Mamma_Love

Hello all! I am looking for your recommendations for private beaches in and near Nice that you most enjoyed. I'd like to find a place that we could reserve loungers/sunbeds and umbrellas in advance. We'd love to spend a day relaxing and enjoying the water. Access to toilets and beverage service are ideal. Can you bring some of your own snacks and drinking water or does that depend? How much have you paid? I've seen around €20 per person, does that sound accurate?

I appreciate your information and recommendations! Thanks!

HappyTrvlr

Most of the beach areas in Nice are private or for a fee. Barrooms, food service too.Blue Beach is one. Google this subject and you'll see a lot of info. Some are connected to a hotel.

StuDudley

I always go to Blue Beach - perhaps 20 times in the last 3 decades.

Here is something from my 31 page Cote d'Azur/Provence itinerary.

Starting at the eastern end, there is usually 100 meters of public section, followed by 75 meters of private section, followed by 100 meters of public, followed by 75 meters of private, etc. The private beach sections diminish as you get farther west. I would never consider throwing my towel over the rocks at one of the public beaches and spending the day there - but the private beaches are "something else" - quite decadent. When you are on the Blvd des Anglais and walk by a private beach, there is a "marquis" that indicates the name of the beach (Ruhl Plage, Blue Beach, Beau Rivage, etc), the "rating" of the private beach section (3-5 stars - just like hotels), the prices of various "amenities", and the menu for lunch or dinner. We always seem to end up at Blue Beach. The price of entrance (in '14) and a matelas (chaise lounge) with side table is 16E for all or part of a day. An optional parasol is 5E, and if you need a towel it's 4E. The "sunning" area is covered by grass matting or wooden boards that you walk on. There is a shaded restaurant in back of the sunning area where you can have drinks or a nice lunch. Tucked back underneath the sidewalk there is a bar, kitchen, changing rooms, showers, toilets, etc. Waiters stroll around in the sunning area and will bring you drinks or lunch. I usually arrive at Blue Beach around 10 (early for most guests) and walk down the stairs, pay for my matelas & parasol, and make a reservation for lunch at 12:00 (early for France beach lunches). A waiter will then escort me to my chaise lounge - but I sometimes redirect him if I don't like the location. Lunch is usually pink wine, salad for a first course, and some kind of fish. After lunch it's a snooze on the chaise lounge.

Stu Dudley

Mamma_Love

Thanks! I've Googled and read up on it. Most are articles and blogs, and tourism sites where I'm not sure I can trust in it. I've looked at Blue Beach, and that would fit the bill. But it sounds as if all of them would. I appreciate your comments Stu, that's the finer detail and personal recommendation I'm hoping to get.

Tulips

We had lunch at Beau Rivage beach recently, that was very nice. What Stu Dudley describes is pretty much what happens in all the beach clubs. Walk along the beach to check the prices of the beach loungers, they are posted, and some are pricier than others. A lounger on the first row near the sea is usually more expensive than one further back.
You cannot bring your own food or drinks. You can usually ask for a free carafe of tap water though.

If it's August, book your sun loungers and table for lunch in advance.

traveller1959

Aargh! The beaches at the Promenade des Anglais (including Blue Beach) are horrible: large, grey pebbles and the roar of an eight-lane-road from behind. If you just want to sit in your lounger it might be okay. But for swimming, there are way better beaches in the area.

For wide sandy beaches with loungers/umbrellas go to Cannes:

http://www.riviera-beaches.com/Cannes/index.html

There are also beautiful sandy beaches on the Antibes peninsula:

http://www.riviera-beaches.com/Antibes/index.html

Or, if you want it closer to Nice, take a taxi (or public bus) to the beach of Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

http://www.riviera-beaches.com/Beaulieu/index.html

IMO, the most beautiful beaches - sandy beaches in scenic coves - are on the Cap Ferrat peninsula. Howver, they have no loungers and few services.

http://www.riviera-beaches.com/Cap-Ferrat/index.html

Mamma_Love

Thank you all so much! I hadn't really thought about the traffic along the beach in Nice, that's a helpful note. I'm off to look at the link you've provided. The host for the apartment we're renting suggested Cap d'Ai, so I'll look into that too. Can't wait! I want to go now!

Mamma_Love

Sorry, that was meant to be Cap d'Ail.

StuDudley

I have never noticed any traffic noise at all - and like I mentioned - I've been there around 20 times.

Stu Dudley

traveller1959

Cap d'Ail is close to Monaco and all these ugly high-rises are in view. Besides, the beach is pretty pebbly, too. I think there are better beaches.

And Stu, I admire your knowledge of the Côte d'Azur, but when it comes to beaches, there are much better options than the beach of Nice. BTW, not that it matters too much, we have been at the Côte about 30 times.

Tulips

There's traffic crawling along the Promenade des Anglais (as there is along the Croisette in Cannes) but you really do not notice it on the beach. If you're staying in Nice, and want to spend a day on the beach, it's really not horrible.

If you prefer a sandy beach, take the train to Cannes or Juan les Pins.

StuDudley

>> I've been there around 20 times.<<

"there" is the Blue Beach. We've been on the Cote d'Azur for over 20 weeks. I don't know how many "times".

My favorite sandy beach is Pampelonne near St Tropez. Didn't like Juan les Pins or Cannes that much. I agree with Tulips - if you are staying in Nice - go to the beach in Nice.

Stu Dudley