Quandry

We saw Nice in two days including a visit to the fabulous Chagall museum. With three you can see more, including Monte Carlo. We rented a car in Nice and drove to Lourmarin where we had an apartment rented through VRBO. We spent a great 5 days driving to small towns in Provence, drove to Marsielle to depart. I'd do it again, but spend a few more days in Provence. My advice- spend more time in Provence, less in Nice.

Yep...that's what I'm feeling too. I'm not a beach person either. Have any of you done the electric bike tours anywhere (I was looking at them in Nice...but I've seen them in several areas in France)
And since you had a great time in Provence...what were your highlights there? What towns? (We are staying in Aix because our 22 year old son had friends who raved about it for the night life and college age "vibe"...but we want to get out on day trips to cool places from there.
Did you rent a car in Nice to drive to Provence? I'm assuming you traveled by car around Provence?

The Nice area has so much more to offer outside of Nice. Eze, reachable either by car of by bus from Nice, Menton, Villefranche-sur-Mer (by train or bus), Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, a short walk from Villefranche (bus from Nice), is a wonderful garden in St Jean Cap Ferrat that I visit every time I stay in Villefranche. I have stayed in Villefranche 3 times since my original introduction on a Rick Steves tour 10 years ago. Rick's book has great walks around St Jean Cap Ferrat; I have yet to do all of them. Train to Monaco to watch the changing of the guards around noon; it is an almost all day trip for me.

Enjoy France.

We had been on the RS tour so visited St. Remy, Arles, etc. From Lourmarin we did day trips to (among others) Cuceron, Bonnieux, I'sle sur la Sorgue, Saint Saturn-les-Apt. All our trips were focused on walking, quaintness, food. We did a day trip with tour to Aix (in the book) and that was great. One of the best meals ever was in a tiny town, Ansouis. The restaurant is La Closerie. It has a Michellin star and is not unknown so book in advance. We liked I'sle the least as having spent muchtime out of crowds, the Sunday market was a madhouse. We got some fresh fish, a few veggies, a bottle of rose and drove back to home base. Yes, we rented in Nice, drove throughout, dropped the car at the airport in Marsielle. Spent more than a few minutes circling roundabouts a half dozen times until we figured out the signs. Part of the fun! Best to look at a map, set your driving tolerance for the day, go.

We've had two visits to Nice area - but only 5 nights over two visits. The first trip we managed to go up Castle Hill for some awesome views of Nice (there is...or was...an elevator you could take to the top) and just wandered the old town and around Place Massena and the Promenade of course. Also spent an evening wandering around Monaco and a quick visit to Eze in the morning. We stayed in Villefranche, but only explored the path from the train station to our accoms.

The second trip we stayed in Villeneuve Loubet for 2 nights and one night in Nice by the airport. The highlight for me was St Paul de Vence. We had a car and also drove around to Gourdon and stopped in Antibes. Didn't do much in Antibes other than have supper as we didn't really know what was there to see.

Also did Provence a few times - first trip only had 2 nights and we spent a morning in Avignon (we did the Pope's Palace and I wished I had heeded Rick Steves advice about admiring it from the outside only - it was pretty pricey, and mostly empty inside, not our cup of tea). Then took a van tour to Pont du Gard, Uzes and Nimes - which just wet our whistle for a return. Second time we had 4 nights, stayed in Salon en Provence (also had a car) and visited Arles, Nimes, Aix, returned to Pont du Gard, Les Baux (highlight) and Rousillon - another highlight. We also did a factory tour in Manosque which ate up about a half day getting there and doing the tour. Even with 4 nights we still missed a lot.

I enjoyed Nimes, the Pont du Gard, Orange. I didn't ride under the Pont du Gard, wish I had.