FWIW, I travel to Nice twice a year and rent a car for 10 or so days each time. I have good success with Hertz and Avis. Be sure to use a Gold Visa and decline the additional insurance. Amex does not cover outside the US.

Be sure to rent a manual shift car. Some of the hills are actually mountains, and the hairpin turns are quite challenging (no guard rails in some areas.)

I have traveled during summer and winter and the traffic is heavier during the Monaco Grand Prix, but is normally not that bad throughout the year.

Parking is always an issue, but most buildings have underground parking for a reasonable fee ($3 per hour or so) and most places like restuarants and grocery stores like Car-foure validate your parking if you in-and-out within an hour.

Rental Rates are very resonable at $25 USD per day average but gasoline or diesel fuel is OUTRAGEOUS at around $4 per gallon.

Normally I spend more that the rental charges on gas. Which is why I think the rates are so cheap.

Be sure you reserve with two companies because I got stung once with no cars available, and not much I could do.

All of the rental car agencies at Nice/Cote D'Azur Airport are in one place. If this happens, just walk next door. I have rented around 25 times and had good experiences with the cars which are usually Puegot, Sterling, Rover and BMW.

Don't be afraid of Diesel, these cars actually perform better and the fuel is less expensive. Most have turbo engines and air conditioning, along with manual transmissions.

Most have many dings that need to be noted before you leave the lot.

Overall, I enjoy the experience.

Hope this helps...



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Tom