Extra day on business trip to Cannes/Nice
Sep 4, 2010, 12:47 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: United 1K, AA Plat Exec, DL Plat, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Elite, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,872
Extra day on business trip to Cannes/Nice
I have an conference coming up in the end of Sept in Cannes. The conf ends about 1PM on Wed, however I will not be flying out until Friday Morning. I will have a car, but I have no idea what to do...the obvious choice to me was to go to Monte Carlo for a night, but there appears to be a Yacht show, and every hotel is $600US+ per night...I figure I will get a chance to see Cannes at night and during some off time of the show, so I was wondering what else was within a reasonable drive to NCE, keeping in mind I have a 7:25AM flight out of NCE on Friday morning...thoughts?
Sep 5, 2010, 12:00 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
I have asked the moderator to move your post to the France forum; you will get better response;
Please do a search; in the last couple of months there were several threads about what to do around Nice.
My suggestion would be to move to Nice, get a hotel there; Nice has nice restaurants, a few museums, shops and a great promenade.
From there you could drive to Monte Carlo for a quick tour
I would recommend a stop in the hill town of Eze.
Please do a search; in the last couple of months there were several threads about what to do around Nice.
My suggestion would be to move to Nice, get a hotel there; Nice has nice restaurants, a few museums, shops and a great promenade.
From there you could drive to Monte Carlo for a quick tour
I would recommend a stop in the hill town of Eze.
Sep 5, 2010, 8:37 am
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: Delta Skymiles, Flying Blue
Posts: 717
There are endless choices for what to do on the Riviera, depending on what your tastes may be. Museums? History? Scenery? The Riviera has it all.
Between Cannes and Nice, you have the wonderful Picasso Museum in Antibes. Also, in Vallauris, Picasso spent some of his last years designing pottery! His molds are still being produced in the Madura factory, which is open to the public. Don't miss Picasso's sculpture in the main square, "Man with a Goat".
Some very interesting glass is produced in Biot, While you're there visit the Fernand Léger Museum, for a modern taste.
Renoir finally sold one of his paintings, and with the money he bought a mansion in Cagnes-sur-Mer. A wonderful place to visit, and you can see his great talent for sculpture, something he is curiously less renowned for than his paintings.
If you can, just drive by the modernistic (for the 1960s) apartment complex Marina Baie des Anges in Villeneuve Loubet. A very unique structure, was on the downswing for a while but is headed back to its glorious days when it was built back in the late 60s. A piece of architecture that is unforgettable.
The hill towns of Vence and Tourettes-sur-Loup are wonderful to just wander around in. And, unlike St Paul, these are real towns with a minimum of shoppes devoted to tourists.
Restaurants? Endless choices. Stay away from the tourist lists in Nice, particularly La Merenda and Zucca Magica, if you can tell me location and budget I can give you some recs for where to eat.
Then, there's a plethora of things to do east of Nice, but that's a haul from Cannes. The stuff above is between Cannes and Nice. Frankly, I don't like Monaco myself, I prefer France, and there's just so much to do on the Riviera!
Between Cannes and Nice, you have the wonderful Picasso Museum in Antibes. Also, in Vallauris, Picasso spent some of his last years designing pottery! His molds are still being produced in the Madura factory, which is open to the public. Don't miss Picasso's sculpture in the main square, "Man with a Goat".
Some very interesting glass is produced in Biot, While you're there visit the Fernand Léger Museum, for a modern taste.
Renoir finally sold one of his paintings, and with the money he bought a mansion in Cagnes-sur-Mer. A wonderful place to visit, and you can see his great talent for sculpture, something he is curiously less renowned for than his paintings.
If you can, just drive by the modernistic (for the 1960s) apartment complex Marina Baie des Anges in Villeneuve Loubet. A very unique structure, was on the downswing for a while but is headed back to its glorious days when it was built back in the late 60s. A piece of architecture that is unforgettable.
The hill towns of Vence and Tourettes-sur-Loup are wonderful to just wander around in. And, unlike St Paul, these are real towns with a minimum of shoppes devoted to tourists.
Restaurants? Endless choices. Stay away from the tourist lists in Nice, particularly La Merenda and Zucca Magica, if you can tell me location and budget I can give you some recs for where to eat.
Then, there's a plethora of things to do east of Nice, but that's a haul from Cannes. The stuff above is between Cannes and Nice. Frankly, I don't like Monaco myself, I prefer France, and there's just so much to do on the Riviera!
Last edited by menton1; Sep 5, 2010 at 1:25 pm Reason: typos
Sep 5, 2010, 12:01 pm
#5
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: SJC/SFO
Programs: UA lifetime gold; Hilton Gold; Marriott/SPG Plat; Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,954
Sep 8, 2010, 4:49 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: PARIS (France)
Programs: AF/KLM Club 2000 | InterContinental Diamond RA |AMEX Plat | Visa Infinite |Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,963
It is not necessary to recall the incredible beauty of the region. Cannes may be the perfect base for exploring the area.
