Monte Carlo is synonymous with elegance, glamour and extravagance, but you don’t need to break the bank to afford a stay in this addictive part of the Cote d’Azur. In fact, a holiday here might even pay for itself!
There are many ways to arrive in Monaco from Nice Airport. The jet-set way is to fly in by helicopter, but there is a surprisingly good bus service that takes you directly into the principality for around 20 euros. Once you arrive there really is little need to rent a car. The whole of the principality is walkable, and if your legs wear out, simply hop on the open-air train to get back to your hotel.
Your best hotel choice on a budget is the new Novotel (don’t think Travelodge - this truly is a beautiful hotel), which is great value right in the centre and offers trendy modern rooms and a snazzy pool with distant views over the harbour. Plus if you are travelling out of season, the prices fall away.
During the day you can simply explore the three marinas and many Bond-style tunnels that have been blasted through the mountain. For trips further afield, simply use the train from the staggering multilevel train station to whiz you over to Nice, Cannes or Menton in under an hour, or use the local bus to get around, which is less glamorous but costs only a couple of euros.
In the evenings, there's a huge choice of restaurants, from Michelin-starred to McDonald's. Stars 'N' Bars is a fun American bar and diner on the marina, which has a good crowd and is frequented by the yachties from the gin palaces, so you may truly be dining with the stars!
But the best reason for me to visit Monaco is for the incredible shoe sales at the end of January. In the basement of the chandeliered Metropole shopping centre, a stone's throw from the main casino, is my favorite shop in the world, Mercedeh. You can't miss it. The blaring Euro pop draws you in - that and the unbelievably beautiful handmade shoes and boots for 700 euros down to 100 euros!
In the UK, handmade shoes easily cost double or triple this, so buy two pairs and you have effectively 'saved' the cost of the holiday. I have yet to convince my husband of my logic here, but sipping a beer in the sunshine outside Café de Paris, surrounded by Mercedeh bags while watching Porsches and Ferraris vroom by, I can't hear him complaining!
