The traveler stumbles bleary-eyed into the crowded arrival hall, only to face another two- to four-hour journey either by bus or train (a taxi ride would bankrupt an Arab prince) into the city.

CNN: HARD LANDING

Six kilometres east of Ventimiglia, the seaside resort town of Bordighera, also easily reachable by bus or train, has a smattering of trendy cafes and organic produce markets, a long ocean promenade lined with beach bars and glass-walled restaurants, plus a wide shoreline for sunbathing and swimming.

BBC: Have the Italian Riviera all to yourself

For soft, sandy public beaches, the neighbouring towns of Antibes and Juan Les Pins, 20km to 26km southwest of Nice, have some of the best in the area and both are accessible by train or bus.

BBC: Nice on a budget

Be it by car, bus, train, or subway, how about spending time every once in a while just thinking not singing, not trying to raise your IQ, not reading the never-ending news cycle.

FORBES: Why Being Busy Can Keep You From Getting Ahead