Trans Côte-d'Azur

You’ve been admiring the sea ever since you arrived in Nice. Now’s the moment to strap on the sea-legs, cast off and join the yachting elite. OK, it’s not your boat – but just think of the money and worry that that’s saving you. So make your way to the Quai de Lunel (on the port's western side) and thence to the Trans-Côte-d'Azur kiosk. The company runs all sorts of trips (to Monaco, St Tropez and so forth). But the one I'm suggesting is a little one-hour jaunt. This is time enough to appreciate how wonderful Nice and its hinterland look from off-shore, but not enough for the children to get bored or really sick. I think that makes it tempting.

Dolphins?

Leaving from the port of Nice, the boat runs along the front of the city, before bobbing round Cap Nice to the huge and lovely Bay of Villefranche, and back via Cap Ferrat. It’s a fun mini-excursion, with commentary in English – and the possibility of spotting a dolphin or two, if you’re very lucky.

On your return, you might like to linger around the port area. It’s off-centre, little-visited by tourists and yet set about with fine Italianate buildings and some agreeable bars and restaurants. There are also, of course, some decent-sized private yachts - to justify your suspicions about the unfairness of wealth distribution.