Honeymoon in Paris + Nice - Best Way to Split the Days?
Mar 11th, 2015, 06:38 AM
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Honeymoon in Paris + Nice - Best Way to Split the Days?
My fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon for late August to early September. We have already bought our tickets, so we will arrive in Paris on Saturday, August 22nd. Our return flight is out of Nice on Saturday, September 5th. This leaves around 14 days to play with.
If it were up to me, we'd be on the go, go, go. But, my fiancé really wants a more relaxing time, hence the reason we're planning on Nice for a few days.
My original thought was to spend 7 days in Paris, take the train from Paris to Nice and then spend the remaining 7 in Nice. I'd love to go to Versailles one day while in Paris and Monaco one day while we're in Nice. I have a pretty decent itinerary mapped out, but what I'm most concerned about is the amount of time in each city. Is 7 days too long to spend in Nice? Or will it provide a nice relaxing counter balance to the hustle and bustle of Paris?
I've already bought the plane tickets so I can't change anything on that end. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated!
If it were up to me, we'd be on the go, go, go. But, my fiancé really wants a more relaxing time, hence the reason we're planning on Nice for a few days.
My original thought was to spend 7 days in Paris, take the train from Paris to Nice and then spend the remaining 7 in Nice. I'd love to go to Versailles one day while in Paris and Monaco one day while we're in Nice. I have a pretty decent itinerary mapped out, but what I'm most concerned about is the amount of time in each city. Is 7 days too long to spend in Nice? Or will it provide a nice relaxing counter balance to the hustle and bustle of Paris?
I've already bought the plane tickets so I can't change anything on that end. Any thoughts or suggestions are much appreciated!
Mar 11th, 2015, 06:51 AM
#2
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You did the plane tickets the right way, so don't second think that part!
Personally, I would spend more time in Paris and less in Nice. There is so much to see and do in Paris that a week will just start to make a dent in the list.
5 days in Nice would be my suggestion. I would also suggest that you skip Monaco but if you go, you surely don't need a full day. There are much better day trips than that - St Jean Cap Ferrat; Villenfranche; and more here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ther-towns.cfm
Personally, I would spend more time in Paris and less in Nice. There is so much to see and do in Paris that a week will just start to make a dent in the list.
5 days in Nice would be my suggestion. I would also suggest that you skip Monaco but if you go, you surely don't need a full day. There are much better day trips than that - St Jean Cap Ferrat; Villenfranche; and more here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ther-towns.cfm
Mar 11th, 2015, 07:30 AM
#3
After Paris I would do three days in Villefranche sur Mer, nice beach, closer to Eze, Monaco, St.Jean Cap Ferrat and Beaulieu sur Mer. And for the rest of the time I would stay stay in Nice. You can click on my name for some tips on Nice.
Mar 11th, 2015, 07:40 AM
#4
No, that's not too long for Nice. I've been to Nice three times, for six days each, and still have plenty to do. It's a great base for other places on the Riviera, or even inland - train or bus along the coast, bus inland. Don't miss the hike round Cap Ferrat. I wouldn't bother with staying in Villefranche, just settle in in Nice.
Mar 11th, 2015, 08:18 AM
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I would give Paris more time then Nice ( and I have been to both less then 2 years ago.. numerous times before too)..
In Nice yes.. visit Eze, Villfranche , and Monaco as daytrips. But that would not fill 7 days for me..
In Paris here is a partial list of easy and cheap daytrips you could do on your own.
Versailles
Chantilly
Rouen
Giverny( monets Gardens)
Chartres
Epernay ( visit Champagne houses)
Fontainebleau
AND another option.. stay in Paris 6 or 7 days.. take the train to Tours ,, stay 2 nights there.. and visit the Chateaus of the Loire Valley.. then hop back on train to Nice for last 5 nights.. its not too rushed and you get to visit three distinct areas of France.
In Nice yes.. visit Eze, Villfranche , and Monaco as daytrips. But that would not fill 7 days for me..
In Paris here is a partial list of easy and cheap daytrips you could do on your own.
Versailles
Chantilly
Rouen
Giverny( monets Gardens)
Chartres
Epernay ( visit Champagne houses)
Fontainebleau
AND another option.. stay in Paris 6 or 7 days.. take the train to Tours ,, stay 2 nights there.. and visit the Chateaus of the Loire Valley.. then hop back on train to Nice for last 5 nights.. its not too rushed and you get to visit three distinct areas of France.
Mar 11th, 2015, 08:45 AM
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This year we spent 6 days and nights in St Jean Cap Ferrat and I was sorry to leave.
We had day trips to Nice, Antibes, Monaco (I enjoyed this; old Monaco was fun and we toured that palace, then went to Monte Carlo where we couldn't park; wish we'd taken the train) and Sainte-Agnes. We spent a lot of time touring the sites closest to and around Cap Ferrat. We had lovely times on our balcony overlooking the bay at Villefranche. It was relaxing and there was also a ton to do.
I won't tell you how to spend your time, but I loved my time on the Cote d'Azur, although Nice wasn't my favorite, outside of an afternoon spent at Cimiez.
7 and 7 sounds great, since your fiance would like some relaxing time. 8 and 6 sounds good too. A honeymoon in France will be wonderful.
