Cannes: Tips

Get oriented First on any Cannes newcomer’s agenda should be a ride on Le Petit Train, actually more of a train-shaped open-air bus offering half hour tours of La Croisette or Le Suquet, as well as an hour long “large circuit” tour of both. Leaves from Palais des Festivals in front of Hotel Gray d’Albion

Sand advice To avoid the high entrance fees (upwards of €30) of the hotel-owned private beaches along La Croisette, head to the public beaches at the far west and east of town – but beware the crowds.

Star-spotting While you may or may not see actual celebs strolling along La Croisette (especially during the Film Festival), viewing their cement handprints is a sure bet at Allée des Etoiles du Cinema in front of the Palais des Festivals.

Car-spotting High-end auto lovers can discover nirvana by hanging out near the valets for Cannes’ top hotels, where Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and the like regularly roll in.

Boat-spotting Le Vieux Port is always great for glimpsing some of the world’s most luxurious yachts, but it’s especially so every September during Festival International de la Plaisance, when the latest top-of-the-line pleasure boat models go on display.