Patrick

Since we've decided to sneak in a week next June on the Riviera, I'm trying to find a "budget" apartment. I've become fascinated with some of the reports of Villefranche. We've passed through it, of course, but haven't really stopped there. Would someone mind looking at this website:

http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/pho...p?home_id=5420

and tell me what they think of this location -- there is a line pointing directly to it from a distant view. What would be in front of it other than the harbor? Does the train run there? A road? I know Lee would be happy sitting and staring at the boats whenever we are there, but would trains or traffic roar by it all the time or what?

I realize the place is pretty "rustic", but somehow reminds me of a quaint old cottage, and the price is certainly right. We won't have a car, so convenience to train and/or bus is primary. And while we're at it, how late do those busses run? Can we easily return from Nice or Monaco at say 11 PM or midnight?

Meanwhile, here's a second apartment that appears to be in the same location -- is it? Another possibility.
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/ren...e-Sur-Mer/6628

Thanks for any help or other suggestions. Trying to keep this one down to under $150 or so a night -- these two are well below that.

moldyhotelsaregross

I know very little about Villefranche, but passed through it while in Nice going to Monaco. I pulled up train info via www.sbb.ch and found that it is typically a 16 minute train ride from Monaco and you can leave until 23h58 to get back. (Yes, I know about the sncf website but find the other site to be "that much easier" to use.) I do remember thinking that "Villefranche is a place I'd like to go." It was beautiful and home to many of the "Rich and Famous" like Tina Turner and Elton John. You can even see his house high on a hill to the right of a very large antenna.

Sorry I don't know many details, but just from passing through on the train and doing a boat cruise out of Nice along the coast, it looks like a place worth exploring!

Tuxedocat

Stayed in Villefranche-sur-mer off season and it is a very charming twon. Much more chic than Nice I must say. Very interesting architectural features and it's where les riches in the know dock rather than the grand central station of Nice. We stayed in a place overlooking the water called "La Fleur?" Something with flowers. It's a wonderful place but I don't know about "budget" aspect. It's reasonable off season.

cigalechanta

it's late here in Boston ,off to bed but give you this site as an option.

http://www.riviera.fr/vsmhome.htm

daph

We were going to have lunch in Villefranche but found the restaurants overpriced due to the cruise ships docking mid day. Loved Beaulieu sur Mer-can walk to V. from there and to St Jean Cap Ferrat, which is really posh. Train to Nice, Cannes, Monaco, Eze, etc.

gracejoan

Patrick,

I spent 2 weeks in Villefranche last fall. The train and bus are both very convenient.

The first apartment must be above the main road and would be a hike up and down to the village. The 2nd one would be much more convenient to get around.

It is a pleasant village. You can see the railroad in a picture for the 2nd one..they have a good beach area. The buses are very convenient too. I took it into Nice old town..about 20 minutes. Get off right in old town.

The Hotel Welcome is popular.

Enjoy...........

gracejoan

Patrick,

Is this one of the ones that you looked at
http://monsite.wanadoo.fr/villefranche/page1.html

gracejoan

Patrick,

Here is another from VRBO site
http://www.vrbo.com/65020

Patrick

gracejoan, yes that one you gavequot;monsite" is the same one.

I already contacted the owners of the VRBO one, but then read an incredibly scathing review on Slowtrav of it. It also seems to be at the other end of the beach away from the town, but I could be wrong.

Now I'm confused a bit by your comments. When you said, the "first one" I mentioned was above the road, are you sure you didn't get them backwards? The first one is the one right down by the road. The second one is the one that appears to be higher up, but I really can't tell how high up or how much of a hike down or along what kind of road or path.

So the sound of traffic or train shouldn't be an issue in these locations?

I've discovered one additional benefit of the second one (the one that is higher up) and that is that it is air-conditioned, while the other one is not. But while that big open terrace looks nice, we're not big into sitting in the sun, especially in the summer. The first one appears to have a more shady or covered terrace -- comfy and pleasant for two.

gracejoan

Patrick,

Some of the pictures seem confusing..the first one with the balcony view looks high,yet looking from the L/R across patio to bay it does not look so high....vut...if you are going to be there in the summer I would certainly opt for A/C!!

The bus and train travel is readily available..you could breakfast in Villefranche, lunch in Monaco, head into Italy and have dinner and catch about a 11-11:30 train back to Villefranche!! Easy to get around without a car........

