50th birthday in NICE France
 

My wife and I are going to NICE in Aug for her 50th birthday and I would really like to have something pre-planned before we get there as a surpise.We've never been there so I am hoping someone out there knows the French Riviera. Of course I am limited to a middleclass kind of budget so, I guess I am limited up to a point. Thanks.

So what are you asking us?

I have read your post three times and don't understand what specific advice you are looking for.

What does "middleclass kind of budget" mean?

Thin

First, congrats on your wife's upcoming birthday, and I'm sure the two of you will have a great time!

I am also a little confused as to your question. Are you looking for a place to stay (or if you have one, if you can share the information, it could help us help you)? By way of "surprise" do you mean flowers & wine in the room or a nice romantic meal that evening, or a club to go to or dancing, or music? If it's the latter, what are your wife's passion/interests? Is she a kid at heart? Is she high brow, low brow, somewhere in between?

I mean, when I turned 50 (not so long ago), I spent the day riding wooden roller coasters in Copenhagen, and watching the light show and fireworks in Tivoli gardens. Had it been in the south of France, I probably would have gone to Juan les Pins, spending the day on the sandy beach and the evening at the Juan les Pins blues festival. These are things that I personally love to do, but others may hate it!

What I'm trying to get here, is, if you could give us an idea of what would your wife plan for herself for an occasion like this, we could roll out a few ideas!

I was thinking of a romantic evening in a"unique"restaurant, perhaps surprising her with flowers and a birthday cake. The dancing club suggestion sounds like a good idea as well. We don't have to necessarily stay in NICE, other places in the French Riviera (that are close by) would also suit our needs. Any other suggestions for things to do during the day would also be appreciated. My wife loves shopping (especially jewellery and shoes)...we are on a budget, so are choices need to be reasonable.

this is for surfergirl as i dont know how to send you an email directly. it appears you have been to the south of france and i am planning a trip for next summer. would like to pick your brain on several ideas and a possible itinerary. if you are willing to discuss some of your experiences, could you please email me at "[email protected]"

I think, if you haven't already done it, taking a look at the destination guide for Nice here at fodors http://www.fodors.com/world/europe/f...rench-riviera/ would be a good place to start. Also Trip advisor's list of restaurants is really handy since it is ranked by favorites of people who have eaten there: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran..._Provence.html

A couple a ideas that I would love if my husband were to surprise me :)

A lunch or dinner at the Colombe d'Or in St. Paul de Vence

http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/indexEN.html It is not too far from Nice-so you could either rent a car or take a taxi and drive or during the day go up by bus. Be aware though that this would be pretty much of a blow out meal costwise. I have been there just for drinks and to enjoy the view so that would also be an option.

St. Paul de Vence is really beautiful and if you love modern art be sure to see the Maeght Foundation nearby http://www.maeght.com/intro.htm That would make a lovely birthday IMO

Another idea might be to go to Monaco to visit the casino and just spend the day there. Again anything outside of Nice is a bit easier if you have a car-otherwise it starts to become a kind of stressful I think.

Chateau de la Chevre D'Or in Eze would be memorable and wonderful. Expensive but a great splurge. Lunch would be a good idea, excellent sweeping views of the Cote d' Azur. I celebrated a -0 birthday there and was brought to tears (and not for looking at the bill, lol). My -0 birthdays are always worth a big production.

The place I'm going to recommend may cost way more than you had in mind, but I have to say it's worth every Euro, especially for a big birthday celebration. The place is: Le Chaumiere, which is in the hills just beyond Nice on the Grande Corniche.

I celebrated my fortieth there, and loved it, although it's definitely pricey. I think the taxi alone was about $40 each way ( takes about 20 minutes or so to get there in traffic). Anyway, the restaurant serves grilled meats, chicken, and fish, all of which are cooked in a fireplace in the Provence-style dining room. Appetizers are huge baskets of homegrown vegetables, followed by dips ( a very good aioli), homemade breads, and amazing desserts, some of which were served with a homemade clotted cream.

