Spectacular locations such as the Italian Riviera (Portofino, Cinque Terre and Portovenere), Nice, Eze, Cannes and St. Tropez, plus Monaco.

 

ITALIAN and FRENCH RIVIERA with NORTHERN LAKES

12 days/10 nights

for TWO PEOPLE

LAND ONLY

From Euro 3,645 in 3 star hotels with all amenities

 

Time of year and availability will determine final pricing

 

 

Your CUSTOM TOUR includes the following:

·         3 nights on the French Riviera in Nice:

·         3 star options: THE WINSDOR or similar

·         4 nights on the Italian Riviera in St. Margherita or Portovenere or Rapallo: 

·         3 star options:  HOTEL HELVETIA or JOLANDA or similar

• 2 night in Lake Como or Lake Maggiore or Lake Orta : 

§         Depending on lake a charming 3 star hotel with all comforts and breakfast

1 night in Milano to fly out

·         Breakfast at all of the above;

·         Fruit basket or flowers upon arrival in Italy

·         A Dinner on the Italian Riviera or the French Riviera – a la carte with wine

·         Extra Special Thalasso Spa day at the most famous spa in Europe in Monte Carlo total of 4 treatments per person and full use of all facilities.

·         Custom Designed itinerary to your specifications.

·         HALF DAY TOUR OF THE ITALIAN RIVIERA – PORTOFINO AND S FRUTTUOSO: your assistant will pick you up at hotel at around 9 am for your boat excursion (stop in Portofino and San Fruttuoso). He will call you at hotel after your arrival to agree best day and time to have this kind of excursion that depends on the weather. You will start the boat tour from Santa Margherita and make a first stop in Portofino. Take a walk together to the Castle of St. George, the Park overlooking the peninsula and the fishing village.  Nestled among the forests are some incredible villas and gardens. Continue with the boat tour and sail to the small cove of San Fruttuoso with its monastery directly on the sea.

·         Federal Express package to your home: containing all vouchers, hard copy itinerary, train tickets and any other bookings included in your package

 

OPTIONALS

                       

• Train Tickets to St. Margherita from Nice and then to Lakes and finally to Milano in first class – reserved seating
• EXCLUSIVE Full day tour of the Cinque Terre by private boat and guide: spend a full day sailing in the Mediterranean Sea and visiting the enchanting Cinque Terre as Vernazza and Monterosso, enjoying incredible panoramas, cliff side villages, sapphire blue waters and charm. Aperitif and lunch of local specialties included.
• Transfer from Milano airport to the train station in Milano to catch train to the Italian Riviera
• Ventimiglia e San Remo (7hours
• Portofino & Italian Riviera with coffe at Hotel Splendido in Portofino (8Hours).
• Sail again and have lunch on the boat with typical Ligurian specialties as the focaccia, la farinata and great wines
• Car rental to tour the French Riviera in a medium size car with stick shift, taxes, insurance and a/c included:  based on base quote received
• Full or half day tours to Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portovenere with private guide and minibus: TBD
• Full day Spa at the Excelsior Hotel in Rapallo Experience the regenerating effect of  4 body treatments per  person, plus the use of the SPA's facilities, its pools, sauna, Turkish bath and exercise room

§         Helicopter transfer from Nice to Monaco

§         Private Half day chauffeured driven tour  to the Gulf of Poets and Portovenere with professional guide: spend an unforgettable afternoon in discovering the Italian Riviera and visit charming medieval towns as Lerici, Fiascherino, Tellaro and Montemarcello. Lunch at typical farmhouse and drinks included.

§         Half day sail tour from Santa Margherita to Portofino and the enchanting monastery of San Fruttuoso  to Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portovenere with privare guide and minibus: TBD

§         H/d Monaco, Monte Carlo, Eze & La Turbie (4 hours) by deluxe car 8 people max

§         Cannes, Grasse & St. Paul de Vence (5 Hours) by deluxe car 8 people max.

§         Gourdon & Loup River Valley (4h 30).

§         Nice City tour (3 hours).

§         Frence Riviera (8 Hours): Eze, La Turbie, Monaco, Monte Carlo, St. Paul de Vence, Cannes.

§         St. Tropez. Port Grimaud & the Wine Country (8h).

§         Verdon Canyon & French Alps (8hours) w/picnic or lunch in a restaurant (restaurant not included).

§         Monaco Day (8 hours).

§         Monaco from the sky.

§         Chagall, Matisse & Rothschild Museums (5hours).

§         Renoir & Picasso Museums and Handcraft (5 hours).

§         Half day Cruise (Monaco Bay, Cap d’Ail, Eze beach, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu, Cap Martin) – 4h.

§         Sunset cruise (2 hours) – Monaco, Cap d’ Ail, Eze, Cap Ferrat, Beaulieu

§         DOLPHIN OBSERVATION: 4 hours (only from June to September).

§         F/d Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze (8h).

§         H/d Monaco, Monte-Carlo & Eze (5h).

§         F/d Saint-Tropez w/lunch (8h).

§         H/d Cannes, St. Paul & the seaside (5 h).

§         Monaco & Monte Carlo by night (5h).

§         Cannes & Antibes by night (5h).

§         F/d tour from Monaco to Cannes (Nice/Mont Alban, Eze, Monaco, St. Paul de Vence, Antibes, Cannes).

 

**************************************************

Day 1 - LEAVE FOR NICE, FRANCE ( You arrive the following morning).

