Fodorites familiar with Nice France
 

Fodorites,

What do you think of an apartment on Place Massena ?

I ask because on the map it seems to be in front of Tunnel Paillon and Trip Advisor mentioned a lot of building just completed that seemed to be for trains or buses ? Is it on top of the bus station or new rail ?

Would it be a good place to rent close to the old town and to the beach or should I keep looking ?

M

Place Massena is very close to the water and old town. The construction mentioned is the new tram and beautiful square. I was there again in May and the entire area is completed now. And you will be close to the Galleries Lafayette. The only drawback might be the noise of traffic depending on the exact location of the apartments.

Place Massena is busy day and night. It is a great place for shopping and restaurants and you will be close to the beach/promenade. I would hesitate if it is a first floor, even a second. Third and up, if the price is right.

thanks you two Fodorites, Scatcat and Viajero.

Where else could anyone get all of this detailed information in real time ? You all are just terriffic.

Next question, it may seem a lil dumb, but is a tram, a trolley or a train? or like a ski lift car running above the ground? :) Don't laugh. I was never on an elevator til I was 18 years old...we dont have trams in the countryside.

Anyway it sounds like I should keep looking if I want to get a good nights' sleep.

This tram is like a train-bus. It runs on tracks. They are really nice and quiet. You can buy a day pass and use it on the bus or tram. It is a real bargain. You can travel so cheaply by bus to Eze village, Villefranche, Saint Paul de Vence, and others. Nice is my favorite place to visit either solo or with others.

As Viajero2 said, Place Massena in Nice is very noisy. Not much with the car trafic but as it s in the beginning of a pedestrian zone where street musicians and restaurants terraces guarantee a "nice" animation till 2 a.m. at least.
Nevertheless, this "square" has been totally redecorated, repainted with original "italian" colors and is quite attractive. But i would do my best to live away from Place Massena and Vieux Nice.

The new trams in all the French cities are super quiet.

Well I just re-checked and it is the second floor - didnt say if that's the French second floor(our third) or the American second floor which you have said to stay away from.

Can you give me an idea where Nice Vieux (sp) begins ? so I know where not to look.

too bad - it does seem to be a nice apartment.

And while I'm at it and have got you all - just found out the apartment I have negotiated for in Paris on the Rue du Rigard in the 6th is the ground floor....the one even with the street..AND faces the front ... do you think it's safe on the ground floor facing front ??

As Rossannadannabanna used to say - "there's always something" (: :D

Vieux Nice is almost directly across the street from Place Massena. How close to the Massena is the apartment? And the beach and promenade are just steps away. Does the apartment have AC?

Here's an article on the food. Be sure to bring home a tin of the alziari olive oil.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...pagewanted=all

Cigale,

you are so funny. I'm trying to lose 20 pounds and you want me to pay attention to the food ? lololololo

However, where do you live, if close enough I shall bring you a tin/bottle of olive oil . :)

Actually I only go to Paris for the mussels at Leon's you know. good protein and not fattening. :)

Scatcat,

the apartment is smack dab on Massena and appears to be right in the middle of the street.

It's on VRBO and from the photos beautifully done.

I've been checking around and the hotel single rooms are getting pretty well filled up. I may just have to grab something. I wish I knew the areas, the streets just a little bit. It's so difficult when you really dont know an area.

Since I dont want to drive in Europe ( I remember the roads over the mountains with sheer cliff drops down and no balustrade) I also would like to be in short walking distance to buses , trams, trains in Nice without being on top of them.

How is rue rossini ? good ? bad? so-so ?

I don't ever remember the names of the streets except for Jean Medicine. That is the main one that runs from the train station to Place Massena. The bus and tram will be very near to you. The train station is about a 15 minute walk-not bad at all because there are all kinds of shops all the way. But you could also take a tram to the train station. I have never had a car and I have been all over the cote azur. You will LOVE the whole area. There are so many places that are close by train or bus.

Cigal,

thanks for the article with the restaurant recommendations. You know what I have had a yen for for a long time ? Good bouillabaise. Do you think I can find some in Nice? and do you have a favorite restaurant for boulliabaise?

M.

No, not a Nice Dish, but try the famous Nice specialty Socca. Fulling and inexpensice.
I've had great Boulliabaisse in Marseille at Chez Fon Fon.

sorry...lol. I live in Cambridge(Boston) Ma,

Rue Rossini should be quieter than Place Massena. It s a one way street not far from the station and from shopping area. Not close from Vieux Nice.
Cigalachanta is fully right.
Go to Marseille for bouillabaisse and to Brussels or north of France for mussels not Paris.

Well I have found a studio apartment that looks quite nice and fully equipped - albeit 3rd floor-no lift, but it is in a cul de sac type garden affair and not on Place Massina but on rue Massina and to the left of rue Medecin - quiet inside the garden, but once you go out near the transport and ocean. Relief !

And thanks to you all.

Eze,
I have had mussels in the square in Brugge - and though the ambiance was charming the mussels and dressing were not as good as Leon's of Bruxelles on rue St. Michel (I think) in Paris.

as a matter of fact I was going to suggest the place for the GTG - big enough - and I went back so many times, the waiters recognized me :) and took good care of me. Good service there.

Speaking of food:

What do you suggest I should budget for food in Nice, daily, considering I will be eating breakfast in.

What is the average price of lunch?

the average price of dinner?

of cappucino?

It's difficult to give approximate costs for meals without knowing what kind of food you're after and whether you want to eat in a café, a restaurant, etc. Nice offers many, many options, including street food. You can find pasta and pizza.