HOW HOT AM I GOING TO BE??
 

We will be in Nice, France the evening of the 9th of July. The place we want to stay (at least it looks great on the net) is a B & B (Home Sweet Home). The issue is that the property description sounds wonderful, priced great, but is curiously devoid of any mention of Air conditioning. How hot is it in Nice around the 10th of July? In your opinion would this be a deal breaker? BTW have any of you ever stayed at this B&B? Thanks.
shrink

Oh baby, you ARE hot! (sorry, I couldn't resist) Well, Nice is by the ocean so you could get cool breezes, or there could be a horrible hot spell in July (like in 2003 when people were dying from the heat). How reliant on air conditioning are you? What is your comfort level?

Early to mid July in Nice usually is in the low to mid 80's, but can be slightly cooler or slightly hotter depending on the year. As to whether no a/c in that weather would be a deal-breaker, it depends on how you respond to weather. What do you consider to be hot weather? Do you live in Alaska or Alabama? At what temperature are you uncomfortable?

I've been in Nice in July and didn't need air conditioning. But I grew up in Kansas City, where 90° and 50% humidity were the norm.

Like the other posters, I think you should plan on encountering midwest summer weather and decide accordingly. The onshore breeze is a mitigating influence in the daytime - but only if you're near the water.

I guess you are unfamiliar with that area as it is very normal to not have AC in homes, so no mention of that isn't curious, but usual. Unless an ad specifically mentions it (which they would for a rental), assume they do not have it. I haven't been in Nice at that time, but other parts of Provence that are hotter, and it wasn't that bad most of the time if you have a place with thick stone walls, for example. I even needed a light sweater a few evenings, and the evenings would usually be okay even if really hot in the afternoon.

Would it be a deal breaker for me? Not necessarily for Nice near the ocean, but Nice metro area is large -- it would also depend a lot on the general layout and ventilation of the room and house. I would consider the photos as to windows and other things.

We weren't in Nice, but we were in Europe in the heat wave of 2003 and it was miserable! We were lying spread eagled on our beds (so glad we had twins those nights) trying to cool down and sleep at night. We finally changed our plans and went to the mountains just to cool off. You also have to realize that it is not like in the states where every business is air-conditioned. Most places wil be equally hot.

I would never stay on the Riviera in summer without AC - but my idea of beautiful summer weather is Stockholm - 70 and sunny with a nice breeze. It does usually cool down at night - but breezes are important - and few B&Bs are right by the beach.

One note: europeans just use AC much less than we do - and many many places - including MANY B&Bs simply don;t have it.

Thanks folks. That helps. I'm in Texas but I never got used to hot weather.
shrink

I would recommend booking a place with AC to stay cool and keep out street noise. The last few summers in Nice have been very very hot. Why take a chance on being unable to sleep?

As mentioned above, a lot can depend on the building and room--is there cross-ventilation, are the windows large, are you on a quiet street so you won't mind having the windows open, etc
I'm too dependent now on a/c to want to risk doing without it in July in the south of France in a city, but that's me.

Me, too. After a hot day of sightseeing the last thing I want is a hot night when trying to sleep.

My husband hates the heat, but Provence is no way like here( Boston) because the humidity is not the same, so he is ok there.

Regardless of the heat, it will be humid and that is the thing that you'll want to avoid...and cool breezes will be humid ones.