3 nights around Nice

[Charlie1986]

No we have a villa in St Maxine so will be traveling early having Lunch maybe dinner before heading back.

I really want to go but worried it wont be worth it and don't want to drag Oh and Little one if there going to be bored

[PositronicRay]

I would avoid Monaco then. It doesn't look far but actually quite a long drive for some bling, flash and concrete. Nice is great, lunch in the flower market, look round the old town then walk to the top of Mont Baron for Ice cream and views.

[Charlie1986]

Yes mount Baron is very nice, We will also be visiting the beach restraunt in St Tropez. If you know it you walk under the arch and the bottom of the harbour and through the town past the graveyard. If you haven't been there I would highly recommend it but you have to book or go early. We have been every year for 10+ years

[PositronicRay]

I've not made it to St Tropez, I once tried but nose to tail traffic put me off. Generally I've stayed @ Mougin, Nice or Aix.

Anyone going to Cote D Azur should watch "to catch a thief" 1st

Edited by PositronicRay on Tuesday 14th April 09:06

[Charlie1986]

PositronicRay said:

I've not made it to St Tropez, I once tried but nose to tail traffic put me off. Generally I've stayed @ Mougin, Nice or Aix.

Anyone going to Cote D Azur should watch "to catch a thief" 1st

Edited by PositronicRay on Tuesday 14th April 09:06

best way is to park in St Maxine and get the ferry over then every thing is in walking distance. Or come off the d52 and go the back way through the mountains. if you take a camera you end up looking over the bay

[PositronicRay]

Charlie1986 said:

PositronicRay said:

I've not made it to St Tropez, I once tried but nose to tail traffic put me off. Generally I've stayed @ Mougin, Nice or Aix.

Anyone going to Cote D Azur should watch "to catch a thief" 1st

Edited by PositronicRay on Tuesday 14th April 09:06

best way is to park in St Maxine and get the ferry over then every thing is in walking distance. Or come off the d52 and go the back way through the mountains. if you take a camera you end up looking over the bay

Good tip.

[Charlie1986]

PositronicRay said:

Good tip.

Plus you will go past Port Grimuad too which is lovely and some very nice cafes

[PositronicRay]

I went to Grimaud I like very very much, not so keen on Port Grimaud but it must be nice to moor you're boat outside the house.

I think it was the stretch of coast road from Port Grimaud to St Tropez where I lost the will to live, and ended up cutting inland away from the traffic.

[Charlie1986]

yep best avoid that road on a weekend you will sit in traffic all the way to St Tropez.

Talking about has made me excited now roll on 14th July for 12 days then will be back September for 12 days again. were very lucky as where the villa is we have the mistral wind which is refreshing.

We went for the end of may last year where it was nice and warm 22-23oc and the locals had jackets on.

[Big Raff]

For an impressing day/night La Garoupe beach area, some great restaurants there (Plage Keller) then some afternoon drinks at Eden Roc, then Juan les Pins for dinner - Vesuvio is good. Apres drinks around the bar scene there and then the short drive back to Nice.

Old town Nice is really nice as well, I was there a few weeks ago and it had started to bustle - I like a restaurant called Safari (good food, good wine, not horribly pricey) then you can walk around the various small streets around. Beaches in Nice are horrible though. As mentioned Moujins is very pretty with some great restaurants and walking paths (there used to be markets there), nice spot for dinner/lunch.

Cannes will be quiet now, its nice to go to, but it will be boring. Monaco much the same though a beer in Casino Square just to people watch is entertaining.

[Fishtigua]

Don't forget the little Renault pizza van on the road just outside Mougins, best roadside nosh ever.

[HaylingJag]

Charlie1986 said:

jumping in here,

I go every year and stay outside St Maxine but now with my little one being a bit older were hoping to do some traveling, We have done the big places except Monaco and the OH has said yes. Is it worth it? it will be june were going

St Max is my preferred destination too, quick ferry to Tropez if need be and everything available between Grimaud and Frejus.

Monaco is worth a trip if youve never been there. Drive the circuit, drop a gear through the tunnel etc, etc. Check out the palace and generally stroll around and watch the cars/people go by. The Miramar is a great place for lunch, overlooking the harbour and not too wallet raping. Through the tunnells and head for La Turbie, great drive up the mountain for dinner here http://www.restaurant-la-terrasse-laturbie.fr/en/ run by an Aussie girl and her French Husband, so no language problems. Jaques actually worked in Portsmouth for a while so we had quite a good chat with him last year.

