We are planning a trip to Nice in early October. Is that time of year okay, or we will find many businesses closed for the season? Also, looking for recommendations on where to stay. Location? Hotel? Thinking about Le Meridien in Nice as we have stayed at their properties before. Have heard great things about Le Grimaldi too. Appreciate any advice. Thanks!!

I spent a week based in Nice in mid-October five years ago. Not only was the weather wonderful, but there were some nice fall colors in the mountains behind Nice. This year, with the super-hot weather Europe's been having, it's hard to say if the weather in October will be different than usual as well.

I don't recall seeing any businesses that looked closed for the seaason but, of course, there may be some.

Nice is so much more than a tourist city; everything will be open. The Meridien in Nice has one of the best locations; closer to the centre of town and the old city than the Negresco, but I have never stayed there. Don't know the Grimaldi. I have been in October, and the weather was wonderful most of the time, but we also had terrible rain storms, flooding; so there is no way to tell what it will be like!

For what it's worth, I've read really mixed reviews of Le Meridien.

But the Grimaldi is universally liked.

Haven't stayed at either, but I'm doing research too.

Good luck and maybe we'll see you in October!

And I must say, though I haven't stayed there but have passed it dozens of times, the Meridien does look a bit run-down.

I'd pass on the Meridien. My mom stayed there last year, and found the rooms in need of renovation.

I always recommend The Westminster, which IMO, for the location and the money, is one of the best deals in town. Just make sure you ask for and get a seaview room, (all of which come with a small balcony, chairs, facing the Promenade des Anglais and the sea) because the back rooms are smaller and not nearly as nice.

The Westminster is about two blocks down ( toward Vielle Nice) from the Negresco, and has an arrangement with LE Sporting Plage, a beach club just across the street for it's guests.

Around the corner from the hotel, on rue Meyerbeer, is LE BARACUDA, one of our favorite pizza places. And half a block down from that, is an excellent fresh fruit, cheese, and vegetable shop ( I can't remember the name!) run by a young Vietnamese man and his family.

Good luck, and have a great time!

Loved The Grimaldi. Stayed in early August. Go for a superior room - bathrooms are fantastic!!

tamjam, October should be great. In addition to Le Grimaldi, you should check the West End & La Perouse. Both have gotten good mentions here.

AllyPally-I remember you asking about bathrooms Where is your trip report? ><

Yesterday's (8/31) NYTimes Travel section had an article on Nice. They mention that on October 12th there's a parade in celebration of Ste. Reparate. People are dressed in period costumes. Sounds like fun if you're still there.

Thanks for all the insight, it really helps. We still haven't selected a hotel for Nice, but have it narrowed down to about 3. Is anyone familiar with the Boscolo Hotel. It came as a recommendation, but would like to hear more.
Also, we are planning to drive to see Cannes and St. Trop. Do you think 2 nights/3 days spent in Cannes would be enough to cover the areas in between? Then planning the remaining 4 nights in Nice.

I really would not bother to stay in Cannes & Nice as they're relatively close & you can explore thta whole area from either. You'd be better of splitting your time between St Tropez and Nice or Cannes as they ARE far apart.

I agree with the previous post; Nice/Cannes is only a 20 minute drive. St Tropez is a bit further; it makes more sense if you stay in another place, to find a hotel in St Tropez. It really is a nice place. By the way, I have just heard that there is a big sailing regatta in St Tropez the first weekend in October, and it will be busy there (but a lot of fun too!).

Take a look at La Perouse. Was there 1st week Oct last year. It is a wonderful location, easy walk to Old Nice. As has been said, you may get some rain & no need to stay in Cannes.

Oooh McLaurie, you got me there! I have never done a trip report before!!! On my trip to Nice I have realised that I am becoming a very boring traveller indeed! I planned to do so many things but it was just too darned hot!

As for the bathroom in Le Grimaldi, it was WONDERFUL. Being such a waterbaby, these things are important. I was delighted that the bathroom was very big indeed, with a french window which opened onto the inner courtyard. There was a separate shower and a double basin. But the toiletries!!! My oh my. Great stuff. Very appropriately based on olive oil and smelled delightful. I'm ashamed to admit that I stuffed my suitcase with the little tubes so that the maid would give me more!!

As for Nice itself, I am going back, just not in the heat of the summer. I can imagine it would be lovely in Mid October to explore all the museums. I found the Med to be a little dirty, lots of garbage floating around. However, Old Nice was absolutely gorgeous. I loved the feel of Italy and the ice cream at Fennochio - YUMMY!!!

All in all, I'm glad I didn't stay at La Perouse. Although the location would have been better for the old town, it was just way overpriced (it does have a pool whereas Grimaldi does not)

AllyPally we are considering staying at the Grimaldi in mid October. From your message you seemed to have really enjoyed it. Can you tell me which room you were in and how you booked the hotel to get the best rate. Did you ask for a specific room? Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

AllyPally, NO need to be embarrassed about what you didn't do. I've been to the south of France 4 times & there's still plenty I haven't seen. I'd love to hear what you did do! Tell us more about the hotel, where you ate & why you liked the neighborhood. How was the pool? Did you rent a car? Was the a/c good? Did you do any shopping?

Carley, the Grimaldi was really lovely. I stayed in Room 137 (I think), which overlooked the floodlit church outside. It was a superior room. Bed was super-comfy, had a little sitting area, cable TV, good sized walk-in closet, great A/C and toilet in its own cabin. You know how I feel about the bathroom!! I didn't eat at the hotel as I enjoy café meals but I found the staff to be very professional and cheerful. The hotel is Belle Epoque so make sure you have a look at the facade. It was about an 8 minute stroll the Promendade and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from in the area, although I enjoyed the Cours Saleya more.

McLaurie, I completely failed as tourist in Nice. Because I live in London and spend my entire life dreaming of the sea, I opted to hire those chairs from one of thethe private beaches. Besides the fact that it was SO HOT (beginning of the heat wave), I just loved swimming as far out as I possibly could and then taking in the whole of the bay. I really regret not climbing up the castle at the far end to get some pics but will definitely do it next time. I tried reading a paperback that I had bought on Nice called 'High Season in Nice' and ended up skipping to the section on WWII. The book really brings to life the image of the Nazis rolling along the Promenade. So I spent some time contemplating that while I was treading water!!

I did do a tiny bit of shopping in Galeries Lafayette, mainly to pick up french toiletries. I'm a bit of girl like that. I really wanted one of those provencal printed bags but left it too late. Did buy some soap though, from a lady who ran a shop in Old Nice.

I ate at La Merenda, specifically shrimps. Yummy! Also bought some amazing fruit from the market. HUGE peaches that we just don't get in England. I booked at table at Colombe D'Or for lunch but cancelled as I was having such a ball in Nice. Again, that's one for the repeat visit!! I didn't rent a car so wasn't able to visit any of the outlying areas. What I do know is that I will go back in the fall, when it's not so hot. It was just impossible to contemplate walking long distances in the heat. But if you walked north from Le Grimaldi, you see the grand apartment buildings from the Belle Epoque era. I took so many pics!

AllyPally how did you book the Grimaldi to get the best rate? Most websites I am pulling up only give the rate for the standard room with twin beds. Thanks for your help.

Sorry Carley - you did ask me that originally!! Doh!

I actually booked it straight through the hotel website. I don't think I got much luck through other hotel websites. Grimaldi are very good about replying straight away!! I paid 165 Euros for my room and I thought it was a very good deal for the quality of the room.