plates (06) and Monaco number plates are allowed up the Rocher. White uniformed police officers with pith helmets at the base will prevent you. I'd suggest parking under the Aquarium at Parking du Chemin des Pêcheurs if you want to go up on the rock or to the aquarium (world class). Or park elsewhere, like above the station, they have 7 stories of car park, and take a bus or walk.

If you plan to park in Nice be sure your insurance has full and complete cover. There are so many cars and so few spaces that people park very very close to each other, practically "parking by braille", that many many of the cars have a number of witness marks - dents and scratches.

Understand that the tolls on the Autoroute in the Nice area are some of the highest per km in the country.

if you try to drive between Èze-sur-Mer and Eze le Village you will find the road extremely steep and challenging.

Super information from you all! I've now started a document with excerpts mentioned here. Great to have this resource available. Thanks.

hey hey barratt_roger
my only concern for you is reading up about rules, laws, signage, tips, tolls "cash or credit cards", parking, what's needed when driving "hiways, side roads, narrow & winding country roads".
we had plans to go to marseille few years ago and life/covid happened. saved/bookmarked couple sights:
alongdustyroads.com
under places, click europe, scroll down to france, click. there is some info about provence & french riviera with towns you mention that maybe interesting to what they offer.
search: scenic outing from marseille: train cote bleue (francetraveltips.com)
slow blue coast train with scenic views with many stops
colorbus.fr
the hop-on hop-off panoramic ride with views of the city. we've done a few in different cities, great to sit on top, relax and enjoy what the city is about. if hot wear a hat, bring water and leave the driving to your "personal chauffeur"
guruwalk.com
search cities you'll be in. "free tours & walking city tours" enjoy, have a great time & happy driving
aloha

If the Riviera is your primary interest, I'd recommend the train over driving. Also, don't miss Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Tarascon is next to Arles, which is an hour away from Marseille by train. The towns you have listed to visit are 2-3 hours from Marseille.
When looking at autoeurope.eu, you are being quoted in euros, while autoeurope.com is dollars. Be sure you’re getting quotes in the same currency.

If you drive from Marseille to Nice, you get a couple of views of the water only at the end of the drive, starting just before Cannes. The autoroute takes you more northerly.

French autoroutes (limited access highways) are well engineered, easy to drive, with nice service/rest areas ("aires"). But rural roads can be challenging for American drivers. Many of these roads, especially in old villages and the mountains, are narrow, with barely enough room for two approaching cars to pass each other. And there may be no guard rails or shoulders. Parking spots are often smaller than what we see in the US. I recommend renting the smallest car that will fit your passengers and luggage.

I spent nearly a week on the coast a few years ago in mid-March when there were relatively few visitors. I based in Nice and used the local train exclusively. It's cheap, easy, and trains are frequent. There isn't much parking, so driving means searching for parking, perhaps steep garage fees. Getting to Monte Carlo, Antibes, Cannes and Menton would be easiest by train, so would Villefranche-sur-Mer which was my favorite. For the inland part of my visit, I rented a car and stayed in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. Only authorized vehicles are allowed to drive in. My B&B host had to be contacted every evening when I returned from day trips. Other visitors must park below the town and hike up.

Going to research car rental today and definitely planning on the smallest vehicle option as there are only two of us on this particular trip.