charles

Overnight train Paris to Cannes, then where ?<BR>Hyeres ? We want warmth and lots to see and do. Is Biarittz to far ? What is the warmest part of the coast in January ?<BR>We want to find a small 3star hotel within 2 or 3 blocks of the beach, near small cafe's.<BR>Suggestions ? WE want to stay in one Romantic town/city. thanks ! This is last trip before Honeymoon.

xxx.xxx

You are not going to find any place that is especially warm in Jan in that area. Try the city by st cap ferrat that starts with a B, something like Bellieu. It is supposed to be the warmest city in the winter.

Ron

Charles, am assuming you are going in the Winter - how many days, will you stay put, rent a car, use buses, what? Biarritz is too far. Why Hyeres? If you plan to stay only a few days in a small romantic town in the Eastern Riviera and go nowhere, go to your nearest bookstore and check out Frommer's book or similar on the Riviera: St-Paul de Vence, Eze, Mougins, Menton, St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, perhaps Antibes. Beaulieu is near St-Jean but is a place for retired well-off Britishers. Antibes, Menton and St-Jean are on the coast and probably warmest. Near St-Jean is the Rotschild estate and gardens and the Kerylos Greek-style mansion, and there is wonderful walk from St-Jean to Beaulieu. There is a 3-star hotel in St-Jean called I believe "Claris" which was a bargain 3 years ago. However, many hotels and pensions are closed until March or April in smaller towns, so check it out in advance. We stayed in Cap d'Antibes, but it requires a car. That leaves Nice where you can spend 3-4 days and not exhaust what to do there and in the area. Avoid Cannes which has nothing to recommend it. But go see Grasse, the perfume capital of the world and "create a perfume" (with guidance) for your wife - I did at Galimard (or Fragonard, if you prefer) and my wife won't use any other, as everyone comments on how wonderful it smells (price is very reasonable, and you can order refills). There are buses going to Grasse from Nice. Check Galimard's web site: www.galimard.com, click on studio des fragrances for more info and a reservation. Check good hotels in Nice and other places with Frommer or Fodor - a friend stayed at the Windsor and liked it. Good luck!

navyflyer

Hello,<BR> I do not know how much you have to spend, however, my recommendation would be Eze sur Mer. It is a pretty little town just east of Nice, near Villefranche and Beaulieau and on the way to Monaco. There is a beautiful hotel: the Chateau de Chevre d'Or and it is perched about 1200ft above the sea. The view from there is just breathtaking. I never stayed there but had lunch there after hiking up the mountain with a few friends. It was worth the effort. However, you can catch a bus from the station which is near the beach to the village of Eze. Eze is on the main train line that goes from Paris all the way to Monaco via Toulon, Cannes, Nice, etc. If you cannot stay at the Chateau, at least go there for dinner. It was featured on the Travel Channel and you will never forget the place. Bon Chance.

alex

Menton and Beaulieu are the warmest, but hardly hot. Be aware also that the mistrals blow through the Rhone valley in the winter, sweeping bitterly cold air from the alps to the Riviera. Know that the sea will be too cold to touch.<BR>Don't know about a hotel in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat called "Claris." There is a "Clair Logis," though I believe it is a basic two star. It's tucked in the hills near the villa that belonged to a former king of Belgium (and the Zoo) though the locale looks exotic. It , as is the case of many, many of the smaller hotels, closes during much of the winter. Eze is spectacular, but cannot be warm; it's perched overlooking the sea.

Myriam

The south of France in January? I'm afraid you will be very much disappointed. Most of the hotels/restaurants/cafes will be closed as it is off-season (I'd rather say no-season). You may even have snow in January. Temps right now are 10°C (50F) during the day, 1-4°C (34-39F) at night.