The restaurant seems to cater mostly to the French families in the area, although when we were last there, Sean Connery walked in with his entourage. Anyway, we've had a couple of wonderful nights there ( only for milestone celebrations- big birthdays, anniversary, because it is EXPENSIVE) and I'd highly, highly recommend it .

If you decide to go, you definitely need to make a reservation. The restaurant's address is: 384, Boulevard de l'Observatoire. Web address: www. chaumiere. net. Phone: 33. 04. 93.01.77.68

And on a lesser but still unique and wonderful dining scale, there used to be a place called "INDYIANA" in the industrial section of Nice, sort of behind Old Nice. It was a very modern restaurant with excellent food, beautiful presentations, and not nearly as expensive as LE CHAUMIERE. I will try to pull the address from my files on Nice.

OK. L'Indyana is located at: 11 Rue Gustave Deloye.

BUT, my husband just reminded me of another place that he visited last year called LOU SALSEDO, 14 Rue Maccarini, phone: 04.93.82.24.12. He says this place was much better than L
Indyana, had excellent regional French cuisine, sometimes served by the chef himself, menu changed once a week, and was very reasonably priced with lovely ambience.

Thank you everyone for all your great suggestions. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Everyone here has given you wonderful suggestions. But here is mine anyway.

First of all I would definetly have a rental car, I would arrange that from the state prior since I find it to be way cheaper and because I like automatics especially in a foreign country.

I don't know if your are staying in Nice directly or somewhere nearby. I usually stay in Vil France sur Mer just outside of Nice and really only a 15 minute drive in to Nice which I love going to for a drive down the cote d'zur, a beautiful drive but for my birthday I would drive in the other direction to Monaco, Monte Carlo and spend the day, the drive is delightful only 30 minutes or so depending on traffic. I would park and walk around the city, you say your wife likes to shop, well there is no better place to window shop because believe me you would have to have endless pockets to be able to afford to actually shop here but the window shoping is to die for and you can also go to the casino and blow 20 or 30 euro just to say you gambled in Monte Carlo....like James Bond or something....just fun and there are so many wonderful places to eat there. If you are standing on the steps to he casino as you are going out just to the right is a wonderful restaurant with some of the best food I ever ate and it was not that bad. I think my dinner came to about 30 euros and that included 2 glasses of wine so really not that bad and it was heaven. Also walking around behind the casino on the water looking at the boats and there was some really cool architecture there as well as some weird stuff too... Also right out side Vil Franch sur Mer is Cap Feret with a lighthouse, the drive to the lighthouse area is great then there is this cool park area.

Probably I would start my day our from Vil Franch sur mer, drive to Cap Feret do the lighthouse thing and walk the park along the water to the lighthouse then off to Monte Carlo for window shopping, looking, exploring and go to the casino to spend a small amount just to say I did, then off to dinner and a beautiful sunset. That would make my day.....maybe that's way too simple for most and not exciting or extravagant enough for others but to me a very peacful nice day seeing a beautiful country with my main squeeze would be the most ideal birthday gift one could give me.

Whatever you choose to do......have the best time and make a memory.

You have some wonderful suggestions here for one of my favorite areas.

If your wife would be interested, the Villa Rothschild would make a lovely afternoon, gardens, the villa and views and not expensive:

http://www.villa-ephrussi.com/en/ephrussi/

There are some nice pizza places with wooden pizza ovens down at the marina nearby in Cap Ferrat. Sorry I can't remember the name. The pizza, wine and the villa and gardens are another perfect afternoon.

You could have lunch at the Villa's tea room, which has spectacular views. Reservations are necessary.

SeaUrchin-I was trying to remember the name of that Villa-it was a wonderful visit :)

Yes jpie, I enjoyed my visit there so much, I would love to go again, maybe on a significant birthday!

Lots of great suggestions, may I add my favorite restaurant in Nice? The place is called Le Petit Maison, I think it will fit your budget.

I hope your wife have a great birthday in Nice.