Now this European trip was one of our favorites. It was an ambitious and intense itinerary but an extremely memorable one. Flying into Nice, France, training to Provence and then Easy Jetting to Venice takes a lot of coordination but if you can make it happen, it is definitely worth the hassle.
It was quite the experience walking among the wealthy in decadent Monte Carlo. As an outsider looking in to the lifestyles of the rich and famous, people watching was ubiquitous. Everywhere you looked, people were hopping into their Ferraris and convertible Bentleys all over town. Somehow, Lamborghini's and Ferraris were commonplace to a point where you began to only react to the 1.5 to 3 million dollar supercar.
Highly recommended is renting a boat to sail around the Mediterranean Sea. You will generally have your own Captain/Tour Guide who will tell who owns most of the Super-Yachts and larger boats in the marina. After swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, your captain will call for a boat taxi to take to lunch on one of the local beaches. So if you can imagine a boat taxi coming out to pick you up from your boat and bringing you back after lunch.
There is a certain charm driving town to town in the South of France. Each town had its own unique character with picturesque view in every direction. The drive is easy and simple to navigate. Bringing a nice camera with you is highly recommended.
If you've never done it before, you must experience a stay at the castle. The castle on this trip was located in wine country with unbelievably picturesque views as far as the eye could see. You will feel pampered by staff as breakfast, lunch or dinner overlooking the vineyards will seem surreal. Day trips to nearby towns will keep you busy returning to the castle for a restful night.
Venice for most remains a bucket list destination. It's one of those places where you really have to see it to believe it and to understand its charm and allure. For some reason, a Gelato and even penne pasta tastes so much better when you're in Italy.
August 23, 2012 (Thu)
New York
Air Berlin – check flight status at checkmytrip.com
Air Berlin Phone: 866 266 5588 (US); 0826 96 737 8 (FR), 199 400 737 (IT)
Depart: New York, NY (JFK- Terminal 8) @ 9:10 p.m. Arrive: Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS- Terminal B) @ 10:50 a.m. (Next Day Aug. 24th)
Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS- Term B) @ 12N. Arrive: Nice, France (NCE-Term 1) @ 1:45pm
Ticket purchased at Cheap Air.com (Phone: 800-243-2724 or e-mail @ help@cheapair.com or mail@cheapair.com)
August 24, 2012 (Fri)
Nice, France
HELI Air Monaco
Located Terminal 1 of NCE Airport: (Transit): "Arrivals" To your left out of the baggage claim area, opposite of Door "A1" or Terminal 2: "Arrivals" Left out of the baggage claim area, opposite of DOOR "A4".
Depart Nice August 24, 2012 @ 2:45pm; Arrive Monte Carlo 2:52pm
Contact +377.92.050.050 (No need to reserve. Just tell Shuttle Driver where you want to be dropped off)
Europcar
Address: 47 Ave De Grande Bretagne MC 98000, Monte Carlo / Monaco
Phone: +33 (377) 93507495
Hours: 08:00 am-12:00 pm; 02:00 pm-06:00 pm
Pick-up: Friday, August 24 @ 3:15pm; Drop-off: Monday, August 27 @ 8am
Food/Shopping Area
Address: 29 Avenue Albert II, 98000 Monaco (District: Fontvieille)
Carrefour Market (Next to McDonald’s) located 2 avenue Albert II98004 Monaco, France
Buy food for picnic basket (cheese, bread, wine etc.) for the boat ride
Monte Carlo Bay Resort
Phone: 00-377-98-06-02-00
Address: 40 Avenue Princesse Grace Monaco, Principaute de Monaco 98000
E-mail: concierge@montecarlobay.mc or fastresort@sbm.mc
Check-In/Check-Out: 24 August 2012 @ 3pm / 27 August 2012 @ 12N
Room: Non-smoking; Exclusive sea view, twin beds
Afternoon: Pool/Explore Hotel (Pool closes at 8pm)
Casino de Monte-Carlo
Place du Casino - MC 98000 Principality of Monaco
Free shuttle of the hotel which runs during the day (from 9 am to 6 pm) and will leave you at the Hotel De Paris in front of the casino. It will take about 10 min
Table Games: Salon Europe Open daily from 2pm
Dress Code: In the gaming rooms: appropriate dress required. No shorts or flip flops allowed. In the private rooms: after 8pm a jacket is required. No sport shoes allowed.
