Advice Needed: Cote d'Azur and Provence

Bart if you go to the casino, you should check now about what the proper attire is to gain entrance even for the bar. Hope the book I suggested has been helpful for your planning. Wondering why south of France when there is so much to see in the Lugano area ?
 
Bart if you go to the casino, you should check now about what the proper attire is to gain entrance even for the bar. Hope the book I suggested has been helpful for your planning. Wondering why south of France when there is so much to see in the Lugano area ?

And pay special attention to the attire as per the time of the day. I must have sifted through conflicting information for hours and hours on the proper attire so as to not get turned away. I was particularly concerned about the comments about men being required to wear a jacket. Some locations stated jackets required for men; some people said they or others entered in jean shorts and t shirts (I didn't see anyone that casual) and It did seem as if it was more "dressy" at night from everything I read. But the more i researched the more it got confusing because nothing was consistent. As an FYI from my personal experience, we went after dinner and I don't remember exactly what others were wearing, I know at least some were "only" in golf shirts and nice shorts. We were dressed pretty nicely (nice pants and button down dress shirt for me and a dress for GM) but I did not have a jacket on and am not sure if anyone else did either. I wouldn't risk shorts or short sleeves if at night out of being cautious (and definitely not if you want to pay another fee to enter the "semi-private" casino in the back, but they probably would not turn you away if that was how you were dressed. It just seemed they were mostly just concerned with collecting the fee from people to enter.
 
Bart if you go to the casino, you should check now about what the proper attire is to gain entrance even for the bar. Hope the book I suggested has been helpful for your planning. Wondering why south of France when there is so much to see in the Lugano area ?

It's more to accommodate my daughter. She's actually doing the first few days of her break in Greece (or Croatia....not determined yet!!). The current plan is to do Nice and Cote d'Azur (and maybe some inland stuff) for 4 or 5 days and then either hit Milan on the way back, or somewhere in Switzerland, and then while she's back in class, I'll do the Lugano region for a day or two during the days, and meet up with her for dinner. That's a very rough sketch. I need to really dig into the planning, but flights are booked so at least that part is firmed up.

But if you have any info or tips on the Lugano area, I'm all ears. Thanks!
 
And pay special attention to the attire as per the time of the day. I must have sifted through conflicting information for hours and hours on the proper attire so as to not get turned away. I was particularly concerned about the comments about men being required to wear a jacket. Some locations stated jackets required for men; some people said they or others entered in jean shorts and t shirts (I didn't see anyone that casual) and It did seem as if it was more "dressy" at night from everything I read. But the more i researched the more it got confusing because nothing was consistent. As an FYI from my personal experience, we went after dinner and I don't remember exactly what others were wearing, I know at least some were "only" in golf shirts and nice shorts. We were dressed pretty nicely (nice pants and button down dress shirt for me and a dress for GM) but I did not have a jacket on and am not sure if anyone else did either. I wouldn't risk shorts or short sleeves if at night out of being cautious (and definitely not if you want to pay another fee to enter the "semi-private" casino in the back, but they probably would not turn you away if that was how you were dressed. It just seemed they were mostly just concerned with collecting the fee from people to enter.

Jim/Nancy -
How much of a "must do" is the casino? I'm not a gambler (I spend 4 and half days in Vegas with some college buddies last year and never placed a bet or played the slots!), so I won't be hitting the tables, but I assume the grandeur of the place is the draw? What do you do there and how long does it take if you're not betting?!?!?

Thanks!
 
IMO, I guess I would have to say that the Casino itself really isn't a "must do". I am "a gambler" and didn't sit down at all to play and barely felt the urge too because the tables at the casino are for lack of a better word, horrible, and there are so few of them and the people that are playing seemed to have no idea how to play properly. If you are going to Monaco anyway I would go in because it really is beautiful outside and inside and it is great to stop in for a drink and a look around (it's tiny). The biggest draw to me was the obscene amount of high end cars in front of the Casino - so many Rolls Royces, Ferraris, Lambos, Bentleys, etc that you could even count them. I'd say if you don't gamble it would take about as long as it takes to drink one Martini to see the Casino. But walking around in front and by the Port behind the casino took a while for us and was enjoyable. It really was a beautiful area and we had an incredible dinner there. Be careful because public transportation back to Nice doesn't run all night and UBER is not allowed in Monaco. You can walk up to the hill back into France and then call, but we were unable to get an UBER to respond that way and had to opt for a very expensive cab ride back to Nice after over an hour of trying to get an UBER.

As far as going to the South of France or not. Absolutely 100% go. It is one of the most popular destinations in the World for a reason and the views and photo ops from many of the areas are just extraordinary.
 
It's more to accommodate my daughter. She's actually doing the first few days of her break in Greece (or Croatia....not determined yet!!). The current plan is to do Nice and Cote d'Azur (and maybe some inland stuff) for 4 or 5 days and then either hit Milan on the way back, or somewhere in Switzerland, and then while she's back in class, I'll do the Lugano region for a day or two during the days, and meet up with her for dinner. That's a very rough sketch. I need to really dig into the planning, but flights are booked so at least that part is firmed up.

But if you have any info or tips on the Lugano area, I'm all ears. Thanks!


Bart, PM me your schedule if you like so I can take a look at it. You may be trying to go too many places in too short a time. Are you renting a car or not ? Just learned something today while reading recent issue of FRANCE magazine I subscribe to about US drivers licenses. The casino...I was part of a small group of travel consultants touring under the auspices of the Monaco Tourism Dept. that took us to Grasse, Eze, St Paul de Vence. Our base at the Metropole in Monaco, off season, but during the anniversary of the principality so special trip in many ways. The time in the casino was at night, don't recall anyone in our group gambling. Not my thing anyway. Crossing a street is a gamble for me & now that writing that I tripped over the same speed bump in front of our hotel both times visiting Monaco !
 
Bart - glad you have a plan to visit her!! Not to be a debbie downer, but Milan, and areas outside the city, maybe a place she should avoid. This is coming from the nurse in me. Have a great time!

Look forward to reading your trip report.

Charlotte
 
Bart
You said your trip would be in late March and early April. What impact, if any, has the Corona Virus had on yours and your family’s travel plans?
 
Thanks for checking in Charlotte and Hopper!

My trip is cancelled for the time being. My daughter's program was shut down last week and she flew home on March 13. At Customs at Dulles they asked her where she had traveled recently. She told them: Italy/Milan, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland.....all countries on Level III alerts.

The Customs officer only asked if she was feeling well, (she was) but gave no other advice or information on self quarantining or changing her behavior in any way. Totally fills me with confidence.

We've all been staying home for everything except dog walks!
 
Bart, glad to know what became of the intended jaunt with your daughter & that she's ok, hopefully you will be able to do that trip in the future or start planning another for months ahead once we get thru this uncertain time.
 
Glad you have her home safely. There well may be another jaunt in your future and you get to plan all over again.
 
Bart
After all of your planning and communications regarding your possible trip, are you still considering a journey in maybe 2022 to France and Italy?
 
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