Well worth a long day out there if you never been,

D

[audidoody]

Charlie1986 said:

Yes mount Baron is very nice, We will also be visiting the beach restraunt in St Tropez. If you know it you walk under the arch and the bottom of the harbour and through the town past the graveyard. If you haven't been there I would highly recommend it but you have to book or go early. We have been every year for 10+ years

That sounds like Graniers. Also one of our favourite places for the last 10 years. But have you been recently? It is under new ownership and last year was completely revamped and turned into a dreadful Mexican-themed place with overpriced and mediocre food.

[Charlie1986]

audidoody said:

That sounds like Graniers. Also one of our favourite places for the last 10 years. But have you been recently? It is under new ownership and last year was completely revamped and turned into a dreadful Mexican-themed place with overpriced and mediocre food.

If its the same one with its own jetty? usually you have kids sat on it whilst the parents are eating

. We didn't go last year just stayed around St Maxine,

[HaylingJag]

Fishtigua said:

Don't forget the little Renault pizza van on the road just outside Mougins, best roadside nosh ever.

had a few of those at the Autoroute services on the way down, truckers rates applied back then;)

[torqueofthedevil]

Booked in Colombe D'or for lunch - looks class. As does St Paul

[trunnie]

Monaco has a couple of things that people don't mention that are worth a visit, the Royal Palace is so kitsch that it is really funny and the acquarium is OK if it rains. Otherwise I can't see the point.

Villefranche sur mer is truly lovely, with the old town behind the quayside restaurants, provided that there isn't a cruise ship in the harbour, as it'll spoil the views and Villefranche will be inundated with overly round American tourists. It also has a serviceable sandy beach, the closest one to Nice. Beaulieu is worth a visit for the Villa Kyrelos if nothing else, a replica of an ancient Greek villa with outstanding views of Cap Ferrat. If you're driving, then the view from the Trophée des Alpes is amazing, as is the structure itself.

If you are in Nice then follow the locals (and a few tourists) to Chez Pipo a local institution for the best socca and tourtes des blettes in town. It's basic, but it is great local street food.

If you're not staying at the Negresco at least take an apero at the bar. It's also good to wander around the hotel itself (if you sneak out through the back exit of the bar or walk in) as the decoration on each floor of the hotel corridors is different and the most impressive that I've seen.

Edited by trunnie on Wednesday 29th April 10:49

[ScotHill]

Random threadbump - I'm staying in Nice for basically two and a half days, three nights, and have the choice of a good enough apartment in the old town, or a cracking one 30m from the seafront about a mile west of the old town.

Is most of the stuff I'd want to see in/near the old town, so being a mile away from it might be a bit of a chore each day? Or is there enough stuff to look at keep someone busy whichever part of the city they're in? Being right on the beach is a big plus in the daytime, I'll likely hire a bike one day, and the old town seems like it might be shadowy if not dark for most of the day, as the buildings and narrow streets seem like they would never get any sun.

Any tips?

[jules_s]

ScotHill said:

Random threadbump - I'm staying in Nice for basically two and a half days, three nights, and have the choice of a good enough apartment in the old town, or a cracking one 30m from the seafront about a mile west of the old town.

Is most of the stuff I'd want to see in/near the old town, so being a mile away from it might be a bit of a chore each day? Or is there enough stuff to look at keep someone busy whichever part of the city they're in? Being right on the beach is a big plus in the daytime, I'll likely hire a bike one day, and the old town seems like it might be shadowy if not dark for most of the day, as the buildings and narrow streets seem like they would never get any sun.

Any tips?

The latter sounds like an apartment we rented a few years back. One of the worst holiday experiences I've had.

I just wouldn't ever rent an apartment in a residential block again.

[jules_s]

ScotHill said:

What happened that was so bad? We’ve done that in a few places across Europe and always been good experience.

They’re both apartments anyway, I don’t really want to be in a hotel.

What happened?

I was in an apartment in Nice about 30m from the beach about 1 mile from Old Town....

Surrounded up/down/side-to-side with mega angry French owner/residents who were mega pissed off with the people in the apartment the day before. And I mean 24/7 angry - from the second we turned up till we left.

If the rental is via a name like 'Niece pabbles' I just wouldn't bother