Where to stay, what to do in Cote d Azure?
Mar 16th, 2006, 10:57 PM
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Where to stay, what to do in Cote d Azure?
I'm new here so please forgive me if I do something wrong.
Do you have any suggestions for places to stay and things to do around Nice, Cannes, or Grasse?
We will be there the first part of May. We will have a car. And a must-stop for my wife is the perfume factories in Grasse.
Thanks.
DNV
Do you have any suggestions for places to stay and things to do around Nice, Cannes, or Grasse?
We will be there the first part of May. We will have a car. And a must-stop for my wife is the perfume factories in Grasse.
Thanks.
DNV
Mar 17th, 2006, 01:40 AM
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DNV - welcome to the forum.
There has been quite a lot of information flowing recently on this very subject. Type in a word such as "Nice", or "Cannes", or "French Riviera" at the top of this sight where it says "search this forum", and enter "search", and you should find enough information to last you for hours.
Enjoy.
There has been quite a lot of information flowing recently on this very subject. Type in a word such as "Nice", or "Cannes", or "French Riviera" at the top of this sight where it says "search this forum", and enter "search", and you should find enough information to last you for hours.
Enjoy.
Mar 17th, 2006, 03:51 AM
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DNV-- Welcome to the forum! I hope you have tons of fun planning your trip(s)!
Agree w/previous poster, Nice should be your home base. There is a great promenade between the beach coast and the street, which is great for long walks and people-watching. As far as places to stay, what is your budget range? Ther are tons in every range.
Cannes is OK; the beaches are sandy and it is great for people watching. The Festival doesn't start until the 17th May, so you should be OK.
Grasse was a huge dissapointment for me; much like your wife, I couldn't wait to visit the perfume factories. To be honest, the town is nothing to brag about and the factories were not much, including the prices.
I wouldn't miss driving the coast; take a day and head out towards St. Tropez. Great town. Loved it. Another day, head out towards Menton. Loved it.
Great restaurants in Villefranche Sur Mer. Definitely worth the drive from Nice for dinner.
Eze is a neat, perched village up in the mountains. Tons of tourists, but it is worth the stop. Another suggestion is to head out the hills (Upper Corniche drive) and visit the Roman ruins in La Turbie. Great, great views on your way there.
Definitely a stop at Antibes and Juan Les Pins.
By the way, if you have been monitoring the weather, the warming trend is getting there. A friend that lives in the area mentioned how cold of a winter they were having, so I am hoping it gets better.
If I sound excited for your trip there is a reason: We will also be around that exact area the first week of May. We have traveled that area before and I fell head over heels. Can't wait!
Have a great time!
Agree w/previous poster, Nice should be your home base. There is a great promenade between the beach coast and the street, which is great for long walks and people-watching. As far as places to stay, what is your budget range? Ther are tons in every range.
Cannes is OK; the beaches are sandy and it is great for people watching. The Festival doesn't start until the 17th May, so you should be OK.
Grasse was a huge dissapointment for me; much like your wife, I couldn't wait to visit the perfume factories. To be honest, the town is nothing to brag about and the factories were not much, including the prices.
I wouldn't miss driving the coast; take a day and head out towards St. Tropez. Great town. Loved it. Another day, head out towards Menton. Loved it.
Great restaurants in Villefranche Sur Mer. Definitely worth the drive from Nice for dinner.
Eze is a neat, perched village up in the mountains. Tons of tourists, but it is worth the stop. Another suggestion is to head out the hills (Upper Corniche drive) and visit the Roman ruins in La Turbie. Great, great views on your way there.
Definitely a stop at Antibes and Juan Les Pins.
By the way, if you have been monitoring the weather, the warming trend is getting there. A friend that lives in the area mentioned how cold of a winter they were having, so I am hoping it gets better.
If I sound excited for your trip there is a reason: We will also be around that exact area the first week of May. We have traveled that area before and I fell head over heels. Can't wait!
Have a great time!
Mar 17th, 2006, 11:54 AM
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Before you go much further, pick up a copy of the Michelin Green Guide to the Côte d'Azur. In it you will find recommended itineraries, regional history, suggestions of places to visit (with 0, 1, 2, or 3 stars), and recommendations for restaurants and lodgings. It's an invaluable tool.
I agree about Grasse, as we've visited it on a number of occasions when staying with friends who live nearby. They caution against visiting the town at night, but during the day a visit to the Musée Provençal is a good way to become acquainted with history of the region and to see some interesting artifacts and folk art. In May you might be lucky and catch the rose garden in bloom; it's on top of the underground parking lot.
