Help on quick trip to Nice
 

My brother is putting together a quick trip to Nice for him and his wife. They are arriving friday morning and leaving monday afternoon. Basically they really know nothing and don't have time to do much research so they will just take reccomendations. The flights were booked without any research because he would have lost 7 day advance in about 20 minutes so he just booked flights blindly.

Quick questions are stay in nice, monte carlo or cannes. Any particular hotels. He would probably like to keep it around 100 euros per night but will go to 200 or so if necessary. Are the beach and the city center close, and if not which do you stay at? I've read some decent reviews on Boscolo park and its affordable. Is this decent?

What about a car. Looks like it will be about 250 for the 3 days. Is it better to rent or more convenient to use taxis. If they stay in nice is a night in monte carlo or cannes a good idea.

Many questions you ask at once:

Here a map first: http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/mapPerformPage?strCP=Provence-Alpes-Côte%20d'Azur&strCountry=000001424

Nice would be right in the middle. So convenient to visit Cannes as well as Monaco-Monte Carlo.

A car would be quite practical. Are they coming this week-end? If yes, careful, there is a NATO meeting in Nice and it is chaos. If it is next week-end, no problem.

Hotels should be no problem as well as it is low season and holiday time, many people are on the slopes. Too cold for the beach, though.

http://www.cote.azur.fr/hotels-ville...ce_lang_en.htm

Car hire: http://www.france-car-hire-rental.com/

In order to save a little money, they may want to get the car in the city instead of at the airport.
Tell them to go to St. Paul de Vence, beautiful village and take the Corniche road to Monaco. Go up to the observatory, absolute fantastic view of Monaco, monte-Carlo from way up. Breathtaking.

Nice would be a good choice. I recommend Hotel La Perouse - a four star - that is nice but at the lower end of the four start price range in the off season. Definitely suggest renting a car. Monte Carlo will be more expensive, and unless the casino is really important to your brother, I wouldn't recommend staying there. http://www.hotel-la-perouse.com/

Another hotel has great views and is pleasant, but NOT centrally located, is http://www.hotel-terrasses-eze.cote.azur.fr/

a cute little town within taxi distance of Nice train station on the coast (or you can take the train) is Villefranche Sur Mer..

I like the Welcome Hotel.

http://www.welcomehotel.com/

For hotel, I would recommend Hotel Mercure at Promenade des Anglais, which is centrally located, right off the Pedestrian Zone, few blocks from Old Nice and right there on the beach. Next door is the Casino, and the very expensive Hotel Le Meridien.

Since they are only going to be there for three days, a car is really not that necessary. Parking in Nice is a big problem, the same in Cannes and Monte Carlo. I would take the bus (walking distance from Hotel Mercure), and enjoy the hassle free short vacation, not to mention it's much much cheaper to take the public transportation.

Day one: walking around exploring Nice, have dinner at La Rotonde next to Hotel Negresco.

Day two: take the bus (RT is 7.50 Euro pp, I think.) to Monte Carlo, and stop by Villefranche-sur-mer (the Port) for lunch at La Mere Germaine right at the beautiful bay. Browse at the antique flea market (Sat. and Sun. only) if have time.

Day three: bus to Cannes, and hopefully there is time left for St. St. Paul de Vence. Otherwise, make plans for the return. ;)

There is an airport shuttle that runs every 20 minutes (from outside baggage claim area) to downtown Nice, and make stops at different hotels on the Promenade des Anglais, and also right in front of the Hotel Mercure.

Please be warned that taxi fare in the French Reviera is outrageously expensive. I mean, OUTRAGEOUSLY!

Here is wishing your brother and s-i-l a great time in my favourite corner of the world: Côte d'Azur!