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French Riviera On Budget?

Cannes Do…

August17 TalkMagazine

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Your carriage awaits….

Traveling the Silk Road by train Aimee Fordos

French Riviera On Budget?

Cannes Do… Nyima Pratten

The Cote D’Azur may conjure images of exclusive events, elegant surroundings and high rollers, but it is possible to visit the beautiful city and white sandy beaches without blowing a year’s holiday budget.

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hanks to Aeroflot, it is incredibly affordable to get to Cannes via Nice's Cote d'Azur International Airport, and an interesting stopover at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. From Nice, Cannes is less

than an hour’s coach ride away, with a pickup service directly outside the airport.

In a town synonymous with its namesake film festival and celebrity guests, who come in their hoards for a week in May, it is possible to forget that for the other 51 weeks of the year, it is a normal, operational tourist town, popular with domestic and international travellers from all walks of life. Yes, it is possible to spend a whole month’s pay check on table service in one night, but it is also possible to spend a day on a white sandy beach, appreciate beautiful period architecture and enjoy delectable French cuisine for a very reasonable price.

Downtown, budget accommodation in the form of chain hotels, bed and breakfasts and Airbnb abound. Finding a place in the centre of town is worth spending the extra few Euros on, however, as it is very easy to navigate most tourist destinations on foot and taxis are on the expensive side.

Start any trip to Cannes with a stroll

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along the beachfront promenade. There are a variety of private and a handful of public beaches along the coastline, with the public ones being accessible from the promenade. Climb down onto the white, sandy coastline and dip your

toes into the warm, calm Mediterranean Sea. It is possible to lay down a towel or deckchair for free on the public beaches, but entry into one of the hotels’ beaches and use of a sun lounger will set you back around 12 Euros.

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All roads seem to lead to Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes; a tree-lined boulevard with resplendent French Art Nouveau architecture sitting adjacent to sparkling yachts from around the world docked in port. For those with a fascination for all things motors, or perhaps just the good life, it is easy to spend hours walking up and down the moored yachts, peering into cabins and discovering their countries of origin.

To people-watch, and really soak up the French way of life, pop into a streetside café for a strong cup of coffee and a chocolate éclair. If the food and beverage prices are too high along the Boulevard de la Croisette, baguettes, soft drinks and other snacks can be picked up in the numerous local food stands dotted along the promenade.

After spending a day or two exploring the magic of the beach and superyachts, venture into the old city for a

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completely different experience.

The Le Suquet district is set above the port and beach area, on the slight slopes of Mont Chevalier. The area is traffic free, but don’t be put off by the thought of climbing a steep mountain, as the walk up to the old town has a very slow incline. Le Suquet was originally an old fishing village and the architecture is vastly different to that of the main city, characterised by cobbled, narrow pathways, centuriesold buildings and a maze-like design. This charming location is ideal for boutique shopping and romantic, candlelit dinners in the evening. In the daytime, tourists can also see the ancient city walls and visit the old church, Eglise du Suquet, along with other notable tourist sites.

Cannes is the perfect place to go to immerse yourself in French culture, whilst also living the good life and creating the perfect WeChat moments post. The city is also within easy reach of Monaco and Nice, both about one-hour away by car, so it is well worth renting one for the day when visiting.