Nice to Marseille

Hi Myself and 2 friends are planning to fly in to Nice in August, hav%26#39;nt decided which date yet. we were going to pick up a car and travel in to St tropez, Monaco but end our trip in Marseille. The trip will be 11 days in total. I have been told that July and August are the worst times to travel by car to these destinations. Is this true?? Will we have enough time to do all destinations? Also is there any route through small towns that you can take that will avoid the bumper to bumper traffic? Can you suggest a route?

Thanks a million

Maria

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Yes July and August are the worst times for traffic when the rest of France jumps in the family car and heads south...to join you. No there isnt a route through small towns to avoid traffic - that is exactly where the nose to tail traffic is - along the coastal road linking the coastal towns between Nice and Cannes or of to Monaco. The motorway avoids the worst of it, but why would you want to go on holiday to see the motorway?

I am told there are ways into St Tropez which at certain times of the day avoids what is usually the biggest traffic jam on the Riviera. But when word gets out, that will go too.

The train is twenty minutes-ish from Nice to Cannes -I have known it take over two hours by road. Monaco is fifteen minutes by train, and you dont have to pay 2.40 euro an hour for parking.Parking in Cannes is up to 2.80e an hour, parking for 11 days at 2 something euro an hour 24 hours a day is...is - a lot

The train from Nice to Marseilles is around two and a half hours and a lot less stressful.

Despite there being no single argument in favour of driving a car here, everybody does it. Which is why in my view it is a lot smarter to do otherwise.

Oh your original question - 11 days is more than enough to do what you plan - in fact, a lot more

Cheers!

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Thanks a million for your information, it is truly appreciated. Im trying to persuade my friends to travel by train so fingers crossed it happens otherwise there will be 3 very unhappy women in august!!!:)

Maria

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Have you thought about flying into Marseille instead of Nice? NiceLife is one of the most informative, reliable TA members and he knows his stuff about Nice where he has a home.Unless you are staying out of Nice a car is a bind in Nice (in which case you wouldn%26#39;t fly to Marseille).

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