french italian Riviera overnight stop noli, cervo, san remo, menton, other?
May 18th, 2017, 11:34 PM
#1
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french italian Riviera overnight stop noli, cervo, san remo, menton, other?
Hello all,
Husband toddler and I need an overnight stop for saturday 10th June (we are driving) between Alba (Piemonte) and St-Remy de provence. We could pick either the Italian or French riviera.
We would like a place convenient for driving, and one that is not too tiny yet not too big, and wont be dead on sunday morning. Preferably amazing Mediterranean views and or beautiful village aspect.
my ideas so far are Noli, Cervo, San Remo, Menton, VilleFranche-sur-mer, St Paul du Vence, mougins (I love art), (I know these last 2 arn't coastal). Any opinions- such as if you found these places spectacular, or underwhelming, or worth/not worth the effort. I would appreciate rankings as well for those who have been to several.
Thank you in advance
Husband toddler and I need an overnight stop for saturday 10th June (we are driving) between Alba (Piemonte) and St-Remy de provence. We could pick either the Italian or French riviera.
We would like a place convenient for driving, and one that is not too tiny yet not too big, and wont be dead on sunday morning. Preferably amazing Mediterranean views and or beautiful village aspect.
my ideas so far are Noli, Cervo, San Remo, Menton, VilleFranche-sur-mer, St Paul du Vence, mougins (I love art), (I know these last 2 arn't coastal). Any opinions- such as if you found these places spectacular, or underwhelming, or worth/not worth the effort. I would appreciate rankings as well for those who have been to several.
Thank you in advance
May 19th, 2017, 01:58 AM
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Noli. Wonderful place: great beach, wonderful food, beautifully preserved medieval village, gorgeous views, beautiful churches and architecture, easy access to easy hiking trails, lively on Sunday. I think it will be a perfect choice. Just check out parking with your hotel.
Cervo is tiny and would be hard to move around with a toddler, since it is very steep.
Sanremo is a city, interesting and I will visit again, but to me it isn't charming.
Bordighera could be good as well, with a great beach, lovely views, promenade and fascinating old town.
Finale Ligure is a good option as well, especially if you visit its oldest part, Finalborgo, right behind it in the hinterland. But parking in Finalborgo could be tricky.
Cervo is tiny and would be hard to move around with a toddler, since it is very steep.
Sanremo is a city, interesting and I will visit again, but to me it isn't charming.
Bordighera could be good as well, with a great beach, lovely views, promenade and fascinating old town.
Finale Ligure is a good option as well, especially if you visit its oldest part, Finalborgo, right behind it in the hinterland. But parking in Finalborgo could be tricky.
May 19th, 2017, 02:46 AM
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Mostly agree with all the above descripitions but will add that San Remo is the most difficult for driving and that while Cervo is steep if you stay in the upper town, the lower beachside hotels are very toddler friendly.
Will warn you that most of the towns will be "dead" on a Sunday morning. Italians work 6 days a week, and except for the few who go to church on Sunday mornings, the rest usually relax and sleep in. Villefranche sur Mer is a cruise ship port, and it is likely to be the busiest, although perhaps not a you would like.
If you love art, consider going for lunch at L'Colombe d'Or in St Paul de Vence. It has an outdoor garden eating area which should be ok with a toddler. (They also have rooms for the night, but I think the rooms & dinner set up is less toddler friendly).
Will warn you that most of the towns will be "dead" on a Sunday morning. Italians work 6 days a week, and except for the few who go to church on Sunday mornings, the rest usually relax and sleep in. Villefranche sur Mer is a cruise ship port, and it is likely to be the busiest, although perhaps not a you would like.
If you love art, consider going for lunch at L'Colombe d'Or in St Paul de Vence. It has an outdoor garden eating area which should be ok with a toddler. (They also have rooms for the night, but I think the rooms & dinner set up is less toddler friendly).
May 19th, 2017, 02:48 AM
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If you eat in the garden of La Colombe d'Or you are welcome to wander into the dining room to look at the paintings
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2...l-france/?_r=0
http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2...l-france/?_r=0
May 19th, 2017, 08:33 AM
#7
We spent a night in Noli while driving from Tuscany back to the Nice airport. We loved it. Beach, beaxh promenfae, medieval quarter, castle on a hill. I spent hoirs researching which town to stop in and was very pleased with Noli.
