Montpellier for a long weekend - any good?

[s2sol]

I lived in Montpellier for a while 20+ years ago, and absolutely loved it.

I'd like to take my fiancée somewhere this weekend, and wondered if anyone had more recent memories of the place than me.

I reckon we could fly out on Friday lunchtime, back on Monday morning. A day and a half messing about in the town and Antigone, half a day at Palavas would do us fine.

Any recommendations?

[maser_spyder]

Yes yes yes yes yes.

It's probably not changed much at all. My favourite place in France by such a long way.

We normally stay at the Hotel du Midi. It's right on the edge of the Place de la Comedie, great spot, and excellent hotel. Not too expensive if you book a cheaper room, but the more expensive rooms are nicer.

Best bit about Montpellier is walking round it for a couple of days, thinking you're starting to know it quite well, then suddenly stumbling across a beautiful secluded piazza with coffee shops and restaurants, and a stack of people relaxing and taking life very easy.

I remember doing that at least twice, and never did find them again!

[maser_spyder]

Oh, Palavas was looking a little down at heel the last time I was there (2 or 3 years ago?).

Still had the excellent seafood restaurants, it was all just looking a bit run down and plastic.

A shame, as the town still looks superb.

[prand]

Not too keen on the beach resorts, but worth half a day for a swim in the sunshine. I like the city though, place dela comedie is still very pleasant except for the new tram running up the side of it! Fave bit are the alleys and squares just to the North of La Comedie, plenty if small shops and cafes/ restaurants to spend a long weekend nosing about.

[s2sol]

Sounds great. I'd heard the tram runs along the lower side of the Place de la Comedie, but I'm a big fan of public transport on holiday, so I'll live with that.

Palavas was always a bit nasty when I was there, to be honest. I sold beignets for a living, so I should feel partly responsible for that.

Disappointingly, when I suggested we might not be at work on Friday and Monday, it emerged that her passport is being renewed. I'll have to reschedule, but I'm very grateful for the updated information.

Maser, that was the hotel I had in mind.

[maser_spyder]

Although the trams run quite regularly, they're typically French, so quiet and actually quite unobtrusive.

One of the most fun things I remember about Montpellier now is the happy drunks/homeless.

One of my abiding memories of my last trip there was seeing some street entertainers playing a bit of music (three piece jazz band), and all the down-and-outs having a ho-down in the middle of the street.

One of the most bizarre things I've ever seen, but everybody was enjoying it, the band were great, the hobos were having fun, and we were enjoying our 8 EUR glass of wine watching the whole thing. The hoi-palloi seem to rub along perfectly well with the students and drop-outs, a very odd situation!