Where to stay - French Riviera
 

I'm looking for some advice on the French Riviera...would love to stay in one of the smaller towns (Cap Ferrat, Cap D'Antibes, Villefranche) rather than in Nice or Cannes proper. Can anyone offer advice on where to stay? We want access to bustle and nightlife, but don't need to be right in it - e.g., is it hard to get around from, say Cap Ferrat to Nice?<BR>Any info would be great. Thanks!

Claudia: We enjoyed our stay in Nice--we had lovely, lovely rooms at the boutique hotel Le Grimaldi--but we thought those who stayed in Villefranche or Antibes had the best deal. The rail line is so superb and the stations are so accessible in these two towns, that you can take advantage of the "big city"--Cannes for Antibes; Nice or Monte Carlo for Villefranche--with no hassle. Both Villefranche and Antibes were big enough that you could explore them with lots of options for dining and shopping, but they were small enough, too.<BR><BR>Just do a search on those towns on this site and you will see hotel recommendations galore.

Don't pass up on staying in Cannes; it's not so big that you can't find your way around very easily. Lots of choice in hotels, restaurants and shopping. I've stayed there twice since 1999 and loved it. Rented a car to travel up and down the coast from St.Tropez to Monaco. Two hotels to check out: Hotel de Paris, located behind the train station And Hotel Splendid, located across from the Film Festival buildings. From either you can walk to the train station totravel around if you prefer to do that instead of renting a car.

I agree with Amy. The Hotel Welcome in Villefranche, 5 minutes from Nice, is right on the water, in the old town and very very charming. The train is really like a commuter railroad and is fabulous. I'm sure it's equally easy and fast to get around by car.

Other than those places recommended, I'd suggest you consider the little town called Juan-les-Pins, especially if you want to go to a sandy beach--which is rare on the Riviera. There are several hotels in all price ranges there.