Boats, trains and buses

In preparation for our annual pilgrimage to Nice area this coming August, I need some advice/info.

1. Not hiring a car this year for the first time (-credit crunch), is it possible to buy a bus and/or a train ticket for a pre-set number of days, e.g a week?

2. We would like to do the St. Tropez trip again this year. Back in 2005 we took a boat from the port in Nice. Approximately how much would this cost for adults and children? Also,might it be better to take the train to St Raphael and catching a boat from there? How much would this cost?

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You can buy a 7 day ligne d%26#39;azur bus ticket that allows the holder to uses the the express buses [98 and 99] to and from the airport , and unlimited use of trams and buses within the ligne d%26#39;azur tarif zone. You can buy this from the bus driver at the airport or from the ticket office at the airport

It costs 15 euros

Whether or not its a useful ticket depends on location of accommodation, how much you will use the trams , ligne d%26#39;azur buses etc

eg if you want to go to monaco, st paul de vence , grasse, villeneuve village etc

-these are outside the ligne d%26#39;azur tarf zone and you would need to pay for a separate ticket.

All the bus tickets in the area apart from airport express buses cost one euro

boat for st tropez from Nice

www.trans-cote-azur.com/nice-saint-tropez.php

It would not be better IMO to take the train then the bus because that journey would probably be a lot longer

However in Augusts it is possible to buy the carte isabelle which allows unlimited train use within the areas bounded by frejus to vintimiglia, grasse and tende - so that would be 12 euros per adult or person over 12 to st raphael

children 4 to 12 would be charged 10 euros 40 for the ordinary ticket return so it would save a wee bit

Train to st raphael takes about an hour and ten minutes from Nice

the bus timetable for august isn%26#39;t up yet -but it takes a minimum of an hour and 20 minutes from st raphael to st tropez- i would expect it to be longer due to traffic - 10.30 euros per single

http://www.sodetrav.fr/pdf/100-104.pdf

there is also the option of boat from st raphael 23 euros adult day return and 13 euros child day return

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Thanks for the detailed response (Selkie Nice). The boat from Nice to St Tropez (return) is 53euro per person. Very expensive when you consider that we are scheduled to fly from Liverpool to Nice with easyjet for approximately 100 euros (return). We%26#39;ll probably take the train to St Raphael and then take the boat.

Since we are staying in Rue Marechal Joffre for part of our stay, then the seven day bus pass seems a good idea.

On another travel matter, which is the most scenic train journey from Nice station into the countryside behind Nice? Is the train des pignes worth considering? We%26#39;ve travelled extensively by car in this area previously, e.g. Mercantour national park, but I%26#39;m looking forward to a car-free trip this year and would like to arrange a couple of scenic train journeys into the Alpes Maritimes. Also, if you recommend a particular train journey, which towns or villages are worth exploring, in your view.

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since you are staying in joffre , and going to be travelling around the area by other means of transport than ligne d%26#39;azur bus -don%26#39;t get the week ticket if you want to save money

Take the bus number 23 to and from the airport at one euro per person = you can take the tram to either stop massena or stop jean medecin using the same ticket or just walk to your accommodation and buy bus tickets or tram tickets as and when you need them.

Its possible to buy a ten journey ticket which you validate in the machines as many times as there are people [but only once if using the ticket for a connection independent of number of people] -however there is no saving in money and its easy to bend the tcket and render it useless

The most amazing train journey is the one to Entrevaux on the train des pignes - IMO and Entrevaux is a really wonderful place

On the train des mervielles out to Tende you could go to Tende. sospel, la brigue , Breil sur roya - these are all interesting places - but it depends what you want to do once there - eg via ferrata , walking, museum visits etc

The train journey is scenic but its not as scenic or dramatic as the train des pignes

what dates in august are you coming? - there are some special events [mediaeval fairs ]that the children [and adults] might be inmterested in going to .

btw The train to st raphael is fairly picturesque from Biot onwards and the trian to ventimiglia is fairly scenic as is the bus to Monaco

I would also suggest a mountain trip by bus to st martin vesubie and take the shuttle bus up to le boreon to parc Alpha the wolf park.

lots beautiful scenery. the wolves are amazing- especially if you go early when they are being fed [=you see the wolves from hides , they have limited contact with humans and a mountain to roam on.]

there are some good restaurants including one where you can catch your trout and have it cooked , lots of wildlife and plants etc

the bus costs one euro and you get it from the bus station.