May 19th, 2017, 04:45 PM
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Thank you for all the advice so far. so helpful. Noli sounds fantastic and its on the list to visit, but after relooking at maps and distances, it might be a little too close to alba for a midway overnight stop enroute to st remy.
Ive decided not Cervo (due to distance wrt alba, size and hilly advice above) and not san remo (thanks for the driving and not charming advice above).
What do people think of Ventimiglia? seems more affordable than menton yet only 13 minutes drive from there> and how does it compare to bordighera?
(frencharmoire- bookmarking for la colombe. definitely planning a stopover at least in SPDV)
Ive decided not Cervo (due to distance wrt alba, size and hilly advice above) and not san remo (thanks for the driving and not charming advice above).
What do people think of Ventimiglia? seems more affordable than menton yet only 13 minutes drive from there> and how does it compare to bordighera?
(frencharmoire- bookmarking for la colombe. definitely planning a stopover at least in SPDV)
May 19th, 2017, 07:45 PM
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Italians don't eat breakfast, so maybe waking up to a nice croissant in France makes more sense.
If people find San Remo "not charming", the Ventimiglia is a positive disaster zone. Might as well cross the border and stay in Menton -- or else stop short of Ventimiglia and enjoy Bordighera.
If people find San Remo "not charming", the Ventimiglia is a positive disaster zone. Might as well cross the border and stay in Menton -- or else stop short of Ventimiglia and enjoy Bordighera.
May 20th, 2017, 11:40 PM
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I loved Bordighera the minute I got off the bus (by the way, it's a beautiful drive from Samremo). It was late Saturday morning, with perfect weather, last September.
I just explored the promenade a bit, then I had a very good lunch at the restaurant of Hotel Parigi, which offers spa services as well and whose receptionist was very nice (giving me a map to find my way around town). The hotel is right on the beach.
I then looked around a bit in the upper old town (great views and it's an interesting place). I found a walking trail that looked fascinating, to a village in the hills, and made up my mind to return Tuesday for that walk. But Monday night I was already feeling my throat and woke up Tuesday with a bad cold. So that was off. I intend to go back to Bordighera for further exploration and fun, and to revisit Sanremo from there.
I was actually basing myself IN Sanremo on that trip (mid-September 2016), but found myself going away from it, right from the beginning, which is something I never do when I base myself in a given town. There's a fantastic walking/riding trail that passes in town, on its way South and North (24 KM each way), and I was walking over there a lot, riding a bike, too. Then I did a hike in the hills above Taggia (an old village, rundown and full of character, with a fabulous old convent right there, with great art).
I don't think all this had much to do with disliking the town as with a passion for outdoor activities that came over me right there and then.
Samremo is fascinating, it's lively and full of local character, there's an old town right above the modern one, there are quite a few grand old hotels which looks I found appealing, and the food I had was good, as well. I'd like to go back (and will, since I plan on a future trip to Bordighera and environs, as said above). But having read your requirements, I don't think it is what you're looking for.
You might also consider Ospedaletti, which I thought very beautiful. But it's tiny, as well.
I didn't get to Ventimiglia.
I just explored the promenade a bit, then I had a very good lunch at the restaurant of Hotel Parigi, which offers spa services as well and whose receptionist was very nice (giving me a map to find my way around town). The hotel is right on the beach.
I then looked around a bit in the upper old town (great views and it's an interesting place). I found a walking trail that looked fascinating, to a village in the hills, and made up my mind to return Tuesday for that walk. But Monday night I was already feeling my throat and woke up Tuesday with a bad cold. So that was off. I intend to go back to Bordighera for further exploration and fun, and to revisit Sanremo from there.
I was actually basing myself IN Sanremo on that trip (mid-September 2016), but found myself going away from it, right from the beginning, which is something I never do when I base myself in a given town. There's a fantastic walking/riding trail that passes in town, on its way South and North (24 KM each way), and I was walking over there a lot, riding a bike, too. Then I did a hike in the hills above Taggia (an old village, rundown and full of character, with a fabulous old convent right there, with great art).
I don't think all this had much to do with disliking the town as with a passion for outdoor activities that came over me right there and then.
Samremo is fascinating, it's lively and full of local character, there's an old town right above the modern one, there are quite a few grand old hotels which looks I found appealing, and the food I had was good, as well. I'd like to go back (and will, since I plan on a future trip to Bordighera and environs, as said above). But having read your requirements, I don't think it is what you're looking for.
You might also consider Ospedaletti, which I thought very beautiful. But it's tiny, as well.
I didn't get to Ventimiglia.
