February 28, 2024 | View Online | Sign Up
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Money might talk in most places, but in Monaco, it sings.
The tiny city-state, hidden away in a rocky Mediterranean harbor, has long been a playground for the wealthy. With nearly one in three of its residents millionaires, spotting a superyacht (or five) on your morning harbor stroll or a celeb at lunch, is rarely a surprise.
But Monaco is more than glitz and glamor. It’s an immensely beautiful place boasting a number of under-the-radar but spectacular attractions.
Not bad for the second-smallest country in the world.
Welcome to Monaco 🇲🇨
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| EAT, SLEEP, DO
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Your Guide to the Best of Monaco
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🏎️ What to do
So much in such a small place. Squished within its 200 hectares, travelers can enjoy attractions to match far larger destinations. Gearheads can make the pilgrimage to the iconic Monaco Formula 1, gamblers can go black and red at the world-famous casino, and everyone is likely to be called out to sea by the ever-stunning Meditteranean. But here’s everything else you can do in Monaco.
🍽️ What to eat
You can find high-end iterations of virtually anything here, but don’t skimp on the Monégasque cuisine. Shaped by the sea and nearby France and Northern Italy, it’s a delectable yet little-known corner of the culinary world. Here’s everything you need to try.
🛌🏻 Where to stay
Whether you’re dropping big bucks like a true local or scrounging by on a backpacker budget, there’s a hotel in and around Monaco for you. We’ve compiled some of the best hotels at every price point to help make your Monaco trip special. Spoiler alert: some of them aren’t actually in Monaco.
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| SAFEGUARD YOUR ONLINE IDENTITY
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1 in 3 Americans Are Affected by Identity Theft
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Did you know that there are data brokers profiting from your sensitive information—home address, phone number, DOB, SSN— by selling it to the highest bidder? This happens every day.Â
Whether you're joining public airport wifi or working remote from a coffee shop during your travels, your personal information is being spread across the internet. Once foreign scammers acquire your private data, they may take out a loan in your name, steal your identity, or otherwise profit off your misfortune.
Incogni helps you fight back by removing all your information from the hands of data brokers with ease on a recurring basis.
With Incogni, you can protect yourself from identity theft, robo calls, and scammers looking to attack your credit and personal data. And, unlike other services, Incogni hunts down your sensitive data and removes your sensitive information from all broker types, including those tricky People Search Sites.
Protect yourself against international scammers and travel with peace of mind thanks to Incogni. Act now and enjoy 50% off an annual plan.
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| TRAVEL PLANNING WITH CONCIERGE
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Don't let the prices in Monaco or the overwhelming list of things to do stop you from taking a trip there. If you find it all a bit daunting, our team of travel experts can plan it for you, thanks to Concierge.
Concierge is our solution to travel planning stress. When you sign up, not only can we help you plan a trip to Monaco, you will also get a custom travel itinerary every year for life.Â
Just think you could have trips like these planned for you and you wouldn't have to lift a finger:
🤑 5-day budget friendly trip to Monaco
🏄‍♀️ 7-day surfing adventure in Costa Rica
🥾 8-day backpacking trip across Patagonia
🌎 The destination is up to you & the options are endless!
Concierge is valued at $2,850, but we are offering Next Stop readers a special discount. Get a lifetime of expertly planned adventures for only $199 today.Â
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| MONEY MOVES
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There’s No Way to Fly To Monaco
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That’s right, there’s no way to fly to Monaco unless you’ve got a private helicopter to drop you on one of the super exclusive helipads. So this section must be pretty pointless, right?
Wrong, we’re just being obtuse.
There’s literally no space in Monaco for a runway, so instead you’d fly into nearby Nice, in France. It’s a short drive away, and there are plenty of routes from the US.
We've thrown together a little cheatsheet highlighting some of the best cards and loyalty programs you can use to get to Monaco for almost nothing.
Or, just use your chopper. Or your super yacht. You probably don’t need us if you’ve got those...
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| MONACO FAST FACTS
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🤏 Supersmall city-state: Monaco is the second smallest country in the world, only beaten by Vatican City. It’s just 0.8 square miles with a population of 38,000. That also makes it one of the most densely populated cities on earth.
💰 Money bags: Of those 38,000 people, more than 12,000 are millionaires. That’s a lot of money. That helps considering the average cost of real estate is around $4,500 per square foot. The poverty rate is 0.
🎲 Tourists only: While Monaco may be famous for its stunning casinos, its residents are banned from gambling in any shape or form. It’s all left for the tourists.
🔴 Spot the difference: If you think the Monaco flag is familiar, you might have been to Indonesia. The flags are almost identical–the Indonesian one is just slightly longer.
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| KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
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Don’t Worry About Getting Around
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As mentioned earlier, Monaco is incredibly small–the second smallest country in the world. As you can imagine, that makes navigating the city pretty simple. Almost everything is walkable, even if you’re a little outside the border on the French side.
If the temperature is getting a bit much during the summer or you had one (five) too many champagnes the night before, the city has a well-built transport system, and its railway system is intertwined with the nearby French towns and cities, so you could save even more money by making it a day-trip destination.
Otherwise, grab a taxi.
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Avoid the Grand Prix (Unless You Want to See it)
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If you’re unfamiliar with Formula One, it’s the world’s most popular motorsport. Think of a faster NASCAR without the constant left turns. The F1 season consists of a schedule of weekend races dotted around the world’s greatest racetracks–Monaco is possibly the most iconic one of all.
The city itself becomes the track, shutting down all traffic for the duration of the event, and turning the city into a high-spending motorhead Mecca. It’s also an event to be seen at, even if you’re not that bothered about the race itself.
For this reason, if you’re not hoping to see the race itself, avoid the city like the plague. Everything will be even more expensive, the city will be almost impossible to navigate, and you’ll be packed in like a sardine (or paying thousands for a little more space). This year’s race weekend takes place on May 24.
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Get to Grips with the Nuances
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Monaco’s a funny place. It’s a tiny country with a majority of its residents born elsewhere. It’s a haven for the super-rich, but also a beach and gambling bucket list destination–that’s mixed signals if you’ve ever heard it.
Despite the beach location, be careful with what you wear after coming from the water. Walking around in your beach clothes will be a faux pas, and you should head back to the hotel to get freshened up. Likewise, in restaurants and bars, check the dress code. This could mean no sneakers for men or no flats for women–make sure you check.
Also, don’t call it the best part of France you’ve ever been. Remember it’s not a French town. It’s its own entity, with laws, a royal family, and official residents. Treat that with respect.
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN MONACO
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*This link is sponsored.Â
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