Nice, Cannes, etc.

Hello,

I will be staying in the south of France during the first week or so of June. I was thinking of renting an apartment for a week because it seems to be cheaper than a hotel.

Our biggest problem is that we cannot decide between Nice or Cannes as a home base. We will be taking day trips around the area---this forum has been very helpful for ideas.

There are two of us and our main priority are safety and being able to walk around at night...

Can anyone recommend Nice or Cannes? Are we being too picky? I guess we could always stay a night in monanco, two nights in nice, two nights in cannes, but it seems that its best to stay a week in one place so we dont have to unpack and worry about checking in, etc.

Can anyone advise on Nice vs. Cannes for a week? Feel free to provide thoughts or even properties! Or maybe a neighborhood to stay in! Thank you again for all your help...these forums have been so valuable to us and we appreciate the time taken for responses...

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Hi Andy,

I think it depends on what sort of person you are as to which location you would prefer. Nice is a big city and like any big city, you have to be aware when walking around at night. Cannes is smaller, but can be a little pretentious. I live in Antibes and think that it makes a perfect base for a Riviera holiday, it%26#39;s small and safe and has hundreds of restaurants and cafes, a lovely provencal market, and wherever you stay here in the old town, you are only a 5/10 min walk to the train station. I can also recommend some properties to you if you let me know what you%26#39;re after. Best regards, Michelle.

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Hi Michelle,

Thank you for your recommendations on Antibes. I should have opened my horizons to consider Antibes in the first place! I found a virtual website that has full-screen pictures and it looks beautiful.

www.nice-panorama.com/Antibes/index_en.php

Any recommendations on a place to stay would be greatly appreciated. There are two of us and we were thinking of an apartment because we are going to be staying a week or so. Although a hotel is not out of the question, just not preferred.

Any apartments/hotels please let me know! e

Thank you for all your help

Andy

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We have a flat in Villefranche but, for a week%26#39;s holiday, I would say Nice is much more interesting than anywhere else on the coast. Nice has everything, whereas other places only have a number of the elements that go to making Nice the queen of the Riviera.

We like Villefranche but a big part of its attraction is that it is only eight minutes from Nice by train.

I have never understood the appeal of Cannes.

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As you will see from my previous postings I have successfully used a company called www.nicepebbles.com who have a small number of apartments available. I have mentioned them a couple of times and others have now used them and also recommended them. You can do a search for the name and see what comes up. We have used Croix, and will shortly be staying in Marechal.

We also end up using apartments rather than hotels, just more space and I can get up and make a cup of tea in the mornings so easily.

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Hi

I don%26#39;t think that you are planning to go swimming yet, as the water is usually cold till June or so...

Having said that, it is probably worth staying in Antibes. If you are not going to be driving around, do stay close to the Antibes railway station.

Btw, a car is highly recommended. Public transport in the region is not exactly fantastic.

Try one of the residences in Antibes. Google it. There is the residence Orion and a few more.

Hope this helps

Venky

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Nice most certainly is the place to be. Cannes is so bland by comparison and the restaurants in Nice are much better and much cheaper and have friendly staff.

I agree with London Bob, what%26#39;s the appeal of Cannes?

I also agree with Ringmer. I have used Nice Pebbles and will use them again when I go back later in the year. Whether you use Nice Pebbles or not, do do use an apartment. Much more convenient than a hotel and whilst not always cheaper, when you bear in mind that you can occassionally eat lunch or breakfast at home - it is the cheapest and best option. All that space and comfort. I always feel liberated, but feel like a battery hen in a hotel.

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Nice. And you do not need a car to get anywhere along the coast from San Remo to St. Raphael and quite a few places inland.

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Nice and Cannes are both good places to stay in -

I live in Cannes so perhaps am not that objective about the subject but

.... Cannes might be bland to some , however, there are an awful lot of people around who must like its %26quot; blandness %26quot; it would seem.

The two places are completely different .

I notice that the agency mentioned has the word pebbles in it - the beaches are too in Nice.

If beaches are part of your holiday , Cannes has some lovely ones - and not just on the Croisette strip .

The train and bus station ( not in the same place but close )

are both in the centre.

A walk along the Croisette in the evening is a pleasure with the lights of Sainte Marguerite island twinking as a backdrop.

By day , the two islands make for great boat trips and walks on them within minutes of Cannes. Pick up some bread and paté, radishes and tomatoes from the Forville market and take off .

Bonnes vacances.

Alan

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So nice to see you again Alan!

( I love staying in Cannes and visiting Nice! ).

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Good to see the Cannes experts back on the forum.

Let the debate continue where we left off last year !