Get one with A/C...enjoy

gracejoan

Patrick,
I looked at the "Rio Marino" again..it is definitely down low. It has A/C!! I don't think the trains will bother you at all. Go for it!!

gracejoan

Patrick,
This is the one that I rented

http://holiday-rentals.com/France/Co...-Mer/p8595.htm

Maddy

I was in Villefranche this May and have a street map from the TI. If you have addresses for these two locations I can take a look at the map altho I'm not sure that every small street is listed on it. The train station was at the "far" end of the beach area (heading in the direction of Monaco/Italy) If you are coming from the direction of Nice and head down to the waterfront, it's the first part of the waterfront near the Welcome hotel that seemed to have the nice restaurants down by the water as well as the old pedestrian section behind it with more restaurants and shops.

Patrick

Ah, Gracejoan, I figured out part of the confusion. The first apartment is the one that is right at the water's edge. There is a picture that says "view from the balcony" that is mis-labeled. It is actually a picture taken from another spot down towards the town. In that picture is a line pointing to the actual apartment which you can see is right on the harbor, or right across the street from it. It should not say "view from balcony" as that was apparently intended for the other picture next to it through the doors to the balcony which shows it is practically at water level.

It is the Rio Marino apartment that is higher up, but I suspect not too high. It certainly doesn't look as high as the one you rented. (Which is lovely, by the way, just more than we want to spend considering our splurges in some of our other locations.) But if your apartment wasn't too far to walk to "town", then I certainly don't think the Rio Marino one will be. I know I had looked at that apartment a month or so ago. I forget now if you posted or someone else did about your renting it. I'm so bad with remembering who has posted what!

Thanks for the help. Thanks also Maddy. I'm assuming Rio Marino is the name of the street that one is on -- but I brought up a couple of town maps and couldn't find that street at all. The other one is on the main "promendade" going right out of the old town along the beach.

gracejoan

Patrick,

That explains the problem. If you go to mappy.com and enter Villefranche-sur-mer you will get the town map..keeps clicking the + sign and you will see Alber 1er Street, in orange..you will see the railroad and can figure it out a bit....Albert 1er is the street that my apt. was on, and is also the main coastal road for the bus etc...There does not seem to be a Rio Martin street..you might be able to find out the address and pull it up on mappy.

Maddy

I don't find Rio Marino on the TI map either. If you haven't already, check out the great interactive map on the Villefranche tourism website:
http://www.villefranche-sur-mer.com/accueil_english.htm

You can pan around on there and find addresses, hotels etc. Our hotel was on Avenue Albert 1er near Avenue Sadie Carnot and it was walking distance down to the harbor and old town. If you think the second apartment is below Albert 1er, I agree with gracejoan that it should be a fine location. Above that road was mostly residential and quite steep.

I envy you having a week in Villefranche. We stayed three nights and would go back in a heartbeat.

Patrick

It is so unlike us to want to spend a week in Villefranche instead of Nice or Cannes where we've done so before. But now I've become "obsessed" with the idea of it. I remember years ago parking the car and walking around Cap Ferrat. I'm looking forward to doing something like that, or walking to Beaulieu almost daily. And small village life suddenly seems very appealing to this "city lover", even though I could care less about the beach -- we live a couple blocks from a great one. As a break from our weeks in Madrid, Rome, Venice, London, Paris, and New York on that same trip next summer -- it really is appealing!

Meanwhile I anxiously await emails from the two apartments I've mentioned, specifically to get addresses so I can check out their locations.

Gracejoan, I finally cleaned my glasses, and yes, I can see the train tracks in the picture of the higher up (Rio Marino) apartment, so although it is above the tracks, it doesn't seem that far up to make it inconvenient. Yet, I can't quite get over the idea of that (hopefully) shady balcony almost right on the harbor at water level of the other apartment. Even without air-conditioning, I can picture most of our time spent out there rather than inside anyway. That other one with the big terrace somehow doesn't appeal as being very useable for us in the hot summer daytime. Decisions!

gracejoan

Patrick,
Either one would ceertainly be a good location...if A/C is not necessary for you, then pick the one you like best. When they give you the address, use mappy to find it. You will have no trouble getting around to Cap Ferrat and wherever you want to go with the convenience of the train and buses. Yes, small town life can be enjoyable. There is a little bar/cafe that is also and internet cafe in the village, to send your trip info to Fodorites!!

Enjoy

flomania

Hi Patrick,

Had look at your first website and I just realized that last year during our trip to the Riviera I took a picture of that area where you can see the building you are interested to know more about.
Let me know how can I send it to you ( e-mail, etc).
Good luck.

Patrick

Thanks, flomania.

[email protected]

Use Villefranche in your subject and don't worry if it tells you to "apply" to email me, I'll be monitoring it and see your messge.

Meanwhile I continue to wait to hear from the owners of either of the two mentioned apartments.