Entrance fee is €10 per person: €10 supplement for the private rooms. Identity card is compulsory
Palais du Prince (Monaco's Royal Palace) – Optional
Address: rue des Remparts Monaco Ville; Phone: +377 93 25 18 31
Cost: Adults: 7 euros; Children (8-14 years old) 3,50 euros
Checking in to Helicopter into Monte Carlo--More cost effective than you'd think
The Monte Carlo Bay Resort-This car was "casually" parked out front
A typical room at the Monte Carlo By Resort
August 25, 2012 (Sat)
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Port de Villefranche sur Mer – Private Boat Rental for the Day – be done by 3pm latest
Easy Booking: Phone 00 33 4 93 91 97 34 (Contact Dessy)
Port de Villefranche Address: 2 Quai de l'Amiral Courbet, 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer, France
Meet Skipper @ 9am in Port de Villefranche
Cruise to Eze, Monaco & Cap d'Ail (stop for lunch) then go back to Cap Ferrat, Villefranche Bay
La Réserve de la Mala Restaurant
o Lunch reservation at 12N
o Phone: +33 (0)4 93 78 21 56
o Address: Plage de la Mala 06320 Cap d'Ail
o E-mail: lareserve@capresort.com
The Matisse Museum -20 minutes from Villefranche (4:00 - 4:30pm)
Address: 164, av. des Arènes de Cimiez 06000 Nice
Phone: (+33) (0)4 93 81 08 08
Web: http://www.musee-matisse-nice.org/
Hours: 10am – 6pm all year round
Cost: Free
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild -20 minutes from Matisse (5:00pm - 6:30pm)
Hours: 10 am to 7 pm in July and August
Address: 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (Located 10 kilometres from Nice and Monaco and 800 meters from Villa Kérylos. Access by the lower cliff road (N98). A free car-park is available on the site)
Phone: 04 93 01 45 90
Cost: Full rate: € 12; Child rate: € 9; 7< Free – purchase ticket online
L'Oursin Bleu Restaurant on Villefranche Sur Mer (Seaside Tables)
Dinner Reservation @ 7:30pm on the Terrace
Tel. No: +33 4 93 01 90 12
Address: 11 Quai de l'Amiral Courbet 06230 Villefranche-sur-Mer France
Casino de Monte-Carlo – Evening out around 10pm
Place du Casino - MC 98000 Principality of Monaco
Phone: + 377 98 06 21 21; Open daily from 2 p.m.
Entrance fee is 10 € per person, supplement of 10 € for the private rooms (ID is required)
In the gaming rooms: sensible dress is required. No shorts or flip flops allowed.
In the private rooms: after 8 p.m. every day, a jacket is required. No sport shoes allowed.