We had day trips to Nice, Antibes, Monaco (I enjoyed this; old Monaco was fun and we toured that palace, then went to Monte Carlo where we couldn't park; wish we'd taken the train) and Sainte-Agnes. We spent a lot of time touring the sites closest to and around Cap Ferrat. We had lovely times on our balcony overlooking the bay at Villefranche. It was relaxing and there was also a ton to do.
I won't tell you how to spend your time, but I loved my time on the Cote d'Azur, although Nice wasn't my favorite, outside of an afternoon spent at Cimiez.
7 and 7 sounds great, since your fiance would like some relaxing time. 8 and 6 sounds good too. A honeymoon in France will be wonderful.
Mar 11th, 2015, 09:59 AM
#7
Guess what? You cannot make a mistake as any time in each place will be just fine. I suggest you find a way to leave the choice of when to leave Paris open, so you can change locations as you see fit at the time.
Mar 11th, 2015, 10:03 AM
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No.. be careful.. Nice in August.. most hotels will not have walk in vacancies.. its super super high season.. you will find "something" but its your honeymoon so the no tell motel type place may not be very nice.lol
Paris in September is also high season ..
Book hotels ahead of time, especially if you want to try and find places that while economical are still nice.
Paris in September is also high season ..
Book hotels ahead of time, especially if you want to try and find places that while economical are still nice.
Mar 11th, 2015, 10:10 AM
#9
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Thank you all! This is incredibly helpful!
I plan to make reservations for most hotels shortly, as I want to make sure we're in a nicer place.
While I'm in Paris for 7 days, I'm considering booking one hotel in one area of the city for 3 or 4 nights and then switching to a different hotel for the remaining time. I thought that might be a nice way to see different areas and also in case one hotel wasn't great, we had two chances.
Does that just unnecessarily complicate everything?
I plan to make reservations for most hotels shortly, as I want to make sure we're in a nicer place.
While I'm in Paris for 7 days, I'm considering booking one hotel in one area of the city for 3 or 4 nights and then switching to a different hotel for the remaining time. I thought that might be a nice way to see different areas and also in case one hotel wasn't great, we had two chances.
Does that just unnecessarily complicate everything?
Mar 11th, 2015, 11:32 AM
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My wife and I did exactly the same on our honeymoon many years ago. A week in Paris and a week on the French Riviera in early September. Wonderful trip that got our marriage off to a great start. As noted above, there are many beautiful places to see near Nice. You can always go back to Paris and the Riviera, as we have many times.
Mar 11th, 2015, 11:43 AM
#12
Paris is easy to get around (see http://www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_21879/visiting-paris/ ) no reason to move because of that. Plus, moving is a pain. You have to pack, check out, move your luggage, check in, unpack. And since checkout of hotel A is likely to be before check-in at Hotel B, one or the other will have to hold your bags, and you'll need to carry around with you anything you don't want to leave in perhaps questionably secure storage.
Mar 11th, 2015, 11:51 AM
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Do NOT switch hotels; Paris is very easy to get around either by walking, metro or bus.
If you chose wisely, you won't get a "hotel that wasn't great".
Read reviews [there are many posts here], post your candidates here and you will lots of good, solid advice.
If you chose wisely, you won't get a "hotel that wasn't great".
Read reviews [there are many posts here], post your candidates here and you will lots of good, solid advice.
Mar 11th, 2015, 12:46 PM
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Do NOT switch hotels.. as said.. and I repeat.. DO NOT. It wastes time and you only have 7 days.. I had to split hotels once in Paris because I couldn't find one for 12 days in a row.. and it wasn't horrendous.. but I have been to Paris for 100s of days now and losing an hour or two was no big deal for me..
Most important point is you WILL be in various areas in Paris anyways.. its simply not that spread out.. I can walk from the 7th to the 1st in 10 minutes.. from the 5th to the 8th in 1/2 an hour.. staying central and you can enjoy many sites within reasonable to easy walking distance. Stay closer to river then further from it.. and anywhere between the 4th and 7th is pretty central to most major sites ( not all of course) but the metro and bus system can take you anywhere.. the metro is fast and easy..
Most important point is you WILL be in various areas in Paris anyways.. its simply not that spread out.. I can walk from the 7th to the 1st in 10 minutes.. from the 5th to the 8th in 1/2 an hour.. staying central and you can enjoy many sites within reasonable to easy walking distance. Stay closer to river then further from it.. and anywhere between the 4th and 7th is pretty central to most major sites ( not all of course) but the metro and bus system can take you anywhere.. the metro is fast and easy..
Mar 11th, 2015, 06:20 PM
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Perfect! I will NOT change hotels. I think after some extensive travel reviews, Trip Advisor, thread reading, etc. I've picked one that will be a good home base for the 7 days.
I'll also investigate some of the other day trips recommended on this thread. I love trip planning, and I always get such great advice on these forums.
If anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions regarding day trips or other can't miss sites in Paris or Cote d'Azur, I'm all ears
Thanks again!
I'll also investigate some of the other day trips recommended on this thread. I love trip planning, and I always get such great advice on these forums.
If anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions regarding day trips or other can't miss sites in Paris or Cote d'Azur, I'm all ears
Thanks again!
