GreenFamily

Antibes is closer to Cannes by train and is very easy to navigate with a stroller. Since the train is hop on hop off (between closest and farthest station on your ticket) you can stop at Juan Les Pins on your return for toddler friendly beach time.

The tour will probably drop you off at the Aix tourist office, that might have a self guided walking tour map. There are walking tours from the tourist office every morning. Check out the Hotel de Caumont because it’s going to have a Pierre Bonnard exhibit that looks great. Book reservations first,

Thank you so much!

I found a few private guides who are art historians. I really like what they offer and can’t afford to use Context Travel. Thank you for reassurance that the tours may be legitimate. I’ll reach out to them by email. I agree the walking tours are the best way to get oriented. The themed walking tours in London are the best.

This is a general question for cruises in Europe. I am a first time cruiser. What would be the risk of booking a private tour that accepts cash only on the day of the tour? Some require a small deposit using a credit card but don’t state the cancellation policies. I see these tours advertised everywhere, but it doesn’t come up in the forum. Thoughts?

If your cruise stops at Villefranche (Nice) you may not need to go to Cassis because it’s also a small fishing town with colorful buildings.

Nice-Ville is about 2.3 km walk from the old town. If you walk about a block it is possible to catch the tram from Gare Thiers to Opera - Viellle Ville.

Rick Steve’s’ Mediterranean Cruise book is useful for this port. He explains how to catch the train to Nice. It requires a change of trains, but it’s not complicated at all. It’s a better option than sitting in traffic.

The hop of hop off bus appears to have four stops in Villefranche, including one by the harbor. I assume if you have tickets you can use any stop?

Another foodie option is for you to catch the train to Menton from Monte Carlo. It’s a gorgeous town 10km away. The train ticket will cost about 2 or 3 euros each way. Menton is on the Italian border so the food is Italian. Menton is famous for citrus fruits so you can treat yourself to a lemon gelato after lunch. Menton is also a little warmer and has more sunshine than the rest of the coastal towns, which might matter to you in April. You could spend the rest of your afternoon in Monte Carlo, Monaco which is overly developed and not charming.

Aix is mostly flat and the pavement is smooth. You can sit on the fountains, which are in every square, and park benches. Cezanne’s studio is uphill about 1km from the old town, but I doubt it’s included in your tour. There is a lot of history in the old town and hidden gems.

Another note: The elevators and escalators might be hard to find. If you get confused, ask for help.

Parking des Pecheurs near the Oceanographic museum has elevators/escalators to the top level where you can access the palace, cathedral, and old town. The Oceanographic museum also has an elevator. There is rush hour traffic into Monaco before 9:00 and after 4:00. La Turbie is known for its great views of Monaco, but scary drive. Most cruise passengers flock to Eze for its amazing views, although I would only go if it’s before 10:00 am. It’s hard to find a good restaurant in these tourist areas. If you are driving from Cannes, maybe you can stop in Antibes on the way for lunch.

A tour that includes Les Baux de Provence might be fun. Most of these tours include an optional visit to the Carrierrs-Lumieres immersive light show. https://www.carrieres-lumieres.com/fr Side note: If your cruise stops in Liverno and you choose to go to Florence, stop by the small Leonardo Da Vinci museum. It’s a hands-on children’s museum of replicas of his inventions. When my kids were little, they loved this museum so much, we had to go multiple times. We bought some builder sets from the gift store. This was so much better than the leaning tower of Pisa, which is an absolute disgrace of a tourist trap.

Most people will recommend Cassis with a boat tour of the Calanques. I’m not sure if your group will be able to stay together on the boat, if that matters. Cassis has a colorful old town and a beach. Aix-en-Provence is 30 min away and easily reached by regional train or bus. The kids might enjoy a scavenger hunt tour with a prize at the end. Aix is quintessential French with beautiful architecture and fountains. The Luberon villages tours will take all day and might be tough for little kids because of thr long travel time on a bus.