Putting around the Super-Yachts
Supercars everywhere in Monte Carlo, especially surrounding the Casino
Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild-A quick stop for pictures
Inside the Matisse Museum
The Matisse Museum
Swimming the Mediterranean
Boat Taxi to lunch on Pompano Beach
August 26, 2012 (Sun)
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Activities
Pool in the morning
St. Paul de Vence – 40 min from hotel
La Colombe d'Or Restaurant
o Address: 1 Place du Général de Gaulle, 06570 Saint-Paul, France
o Phone: +33.(0)4.93.32.80.02
o E-mail: contact@la-colombe-dor.com
o Reservations Sun August 26th @ 7:30pm
The Outdoor pool-A portion of the pool floor is actually sand
The Indoor Pool all to ourselves
The charm of Saint Paul de Vence
Shopping the streets at Saint Paul de Vence
August 27, 2012 (Mon)
Provence, France
Europcar – return car rental
Address: 47 Ave De Grande Bretagne MC 98000, Monte Carlo / Monaco
Phone: +33 (377) 93507495
Hours: 08:00 am-12:00 pm; 02:00 pm-06:00 pm
Nice Ville TGV Train Station to Avignon TGV Station
Nice Ville Station Address: Avenue Thiers BP 1463 06008 Nice Cedex 1
From Monte Carlo Bay Resort, take a Taxi to Gare de Nice Ville where you can board the TGV Train
TGV Train # 5184
Depart Nice Ville Station @ 2:27pm / Arrive Avignon TGV Station (Address: Chemin du Confluent - La Courtine, 84008 Avignon) @ 5:48pm
Rail Europe Booking Number: PU-20252615-G4V4
o Jack: COACH 06 - SEAT 98 (Upper Seat 01Aisle) e-ticket #412591115
o Jo Anne: COACH 06 - SEAT 97 (Upper Seat 01Window) e-ticket # 412591616
o Jon: COACH 06 - SEAT96 (Upper Seat 01Window) e-ticket # 412591594
Europcar – Avignon TGV Train Station
Phone: +33 (0) 825088945; Hours: 8AM-10:15 PM
Reservation Number: 919927341; Europcar ID 73072889
Address: Gare TGV Place De, L'Europe, 84000 Avignon
Pick-up: Monday, August 27 @ 6pm; Drop-off: Thursday, August 30@ 12pm
Credit Card: Joint Amex (Price includes Navigation System)
Chateau Des Fines Roches
Phone: +33(0)4 90 83 70 23
Address: Route de Sorgues - 84230 Chateauneuf Du Pape
E-mail: reservation@chateaufinesroches.com
Check-In/Check-Out: 27 August 2012 @ 3pm / 30 August 2012 @ 12N
Confirmation: See e-mail; Reservation under Joint Marriott Visa
Room: Non-smoking; Deluxe with sofa bed
Lav'Matic
Address: 113 Avenue Saint Ruf 84000 Avignon, France
Phone: 04 90 86 55 47
20 minutes from Chateau Des Fines Roches
A room with a view at Chateau Des Fines Roches
Castle dining al fresco was spectacular
Breakfast at the Castle
A sweet ride on the TGV
August 28, 2012 (Tues)
Provence, France
Activities
Breakfast/Pool in the morning
Chateau La Nerthe
Phone: +33.4.90.83.70.11
Address: Route De Sorgues - BP 43 84 230 Châteauneuf Du Pape, France
Cellar Tour Appointment @ 2:30pm with Caroline followed by wine tasting
Clos du Mont-Olivet
Phone: 33 (0)4 90 83 72 46
Address: 15 Avenue Saint Joseph 84231 Chateauneuf Du Pape Cedex
Hours: 9-12 am and 2-6 pm
No reservation required
Palais des Papes
Hours: Daily 9am-9pm
Address: 3 Place Palais, 84000 Avignon, France
Cost: 10,50 €; Children <8 years Free
Le Moutardier du Pape Restaurant
Téléphone : 33 (0)4 90 85 34 76
Address: Place du Palais des Papes, 84000 Avignon, France
Reservation: 7pm
Rue de la republique/Place de l'Horloge (Cross street: 1 Rue Félicien David, Rue de Mons)
Cafes & Merry Go Round
Shops, Restaurant (McDonald on rue de la republique at the end is Place de l’Horloge)
Chateau La Nerthe-If you're a wine enthusiast...you already know
Sniffing the wine, this glass has legs.
