We have always been independent travellers with a love of walking and exploring ourselves, though work always got in the way
Since my recent diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and my forced retirement, we now have time, but my complex daily needs and limitations make what was a simple holiday trip now a military style and scary operation, and I am determined to avoid using a wheelchair until I am forced to.
My partner needed this break more than I did, and I was determined to make this holiday to Nice a magical and memorable experience during our remaining time together.
This meant a different approach to sightseeing during our stay, and we decided to pre-book private tours, which means if I struggle or feel unwell, it only impacts us, which was a major concern if we choose group tours, and if I have a bad day, my partner can continue without me
We came across a company that offered private tours to Eze, Monaco and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat called Context Travel, and booking was straightforward, which included a section to add additional information, which I used to add my PD condition and limitations
A short medical questionnaire was sent once the booking was confirmed and paid for, which enabled me to be more specific about my limitations and needs
We got a text from Jeanne, our tour guide, early that morning, confirming our pickup time and location from our apartment
Jeanne and the driver arrived on time in a Mercedes minivan equipped with bottled water and phone charging cables, and we started on the journey towards Eze after discussing options for lunch
This is a small village on top of a hill that offers spectacular views over the surrounding coastline, which also has a botanical succulent garden at the top (which is an optional extra cost)
The path up is very steep and busy, and if you want to visit the garden, we would recommend purchasing your ticket from the machines at the bottom of the hill, and try to get there early as it gets very busy after mid-morning
Jeanne was very aware of my condition and limitations and allowed us to move at my pace without feeling rushed
The views are spectacular and well worth the effort to also explore the botanical garden but unfortunately, due to my slow pace meant we spent longer here than planned
Our driver picked us up from the bottom and we continued along the coastline to Monaco, learning about the rich history of this area and Monaco. Once we arrived in Monaco, our driver drove around the F1 street circuit, which was amazing to see how different it looks after the motor racing leaves. We got to go down the iconic start/finish straight up to casino square, where we stopped to explore
The casino foyer is free to enter and worth a visit - you need to pay and need your passport if you want to visit the actual gaming floor. There is a security bag check at the entrance. There seemed to be no strict dress code, just remove hats whilst inside
It was fascinating to hear the history of the casino and the famous visitors. We explored the casino square, learning all about the cafes and hotels around this square. We were then picked up again by the driver and taken via more of the F1 street circuit - including the famous hairpin and underpass and then out into the iconic swimming pool complex, making our way towards the Prince's Palace
Thankfully, this had lifts taking you from the car park up to the Palace residence, where we learnt all about the history of Monaco past and present and got to stroll around the streets, which were mostly flat and easy to walk on. There is an oceanic science museum, along with all the government buildings and finally the palace itself
Apart from the beautiful buildings, the palace area offers the most spectacular view of the whole of Monaco
We made our way back to the car to continue onto Mairie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, where we had lunch booked in a restaurant on the edge of the bay. Despite arriving an hour late, we were made to feel welcome and enjoyed some new local cuisine whilst learning about the recent history of this port with the US Navy. This was a beautiful place to enjoy lunch
We were then picked up by the driver to travel to our last destination, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. We visited a couple of villas where the grounds were open to the public, as well as driving past many very expensive villas with famous owners
Sadly we were running out of time, due to my slowness earlier, and did not get to visit the Villa Les Cèdres gardens as it was closed, but we did make a final stop at a café at the start of one of the circular walking routes around Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat for a paddle and cool smoothy - an excellent end to the day
We were then returned on time to are apartment after a fascinating day exploring the coastline to the west of Nice with the great company of our guide Jeanne
Marc
Reviewed on:
Jul 16, 2025
