Spotlight on the French Riviera

It’s time to live the good life and embark on a getaway to the fabulous French Riviera, or Côte d'Azur. With its elegant coastal resorts, superb eateries, chic boutiques and captivating museums, it’s the ultimate sunny retreat for the elite. Unpack your bags just once and stay at a single hotel for your entire adventure, which begins with an overnight flight to France.
Hotel Name: Hotel Radisson Blu

Your tour commences in the stunning city of Nice, a coastal pearl of the Mediterranean known for its legendary opulence and balmy beaches. With an average of 300 sunny days per year, Nice is a seaside paradise. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring Mediterranean-inspired French cuisine.
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Nice
Nice is the second largest resort on the French Mediterranean Coast and the country's fifth largest city. It has the country's second busiest airport welcoming the world's rich and famous as well as millions of sun and fun-seeking tourists. Beachfront hotels along the famous Promenade des Anglais, pleasant parks and gardens, a picturesque historic quarter as well as a lively commercial center are some of its many attractions. The Chagall Museum of the Biblical Message and the Henri Matisse Museum are located here. An ancient Roman arena and a remarkable Franciscan Church are found in Cimiez, an exclusive residential district. Nice is the gateway to affluent and exclusive coastal communities as well as the Principality of Monaco.

Get acquainted with Nice on a panoramic drive en route to historic St. Paul de Vence. Explore this walled medieval village, remarkably situated atop a hill overlooking the beautiful countryside. Soak in its distinctive light, said to have inspired Matisse, Braque, Chagall and other artists. End your day back in Nice for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you will visit Place Massena, the town’s center of activity or find your favorite café for the week, and soak in the local life.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Saint Paul de Vence
One of the most famous villages on the Nice hinterland, this heavily restored 16th-century village became a magnet for both aspiring and established artists during the 20th century. It was home to French actors Yves Montand and Simone Signoret and a favorite haunt for Hollywood celebrities. Today, galleries and studios dominate the village's narrow cobblestone streets and alleyways.

Step into the shoes of a local and navigate the Tram this morning. Get familiar with the routes and use it to your advantage during some free time. With a local expert, discover Nice by meandering through the city’s famed and colorful flower market. Then, delve into the Old Town, sampling local delicacies on a tasting tour. The rest of the day is yours. Perhaps you’ll return to your hotel and stroll along the lively seafront Promenade des Anglais. You may even stay downtown and visit one of Nice’s world-class art galleries, such as the Chagall or the Matisse Museums.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Nice Flower Market
In the heart of Vieux Nice (Old Town), amongst old-world boutiques and petite cafés, you will find the vibrant Nice Flower Market. This bustling market is located on Cours Saleya, the famous promenade in the old city. This favorite daily (except on Monday) stopover for locals and tourists alike features much more than flowers. Vendors tout an array of produce, flowers and various other delicacies. It is a feast for the senses; take in the fragrant aroma of fresh-cut flowers; sample seasonal fruits and fresh baked breads; be dazzled by the bountiful colorful displays; sip and savor a hot cappuccino; take a moment to pause and chat with the locals, or simply listen to the romantic sounds of the French language being spoken all around you.

Travel along the spectacular Corniche coastal road to the Principality of Monaco. On a walking tour, view the changing of the guards and visit the Cathedral of Monaco – the permanent resting place of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. Then it’s your choice! Explore the tiny Principality on a panoramic Little Train tour* taking you across to Monte Carlo for views of its famous Casino -OR- visit the Oceanographic Museum, perusing its aquarium and the collection of fossils and skeletons amassed by the great researcher Jacques Cousteau. This evening, savor a wine-paired tasting menu highlighting the delights of the South of France.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Food Tour & Tasting