August 29, 2012 (Wed)
Provence, France
Sénanque Abbey (1 hour from hotel – will need to leave by 8:30am. Get there by 9:30am & leave by 10:30am)
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque – F- 84220 Gordes
Téléphone 04.90.72.05.86
Self-guided tour 9:40am-11am (Mon-Sat)
Cost: Adult € 7, 6-18 years €3
La Bastide de Marie (Arrive by 11:30am - lunch from 12:30-1:30pm
Phone: +33 (0)4 90 72 30 20
Address: 144, Chemin du Petit Darbon - 74120 Megève – France
Lunch Reservation: 12:30pm
Optional: Café Glacier Le Mirabeau Restaurant
Address: 3 Boulevard Mirabeau 13210 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France
Phone : +33 04 90 92 26 81
Hours: 12N to 10:30pm
Reservation: 12N
Monastère Saint Paul de Mausole en Provence (Arrive by 2:30pm & stay until 3:30pm)
Address: Route des Baux - 13210 St Remy De Provence
Phone : +33 (0)4 90 92 77 00
Hours: Daily 9:30am – 7pm
Cost: €3.40/adult; Children <12 years Free
Carrières de Lumières- 15 minutes from Monastery (Arrive by 4pm & leave by 5pm)
Telephone : +33 4 90 54 55 56
Address: Route de Maillane 13520 Les Baux de Provence (800m from the Chateau)
Hours: April to September: 10 am - 7 pm
Chateau Des Baux De Provence - 2 minutes from Carrières de Lumières (Arrive by 5:15pm)
Telephone: 04 90 54 55 56
Address: 13 520 Les Baux-de-Provence
Hours: 9a.m – 8:15 pm
Rate: Full rate: Château des Baux + Carrières de Lumières: Adult € 14,5 / Child rate: € 11
Activities/Show:
o Catapult shooting: 11am, 1.30 pm, 3.30 pm, 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm in July and August.
o Crossbow shooting: 10 am.-6 p.m.
o Medieval duel: noon, 2.30 pm, 4.30 pm
Sénanque Abbey-Unfortunately, the Lavender Fields were not in bloom.
Van Gogh's works projected on cave walls.
The stone town of Gorges is gorgeous!
August 30, 2012 (Thu)
Provence, France
The Roman Theatre in Orange – 20 minutes from hotel (30 minutes from TGV Train Station)
Tel. : 04 90 51 17 60
Address: Rue Madeleine Roch, 84100 Orange
Web: http://www.choregies.asso.fr/gb/location.html
Food Options:
o La Crémaillère Creperie/Pizzeria
o Address: 7 Place Frères Mounet, 84100 Orange, France
o Phone: +33 4 90 34 04 44
Avignon TGV Station to Gare de Lyon (Paris Lyon Train Station)
Return Europcar Rental at Avignon TGV Station
Avignon TGV Station Address: Chemin du Confluent - La Courtine, 84008 Avignon
TGV Train # 6174
Depart Avignon TGV Station @ 12:32pm / Arrive Paris Lyon Station (Address: 20 boulevard Diderot, 75012 Paris @ 3:15pm)
Rail Europe Booking Number: PU-20252615-G4V4
o Jack: COACH 05 - SEAT 93 (Upper Seat 01Window) e-ticket # 412590754
o Jon: COACH 05 - SEAT 92 (Upper Seat 01Window) e-ticket # 412590500
o Jo Anne: COACH 05 - SEAT 91 (Upper Seat 01Aisle) e-ticket # 412590511
From Paris Lyon TGV Station, take a Taxi to Normandy Hotel
Normandy Hotel (Paris)
Phone: 33 (0) 1 42 60 30 21
Address: 7, Rue de l'Echelle 75001 - France
Reservation number : File N° 051571
Check in: Thursday 30Aug2012 @ 3pm Check out: Sat 01Sep2012
Metro: Palais Royal; Mc located 184 Rue de Rivoli
Leader Laverie (Laundry) 9 Rue Monsigny 75002 Paris, France
Pierre Hermé (Macarons)
Tel. No: +33 (0)1 43 54 47 77
Address: 39 avenue de l'Opéra 75002 Paris (550m from hotel about 7 min. walk)
Hours: Thu: 10am-7pm; Fri: 10am-7:30pm
