Near Nice Airport
 

We are spending several days in Provence in June. Our flight into Nice comes at the end of a long day of travel; thinking we would pick up our car and drive a short distance, and do the rest the next day. Any suggestions as to where we might have dinner and spend the night, maybe 30-45 minutes away from the airport.

Antibes is a neat old town on the sea - about 15 mins drive from airport- on the way west to where you want to go.

If you decide on Antibes, take the coastal road from Nice rather than the freeway. The drive down to the city from the freeway takes a long time and is full of start-and-stop traffic, not what you want after a long day of travel.

Even better: stay somewhere near the airport and get your car the following day.

This was a while back, but prior to a flight we spent the night at the Hotel St Paul in St Paul de Vence, 20 minutes to the airport in the AM. The charming village is especially enjoyed after the day-trippers leave.

Even better: stay somewhere near the airport and get your car the following day.>

If Antibes has car rentals you want maybe take Underhill's advice - take a bus or cab from the airport there - save on a day's car rental and move on or stay an extra day (this area is also a part of Provence) and explore places like St-Paul-de-Vence, which is also an excellent suggestion for a nearby place easily reachable by car. In June St Paul should not be so overrun by tourists as in July and especially August.

Or stay in Nice that night and take the bullet train to Avignon and pick up car there - fares if booked really early could be as low as 29 euros or so p.p. - cheaper than driving and again save a day on car rental or two if you want to just poke around Avignon the next day.

for info on French trains and discounted tickets check www.seat61.com and www.voyages-sncf.com or www.capitainetrain.com.