10 Photos: Monaco, Italy and the South of France
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TPG Points & Miles Editor Sarah Silbert takes you through an amazing off-season trip to Cannes, Provence and Monaco, with a day trip to Italy thrown in.
Not everyone's lucky enough to visit Cannes during the eponymous Film Festival or enjoy the rest of Southern France during the spring or summer. While the warm weather and beautiful beachside promenades make those seasons ideal times to visit, based on my recent trip to the area, there's still plenty to enjoy in the winter.
After escaping Winter Storm Jonas and generally frigid New York weather by heading to Cambodia and the Philippines in late January, we slowly made the transition back westward with a stop in France. Stepping off the plane in Nice after enjoying temperatures in the 80s in Palawan, we were quickly reminded that we were no longer in a tropical paradise. The plus side? A posh rental ride to take us to Cannes, where we found lower–than–usual prices and plenty of day trip opportunities.
The BMW 4 Series we rented through Sixt cost us a total of 260 euros (about $288) for three days — not cheap, but we needed an automatic car rather than a manual model, and the Beemer was actually the lowest automatic category for a full-size sedan. (And, yes, it's a pretty fun car to drive.) The rental cost about 200 euros less than it would have been if we didn't book through FoundersCard, and we were also able to keep the cost down by passing on the base insurance offered through Sixt, since the Chase Sapphire Preferred card includes primary rental car coverage.
All the fancy yachts in Cannes were in hibernation, which meant no celebrity sightings, but also a great opportunity to check them out as we strolled along the harbor. We also loved checking out Le Suquet, the hilly Old Town area seen in the photo below.
We spent three nights at the Grand Hyatt Cannes Hotel Martinez, a Category 6 property that costs 25,000 Hyatt Rewards points per night. Though the rates are hugely inflated during the annual Cannes Film Festival, during our stay they were a very reasonable 140 euros (~$155) per night. We actually booked a four-night stay, since we had an early arrival and the extra night didn't cost anything thanks to the Citi Prestige card's 4th Night Free benefit.
The hotel isn't the most modern or luxurious, but I loved the Art Deco touches and the view of the ocean from our Deluxe View room. And just check out this iconic staircase:
The weather was pretty bleak during our stay in Cannes, and it rained the entire second day. Still, ever ambitious, we made the hour's drive to Ventimiglia, just across the border in Italy. It's always fun to country-hop in Europe, and the colorful buildings and amazing lunch made it worth the trip.
The aforementioned lunch was so good, just as Italian food in Italy pretty much always is. We ate at a restaurant called Pasta e Pizza, and everything from the margherita pizza to the gnocchi was absolutely delicious. Our meal, including a small pitcher of wine, cost just 25 euros.
On the way back, we stopped in Monaco. Navigating the windy, narrow streets down to the main town in the rain was a bit of a challenge, but things were more tame once we parked at the Casino Monte-Carlo. The atmosphere inside was maybe a little too tame — the casino was surprisingly tiny (at least the non-private rooms), and there were a grand total of about 10 tourists in the whole establishment. Still, it's worth seeing, if only to indulge your curiosity.
It costs 10 euros per person to enter the casino, and while we paid the fee, we ended up staying less than an hour. 50 euros did last surprisingly long at the blackjack table, but the visit felt decidedly off-season and we felt more than a bit out of place in our casual clothes.
On our final day before flying to Paris, we headed to Avignon, about a 2.5-hour drive away. This Provence city is known for being the seat of the papacy during much of the 14th century, and the huge Palais des Papes is now a national museum. It's worth visiting, but strolling through the old town you'll see plenty of other eye-catching buildings, such as the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).
After exploring the colossal Palais des Papes (which has a pretty great gift shop, by the way), we strolled out to the Pont d'Avignon. The bridge spans half the Rhône River — it was broken during a flood in the 17th century and never repaired. It's especially picturesque in summer, but even in winter it makes for a great vantage point on the city and its old buildings.
Another great meal, this time in France. Before wandering around Avignon, we stopped at the restaurant D'Ici et D'Ailleurs in the city center. My boyfriend chose the lunch special with a huge steak and frites — reportedly quite good and obviously quite filling. Naturally, we also opted for a bottle of Côtes du Rhône.
Where to Stay
Cannes makes a great base for exploring the South of France, Monaco and northwest Italy. If you'd like to stay in town but aren't feeling the Grand Hyatt, check out the beautiful InterContinental Carlton Cannes. Award nights go for 60,000 points — it's definitely pricey, but the IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card can at least get you one night free. There's also the JW Marriott Cannes — like the Grand Hyatt and InterContinental, it's set right by the water on Boulevard La Croisette. A free night at this Category 9 property will cost you at least 45,000 Marriott points, and with the current 100,000-point sign-up bonus on the Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, two award nights are within reach.
Getting to Cannes
The closet airport is Nice Côte d'Azur International Airport (NCE), and you can use miles from all three US legacy carriers can get you there.
American: One-stop flights from the US start at 40,000 miles round-trip in economy, while you can find business awards for 100,000 and first-class for 125,000. Those prices will increase to 45,000, 115,000 and 170,000 miles starting on March 22, when the 2016 AAdvantage program changes go into effect.
Delta: Round-trip economy flights from the US start at 60,000 miles in economy and 125,000 in business. Notably, you can take a Delta nonstop from JFK to NCE, which ups the convenience factor, but a nonstop award will often cost you substantially more — as much as 102,500 miles round-trip in economy and 295,000 miles in Delta One.
United: Round-trip flights from the US start at 60,000 miles in economy, 115,000 miles in business (140,000 on Star Alliance carriers) and 160,000 (220,000 on Star Alliance carriers) in first. All flights from the US will require at least one stop.
What are your favorite travel tips for visiting Monaco, Italy and the South of France?
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.