To go to Centre Pompidou from here, go to Opera station & take Line 3 to Arts Et Metiers (5th stop) & transfer to Line 11 to go to Rambuteau station ( 1st stop)
Centre Pompidou
Phone: +33 (0)1 44 78 12 33
Address: Place Georges Pompidou, entrée par la piazza 75191 Paris, France
Open every day (except Tuesday) from 11am to 9pm
Metro: Rambuteau, Hôtel de Ville, Châtelet
To go back to Normandy Hotel from here, go to Rambuteau station & stop @ Chatelet station. Transfer to Line 14 to Pyramides station (1st stop) 230m from hotel
The Stravinsky Fountain
Go to the right of the square, to the place Igor Stravinsky
Le Georges Restaurant (6th Floor of Centre Pompidou)
Tel. No: +33 (0)1 44 78 47 99
Reservation at 8:00pm – ask to be seated on the Terrace
Musée d'Orsay
Hours: Daily 9.30am to 6pm - last tickets sold at 5pm (closed Mondays); Late night Thursdays until 9.45pm (last ticket 9pm)
Address: 62, rue de Lille, Paris France 75007
Metro: line 12, Solférino Station
Musée d'Orsay Restaurant: Hours:
The Roman Theater
Musée d'Orsay
The escalator shaft at Musée d'Orsay
August 31, 2012 (Fri)
Paris, France
Versailles Palace
Open at 9am-5:30pm (Daily except Mon); M. Anotinette’s Estate/Queen’s Hamlet- Hours: 12N – 5.30 pm.
Cost: One-Day Pass (all inclusive including audio) Apr-Oct: €25 weekends; Under 18 = Free.
Take RER C5 Line- direction Versailles Rive Gauche (train called VICK) and get off at Versailles Rive Gauche Station (5 minute walk to the Palace). Do NOT get off at Viroflay Rive Gauche (this is not the correct station). Buy Metro Ticket to include Zone 5 (Versailles)
Tips:
o Leave Hotel at 7:00am to avoid waiting 1 hour in line!
o Buy Paris Museum Pass to avoid long line! Go straight to Palace Main Entrance ( A Access)
o A mini-train, leaving from the North Terrace, will take you to and from the Estate of Marie-Antoinette (Petit Trianon), Grand Trianon and Little Venice (6,90 € at full rate, 5,30 € at reduced rate
o Rent a boat (1 hour 15€) on the canal or a golf cart 30€/hour - pick up at Orangerie side of palace or down by the canal (Open at 10am)
o No metal strollers allowed inside the Palace
o Bring bread crumbs to feed the ducks
Food Options
o Angelina Bakery - At the end of the Grand Apartments (accessible via the Royal Courtyard)
o Ladurée Versailles - Royal court of the chateau of Versailles Phone: +33 (0)1 30 83 04 02
o La Flottille (Nuggets/Fries Child Menu) - located by the Grand Canal – Tel: +33 (0)1 39 51 41 58
Louvre Museum
Hours: Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wed, Fri: 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.; Closed on Tuesday
Métro: Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7)
Phone: +33 (0)1 40 20 53 17
Admission: Tickets for the Permanent Collections: €10; Free under the age of 18
Dinner: Les cafés de la pyramide (Located in Richelieu wing, access by Richelieu escelators; Hours: Daily 10:30-7pm) – serves hot dishes
Angelina Bakery: Located in Richelieu wing, near Napoleon III Apartment. Hours: 9am-7pm
Angelina Bakery
Phone: 33 (0)1.42.60.88.50
226 Rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris, France
Open every day from 7.30 am till 7pm; weekend from 8.30 am till 7pm
Ladurée Champs Elysées
Hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30 a.m. till 11:00 p.m.
