South of France Diaries: Nice, Cannes, and Monaco

We left Genoa heading to Nice and somehow missed our bus! Not because we were late, but because the stops weren’t clearly labeled. It wasn’t just us either; a whole group of people had to reschedule. With no internet and no clue what to do next, we scrambled to figure it out and eventually found another one that would take us there. We came to accept that our luck with buses this summer was just not great (shoutout to Strasbourg!).

When we finally made it to Nice, we checked into our hotel, which ended up being my least favorite of the trip. The room was small, kind of dated, and not much to love besides the location and the kitchenette. The kitchenette was actually the main reason we booked it, since we’d been eating out nonstop and wanted to cook for ourselves a bit.

But first, we had to figure out how to open the door. And I don’t mean metaphorically. The door just… wouldn’t open. I’d heard about “tricky French doors” before but didn’t think they were real. I asked the receptionist for help and she just said, “try it again.” How do you say girl bye in French? We eventually found someone else to help, and after that, we could finally settle in.

That evening, we went grocery shopping, planning to cook dinner, but of course, we ended up eating out anyway. Across the street was this little chicken spot called Chek Tacos, where we met the chef who worked behind the counter. The guy didn’t speak a word of English, and as much as we’d like to think we’re multilingual, we didn’t speak a lick of French. Still, somehow we ended up having this whole conversation — mostly hand gestures, laughter, and Google Translate fails. Later, his cousin Salim joined, and we talked about their Algerian roots and how it ties into the history of France. They were both so kind, giving us free food and great local recommendations. Chek Tacos ended up becoming our home base every night we were in Nice.

Day One: Exploring Nice

We started the morning with coffee and strawberry matcha lattes that weren’t it. Not because they were bad, but because I don’t even like matcha… I was just trying to be adventurous.

The rest of the day was all about exploring. We walked through local boutiques and high-end shops, where I thought I was about to live out my Isabel Marant dreams with that crescent bag. The dream ended quick once I tried it on and it just wasn’t giving. We popped into Hermes for the first time, but honestly, it was underwhelming. Maybe it’s easier to say that when you can’t afford a single thing in there. I quickly realized, if I want a Birkin, I gotta get to working!

Afterward, we walked along the beach and stopped at the famous Hotel Negresco for espresso martinis and small bites — just a little taste of a life we’d love to live one day. By this point in the trip, money was starting to look a little funny (not really), but splurging on luxury would’ve been irresponsible.

The beaches in Nice are beautiful but made of pebbles, not sand, which makes for a slightly painful barefoot walk. Still, the water sparkles, the views are unreal, and the people-watching is top-tier. We watched the sunset, embraced the casual open nudity, and grabbed a late dinner at a touristy spot that was surprisingly decent.

Day Two: Monaco

We put on our prettiest dresses and caught the train to Monaco, ready for a “rich girl” kind of day. What we didn’t expect was how chaotic that train would be. People were packed in like sardines, I wish I was exaggerating. There was no room to move, breathe, or even blink. We missed the first train and stood in the heat trying to regroup. We even offered to split an Uber with a group nearby, but they declined. Their loss, honestly.

We caught the next train and finally made it to Monaco. The second you step off, Rich Girl by Gwen Stefani starts playing in your head. We hit all the big stores — Prada, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Miu Miu and left with shopping bags full of… nothing, because we were being “responsible.” If I’m being honest, Monaco is beautiful but kind of boring. Besides the luxury stores and casinos, there isn’t much else to do.

Around lunch, we met a group of Russians who were pretty funny and loved guessing where we were from. Thankfully, “American” wasn’t their first guess, which is usually a good sign. I don’t know why we get such a bad rep, we’re civilized… most of the time. HA!

We went to the casino during the day, which felt wrong but right. That’s when I learned my friend might have a slight gambling problem. She was winning, though, so I couldn’t judge. I, on the other hand, once started with forty dollars at a casino and left with forty cents, so I retired from gambling early.

Finding a bathroom in Monaco was an adventure in itself. I went into the Hôtel de Paris, got turned away for not being a guest, then came back five minutes later acting like I belonged there. No questions asked the second time. Got em!

That evening, we headed to the Monte Carlo Casino, the iconic one with all the fancy cars out front. We played roulette, sipped drinks, and soaked it all in until we realized the time. There’s no Uber in Monaco, so we had to catch the train back to Nice. We left just before midnight, like Cinderella leaving the ball, except instead of a glass slipper, we were clutching casino receipts.

Day Three: Back in Nice

We spent the next day back in Nice, ready for something slow and relaxing. We went to Ruhl Plage, a beautiful beach club with the clearest water and an aesthetic that practically begged to be photographed. The food was delicious, and the little pier made the perfect backdrop for photos. Definitely bring water shoes though, because those pebbles don’t play.

That evening, we went out to a bar and met two sisters from Australia who were such a fun mix of personalities. The younger one was the life of the party and had literally just gotten kicked out of a bar for dancing on tables, while the older one, who was closer to our age, was calm, cool & collected. They were so curious about everything — exam culture, Texas culture (do we really wear cowboy hats, do we know Megan Thee Stallion?), and somehow made us realize we didn’t even know the capital of Australia. (It’s Canberra, by the way.) 

Later, we met up with Salim again, who gave us a little local tour of Nice. The city completely transforms at night with lights, laughter, and music everywhere. We ended up back at Chek Tacos, where they fed us for free again, and we talked for hours about travel, culture, and life.

Day Four: Cannes

Our final full day was spent in Cannes at the beach. Unlike Nice’s pebble beaches, Cannes has soft sand that’s way more forgiving on your feet. Personally, I like the beach clubs in Cannes more than Nice, they seem fancier, more aesthetically pleasing, and there are so many to choose from. I had a few in mind, but by the time we got there, they were either full or way overpriced. We ended up picking a cheaper option, which I wasn’t exactly thrilled about, but I spent so much time in the water that it didn’t really matter. Deashia tried to teach me how to swim pretty much the whole time, and what better place to learn than in the ocean, haha amirite. I don’t even know the name of the club we went to, that’s how unimportant it was, but I do remember the food being really good. It was gorgeous and relaxing, the perfect way to spend our last day in the South of France.

That night, we couldn’t resist one last hoorah in Monaco. We returned to the casino for a final visit, soaking in the glamorous chaos one more time before heading home the next day. We stayed out ridiculously late and had to cross into another country just to grab an Uber home, but it was so worth it.

The South of France completely stole my heart. I loved this trip and would definitely go back. Between the beaches, the food, the shops, and the amazing people we met, it was unforgettable. 11/10, can’t wait to return!