I agree about Grasse, as we've visited it on a number of occasions when staying with friends who live nearby. They caution against visiting the town at night, but during the day a visit to the Musée Provençal is a good way to become acquainted with history of the region and to see some interesting artifacts and folk art. In May you might be lucky and catch the rose garden in bloom; it's on top of the underground parking lot.
Mar 17th, 2006, 12:19 PM
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I would stay at Cannes or Nice since they are convenient for day trips . I prefer Cannes for its wonderful bistros overlooking the water and convenience to the small hill towns especially Mougins with its great dining. And Grasse is a wonderful town that features old buildings and wonderful small streets.But not a place for the core of your stay.
Apr 3rd, 2006, 03:33 PM
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Thanks for the hints, everyone. Sounds like Nice would be the best place. We would like to be within walking distance (a mile or so) of the beach, and under $175/night.
Uhoh. Our trip is delayed a bit to fit with a graduation schedule so we will be in the Nice area on June 1 and 2. Will that be a problem?
Weadles mentioned a "festival" starting May 17th. What is that?
DNV
Uhoh. Our trip is delayed a bit to fit with a graduation schedule so we will be in the Nice area on June 1 and 2. Will that be a problem?
Weadles mentioned a "festival" starting May 17th. What is that?
DNV
Apr 3rd, 2006, 03:58 PM
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Since your wife is interested in perfume she will want to visit the Fragonard showroom, just across from the underground parking lot. She could even have a perfume blended just for herself. Good to know: down behind the showroom, next to the large parking lot (tour buses!), is a restroom.
Just across the street from the underground lot with its crown of roses is the perfume museum, which is well worth a visit. You can see the old copper vats and learn how the perfumes were made and then visit the upstairs gallery with perfume bottles from the time of the Egyptians; those by the 30's Paris designers are gorgeous. There's also a rooftop "scent" garden.
Just across the street from the underground lot with its crown of roses is the perfume museum, which is well worth a visit. You can see the old copper vats and learn how the perfumes were made and then visit the upstairs gallery with perfume bottles from the time of the Egyptians; those by the 30's Paris designers are gorgeous. There's also a rooftop "scent" garden.
Apr 3rd, 2006, 04:34 PM
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Don't know if you are looking for a specific hotel name or not, but here is what I wrote about Hotel Welcome in Villefranche. It works with your budget, but is not in Nice as many are suggesting.
Recently, I stayed at Hotel Welcome in Villefranche. We *loved* it! No fancy restaurant, no pool, but good value for your money and most importantly, had a room with a balcony and view. Villefranche is also very peaceful - I would def. stay there again.
Good luck!
Recently, I stayed at Hotel Welcome in Villefranche. We *loved* it! No fancy restaurant, no pool, but good value for your money and most importantly, had a room with a balcony and view. Villefranche is also very peaceful - I would def. stay there again.
Good luck!
Apr 16th, 2006, 07:20 PM
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My suggestion for a hotel in Nice is Le Grimaldi. Lovely Provence charm in the decor -- your wife would love it. Just take a look at the pictures on their website. I would suggest you book a "superior" room - it will run you about 190 euros. If you really are watching the budget a classic room will be about 150 euros. The hotel is a short 3 blocks from the Promenade des Anglais. The staff was very helpful -- on short notice they arranged for a driver to take my friends and I to Italy for dinner.
http://www.le-grimaldi.com/
http://www.le-grimaldi.com/
Apr 16th, 2006, 07:52 PM
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DNV - Go for Nice, a lot more to do, shops, beach, restaurants, and Socca bread( you will find this treat in some of the little restaurants in the Old Quarter of Nice)
Also not far from Nice, are the little hilltop villages of Eze and St.Paul D'Vence.
Also not far from Nice, are the little hilltop villages of Eze and St.Paul D'Vence.
Apr 16th, 2006, 09:50 PM
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Hate to say it but if you're going in June, you'd better get on the stick. I've been killing myself trying to get rooms before someone snatches them up. You can just about forget getting anything really nice in Nice or San Tropez now. All the places I have tried on the beach are full.
It's enough to make you head to the Luberon. Thing is, they're already full too. Unbelievable.
It's enough to make you head to the Luberon. Thing is, they're already full too. Unbelievable.
Apr 18th, 2006, 03:25 PM
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I had great fun at the Molinard factory in Grasse where we actually made our own perfume after a lesson. I know the Galimard factory can arrange this experience for smaller groups. I think the price is reasonable and includes a bottle of your creation. You can make reservations in advance via their web site. http://www.galimard.com/1studio0.html
The antique market in Nice on Monday is killer if you're into that kind of thing. Menton and Antibes have great beaches.
The antique market in Nice on Monday is killer if you're into that kind of thing. Menton and Antibes have great beaches.
