Our experience with Rosa Jackson and Les Petits Farcis was nothing short of exceptional. From the…read morevery start, the open-air market tour was engaging, informative, and thoughtfully curated, offering insight into local ingredients, traditions, and the rhythms of daily life. Rosa's knowledge and passion were evident at every stop. The cooking class itself was a truly rare and extraordinary experience. The atmosphere at Les Petits Farcis is warm, welcoming, and inspiring, and Rosa's instruction is both approachable and deeply skilled. She creates an environment where learning feels natural and joyful, regardless of experience level. The food was absolutely incredible -- beautifully prepared, thoughtfully explained, and deeply flavorful. Every dish reflected care, tradition, and a true love of cooking. Sharing the meal together at the end was the perfect conclusion to an unforgettable day. This was far more than a cooking class; it was an authentic culinary experience that we will remember for years to come. I cannot recommend Rosa Jackson and Les Petits Farcis highly enough for anyone seeking a meaningful, immersive, and delicious experience.

I loved this cooking class. Rosa is super knowledgeable and she strikes the perfect balance between…read moreteaching real cultural knowledge and cooking skills, but keeping things relaxed for a holiday.

This tour company was fantastic. The online booking is very easy. The tour descriptions are spot…read moreon. The guides are friendly, funny and knowledgeable. I actually used them twice while in Monte Carlo. Be advised if you are staying in a hotel, as I was, that many cruise passengers also use this company. So on busy docking days the trips will be full. However, I found my guides to be open to the desires of the group, and we made a few modifications as we went. That was much appreciated.

Want to spend a full day exploring the best of Cannes, Nice and Saint-Paul de Vence in a day? Take…read morea Liven Private Cruise Tour with Frederic. Frederic is an amazing host. So warm and kind. Loved how he shared his passion for art, architecture and history. He was so patient as we created a custom day. Safety was a priority as our family was traveling with a couple of mobility impaired seniors. Walked the Red Carpet in Cannes. After a short walk along the beach and exploring the handprints of the stars, we were off to Nice. Along the way, Frederic told us about the royalty, artists and movie stars that lived and worked along this part of the French Riviera. Especially loved hearing about Princess Grace and the filming of "To Catch a Thief" with Gary Grant. My sister-in-law wanted to hit a local grocery store. Monoprix was perfect for her to stock up on sardines and pates. The macarons and chocolate croissants were bakery fresh. Next to the Chagall Museum in Nice. What an amazing collection of Chagall paintings, lithographs and stained glass. They even have a Steinway grand piano that was painted by Chagall. One of my favorite stops of the day. When in Nice, the Flower Market is a must. So lovely to be able to stroll through the historic flower market enjoying the wonderful colors, fragrant flowers and delicious treats. Since it was established in 1897, it has been an integral market for locals and tourists. Russian Czar, Nicholas II, loved this market so much that he would buy flowers and transport them by train for a market in St. Petersburg two days later. Today, the market is filled with stalls of venders with fragrant bouquets, soaps made from lavender from Provence and trees with hibiscus blossoms. Bring a bag to fill with fresh fruits and vegetables. The donut peaches were so sweet. Cookies and Turkish delight are sold by the kilo. Or order a cannoli filled with pistachio or nocciola (hazelnut) cream. Such a great place to pick up a sweet treat or a souvenir made locally. Next Frederic took us to Saint-Paul de Vence. Such a charming town. It is one of the oldest Medieval towns on the French Riviera. Loved learning about the many artists that drew inspiration in this serene village. Pablo Picasso worked here. Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner were married here. Marc Chagall lived here creating many beautiful pieces. He and his family are buried in the cemetery at the end of the path. Look for the grave covered in stones to the right. Today, Saint-Paul de Vence is filled with so many art galleries. From classic to contemporary to pop art, it is fun to pop in and out of the galleries. The day was perfect, and Frederic was the best guide! Merci beaucoup d'avoir partagé votre belle ville avec notre famille!

We got to ride and stop at many good coastal spots. Those e-bikes make it fun and easy for most…read moreanyone to zip around! It was a great tourist half day activity!

My husband and I took the panoramic tour and as it turned out, were the entire tour! Vincent is a…read moregreat guide, knowledgeable about Nice and France. We are cyclists, but had never tried e-biking. It was like having a silent motor when you needed it. Lots of fun! We were able to do several climbs in a short time and we're delighted with the views. We recommend this tour, everyone can do it!