Have a stop at Auribeau sur Siagne and Mougins.
Visit Maeght Art Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Go to Nice and buy delicious food at the marché de Provence
Have lunch at La Véranda, restaurant of Grand Hôtel Saint jean Cap Ferrat and then visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Walk in the streets of Eze
Have a stop at Auribeau sur Siagne and Mougins.
Visit Maeght Art Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Go to Nice and buy delicious food at the marché de Provence
Have lunch at La Véranda, restaurant of Grand Hôtel Saint jean Cap Ferrat and then visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Walk in the streets of Eze
Sep 9, 2010, 12:59 am
#7
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
joelfreak
As you will have time to see Cannes whilst you're there, (and as your remaining free time is limited) my suggestion is that when your conference ends you move to Nice for your last two nights and keep it uncomplicated.
You will certainly not need your hire car whilst in Nice - so if you picked it up at Nice Airport I'd drive back to the Airport on Wednesday and dump the car and get the bus into Nice from there. This plan also leaves you a very short bus or taxi ride to the airport for your Friday morning flight. Your car is a liability in Nice and totally unneccessary.
There's a lot for you to do in Nice - great food a museum or two, but mostly you'll find the difference between Cannes and Nice an interesting contrast.
Cannes is slick and very swish and tourist orientated wheres as Nice is a working city where it shrugs with respect to tourism which is simply a part of what it does. Nice is an eye-opener for US visitors - it has an extraordinary transportation system - I think the current flat fee is a euro to get you almost anywhere surrounding. I think the bus/coach to Monaco is included in the flat fare. To be frank .... unless you have a burning need to go to Monaco - you will find it a nigthmare during the boat show and I'd avoid it.
The other thing about basing yourself in Nice is that you'll be able to take in the old town during the evenings for your meals and drinks. It's very atmospheric. If you enjoy walking an mooching around there's so much to do and whereas Cannes it's a bit "surface" with Nice the character is deep and constantly draws you back. The bus station - which gets you anywhere is also in the old town.
For Thursday I suggest you consider taking the bus to Bealiue-Sur-Mer or Villefranche - it's a short scenic bus ride - and wander around the walk to St Jean Cap Ferrat - this is one of the nicest walks in the world ..... past David Nivens old house and I'd plan to take lunch at the Le Sloop in SJCF. It overlooks the water and the set tasting lunch is great value and the owner (who is the chef) is a great Armagnac enthusiast - and his wife is very welcoming even if your French is on the low side. You must have a bottle of Ott Rose with your lunch whilst in Provence ....... and lunch of course means no car ....!
This area is also where they filmed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels if you saw it .... and many of the films purporting to be filmed in Monaco are in fact filmed in Beaulieu due to filming restrictions in Monaco. The old casino in Bealieu looks remarkably like the Monte Carlo casino!
Google street view can give you a great idea of the area.
As you will have time to see Cannes whilst you're there, (and as your remaining free time is limited) my suggestion is that when your conference ends you move to Nice for your last two nights and keep it uncomplicated.
You will certainly not need your hire car whilst in Nice - so if you picked it up at Nice Airport I'd drive back to the Airport on Wednesday and dump the car and get the bus into Nice from there. This plan also leaves you a very short bus or taxi ride to the airport for your Friday morning flight. Your car is a liability in Nice and totally unneccessary.
There's a lot for you to do in Nice - great food a museum or two, but mostly you'll find the difference between Cannes and Nice an interesting contrast.
Cannes is slick and very swish and tourist orientated wheres as Nice is a working city where it shrugs with respect to tourism which is simply a part of what it does. Nice is an eye-opener for US visitors - it has an extraordinary transportation system - I think the current flat fee is a euro to get you almost anywhere surrounding. I think the bus/coach to Monaco is included in the flat fare. To be frank .... unless you have a burning need to go to Monaco - you will find it a nigthmare during the boat show and I'd avoid it.
The other thing about basing yourself in Nice is that you'll be able to take in the old town during the evenings for your meals and drinks. It's very atmospheric. If you enjoy walking an mooching around there's so much to do and whereas Cannes it's a bit "surface" with Nice the character is deep and constantly draws you back. The bus station - which gets you anywhere is also in the old town.
