Where to stay in Nice, France
 

DH and I are thinking of going to Nice in May for a quick getaway of 6 nights. Pricing airfares, non-stop JFK-NCE is about $1200 per person, round trip. Since this is DH's combined Christmas and birthday present from yours truly, I really do not want to spend that much on airfare alone, especially when we could fly to Paris for about $300 pp. I found, however, that if I book the airfare bundled with hotel on Expedia, I can get the same non-stop, round trip airfare on Delta, and 6 nights hotel, for about $900.00 per person, less than the airfare alone if booked through the airline. Go figure. Obviously, I want to go this route. After looking at loads of hotels on Expedia's site, I thought this one looked good but I want to know if the area is a good one to stay in. It is two blocks from the Promenade des Anglais and the Musée des Beaux Arts, and a 15-minute walk from Nice's old town. I was in NIce in 1970 and barely remember it (other than the beach being rocks and getting thrown out of the casino in Monte Carlo). Does this hotel look like it is in a good location? Other recommendations are welcome, but not Air BnB, as they are not listed on Expedia, and I do not want to spend $2400 just on airfare.

https://www.residhome.com/residence-...-nice-263.html

The location looks OK to me. We spent two weeks near the Hotel Negresco, back a block from it and the Promenade and it is a nice area. I would not want to be near Old Town nor right on the Promenade due to traffic noise.

Thank you HappyTrvlr. I thought it was a decent area but wanted to be sure.

I stayed at the AC by Marriott which is nearby. I would have preferred to be closer to the old town, maybe midway between there and the old town.

La Perouse was divine and just few blocks east along the Promenade from Negresco. . Stayed some years ago, but it is still operational and a boutique hotel cut into the cliff to Villefranche.

That's further west than I usually stay, but public transport is fine.

Good location for what? It is somewhat far from the center of the city in the residential area with businesses oriented for them. If you want to visit Eze village, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, etc, the main bus stops are on the other side of the city. I have visited Nice many times over last twenty years. I was in Nice just two months ago to catch the same Delta flight to JFK you are flying home. The city has become a major cruise stop with the type of visitors to go with them. The place you will be staying will be far away from these maddening crowd. There are frequent buses especially along the Prom des Anglais. The tram stations near your hotel on the new East-West airport tram is not stated to open when you will be there Le projet de la ligne Ouest-Est - Tramway de la Métropole de Nice It says June 2019 opening.

The location is fine; public transport is good in Nice.

PS In my experience, the only, " maddening crowds" in Nice happen in August (and perhaps Feb during the Carnival), and it is the French themselves that cause them, not cruise ship visitors!

That is a good area. We prefer the old town and usually rent an apartment there. We walk a lot so the extra 25 minutes to walk to the old town would not bother us. We find that we often walk to the main rail station, and that is about the same distance (maybe a 20 minute walk) from your proposed location vs. old town. And, I fully understand taking advantage of the deal that has been presented. Deals don't usually stay for long. I would go for it!

We liked the boutique Hotel le Grimaldi in Nice. It's a short walk to the promenade, with markets close by, and an easy walk to/from old town area. A very nice breakfast buffet is served, for a small additional fee.

Hotel Grimaldi by HappyCulture? | Nice Centre Promenade des Anglais

We have a place in Nice and will be there in May. It's a good season as it is not too crowded, but pay attention to the dates of the Grand Prix and the Cannes Film Festival, especially when day tripping. The larger cruise ships dock in Villefrance sur Mer. Nice has changed quite a bit since you've last been -- the main central plazas and parks have really opened up the city.

It's an good location, but not ideal. Generally it is better to stay east of Andrioli or Blvd Gambetta. It is a bit beyond where the main heart of the city is -- the main issue with this location may be the distance to the station. You may find yourself catching one of the buses that run along Gambetta and the Promenade. You'll find the number and quality of restaurants improve as you get closer to Gambetta -- but the upside of the location is that the work on the tram is done, the surrounding prices a bit lower, and you'll have some apartment-like features.

I did a quick search on Expedia. For a more traditional hotel, you might check out the Windsor, it is coming up only a bit more and is well regarded and well located. There are also a bunch others that are more central than your first choice, including the Mercure Grimaldi. I also see rental apartments coming up, probably recently merged via their affiliate rental site.. Generally, the best areas is between Gambetta, Blvd Victor Hugo, the Promenade and Jean Medecin (the Carre d'Or) and the few blocks around Place Massena, along with the Old Town. As noted, certain streets in the Old Town and the Promenade can get noisy, and make sure you get air con so you can close the windows at night.

Thank you for all the suggestions and advice. I will be looking into all of the suggested places.

We stayed very near there in an apart. that was on the Promenade. It is a bit far from the main areas but there is certainly frequent public transportation. Even tho I did wish our apartment was a bit further east, I would not hesitate to stay there again. There are several pleasant restaurants near by and a very nice boulangerie for morning pastries! And as another poster mentioned, cruise ships do not dock in Nice. And the apartment you are looking at is not at tourist ground zero anyways. You can easily get to the Promenade and it should not be too overrun at that point.

DH and I have no trouble walking and do not mind a 15-20 minute walk to the more touristy parts of town. We are both pretty fit and can walk miles, at a good clip, and have no trouble climbing steep hills and cobblestones (getting down is another story but I manage as long as I have something to rest my hand on, either a wall, railing or DH's arm). I think what attracts me to the residence is that there is a balcony. I love having a balcony to have wine and cheese on in the evenings. DH and I like a nice room as we actually spend time in it, having a happy hour every evening. The problem with Expedia is, there are too many choices! I frequently look at dozens of hotels, sometimes upwards of 200, before making my mind up! Location is important though.

Well, when I went to book, Expedia said the price increased, by $1300.00! It's obviously on hold for now. To say I'm pissed off is an understatement.

Ha! Oddly enough, I put the same parameters into Orbitz, which is owned by Expedia, and the price did not go up on Orbitz, yet. I booked, not wanting to take the chance that Orbitz would raise the rates within the next few hours. Staying at Residhome Appart Hotel Nice Promenade, the place I first asked about. Price for two people, including non-stop round trip air, with seat selection and checked bags, and 6 nights hotel: $1647.00. It was over $2900 when I tried to finalize on Expedia. I hope the hotel will be nice, it looks nice enough, and we get a balcony, and, it will be quiet. I'm excited!

If anyone has suggestions on what to see, please chime in!

P.S. we are just missing the Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Prix. Good news to me, though DH would have liked to have gone during the Grand Prix. I told him he could pay the difference in price for that time, but he decided he did not want to see it that badly.

Nice is mobbed during the Gran Prix, both hotels and restaurants. You made the right decision! Enjoy your visit to Nice.

Congratulations on booking! Some suggestions for Nice at the beginning of this:
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...france-784280/

Also, don't miss the walk round Cap Ferrat.