tvmamasita

Hello!
My husband and 4-year-old son and I will be in France for 10 days in Sept/October. We will be spending 4 days in Cassis--visiting Aix en Provence, and towns in that area. Then we are headed to the Cote d'Azur.
We are trying to decide whether to stay in Saint Paul de Vence or Cap d'Antibes for 3/4 nights. Ideally we would like to do day-trips (Nice, Monaco, etc.), but have a nice place to return to in the afternoon where my son can play in the pool, etc. We are looking at Colombe d'Or in St Paul de Vence, or somewhere on the water in Cap d'Antibes.

Thank you in advance for your help!
On a side note...is 4 days in Cassis too long? Should we stay longer on Cote d'Azur?
Jessica

sandralist

Will you have a car? If not, you need to be where the train line runs along the coast. You can use buses from Saint Paul de Vence to get to Nice, etc, but it's not a snap.

If you will have a car, Saint Paul de Vence is the size of a postage stamp and so you might want a slightly bigger (and less boutique) town with everyday amenities and a range of affordable eating options. Vence, just up the road, might be better.

Also, I might be a nervous wreck with a 4 year old in Colombe d'Or. You'll be constantly watching to make sure he doesn't touch things. The rooms have rickety antiques and bric and brac (and poor ventilation). The restaurant is totally blah when it comes to food, and not cheap. One goes to gawk at the priceless museum quality art collection. (I didn't even know they had a pool). If you do stay in the hills rather that at the seaside, there are other places in the vicinity that are a lot more 4-year-old friendly.

HappyTrvlr

I would not stay in St-Paul with a four year old. It is filled with art galleries, a more adult., boutique setting. and very tiny. Cap Ferrat will give you more options or Antibes.

cigalechanta

I beg to differ with the above posters, having stayed there three times. The Food was very good. The paintings on the wall are too high for a tot to touch.I never saw any bric and brac. The rooms are very simple. The pools is fronted by a huge Calder stabile.

sandralist

Not all the art work at Colombe d'Or is above eye level. There are many pieces of sculpture within child reach, as are some of the larger paintings when seated at dining tables or in the staircases. The antique-type furniture is fragile, in particular bed lamps and such. We'll just have to disagree about the food. I realize now that when I was there (in winter) the pool was covered.

sandralist

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