Villefranche question

[iowacruiser10]

One of our port days is at Villefranche. I have found that there is a lot available at this port - Eze, Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, etc. - but one of the things my parents have asked about is entering the Casino de Monte Carlo. Has anyone ever done this? or done the tour (I've read a little about it)?

 

Is it worth it? Is the dress code strict on the tour? how long does it take? any other helpful hints?

 

thanks in advance!

[Hlitner]

Whether it is "worth it" is an individual decision. The casino is happy to take your money (admission fee) during the morning hours when nobody else normally goes to a casino. Here is a link to some info:

http://www.montecarlosbm.com/luxury-casinos-monaco/conditions-dentree-visites-groupes/

 

You need to also consider how you plan on getting from the tender pier to Monte Carlo. It is about 20 min by train (but there are quite a few steps up to the Villefranche train station. Depending on your mobility you can walk from the MC train station, grab a local bus, or splurge on a taxi.

 

If you care about our personal opinion we could probably list 100 things we would do in the South of France before we even started considering going to MC or its famous casino.

 

Also consider the rest of your day. Assume you get tendered in by 10, are in Monte Carlo before 11, and done with the casino by noon. Then what will you do with the rest of your day? There are certainly no shortage of options :)

 

Hank

Edited June 4, 2014 by Hlitner

[lovespositano]

One of our port days is at Villefranche. I have found that there is a lot available at this port - Eze, Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, etc. - but one of the things my parents have asked about is entering the Casino de Monte Carlo. Has anyone ever done this? or done the tour (I've read a little about it)?

 

Is it worth it? Is the dress code strict on the tour? how long does it take? any other helpful hints?

 

thanks in advance!

 

We have done the casino as part of one of our private tours, and it was a total disappointment. Unless things have changed, you have to pay an entrance fee to get in and they require your passport. It sounds glamourous and probably was, in the day, but no longer anything grande about it. The area AROUND the casino is certainly a must-see and the casino is beautiful from the outside, as is the neighboring Hotel de Paris. On the other hand, you will love Eze and there are plenty of interesting things to see in Monaco including the area around the palace. Enjoy!!

[Smiley4]

Just returned from a western med cruise. The palace in Monaco is a must see as well as the changing of the guard ceremony and some of the breathtaking city views from the wall near the Monaco Palace.

[mar915]

How many stairs I to the station...my mom can do stairs but slowly..just wanted an idea or 20 or 50

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[KirkNC]

One of our port days is at Villefranche. I have found that there is a lot available at this port - Eze, Nice, Monaco, Monte Carlo, etc. - but one of the things my parents have asked about is entering the Casino de Monte Carlo. Has anyone ever done this? or done the tour (I've read a little about it)?

 

Is it worth it? Is the dress code strict on the tour? how long does it take? any other helpful hints?

 

thanks in advance!

 

It would not be worth the time it would take to get there for us but as Hank points out, it's an individual decision. I would do something closer such as Nice or Eze.

[Editrix]

The others are right. Choose something else to do, unless your parents insist. I was there many years ago, at night during a land vacation, and while there were lots of glitzy cars on the street, the glitzy people were nowhere to be seen inside. The casino attracts high rollers from all over the world. They play in private areas of the casino, not in the part open to tourists where they would be gawked at. If your parents are hoping to catch a glimpse of the glamour set, à la TO CATCH A THIEF, they should watch the movie and forget the visit. Otherwise, they will find themselves in a big room with nothing much to see, except other tourists who had paid for the "experience".

Edited June 8, 2014 by Editrix