We have 2 and a half days to spend in cote d'azur. We will be driving from Genoa by car. We will use Nice as our home base and will make day trips to cannes,Monte Carlo,etc. What do you recommend to see? Should we include Marsailles in this itenary?
Thanks...
I recently posted ideas about places to see near Nice. You will find my message here http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/32804/alternative-to-nice-and-also-arles.html
It is true that it is not easy to drive and park in Nice, but to visit some of the nearby villages, you do need a car.
Cannes and Nice can be easily reached by train from Nice, there's a disadvantage to driving to those.
With only 2 and 1/2 days total, I wouldn't use up the time required to drive from Nice to Marseilles on a day trip.
Instead, spend one day exploring Nice; one day by train to Monte Carlo and the towns between Nice and Monte Carlo such as Villefranche; and whatever time you have left going by train the other way (west from Nice) to Cannes.
Driving from Genoa is a curious choice. Driving in Nice is not pleasant and the car will just sit in an expensive parking garage.
The only way to actually get any value out of your car would be to drive up the mountain roads to Corniche villages such as Eze-le-Village; but this means you won't be able to do the other things because you don't have enough time.
What was your thinking in renting the car?
