Would you recommend renting an apartment in Nice for 4 nights in Oct. and, if so, what is the best rental group to work with i.e., VRBO or is a hotel the best option? Also, what areas would be best for easy walk to beach, shops, market, etc.

There is no beach in Nice. Just rocks and pebbles. Nice is a large city. I would not rent there.

Check out the communities south west of nice. I prefer staying at Juan-les-Pins. Nice sandy beach, town with pleasant vibes, smaller casino. Every time I 'stroll' in JLP, I think of the line from a Van Morrison song "the girls go by, dressed up for each other".

You should be able to find suitable properties, however, for 4 nights, you might find a hotel room with kitchenette.

BTW: JLP is 10 minutes from Nice by local train.

I love Nice. It's a beautiful city, a mixture of French and Italian, with curvy Belle Époque architecture and a lazy sensual vibe. Interesting food too. And, from Nice, it's easy to use public transportation to travel around the Cote d'Azur area, where there are many interesting destinations.

Here's a well-recommended apartment rental agency: www.nicepebbles.com. Whether you would prefer a hotel depends on you. If you like more space and privacy, apartments are great. If you want to ask questions and get help in getting around, maybe you'd like a hotel better.

My parents rented with Nice Pebbles, their apartment in the Old Town was very nice and central. The Old Town (Vielle Ville) is probably the obvious choice for tourists, might get a bit noisy, but it's close to everything, with the exception of a couple of the museums in Cimiez and the train station (area around the train station is not very nice though.) The beach is made up of stones, but it's still a beach.

We are staying here in September:
http://www.vrbo.com/174633

I haven't been to Noce in many years, but I loved it there. I would stay in the apt DebitNM links in a heartbeat!

Thanks to everyone for your input.

DebitNM thank you so much for the recommendation but unfortunately they do not availability on two of the days we need. It looks like a really nice place. Wish we could stay there. Where there any other places you'd have considered?

Mimar, I'll try the site you recommended. I wasn't aware of it.

Thank you.

We spent a week in this apartment from Nice Pebbles......fantastic!

http://www.nicepebbles.com/nice-fran...t/rentals/144/

Thank you Jennywren58, I checked the apartment looked like the type of place we'd like but unfortunately, like all others of this quality they have no availability for the days we need.

Also look at www.go-nice.com. Carre d'Or area of town is best.

I will see if I still my research on apartments. If so, I will post.

I am hoping to stay in either Nice or Ville Franche next year early June. I have looked at a few of the Pebbles apartments and they certainly look terrific. I don't want to be in a noisy area but want to be central - local shops and restaurants and close to walking to the Old Nice area. Where would the experts suggest I look? Is rue Pastorelli ideal? Or do people recommend Ville France over Nice proper?

thanks Schnauzer

For me, although beautiful and charming, Ville Franch would be too small..and it is cruise ship port which I would avoid. Just returned from two weeks in Nice and enjoyed a day trip to VF.

<i>Is rue Pastorelli ideal?</i>

That little zone on the right-hand side of Avenue Jean-Médecin running back from rue Jean Jaurès towards Pastorelli is the area where I always thought I'd like to live when I lived in Nice. There are lots of pretty Belle Epoque buildings, it's still central for everything but out of the bar zone of the Vielle Ville. (I actually lived in Cimiez, which is a nice neighbourhood but quite far from the centre.)

Sorry, I don't have the research. Since you are running into the same issues for each apartment, I would go to VRBO or Homeaway and be sure to enter the dates you are needing before searching. While that isn't always 100% successful, it will help narrow down the choices.

We are also staying in an apt. in Nice--VRBO.....Nice is a convenient city to visit LOTS
of places as day trips....have never stayed in Nice...but have visited there 2 other times on trips...staying in hotels in Antibes & Villefranche. After our stay, I will post a "review" of the
apartment & experience !!

thanks to gwan for giving me such a precise answer - fabulous!
Happytrvlr, I am not into cruise ship ports, didn't realise that it was one, so thanks for clearing that up. It does look very pretty in the photos!!

Nottingham - we need that report asap!!! Have a great time.

I am sure there is lots on Fodors re Nice but not a lot comes up when you do a search - I am probably searching incorrectly of course but.....
Schnauzer

Will do.....but it won't be until mid-Sept........

As Nottingham posted a review of the apartment rental in Nice?

Oh my goodness...I have forgotten ! We did stay in Nice--Sept.'13 and had a good experience with the rental-owner-location. We have never rented VRBO...and kept our fingers crossed.
Site photos were accurate--also, all info. Owner was accessible by phone/e-mail for questions
prior. Reviews were most helpful and all seemed positive. We LOVED the location because it
was a "block" to the Promenade...and we had a VIEW from the balconies of the SEA. Located near
Villa Messena...and not far from Negresco. We walked everywhere....& took local buses to
Villefrance and St. Paul de Vence. If anyone is still "out there" & wants more info...I am here!