I'm looking for lodging suggestions for the riviera region beginning 29 September. I'm open to consider gites, cottages, B&Bs, or nice hotels, preferably close to a vibrant area, and if possible not too far from the coast.

I've been having a hard time finding information on lodging online...

French Riviera? Price range? Specific towns? Have you explored the Fodor's Destinations pages?

When you say "vibrant area" do you mean a town like Nice, or a city like Cannes? How far is not too far from the coast>

yes, preferably a city like cannes or nice - the idea of a country cottage intrigues me, but I'm not sure I want to be isolated from the city. I would prefer not to rent a car, so proximity to city center, transportation, etc., is preferable.

I would like to keep the price under $1000/wk

I'm new to Fodors, so I haven't seen the destination pages yet.

I like staying in Nice. Nice itself is intersting and day trips are easy from there.

1* very budget hotels in Nice :
Acanthe (have stayed 4 times)
Wilson (will stay for the first time in October)

I posted the following on another thread recently.

http://www.hotel-acanthe-nice.cote.a...page_en_1.html
I found it 5 years ago on Eurocheapo.com. I remember the hotel was described as "not exactly super clean, it may be (but it was NOT dirty), but you can hardly get the location and all for that price". All the 3 times, I stayed at their most expensive room (€50 or less) that was a corner room "Rotonde". It has a funny shape like ... a keyhole. A rectangular part and a round part. The double bed is in the round part that is surounded by 3 windows. it has a pic of the room from outside on the site above. The best things about the hotel were location (3minutes to the bus terminal and the Old Town, 5 Minutes to the beach, 7 minutes to the railway station) price, and the view (only if you take one of the rotonde rooms). The rest is very modest, amenities is minimal(ensuite WC and shower with towel and a tiny soap and nothing else). I was fine with that. Reception staff is fine and helpful.

I just checked with eurocheapo.com and Acanthe is not listed anymore! Perhaps not up to the standard of the site anymore? Last time I stayed there was in Jaunuary this year and I noticed no difference. I took 2 lady friends then (I warned them the hotel was going to be very basic). They had no problme either. Since Rotonde room was only with one big bed, I took it (I was alone then) and asked the hotel to give my friends the nicest room with separate beds. My friends got 3 bedded room at no additional cost, not nicer but a bit larger than other rooms.

I will be back in Nice again in October. Then I will go even cheaper staying at Hotel Wilson in the same area for €29 per night (!). Probably not much view and bathroom will be shared (they do have rooms with bathrroom for a higher prices) and no lift (Acanthe has one) but Tripadvisor.com rates it No.2 or 3 as B&B in Nice. I also spoke with the owner by the phone and he sounded nice so I'm pretty confident of my choice (let's see).

David_z:

I'm renting an apartment from rivierapebbles.com in Nice for 1 week the end of September and thought the price was reasonable.

Enjoy your trip.

jdc

thanks - some very nice looking apartments at RivieraPebbles.com

Assume you're asking about French Riviera?

The 'riviera' region extends to Italy.
http://www.europe-seaside.com/en/ita...alian-riviera/

You might consider staying in Villefranche-sur-Mer, a small town not far from Nice and on the train system. The Hotel Welcome gets strong recommendations here.

The time when you're going is very popular; so get a reservation as soon as possible.

You could also try venere.com for hotels in Nice itself or in Antibes.

I'll also be in Nice the first week of October to check out the French and Italian Riviera for future trips.

Anyone interested in a GTG for dinner or lunch and comparing notes ?

M

That's a shame - there has to be at least a half dozen of us Fodorites going to be in Nice at the same time -

and it would be nice as a group to meet up for a get together.... I'm sure one of the Fodorites living there or familiar with would tell us the best lunch place..

Hi Mayhya2:

Sadly, I'll be in Nice from September 25th-30th. I would have loved to have a GTG and compare notes. I hope some of the other Fodorites can join you.

Have a great time!

jdc

thanks JDC,

I'll arrive on the afternoon of the 29th and leaving early Monday the 6th.

Our paths may cross yet - IF I find a hotel or studio -

Mayha2, have you tried Rivierapebbles.com? I'm renting an apartment from them. I think they also have studio apartments.

Good luck and I hope our paths do cross!

jdc

I am planning a trip to Nice next year. I'll look forward to your trip reports!

I wish I could write a thorough trip report like the Fodorites here do - I often wonder if they keep a daily diary (not good at that) to remember all the details that they do.

JDC - I did look at the pebbles site, and they were really nice apts, but after Paris gets through with my pocketbook, I figure I'd better do a little better budgeting by the time I get to Nice.

I do think I've found a nice place - a studio apartment on a sort of private cul de sac, yet close to the sea and transport. Further away from Place Massina but on Rue Massina to the left of Rue Medecin.

I have found another Home Away site listing apartments:

www.abritel.fr

We made reservations at Hotel Rex near old Nice, very inexpensive compared to other places, small clean rooms. You might want to check it out www.hotel-rex.com

Hi Carlycat,

I think your hotel Rex will be right next door to my studio apartment on rue Massina. I understand that the restaurant right there (something " marie&quot is supposed to be fabulous - very good reviews.

Just to clarify, it's rue Masséna.

Carlycat,

I was just checking the prices at Rex - I think a single 280 Euro in low season,but 420 Euro in high season..

The studio apartments at 5 rue Massena are 430 Euro for 7 nights (I thought that quite a bargain) and appear to be really nice. So not much difference except mine has the kitchen. When will you be there ? I will be from 9/29 to 10/6.