When we talk about the French Riviera we also talk about Cannes, so here are our tips, especially on the things not to do in Cannes to enjoy a pleasant holiday in the City of Cinema.
1. Riding a bicycle. It seems bad to say for a seaside town, where it would be pleasant to take a ride, but avoid doing it in Cannes. Both the promenade leading to Mandelieu, and above all that of the Croisette are narrow streets (due to the parking lots on the side), very busy and without a cycle path. The pedestrian promenade de la Croisette is also to be avoided, pedestrians, with all rights, will never move. Outside these areas, to the east and to the west, instead, some beautiful cycle paths suddenly appear.
2. Stay in Le Cannet. If you love the hill to stay out and be comfortable to get around the French Riviera and Provence, then it's a good choice, but if you do it to save on the room, I don't think you get a big deal. Cannes "from the sea" is all south of the main road that cuts it in half, well away to be reached, especially in terms of time, from Le Cannet and in general from the whole town to the north. And if you want to get around by car, the cost of parking (if you find it) will immediately cancel your stay savings.
3. Senseless photos. I already find it of dubious interest, for my taste, to photograph yourself on the steps of the Palazzo del Cinema with the attitude of a movie star, but if you do it in costume, slippers, mirrored glasses and in your hand the umbrella that they gave you at the supermarket, what do you do it for? Next level: those who, in order not to wait for other "VIPs" to remove the disturbance, photograph themselves directly in front of the roadside board with the reproduction of the staircase.
4. Eating out. Drastic sentence, from which I absolve all gourmets with ample availability. Shopping at the supermarket (obviously, if you stay in an apartment and have a kitchen) is convenient, going crazy to find a restaurant with a high quality / price ratio is not. If you don't want to pass out, and you want to eat something out at all costs, go to any of the many fixed menu places: the quality is always decent and you know how much you spend. Beware that drinks are often included, they could be very… salty.
5. Put everything on the umbrella. I'm talking about a free beach and an umbrella brought from home. La Croisette beach is often very windy, I repeat very windy. If for any reason you cannot or do not want to spend the day tanning intensively (you are milky white, you can't stand the sun, you have children, etc.), do not bet all your chances of shelter on your dear umbrella. Prefer mini beach tents, more easily anchored to a terrain that is not so simple; your neighbor will thank you for not hitting a gaily fluttering pole.
