We will be traveling in Southern France with another couple this October and have started to coble together our plans. Our intent is to fly into Nice from the Us and spend 2 nights. I need some help with a few things:

1. hotel - would like to spend less than $150/night for each room - something clean and in a good location (a small refrigerator would be welcomed too). I know that the Promenade des Anglais looks good but may be too expensive for this trip. We would like to be within walking distance of the sea and a bus line.

2. Our intent is to rental car for the portion of the trip that follows. Does anyone have first hand experience/advice with in town rental locations?

3. Awhile back I had seen a thread which I can not find that talked about what sounded like a charming village that could be reached by bus for morning excursion.... I can't find the name!

4. I'm thinking take a bus to Monnaco for a couple of hours, see/do and leave - fair assesment?

Thanks in advance!

For 2 nights/1 1/2 days - I would not leave Nice. You'll find plenty to do & see there in your very short time. I certainly would not go to Monaco - probably my least favorite city on the Cote.

We always stay at the Hotel Windsor - ask for a room facing the garden.

The "charming village" may be St Paul de Vence.

We've picked up & returned cars at the train station many times. Don't have any specific info on other "downtown" locations.

Stu Dudley

Eze village???

I love Eze Village, St. Paul de Vence, and Villefranche. If at all possible, you might like to add a couple of days to the Nice area. One of my favorite places in the entire world!

A good "average" hotel is the Holiday Inn - have also stayed at a Mercure in Nice. Car rental should be done in US and picked up at airport.
We took a month 4-5 yrs. ago and drove from Toulouse to Monaco. Had no reservations except for 1st stay in Toulouse.
Took a private tour to Eze and other places. This is worthwhile as the driver gets to relax and see some sights.
We are returning next month and plan to base ourselves in Nice, relax and tour sights we missed between Cannes and Menton.
If you are that close to Monaco - GO! You will always wonder about it if you don't do it now. Royal palace is interesting area as is Prince Albert's wonderful car museum. There is a charge to enter the famous Casino, maybe $10/person.

seafox, try doing a search on scatcat's 3-hope you'll find the village.

Have stayed at the Hotel Massenet http://www.hotelmassenet.com/ very clean and only a block from the beach.

Car rental should NOT be at the airport! That carries a premium price, and there are often long lines.

Try sixt.com, kemwel.com, and autoeurope.com, all of which have downtown offices right off the Promenade des Anglais by the Parc Prince Albert. Autowurope's cars nearly always come from europcar, as do the sister company's Kemwell rentals.

The main reason some people rent at the airport is to get cars with automatic transmissions.

I agree with Stu about Monaco--sterile and boring.

Thanks folks - I am pretty sure it is EZE