If you are looking for a private tour guide in the French Riviera, Provence, or the Southern French…read moreAlps, we cannot recommend Sylvie Di Cristo highly enough. She was truly one of the highlights of our trip to the South of France. Our wonderful experience with Sylvie actually began well before we arrived in France. Leading up to our vacation, she was an excellent communicator via email, helping us plan and curate experiences that matched exactly what we were hoping to see and do. She was responsive, thoughtful, and incredibly helpful in turning our ideas into memorable days. Once our adventure began, Sylvie exceeded our expectations. From the moment she picked us up, spending the day with her felt less like being on a formal guided tour and more like exploring France with an incredibly knowledgeable local friend. She is warm, personable, funny, engaging, and a true professional. Sylvie curated two phenomenal experiences for us: a day exploring Provence wine country and another discovering the Southern French Alps. Both tours were beautifully planned and gave us the opportunity to experience much more than we could have on our own. Her knowledge of the region, its history, culture, wine, villages, landscapes, and local life added so much depth to everything we saw. She knew how to balance learning and sightseeing with simply enjoying the moment. We learned a lot, laughed a ton, and created some of our favorite memories from our entire vacation. What made Sylvie particularly special was that her help didn't end when the tours did. Throughout our stay in the South of France, she gave us fantastic recommendations for restaurants, places to visit, local experiences, and destinations worth adding to our itinerary. Her suggestions helped make the rest of our vacation better, too. There are plenty of ways to see the French Riviera and Provence, but having the right local guide can completely change the experience. Sylvie gave us access to the history, stories, culture, and local perspective behind the beautiful places we were visiting while making every day feel relaxed, personal, and fun. By the end of our time together, it genuinely felt like we had spent the day traveling with a friend. We came home with beautiful photos and plenty of new knowledge, but more importantly, we came home with core memories that we will talk about for years. If you're planning a trip to the French Riviera, Provence, Provence wine country, or the Southern French Alps and are searching for a knowledgeable, personable, and professional private tour guide, put Sylvie Di Cristo at the top of your list. We would book another tour with her in a heartbeat. Merci beaucoup, Sylvie, for making our trip so special!

A Wonderful Experience with Sylvie on the French Riviera…read more Sylvie will drive you to the best spots of the French Riviera. If you love food trips, Sylvie is the guide to call--she will take you to the finest restaurants in town. Interested in local markets? She has a list of flea markets on varying days. One of the highlights of our trip was experiencing three countries in one day: breakfast in France, lunch in Italy, and dinner in Monaco. If you're planning to visit during the Grand Prix, when most roads are blocked, Sylvie is the right person to take you there. She knows the streets of Monaco by heart and arranges perfect pick-up and drop-off points. We also visited Cannes for a quick dip and got to taste the Mediterranean waters. But the most memorable experience was when she invited us for morning tea at her home. Spending time with JJ and Roma made it feel like a second home. We miss you, Sylvie, and we hope to see you soon, whether here in the Philippines or back in Nice. Ciao! Hugs and kisses to You, JJ and Roma.

Want to spend a full day exploring the best of Cannes, Monaco and Saint-Paul de Vence in a day?…read moreTake a Liven Private Cruise Tour with Yann. We used Liven Up a few years ago and had a great day. Loved meeting Yann this time. He was an amazing host. Enjoyed how he shared his passion for art, history and local trivia. He was so patient as he changed the itinerary based on traffic jams and road closures to create a very personalized day. Tried to walk the Red Carpet in Cannes, but it was closed for the Cannes Film Festival which started the next day, so we headed to Monaco instead. Cleverly, he exited the highway due to heavy traffic to take us through small French villages on the way to Monte Carlo. Along the way, Yann shared stories about the royalty, artists and movie stars that have lived and worked along this part of the French Riviera. Especially loved hearing about Princess Grace and the royal family. However, passing by where she had her tragic fatal accident was so sad. Once in Monaco, we bought tickets to explore the Royal Palace and were treated to the Changing of the Guards. Timing is everything. The view of Monaco and Monte Carlo from the palace is stunning. Next, Yann drove one lap of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. Interesting to hear about the race, including cars flipping and crashing onto yachts over the years. Scary! The grandstands and safety barricades were already set up along the course as the Grand Prix starts two weeks after the Cannes Film Festival. As a huge fan of Marc Chagall, Saint-Paul de Vence is a must see for me. Such a charming town. It is one of the oldest Medieval towns on the French Riviera. It was nice to stop along the road to get an overview before entering the walled city and climbing up the cobblestone walkways to check out the church, the art galleries and the cemetery. So many artists drew inspiration in this serene village. Pablo Picasso worked here. Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner were married here. Marc Chagall lived here creating many beautiful pieces. He and his family are buried in the cemetery at the end of the path. Look for the grave covered in stones to the right. On the way back to Cannes, we drove along the coast. Loved the short stop in Antibes. Interesting to see the sign that recognized Claude Monet who drew inspiration from the city to paint his Impressionist masterpieces. Once back in Cannes, we walked and watched them setting up for the Cannes Film Festival which started the next day. So interesting, but no movie star sightings. According to Yann, with social media, it is less frequent to see them walking through town. The day was perfect, and Yann was the best guide for our family! Merci beaucoup d'avoir partagé votre belle ville avec notre famille!

