The problem with taxis in Monaco is quite simple: they don’t exist. In hindsight we should have expected this. Of course there are no taxis. Why would one need a taxi when you can just get your driver to swing by with the Bentley or the Rolls to pick you up. Yes, of course there are no taxis. In any event, one of our extended port stops on a recent western Med cruise was Monaco and
since we’d been there before and seen several of the sights, our plan was to rent a car and head to Grasse, France to participate in a perfume making workshop (Stay Tuned for the Pangean.org review of the Galimard workshop). We’d pre-booked a rental car through AutoEurope.com and EuropCar and had mapped out the location of EuropCar’s location. Monaco is a tender port for all but the smallest cruise ships, with ship
tenders docking in a purpose-built facility in Port Hercules (Port Hercule en franca is). Our plan was to exit the tender facility and grab one of the many cabs that congregate in a port when large cruise ships arrive to take
us to the EuropCar office at 47 Ave De Grande Bretagne,MC 98000, Monte Carlo, Monaco. Unfortunately, when we got off our ship’s tender there were no taxis waiting, no signs pointing the way to taxis, and not even a taxi stand or phone. When we inquired at the Tourist Information booth we were told “Oh, there are no taxis here. I suppose you could call and have one come out from Nice.” No taxis here. It took a while for that thought to sink in, but in true Pangean fashion we moved to implement “Plan B” and decided to take the Bateau Bus across the harbour and walk to our destination.
The Bateau Bus service is integrated with the Monte Carlo bus service and operates a solar-electric powered shuttle that crosses Port Hercule in about 5 minutes. The ride takes you past an array 
of luxury yachts and provides a great view of Monaco Ville on one side and Monte Carlo on the other. The loading point is located about 100 metres from cruise terminal, but is not well marked. The Bateau Bus costs 2 Euros / person for a single trip if purchased on board, and leaves every 20 minutes. It operates between 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at leaves the Monaco Ville / Cruise Terminal side of the harbour every 10, 
30, and 50 minutes past the hour. If you think you would use the service for more than the return journey or plan to use other Monte Carlo buses, the cost of a daily pass is 5 Euros/person.
Once on the Monte Carlo side of the harbour there are several routes to the EuropCar office. One option is to look for the stairs or elevators (just past the yacht club) that will take you up to the Casino level. From the Casino’s main entrance head past the Cafe de Paris to the Jardins de la Petite Afrique. Avenue de Grande Bretagne heads east from the park and EuropCar is about 600 metres up the road on your left. The other option is to follow the sidewalk along the water side, go through the tunnel under the Casino, then head up the hill along Blvd. du Larvotto (about 600 metres up a relatively gentle grade). EuropCar is at the
junction of Avenue de Grande Bretagne and Blvd. du Larvotto. Walking either route will take about 15 minutes once you get off the Bateau Bus.
One consideration to any car rental day is where to fuel up prior to returning the car to the agency office. Its always a good idea to keep an eye out when leaving the agency for possible fuelling options. However, that’s sometimes easier said than done since you’ve just fired up a vehicle you’ve never driven before and begin to navigate through a city that you’ve likely never driven in before. New and interesting sights and unfamiliar traffic signs abound. A gas station is likely furthest from your mind. Fortunately, in Monaco there’s a subterranean fuelling option close to the EuropCar site. After exiting the eastern end of the tunnel under the Casino (or if you come down the hill past the Casino towards the beach) and before heading up the hill on Blvd. du Larvotto look for the Mobil sign and a ramp heading down.
P.