Private chauffeur in Menton, from Nice airport to Garavan

Menton is the last French town before Italy, and the gentlest on the Riviera: backed by an amphitheatre of hills and sheltered from the wind, it keeps, even in midwinter, a light and a warmth you would not expect so far north. Its ochre and pink façades climb in tiers to the basilica of Saint-Michel-Archange, its lemon trees bear a fruit with a protected geographical indication, and its gardens, from the Val Rahmeh to the Serre de la Madone, draw walkers all year round. From Nice airport it is about forty kilometres: a journey worth taking without a worry, especially after a flight.

ELYSIA is based in Saint-Laurent-du-Var, opposite Nice Côte d’Azur airport. Your chauffeur is therefore already on the spot when your plane lands: tracking your flight, waiting at arrivals with a sign bearing your name if you wish, loading your luggage and setting off east. Outside heavy traffic, allow about three quarters of an hour to Menton by motorway. The route passes Nice, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Èze and the Principality of Monaco before reaching Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, then Menton: a spectacular road, laid out between cliffs and the Mediterranean.

That road has its moods, and this is where a knowledgeable chauffeur makes the difference. The motorway is the most regular route; the Basse Corniche is slower but looks out over the sea, and is the right choice when you want to enjoy the landscape or avoid a slowdown. Queues build mainly around Nice and Monaco at rush hour, on Friday evenings and in high summer; on Lemon Festival weekends, reaching the centre of Menton also takes a little foresight. Your chauffeur picks the safest route at departure time and tells you if the schedule needs adjusting.

In Menton an address is rarely reached in a straight line. The old town is a maze of lanes and stairways where the car stops at the gates; Garavan, a leafy residential district, stretches uphill to the border post; the seafront, the Promenade du Soleil and the marina can be reached on foot from several drop-off points. Simply give your address or hotel name, and your chauffeur sets you down as close as possible, pointing out the last stretch to walk if the street is closed to cars. Luggage stays on board until the door, within the limit of three bags for four passengers.

You travel in a black Tesla Model 3 with white leather: a quiet, comfortable car, welcome after a long flight or before an evening out. Attentions await you on board, all complimentary and optional: cool water, set temperature, phone charging, music or silence as you prefer. To book, you describe your journey in two minutes; the house checks availability and shows you the total amount before any payment. Once you accept it, the ride is confirmed by a 10% deposit; the balance is paid to the chauffeur, by card or cash. Nothing is charged before you agree.