For Thursday I suggest you consider taking the bus to Bealiue-Sur-Mer or Villefranche - it's a short scenic bus ride - and wander around the walk to St Jean Cap Ferrat - this is one of the nicest walks in the world ..... past David Nivens old house and I'd plan to take lunch at the Le Sloop in SJCF. It overlooks the water and the set tasting lunch is great value and the owner (who is the chef) is a great Armagnac enthusiast - and his wife is very welcoming even if your French is on the low side. You must have a bottle of Ott Rose with your lunch whilst in Provence ....... and lunch of course means no car ....!
This area is also where they filmed Dirty Rotten Scoundrels if you saw it .... and many of the films purporting to be filmed in Monaco are in fact filmed in Beaulieu due to filming restrictions in Monaco. The old casino in Bealieu looks remarkably like the Monte Carlo casino!
Google street view can give you a great idea of the area.
Last edited by uk1; Sep 9, 2010 at 1:14 am
Sep 15, 2010, 6:14 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: MSP
Programs: DL Gold, DL MM 8/22/16!
Posts: 2,563
You might consider Collioure, almost on the Spanish border. Incredibly scenic area. The hotel Les Templiers used to take Impressionist artist's paintings in exchange for food/lodgind/drink. Now it is lined floor to ceiling with amazing art work. And you can take an "art walk" around the are, standing in the exact spot Matisse stood, looking at a print of his work, seeing what he viewed as he painted. Goose-bumps.
+1 on Menton too. Lots of English speakers there, as it has one of those odd micro-climates of particularly nice weather. A Lemon Festival is held in February - totally amazing to this ice-bound Minnesotan.
Romelle
+1 on Menton too. Lots of English speakers there, as it has one of those odd micro-climates of particularly nice weather. A Lemon Festival is held in February - totally amazing to this ice-bound Minnesotan.
Romelle
Sep 15, 2010, 3:58 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
Or go all the way into Italy, Ventimiglia and even San Remo are within easy reach.
http://www.sanremoguide.it/en/
Another option is Grasse, "perfume capital of the world":
http://www.beyond.fr/villages/grasse...ce-france.html
http://www.sanremoguide.it/en/
Another option is Grasse, "perfume capital of the world":
http://www.beyond.fr/villages/grasse...ce-france.html
Sep 15, 2010, 7:16 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
Or go all the way into Italy, Ventimiglia and even San Remo are within easy reach.
http://www.sanremoguide.it/en/
http://www.sanremoguide.it/en/
Sep 15, 2010, 8:24 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: FLL -> Where The Boyars Are
Programs: AA EXP 1.7 M, Hilton Gold, Hertz 5*, AARP Sophomore, 14-time Croix de Candlestick
Posts: 18,669
) mentioned above during my non-business hours.I mentioned the Italian option just in case the OP wanted something "different"
Incidentally, Vence has a beautiful dominican chapel designed by Matisse (Chapelle du Rosaire) that it would be a pity to miss if you were in Vence.
Sep 16, 2010, 2:25 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Long Island, NY
Programs: United 1K, AA Plat Exec, DL Plat, Marriott Titanium Lifetime Elite, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,872
What do people think of Genova? We like cities that are a bit more modern...we expect to drive through and tour San Remo, but hotels don't look that great there...Any thoughts on Genova?
Sep 17, 2010, 8:52 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: BRU (formerly INMN SQ Cambridge)
Programs: Starwood Gold
Posts: 335
It is not necessary to recall the incredible beauty of the region. Cannes may be the perfect base for exploring the area.
Have a stop at Auribeau sur Siagne and Mougins.
Visit Maeght Art Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Go to Nice and buy delicious food at the marché de Provence
Have lunch at La Véranda, restaurant of Grand Hôtel Saint jean Cap Ferrat and then visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Walk in the streets of Eze
Have a stop at Auribeau sur Siagne and Mougins.
Visit Maeght Art Foundation in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Go to Nice and buy delicious food at the marché de Provence
Have lunch at La Véranda, restaurant of Grand Hôtel Saint jean Cap Ferrat and then visit Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
Walk in the streets of Eze
Jul 29, 2011, 5:07 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,678
sorry to dig up a year old thread....
i will be in nice for business in october & will definitely have atleast a day off once i am done with work....my wife will be with me & we were thinking of going to cannes....what are my options to get between nice & cannes????
the last time i traveled between the two cities (in 2007) i remember paying an insane amount for the taxi, but since i was traveling for work i didn't bother too much with the price....i would prefer to use either the bus or train this time....i would also be willing to rent a car but that would be my last option....
i will be in nice for business in october & will definitely have atleast a day off once i am done with work....my wife will be with me & we were thinking of going to cannes....what are my options to get between nice & cannes????
the last time i traveled between the two cities (in 2007) i remember paying an insane amount for the taxi, but since i was traveling for work i didn't bother too much with the price....i would prefer to use either the bus or train this time....i would also be willing to rent a car but that would be my last option....