Head to Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, referred to as the crown jewel of the French Riviera, where you’ll visit the impressive Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild. Uncover the lush gardens replete with jaw-dropping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Your visit to the villa is complete with lunch served in the charming tearoom overlooking the Bay of Villefranche. Back in Nice, enjoy free time to relax and take in the laid-back atmosphere along the Riviera. Perhaps you’ll join an optional excursion that takes you to the most Italian, French village of Menton. After working up an appetite, savor a peaceful dinner in the medieval Village of Eze.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Monaco
At 370 acres or three-quarters of a square mile, the Principality of Monaco is the world's second smallest sovereign state. It sits in a scenic cliff-side location on the Mediterranean completely surrounded by French territory. This fairy tale of a country is headed by the Prince Sovereign, currently, Albert II, son of Rainier III and American actress Grace Kelly. Highlights of a visit include the Oceanographic Museum and the Prince's Palace as well as the Cathedral, the final resting place of the Principality's monarchs.

Journey to the countryside to get to know a family-run winery’s story. Pause to taste the locally produced wine before continuing to Cannes to perhaps rub elbows with Europe’s elite. Walk in the footsteps of celebrities when you see the Film Festival Palace and the iconic red carpet featured during the Cannes Film Festival. During your free time, explore the cobbled lanes of the Le Suquet neighborhood or the lively Forville farmers’ market. Then, return to Nice in the late afternoon.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Monte Carlo
Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, hugs the stunning Mediterranean Sea. The affluent principality is only three miles long by one-half miles wide but boasts the region's most elegant address – the Monte Carlo District. The district’s Golden Square is the heart of its elegance with elaborate gardens and fountains, high-end fashion boutiques, prestigious jewelers, and is frequently lined with luxurious cars. The most remarkable building in the square is the famous Monte Carlo Casino, built in 1863 and designed by Charles Garnier. This architectural work of art features astonishing frescoes and sculptures, and is adorned in gold and marble. The opulent gaming rooms are decorated with stained glass windows, sculptures and paintings. Attached to the casino is the extraordinary opera house that features world-class performances of opera and ballet throughout the year.

Today, learn the secrets of perfume making during a hands-on workshop and tour of the Fragonard Perfumery, where fragrant formulations have been prepared since 1782. Spend time soaking up the atmosphere of this charming Provençal hill town before returning to Nice for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps you’ll set off in search of the whimsical architecture of St. Nicholas’ cathedral. This evening, join your fellow travelers for a farewell dinner in Vieux Nice celebrating the end of an unforgettable trip.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Choice on Tour: Monte Carlo Panoramic Tour or Monaco’s Oceanographic Museum
In Monaco, you have the choice between two activities. Your first option is to explore the tiny principality on a panoramic Little Train tour taking you across to Monte Carlo for views of its famous casino. Your second choice is to visit the Oceanographic Museum, perusing its aquarium and the collection of fossils and skeletons amassed by the great researcher Jacques Cousteau. Panoramic Tour of Monte Carlo - NEO Day 3 Activity Level: 1 Panoramic tour of Monaco and Monte Carlo by tourist train. The tour lasts about 30 minutes and takes guests through the highlights of this tiny country including some of the sites in Monaco they will have seen in the morning with the Tour Manager. Highlight of the tour is the panoramic drive to Monte Carlo. The tourist train will make a stop for a few minutes to allow people to take photos of the famous casino. There is no walking involved. Monaco's Oceanographic Museum - NEO Day 3 Activity Level: 2 Collection is explored at leisure. The museum was inaugurated in 1910 by Monaco's modernist reformer, Prince Albert I. Its most prominent director was French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau (1957 to 1988) who is also world-renowned as the author of The Silent World, which is both a successful book and an award-winning documentary film (won a Palme d'or at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival).

Depart for home with many wonderful memories of your journey through the Cote d'Azur.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Take in the impressive splendor of Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, home to lush gardens, iconic rose-colored siding, and immaculate views of the Mediterranean. Enjoy lunch in the tea room, overlooking the Bay of Villefrance.