The glitz and glamour of Monaco

Before we talk about Monaco, let's talk a little bit about Menton, a hidden gem on the French Riviera tucked in between the border with Italy and France and the principality of Monaco. This was our base for a couple of nights while we explored Monaco but is so much cheaper than its wealthy neighbour. It has a subtropical climate so even winter is not really that cold; a small population of only about 30,000 residents, obviously this swells in the summer months; a gorgeous, well-kept old town; a stretch of coastline that would be the envy of many bigger cities; and many bars and restaurants along this stretch of coastline where you can sit and have aperitivo, dinner, or just a cup of coffee right beside the Med and watch the world go by. Would highly recommend Menton as a place to stay if you are planning on visiting Monaco. It is an easy bus/train ride across the border and you are not paying exorbitant prices for accommodation. We chose to take the bus because the bus stop was less than a 2-minute walk from our hotel; it took only approximately 20 minutes to reach our stop near the palace. We were told that the train takes about 10 minutes but it's still about a 15-minute walk to the castle. The other advantage of the bus is the scenery along the route. The road climbs up quite high so you get to experience these stunning views across the sea and over to Monaco (it's best if you sit on the left-hand side of the bus on the way to Monaco to maximise these views). We were told that changing of the guards takes place at 11.55 am every day so we timed our journey to coincide with this.
Lucky we got there early because the crowds were already starting to claim their viewing spots. The police (and there were a lot of them) were awesome and encouraged all the young kids to sit inside the barrier and watch proceedings from there. After the event, we took the opportunity to go on a tour of the Palace, wander all the little side streets by the palace, visit the Cathédrale de Monaco (so, so beautiful; it looked like they were preparing for a wedding when we visited), walk the streets where the Grand Prix took place, wander around the marina and ogle over all the super yachts, check out casino square (along with 50 million other people), take a peek inside the casino, and wander through the sculpture garden. The city was busy with workmen taking down all the temporary grandstands and structures that were a hangover from the F1 Grand Prix that had taken place just a few days earlier. We had originally planned to go to the Grand Prix and watch from the fan zone but people had told us how busy and expensive it would be so we decided against it. The super yachts in the marina were obscene!!! So huge, so luxurious, so ostentatious - talk about super yacht envy 🤗. Getting into the casino (for a look only) was also an interesting exercise. There were security guards everywhere and every person wanting to get through the doors was frisked. All except this little old lady from NZ who they just ushered through - I was obviously no threat to anyone 😂. Getting through the main doors only gets you into a foyer with a few exclusive shops, an expensive looking restaurant, and a display of an F1 car from a local boy who won the Grand Prix many years ago. If you want to get into the actual casino you can get into the first room (pokies only) for free but any further and you have to pay. Apparently real estate in Monaco is some of the most expensive in the world. It is a city that exudes wealth and opulence. Think luxury cars, super yachts, exclusive lifestyles .... oh well, back to our cheap hotel in Menton.Read more