Many carriers serve Nice these days - some of them low cost.  Try Easyjet, now combined with Go!, at www.easyjet.com.  The trick to getting a cheap flight is to book early - especially for the high season - check Gatwick and Luton flights, from London.

Cars can be rented at the airport or locally.  Easyjet have a sister company renting Mercedes A class, starting from 9 euros per day if you book early enough.

If you're feeling adventurous you can get a motorbike or scooter - try www.holidaybikes.com

10 minutes walk from the cottage a bus will take you to Cannes, Grasse or Valbonne.  Buses run about every hour up to 7pm.

A taxi from the airport costs around 60 euros.

From Cannes there are trains to Antibes, Nice, Monte Carlo and Italy and west to Toulon, Marseilles, etc.