Originally Posted by
Upgraded!
The idea was to fly into MRS, spend the night and spend the next day getting from there to NCE, where we'll spend the remainder of our time in the region. So we'd be checking out of the MRS hotel and transiting to NCE but taking the scenic route.
Bus isn't really of interest because luggage is hardly secure, we stop when the bus wants to stop as opposed to when we want to and neither of us are particularly big fans of bus travel.
IOW, the plan was first to rent an auto, then plan a route based on having the auto. You say you not "big fans of bus travel." How many French buses have you ridden?
Personally, I find it much better to first plan my route, then look at the transport. Why? Because in my experience transport (of any kind) tends to be the least reliable part of the trip. Yes, it is possible that a hotel with your reservation will suddenly go bankrupt or the owner will get sick, etc. but that is very unlikely.
In Europe, most road work is done in the summer. The chances that a small road will be closed for a few days (while you are in the area) are actually fairly high. That there will be traffic jams during the height of the tourist season is almost a guarantee.
Personally, I would never pay $250 (plus fuel, parking, tolls, etc.) per day for local transport. As I posted above, a daily (unlimited) bus ticket costs €5. Even if I didn't like French buses (which is not the case), €5 vs. $250+ just seems a "no-brainer" to me.