Address: 75, avenue des Champs Elysées - 75008 Paris
Phone : +33 (0)1 40 75 08 75 - Fax : +33 (0)1 40 75 06 75
Off the Metro to Versailles
The best way to tour the grounds at Versailles
September 01, 2012 (Sat)
Venice, Italy
Easy Jet Air
Flight: 4293
Depart: Paris Orly Airport, France (Terminal Sud) @ 7:20am, Saturday, September 1, 2012. Arrive Venice Marco Polo Airport, Italy (VCE) @ 9am
Check-In closes @ 6:20am
Easy Jet Phone: +44 843 104 5454
Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia Water Taxi
Pick-up time: 9:30 am
Phone: DESK arrivals hall +39 041 5415084 - Cell: +39 349 6789357; Dock OFFICE +39 041 5416880
Report any delays or schedule changes to. +39 041 52 22 303 (24h)
Located at the extreme left of the airport arrivals hall. The water taxi station is to be found at the airport pier, a 5 minute walk (800 metres) from the arrivals hall. Take a land taxi to the water taxi station
Boscolo Venezia, Autograph Collection (Marriott)
Phone: 39 041 2208111
Confirmation Number: 83457999 (Marriott Silver Elite Rewards No: 623871274)
Address: Fond. Madonna dell'Orto 3500, Venice, 30121 Italy
Check-In: Sat 01Sep2012 @ 2pm; Check-Out: Mon 03Sep2012 @12N
Free motor boat service to San Marco
St. Mark's Basilica
Reservation Time: 11:25am - 11:35am
Entry voucher Saint Mark's Basilica N° 00010823-BSM-2012
Basilica Hours: 9.45 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
St. Mark's Museum: 9.45 a.m. - 4.45 p.m. (entrance: ticket 4 €) – buy museum pass
Bell Tower: July - September: 9.00 a.m. - 9.00 p.m. (entrance: ticket 8 €
Doge’s Palace in Venice (Palazzo Ducale)
Hours: 09:00-19:00
Admission: €14; Children <5 Free
Address: Piazza San Marco 1, 30124 Venice – entrance at Porta del Frumento on Piazza San Marco
Attractions: 1) Bridge of Sighs; 2) Tintoretto’s painting of “Paradise” has the distinction of being the largest oil painting on earth
La Calcina Restaurant
Dinner Reservation at 6:30pm
Tel. No: 0039.041.5206466
Address: Dorsoduro 780 - Zattere - 30123 Venice, Italy (Take Vaporetto Line 5.2 from St. Mark’s Square)
The Water Taxi
Checking In-Boscolo Venezia, Autograph Collection...A Marriott Hotel
Garden Rooms at Boscolo Venezia
You're not a tourist unless you do the Gondole thing at least once
September 02, 2012 (Sun)
Venice, Italy
St. Mark's Square
Visit the square really early before 7am to have pictures taken on the square and at the rows of gondola
Murano Island
Murano Museum of Glass - Museo Vetrario
o Hours: 10am – 5pm
o Address: Fondamenta Giustinian 8, 30121 Murano (Located in Palazzo Giustinian around corner from Museo waterbus stop & near Basilica of Santa Maria and San Donato)
Visit a glass blowing factory
Spying the birds at St. Mark's Square
September 03, 2012 (Mon)
Venice, Italy
Consorzio Motoscafi Venezia Water Taxi
Pick-up time: 11:30 am
Phone: DESK arrivals hall +39 041 5415084 - Cell: +39 349 6789357; Dock OFFICE +39 041 5416880
24-H Call Center: +39 041 5222303
Report any delays or schedule changes to. +39 041 52 22 303 (24h)
Air Berlin
Flight 8863: Depart: Venice, Italy (VCE- Level 1, Check-In North) @ 2:30 p.m. Arrive: Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS- Terminal B) @ 4:05 p.m.
Flight 7450: Depart Dusseldorf, Germany (DUS- Terminal B) @ 5pm. Arrive: New York, NY (JFK) @ 7:25pm.