The Trekking Pawns’ French Adventure Begins!

(I couldn't resist, I absolutely love the view from our window!)

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Bonjour from Nice, France! The Trekking Pawns have officially started our immersive French adventure, and what a journey it’s been so far. Our trip started with a layover in Montreal, and although it was just five hours, we had a surprisingly good time at the airport!

We debated leaving the airport to explore the city—after all, Old Quebec looked incredible from what we’d seen online. However, considering the hour-long trip into the city center and the fact that our layover was from 4 pm to 9 pm, we didn’t want to risk getting stuck in immigration or missing our flight back through security. A hop on hop off bus would have been a fun easy way to quickly see all the big spots! Instead, we decided to stay put in the international terminal and made the most of our time there.

Montreal Airport Fun

The international section of the Montreal airport has quite a bit to keep you entertained. There was a little putting activity that gave you the chance to win free prizes and discounts for various food venues, which added a bit of excitement to our wait. We even came across a VR experience (how cool is that?), and at the end of the terminal, we found three free arcade games to play! Between the food options, mini golf, and arcade games, the hours flew by.

One funny thing we did notice? Mice! Yes, you read that right. A few quick little critters were darting around, and we weren’t the only ones who spotted them—other travelers noticed them too. It definitely made for an unexpected airport experience!

Our flight to Nice ended up getting delayed for about an hour, but it wasn’t too bad. We flew with Air France, and the flight was smooth with two meals served—a dinner and a light breakfast. The meals were basic, nothing to rave about, but it got us through the journey. I have to say, I’ve had better airplane food on non-North American flights (Korean Airlines and Air France are two that come to mind).

Arriving in Nice

When we finally landed at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, it felt surreal! The moment we stepped off the plane, we were greeted by immigration lines. Despite the small flight, the wait was long, but we were surprised by how disorganized it was. There were three different lines—biometric, EU passport holders, and All Passports—but most travelers just went to the "All" line, even though they could have gone to the faster ones. It led to some confusion, and there didn’t seem to be much direction from airport workers. Eventually, though, we made it through!

Our luggage was already waiting for us (always a nice bonus after a long flight), and we sailed through customs, which felt more like an honor system since no one was really checking anything. From there, it was a quick exit, and we were ready to start our adventure in Nice!

Taking the Tram into the City

We’d done our research ahead of time and knew that taking the tram directly from the airport would cost about €10. However, we’d read that if you walk to the next stop at Grand Arénas, the tram ticket would only be €1.70. Since we’re always up for a little walk (and saving money), we followed the signs to Grand Arénas, which was only about a 10-minute stroll on a well-paved path.

At the ticket station, we purchased a La Carte card for 2 euros and then our ticket, and since there didn’t seem to be any special perks for buying multiple passes at once, we just bought what we needed for the moment. The L2 tram arrived every five minutes, and there was plenty of room for travelers and their luggage, which made the 25-minute ride toward Port Lympia super easy.

We got off at Alsace-Lorraine and walked the quick five minutes to Beau T2 proche Negresco that we booked on booking.com, which was the cutest little one-bedroom apartment! It was very French, quiet, and surprisingly spacious for the price. After a long day of travel, we were exhausted, so we decided to shower and take a much-needed nap before heading out to explore. Stay tuned for more after our nap!

More French adventures are just around the corner, and we can’t wait to share what’s next with you all!