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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Don't wish to sound ungrateful, but is Nice going to be all beach and not much else?

44 replies

2sugarsandadog · 31/07/2012 07:38

We've been offered - and H has accepted and booked flights - an apartment in Nice for a couple of weeks and we're going next week. 12 and 13 year-old girls in tow, is there really not much apart from beach and shopping (which we can't afford anyway). Personally I hate beach holidays and am beginning to (stifles cough) dread the idea .....

OP posts:
Gigondas · 31/07/2012 07:42

Have you got a car? If not imagine that there is bus/train to visit surrounding area as lots of nice towns (st Paul de vence springs to mind which also has great art museum)

Original poster
2sugarsandadog · 31/07/2012 07:45

Gigondas we're thinking of hiring one for a few days while we're out there but are worried there won't be anywhere to put it or park while we're out there visiting places. Thank you! Any more nice towns we shouldn't leave off our agenda?

OP posts:
DoItRight · 31/07/2012 07:46

You can also get the train easily all along the coast for sightseeing etc. Nice is lovely! The old town is fab and its lovely to wander around in the evening.
The beach is pebble beach tough, just to warn you Smile

BellaVita · 31/07/2012 07:47

You can get the train and visit Monaco - takes about an hour or go the other way and visit Cannes.

Down in the old bit of Nice - where all the markets are, there is a wonderful restaurant called Le Safari. If you sit outside, there are lots of street entertainers on an evening.

There is also a little train that you can get on that does a tour - you get on down on the promenade.

TangoSierra · 31/07/2012 08:02

Hire a car, it is a great location. Fabulous restaurants. St Paul de Vence, Cannes, all the coastal towns. Drive up into the maures for the views. But not if you are car sick, tis most windy, but breathtaking all the same.

Longdistance · 31/07/2012 08:03

I second the old town. It's lovely, and if you like your wine, there's a few cellars that sell lovely wines avoids the word nice, boom, boom

TangoSierra · 31/07/2012 08:09

grasse - the perfume factory too.

HollyMadison · 31/07/2012 08:12

The beach at Nice is stoney, so not comfortable to sit on. Whilst Nice is lovely to wander around, a couple if weeks is a long time so you will need to get out and about to other areas. I second a day in Monaco. You will find the south of France at this time of year to be very hot and very crowded. Sorry! Where you do find sandy beaches along the way, you may need to pay for a day at a beach club to sit on the nice bits.

Just thought, what about a night or two in Barcelona? I met friends from Barcelona in Nice once but can't now remember how long it took them to get there. You could look into drive or train if you're interested. Girls would love it.

HollyMadison · 31/07/2012 08:16

Oh and if you have the time, a place called Menton, just past Monaco, is lovely. Think promenading and small French dogs, writers and lemon trees....

Romilly70 · 31/07/2012 08:33

don't even consider driving along the cote d'azur at this time of year. It is wall to wall traffic from st-tropez to monaco.

Is a Very long way to barcelona - you have to cross the whole of the south of france first! you could see if there are trains to somewhere close in italy

StarryEyedMama · 31/07/2012 08:39

Definitely try to go to Cannes - its stunning!

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 31/07/2012 08:41

The rail service is very good, we explored everywhere by train

TangoSierra · 31/07/2012 08:42

If you do drive along the cote d'azur you must set off nice and early, before 8am and you should get a clearish run. Good luck on the way back though!

Jeezaloo · 31/07/2012 08:49

The bus service along the coast is good too. Catch any bus (or walk) to the bus station and from there you can go anywhere. I agree a trip to Monaco is a must-do. Make the effort to go up onto the Rock where the palace is - some lovely views! Perhaps if money is tight, then make some nice ham and cheese baguette sandwiches to eat when you get up there.

Eating (and drinking) in the south of France is a joy, but can get pricey in holiday times!

Toomanyworriedsonhere · 31/07/2012 08:58

If you like art there are lots of museums - Fondation Maeght and others to do with Picasso, Chagall, Matisse etc

MrsHelsBels74 · 31/07/2012 08:59

Nice is lovely. We went there a few years ago, admittedly only for a long weekend, but barely spent any time on the beach.

BenedictsCumberbitch · 31/07/2012 09:01

I love Nice, we did Monaco, Grasse, Cannes, Port Grimaud and St Tropez as well as mooching about on the pebble beach and around the old town. Beautiful area of the world and I'm frantically saving up to go back.

Sportofino · 31/07/2012 09:03

It is easy to get the bus or train up and down the coast. Villefranche sur Mer, Monte Carlo, Menton, Antibes, Juan-Les-Pins are all lovely. There is a big market once a week over the Italian border in Ventimiglia. The old town is gorgeous and you can do a little road train ride up to the top of castle hill for amazing views.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 31/07/2012 09:04

Yes, it is lovely, there are many things to be dreaded in life but a holiday to Nice should not be one of them, you will have a great time :)

lambethlil · 31/07/2012 09:08

don't even consider driving along the cote d'azur at this time of year. It is wall to wall traffic from st-tropez to monaco.

Seriously. I went at Easter, out of French School holidays and I have never seen traffic like it. I would only go back if, like you OP, I could be in the centre.

Do not drive.

BikeRaceRunningRaceNoSkiing · 31/07/2012 09:09

The train along the coast is great, Ventigmilia (sp?), the first stop into Italy is lovely. Friday is market day - the market is huge.

I seem to remember that the beach at Menton is sandy; have certainly spent a few days on it and don't remember it being uncomfortable.

Original poster
2sugarsandadog · 31/07/2012 09:09

Thank you all so much! Am beginning to feel slightly more enthusiastic about it now, kind of, especially lemon trees and writers ....

I too think a couple of weeks in any place is too long so I'm listing all your fab recommendations as they arrive. Shame about Barcelona - HM you're absolutely right the girls would love it and since I've never been to Spain in my life it would be lovely to dip my toes in. Romilly do you think if we set off early enough we'd be okay driving along cote d'azur, or would we spend a lovely day in the hire car?

OP posts:
Original poster
2sugarsandadog · 31/07/2012 09:11

Oooh oooh BikeRace - Italy! Yes! Don't suppose you happen to know what the first stop in Italy is?

OP posts:
briochedanslefour · 31/07/2012 09:13

You should go to Eze, a lovely village up in the mountains, amazing views. There is also a water park and seaworld type place is Antibes which the DC might enjoy.
Lovely sandy beach in Juan les pins although its narrow so it can get crowded. In Cannes te best beaches are o the right of the port. You can also take the boat over to the Lerins island which is a nice day out.
The kiosks along the beach front are good for cheap lunches, the local sandwich is a tuna roll called a pan bagnat are amazing!
Hope you have a great time. You'll be able to do and see plenty in two weeks.

TangoSierra · 31/07/2012 09:18

What I do recommend is that you take alot more spending money than you would usually! It is very very expensive on the cote d'azur. Eg 3 cokes one beer one coffee £27 in Saint Tropez.

Ice creams roughly £3 each.
It will be a fantastic holiday though.