Hi, I'm planning a one-week trip to the Cote d'Azur. I'll be spending time on the beach but also renting a car to visit the nearby towns from St. Tropez to Monaco. Where would it be most convenient to base myself ? I was thinking of Nice at first, but I'm worried that it might be too busy and hectic since I'm be there the third week of August. I wonder if Cannes would be any different? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I suggest that you split your stay between 2 hotels, east and west. Although the coast is not that long, the driving, especially in the mountain villages, is slow. You might want to stay in St. Tropez, a lovely town with access to stunning mountain views part time, and Cannes or a smaller coastal town for access to the west. Monaco and Italy are short drives from Cannes, though it takes time (as compensation, the scenery is breath-taking). If the "beach" interests you, St. Tropez and environs have the sand (though nothing like the wide beaches in the US). Eastern beaches are rocky, or, they import their sand. I'd avoid Nice as a base simply because it has big city traffic

Bogey <BR>My family of four just returned from England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. We spent time in big cites and countrysides. Hands down Nice was voted the "worst" by all of us. I was shocked. It was dirty, there were just stacks of trash everywhere. The architecture was uninteresting. It was just not appealing at all. We were so dissapointed that we left Monaco which is beautiful to go to Nice. <BR> <BR>We stayed a nite in a village about 30K from Nice above Monaco called Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. It was pretty because it was high above the water. However, you can only get there by taxi so its not that convenient. We did not have time to explore other options like Villefrance-ser-Mer or St. Tropez. I would take some advice from the previous poster and others who have actually vistited some of the other Cote towns. I just wanted to let you know that IMO Nice is very unappealing as a base.

I was debating the same for my trip in September. First decide on Cannes (better beaches) then switched to Nice (more alive) and discovered that the best hotels are already booked. Finaly settled on Villefrenche-Sur-Mar, a good looking village right next to Nice on the ocean. Staying at Hotel Welcome. From what I heard/read do not bring a car to Nice. Check out Villefrenche and St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.

Well, I love Nice, as long as you don't stay right on the beach (looks like the strips of hotels on the Costa del Sol), BUT not if I were a beach lover--all pebbles/rocks. July and August are the peak of the high season on the Cote d'Azur, especially since all the French have their vacations in August. Personally, I'd try for Villefranche-sur-Mer over St. Tropez, although St. Trop definitely has the best beaches it's just a bit out of the way for the rest of the Cote. Villefranche is just a little more in the heart of things.

Definitely not Nice, the beaches are not nearly as nice, but staying in a smaller town/village you can always take a commuter train to get there... <BR>I have lots of suggestions for that area, I'll email you Bogey. <BR>Kelly

I spent much of last summer in Cannes and found it to be a good base for exploring the surrounding Cote. It's not so large that getting around by car is difficult and the waterfront is nice. It's expensive and beach access is limited by hotel primarily. Not especially long on charm per se, but a good central location with all the basics covered. And MUCH nicer than Nice IMO.

Help!! In driving from Nice airport directly to the Italian border, does the freeway/motorway bypass Nice and all the small town traffic referred to in these posts?

As I recall the access road is just west of the airport and you really don't have to deal with much city traffic at all.

Terry, <BR> <BR>As I recall the autoroute A8 (equivalent to the autobahn or interstate highway) veers off from the coast just west of the airport and goes right to the Italian border, bypassing all the cities and towns along the coast. So look for signs for A8 when leaving the airport.

Nice is a bustling resort city with lots to do, and wonderful hotels, particularly on the beachfront. But the traffic congestion is horrible if you are driving your own car, and particularly horrible if you have a rental car because parking spots are very limited. Most of the big hotels have limited to non-existent parking, which means you must rely on area parking garages and they cost the earth -- about $25 a day in N.American currency, and more if you take your car in and out a few times a day. If you are renting a car, then choose a hotel in the area near the airport where the ambiance is still pleasant, the traffic is considerably reduced and there is local free parking available. Re getting to Italy from Nice airport, almost as soon as you leave the airport you will find yourself directed to the toll highway that goes over the top of Nice, bypassing the city and heading straight into Monaco and Italy. It is not very scenic but certainly faster if that is your objective. Otherwise take the trip through Nice and enjoy the ambiance on the Promenade. <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>