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do". But when in the South France and Monaco do as the French and…read moreMonegasques do. And I'm not talking about being rude and stuck up. (Though i've met a few really nice people) What I'm talking about is fly in helicopters, go across the French Riveria in fast boats, and drive fancy cars. That's what Liven Up provides for people visiting the area of Nice, Monaco, St.Tropez, etc. I assume "Liven Up" is bad English for "living it up" like John Legend's song. But I'll let them slide on the name because the excursions and activities they provide are really fun things to do. I've been to many beautiful places in the world but I have to say this part of the world has the best weather I've ever seen. No humidity, around 80 degrees everyday, water as blue as Megan Fox's eyes. Which brings me to my Liven Up Driving Experience. The hotel set up an appointment for them to come meet me at Novotel at 10:30am. The driving instructor/guide was punctual, right at about 10:25am he showed up in front of the hotel. The driving instructor explained the paddle shifting on the Ferrari f430 Spider. He has a video camera set up to film my whole driving experience. Then he directed me to some really awesome curvy roads at the border of Monaco and France. Definitely should be on every guy's bucket list. Drive a Ferrari in France. Check. Next on the list, run with the bulls in Spain or meet Juan Valdez... Using Liven Up is helping me to abide by the customs of society in Monaco while visiting.

Wow. I am usually not a tour person (I prefer to do my own thing - free spirit that I am :), this…read morewas a fabulous exception, and I'm so glad I went through with it. My friends had chosen this tour and we booked in advance, and I was having second thoughts about it, thinking it may be boring or tiresome. I was wrong. The tour took us to Cannes, Gourdon, Grasse, Saint Paul de Vence and Loup Georges. Every stop was better than the last - we toured a candy factory, a perfumerie, saw the world-famous Cannes red carpet, walked the cobblestone streets of Saint Paul de Vence, ate lunch in a gorgeous village overlooking the Alps... I couldn't possibly ask for more in one lovely day. Our tour guide, Thomas, was fantastic. So nice, full of info and a great sense of humor. To top it off, we actually saw U2, the ENTIRE BAND, in a restaurant in Saint Paul de Vence!!!!! Seriously, it was the cherry on top of a magnificent day. Take this tour - you won't regret it.

Had to cancel trip to Pompeii and I had made the reservation with in their 7 days refund policy so…read morethey didn't give me a refund when i had to cancel 5 days before the trip. I will never use them again.

My Nice Excursion was a great tour company to travel with. They have 4 tours: (1) Monaco, (2) San…read moreRemo, (3) St. Tropez, and (4) Antibes, Cannes, Grasse, and Gourdon. My dad and I went on three tours (three days) with this company (numbers 2,3, and 4). In the summer season, the number of tourists is usually much higher so they rent out buses but as we were here during the winter months, the demand is much lower and we were in vans. They have an audio tour available while making the trek to each of these tours which is similar to any hop-on, hop-off bus or tour bus that you've been on. The times we went, the San Remo and St. Tropez tours were driven by an older gentlemen who isn't as fluent with English as he is with French and you get more time by yourself and the Antibes, Cannes, etc. one by a younger woman named Olivia who's a lot more fluent and essentially makes the tour a guided one which was awesome. I'm not sure how this company gives the tour in the summer if it's completely guided or not but in the winter, you just have the audio and when we get to the location, the guide gives us a time (anywhere from 2-5 hours depending on if there are multiple stops or not), phone number, and other details. It's not guided to the extent the driver/guide is walking with you from place to place. I had guided tours when in Paris, Amsterdam, and London so I had different expectations. Pick up point can be reached via tram. Since we were staying at the Promenade, we took the tram at Massena and got down two stops later. Some lady who works at MyNice but isn't the guide was there on time holding a sign and she spoke fluent English. San Remo is a small town near Genoa, Italy which is on the very western portion of the country bordering France. It's about an hour from Nice and since France and Italy are both part of the EU, the border is fairly lax. it's famous for the open air public market every Tuesday where vendors show up and sell their goods which is anywhere from clothes to watches and household appliances. We didn't need to show passports being in a tour bus and all. The drive is very scenic and beautiful as is the Monaco one which we did with a different company. They all are given the location basically. It's still along the coast so like Nice, you can walk around and take some great photos. St. Tropez, France is also along the coast but it's about 90 minutes to two hours away from Nice. Very popular with American and British tourists. Famous for a 17th century citadel and maritime museum, their port, and several other things. Antibes and Cannes are well within an hour from Nice. Antibes is famous for the lighthouse. Cannes for the film festival. Grasse for the perfumeries, and Gourdon for a world-famous glasswork of Queen Victoria when she visited Gourdon a century ago. All of these cities are in France and have their own things to do. Antibes and Cannes are along the coast so you see ports a lot as was San Remo and St. Tropez. Grasse and Gourdon are in the hills. Gourdon, at the very top. A very small village that looks like a castle from the scenic road below. Lots of perfumeries, arts and crafts places, and cafes inside. Overall, there's quite a bit of places to explore and time to walk around each place. Guides are friendly and at minimum, speak basic English. Nice is a big city but it's no London, Paris, or Amsterdam so it's not as touristy as those places. It's a very beautiful place and the company offers well-run and prompt services to get to the destinations they offer.