If I don't book this trip in the next few days, I will go mad!! I fear I have overdosed on my research and my brain has turned to mush!! I have 14 days, flying in and out of Nice. Would first like to relax a bit, 3 days in Nice then train to Avignon for 5 days ..then to Aix-en- Provence finally returning to Nice to fly home. Hotel in Avignon is set thanks to suggestions from this forum but Aix and Nice have me befuddled. Any 3 or 4 star hotel suggestions..unless an exceptional 2 pops to mind, would be appreciated. Would like to be by the water in Nice, merely for the view. Plan on visiting surrounding area of all towns. Any suggestions? ..my husband is looking at a Trafalgar tour book..yikes!! Thanks..

you might try Marriott Hotel Cap D'ail or Hotel les terrasse D'Eze village just out Nice

Hope you're not going in August. We really hated Nice, sorry to say. The crowds were worse than Disneyworld at Easter. If I went back, I'd be sure to go off season and would stay in a small town versus Nice. Go before July or after September.

I have been to Nice a couple of times and enjoyed it. Took the 'train touristique' for an overview ride, walked along the promenade, up to the Colline, and view over the harbor. Kind of a chance to slow down and relax; didn't even make it to the Roman ruins or museums (Chagall?Matisse?). Our hotels were booked via tour, so not recommending them. Here are some from a little research this morning - you can take it from there perhaps.. <BR>Here are a few in different price categories... <BR>FLOTS D'AZUR - 2-star, Double room: 250 to 380 Francs (Approx. 38 to 57 Euro). Breakfast: 30 Francs (Approx. 4 Euro). MC/VISA <BR>http://www.nice-coteazur.org/americain/index.html <BR>listed in Frommer's 2000 Europe w/these comments: <BR>3-story villa next to sea, rooms vary in size, all have good views and sea breezes, 12 contain TV/minibars, small sitting room & terrace in front where cont.breakfast is served. Symbols indicate parking avail. <BR>HOTEL MERCURE PROMENADE DES ANGLAIS - same website as above, <BR>not sure if all rooms have view, Double room: 660 to 910 Francs <BR>(Approx. 100 to 138 Euro). Breakfast: 75 Francs (Approx. 11 Euro). <BR>Mercure is generally a reliable French chain hotel. <BR>GRAND HOTEL ASTON GOLDEN TULIP - The Hotel has 155 sound proofed and air-conditioned bedrooms, recently <BR>redecorated in an Art-Déco Style and offers to its guests a very warm atmosphere. All equipped with private bathroom, hair dryer, colour cable television, mini bar, radio, direct dial phone and room service. The Executive rooms are all with balcon and are located on the 6th floor with a view overlooking the city and the Mediterranean sea.Ideally located in the centre of Nice, facing the "Place Masséna" gardens with its fountains and close to the old city ($180-250) <BR>http://www.hotel-aston.com/anglais/info.htm <BR>From a Fodors search: <BR>HOTEL BEAU RIVAGE - It was a nice hotel. Across the street from the beach and a short walk to Old Town Nice. <BR>It is across the road from the beach. Depending on where your room is it could have an ocean view. Very close to <BR>Old Town. Don't remember the rate but don't think it was outrageous. Not real close to the train station. We did walk <BR>there a couple of times however. <BR>

I think what Joel experienced in August was crowding from French vacationers, who typically get their holiday in August. I went in May both times, and it was very nice then. It would probably be wise to go May-June, or Sept-Oct to avoid peak crowds.

In Aix-en-Provence, Hotel des Augustins is a good hotel with an extremely central location. Hotel Quatre Dauphins is pleasant, smaller and less expensive, and only slightly less central. This info is based on my experience in 1999, so I don't know if anything has changed drastically since then.

Thanks to all who responded. I have booked my air and we will be in France the last week of April and the first week of May. Have not finalized my hotels yet, so any other ideas out there, I'll be happy to listen to. Alice, Hotel Quatre Dauphins, I read that there is no lift, how tough is it climbing those 5 floors? I've read a few good/bad reviews on this hotel, so I'm a tad undecided. What was the weather like when you were there?? Trying to figure out what clothing to bring. Is the dress in Nice more summery? I ususally travel with a suitcase of dark clothing.Cuts down on the laundry, lightens the load! Thanks..

Sorry to be redundant, but this is a cut and paste from a previous message I posted. Hope it helps. we spent 3 days in Grasse, and did some driving around from Monaco to Nice and Cannes, and wasn't really overly impressed (except the place we stayed in Grasse was FANTASTIC! Name: La Rivolte <BR>Address: Chemin des Lierres. 06130 Grasse Price and Amenities; $99 per night, must <BR>get the Jasmine master bedroom, private balcony. Breakfast included, 8:30-11 am, <BR>parking included <BR>Phone: 334-93 36 81 58 <BR>Cathy King <BR>http://www.larivolte.com/house.html <BR> <BR>But we just loved the Avignon area: We stayed at La Magnaneriae- look for them on www.bestwestern.com It's 100x more beautiful, and the food was the best we had in Europe. Good location to historical spots, wine tasting in the Chateau nuf de Pape (sp?) Address: 37 Rue Camp de Bataille, Villeneuve Lex Avignon. Price and Amenities: $86 per <BR>night, Large double room w/ terrace and view. Amenities: about $100 per <BR>night, Large double room w/ terrace and view. a bit hard to find. Great cheese board. At La Manangerie, you won't want <BR>to eat anyplace else! And I was going through cat-withdrawal, and they had a siamese cat that jumped up on our porch/patio, and walked in the room like she owned it. I got my "fix" of cat petting, and she certainly enjoyed it! But above all else- the food is out of this world. All nights except the last night, we ate out on the enclosed courtyard, but the mistral winds came in on our last night, we ate inside, in the lovely dining room. The prices are reasonable, the staff very nice, the rooms airy and reasonable in size, and you're so close to so many things to do! e-mail me if you have any questions- <BR> <BR>We don't like cities, and after driving through Nice, I was GLAD that I hadn't <BR>been able to book there nor Monaco (week of the Grand Prix)- Grasse was a nice town- and La Rivolte lets you use their kitchen, so we'd get wine, cheese, fruit, bread etc and hang out in the kitchen with the other guests at night. At La Manangerie, you won't want to eat anyplace else!

Verna, sorry it wasn't me who brought up Quatre Dauphine hotel... We were touring so brought "all-purpose" clothes, since also went thru Germany/Switzerland one trip...I seem to recall May as being lovely, not hot, and don't think I even wore an outer jacket in evening. My climate guide indicates it s/b between 60 & 70 degrees.

I didn't stay there but I've only heard good things about the Hotel Perouse in Nice; it's just been renovated, is a 4-star, and has great views--it's more down towards the cliff area rather than the flatter western Promenade part. It's on www.webscapades.com, it's not cheap (about $200 and $250 for a room with sea view). I was there in September and it was very nice, not too crowded at all. I stayed at a nice 3-star hotel in Nice (Hotel Vendome), but it wasn't near the water and I myself would stay closer to the beach next time. I'm planning a trip to Provence myself so have looked at lots of Aix hotels; there are plenty there in all brackets and I thought I just responded to a post like this a few days ago with some suggestions.