 

Day 2  - NICE or STAY IN MONTE CARLO

Hop on a high speed train ride (about 4 hours maximum).  Leave in the am (time to be decided) and head to Nice. Take a cab from the station and settle into your hotel. 

 

MONTE CARLO or NICE CAN BE YOUR BASE FOR THE NEXT DAYS

 

Enjoy Nice - take a walk along the famous Promenade, up to the Bay of Angels.  Climb to the top of the Castle/Park and enjoy some amazing views.  The park is lovely, there is a waterfall and I have taken some memorable pictures here.

 

The Old Town is a delight - narrow winding streets with fascinating food, antique and gift boutiques.  Then there is the pedestrian Place Massena - the main quare leading into pedestrian only shopping and restaurants.  Take an ice cream or chocolate at Henri Auer - number 7 rue St. Francois-de-Paule.  This tearoom has the best and is quite beautiful.  It is near the food and flower market on Cours Saleya (open only in the mornings and absolutely NOT to be missed!!!!)  There is a Chagall Museum - av. du Dr. Menard.  Closed Tuesdays.

 

WHERE TO EAT IN NICE - the food here is bursting with Mediterranean flavor, a mix of Italian and Provencal styles. 

 

LA MERENDA - no reservations, no phone, no credit cards - but worth lining up (for one of the only 9 tables). No menu - every day they prepare something fresh based on what the market has.  4 rue de la Terrasse. Cl. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

 

LA CAMBUSE - a bistro on the Cours Saleya. #5.  Cl. Sunday

GRAND CAFÉ DE TURIN - a bustling brasserie  and the top place for the freshest seafood.  Eat outside or inside.  This is where to have fresh oysters if you like them.  5 Pl. Garibaldi.

 

WARNING - do not eat at most of the places on the Cour Saleya (touristy and not fresh) particularly those that have outside fish displays - you can get food poisoning.  If you get sick in France or Italy you need to go to a Pharmacy - tell them what you've got and they will prescribe something - they act as doctors in Europe.  I've been everywhere in the world and eaten some pretty strange things but I got food poisoning in Nice - so please beware and choose reputable places.  Instead the outdoor places around Place Massena are fine - BOCCACCIO is one of the best.

 

Day 3 - NICE - SAINT JEAN CAP FERRAT - EZE

Sun on the beach and relax.  Later pick up your car (location to be advised) for the next 4 days.  Medium size with air - collision damage, taxes included. 

 

Head towards Cap Ferrat (15 minutes from Nice) Cap Ferrat is an Elegant Lady. The MUST see here is the Villa Ephrussy Rothschild.  This is near Beaulieu. The gardens are even more spectacular than the villa. Eze is another must see - perhaps these are the two top stops around Nice.  It is a medieval hill town of great beauty perched very high above the sea.

 

RESTAURANTS:  For a very special, romantic meal (there are fixed price menus in France everywhere) have your hotel reserve at the Chateau de la Chevre d'Or ($40 to 55 for fixed price 3 course menu). This 5 * hotel has a terrace restaurant overlooking the sea high on the top of Eze.  Rue du Barri Tel. 93 41 12 12.  Truly a memorable place to eat.

CAP FERRAT - Panorama:  3 avenue Jean-Monnet.  Tel. 93 01 23 07.  Or Le Sloop:  Port de plaisance.  Tel. 93 01 48 63.

EZE - Auberge du Troubador - Rue du Brec.  Tel. 93 41 19 03

 

PS - PARKING SITUATION - there are public garages (pay based on amount of time) everywhere, just watch for the "P" signs.

Day 4– MONTE CARLO – MONACO with THALASSO SPA

YOUR THALASSO SPA EXPERIENCE:  The Spa is truly spectacular - overlooking the sea so you feel like you are on an ocean liner.  Treatments needless to say are top of the line and I have included 4 each per person. In the evening you can have dinner at the Café de Paris: Place du Casino.  Tel. 377/92162020.  Right in front of the Casino and just steps from the SPA.

 

OR

 CANNES or ST. TROPEZ

Drive to Cannes, on your way down, driving along the coast, follow the signs for VENCE (turning right and heading upwards).  Then follow signs for St. Paul de Vence. ST. PAUL DE VENCE  is on the way to Cannes, so a logical stop.  It is beautiful and only about 25 minutes from Nice to St. Paul and from Nice to Cannes about 1 hour max.   There are some lovely places to have lunch - the top restaurants serve fixed price lunches that are a great deal.  3 hours is sufficient to discover this charming village, or you may want to stay longer.  

 

RESTAURANT: LE SAINT-PAUL - the setting is quite romantic and charming. Their fixed price menus are an excellent deal and there are various choices.  86 rue Grande.  Tel. 93326525.  Do reserve.

 

CANNES is a modern city/town.  It does have a tiny Old Town, but certainly its fame is due to the long-winding beach (white sand - a rarity on the French Riviera) and its incredibly vast selection of boutiques for shopping.  The fresh food market is also an eyeful and quite a gastronomic extravaganza with many small local producers showing their finest products.  Your hotel is either a Superior 3* or a 4* depending on availability.

 

The Ile des Lerins are minutes away via hydrofoil and an oasis of calm and tranquillity where nature reigns.  Swimming in the waters here is an incredible experience. 

 

RESTAURANTS

In Cannes you can eat at the many (and many) waterfront cafés although there are some very fine restaurants - they are all quite good and generally offer a good deal.

LA SCALA - La Croisette #50.  Tel. 92 99 70 00.