My partner and I are planning to spend a week in the French Riviera - early November 2007. I am completely new to France and would really appreciate the assistance of all the incredible (and entertaining) TA %26#39;Fundi%26#39;s%26#39;. My French is very limited.... been teaching myself the popular phrases - thanks again to TA!!
Upon arrival at Nice airport, we will be renting a car...
We would love to experience the local customs and traditions of the area, hence thought about using B+B chateau-type accommodation, as opposed to hotels. We%26#39;d like to move around 2 or 3 times in that week to see as much of the French Riviera as possible. If possible, please recommend clean, sea-view accommodation with parking, good breakfast, preferably for under 100 Euros.
Also, please let me know which places on the Riviera are absolute %26#39;must see%26#39;. We have a wide range of interests.
Thanx a ton for your guidelines/advice - it is most appreciated and far better than taking a chance on a website.
Joburg Girl, SA
|||
November is late autumn early winter so you should plan to book into the larger towns like Nice as many of the smaller hotels and restaurants along the beach resorts will have closed for winter.
So think Nice as a base for several days visiting Monaco - by train as it it a lovely journey along the coastal railway , St Paul de Vence - a pretty hill village, a drive along the coast to visit Cannes, St Tropez etc.
The weather will be unpredictable so take layers - certainly last winter in the region was very mild with plenty of sunshine but we have been to the area and been flooded out with the rain.
Can I make one suggestion? There is much to see along the coast but as it is winter much will be shut. Have a think about spending a few days in Provence to the west about two hours drive from Nice.
Perhaps staying in Avignon and visiting the Cotes du Rhone wine villages and the hill towns and Chateaux of the Luberon?
I am sure that the local experts for Nice will come up with some alternative suggestions
|||
Many thanks for your advice - most appreciated!
It would be stunning if NiceLife or LondonBob (being two area specialists) could please let me have their views on my questions above. It is rather exacerbating trying to find decent authentic %26#39;olde world%26#39; French B+B%26#39;s... The travel agents in SA do not work with any French operators who can advise on this either, I%26#39;ve tried 3 different agents....
Merci Boucoup!
Joburg-Girl_SA
|||
Can you clarify what you mean by a B%26amp;B please?
The reason I ask is that friends who have travelled to South Africa have found that your B%26amp;B%26#39;s are different to European B%26amp;B.
In Europe B%26amp;B%26#39;s are usually a couple of rooms in a family house or a few rooms in a seperate block.
If you are looking for small independant hotels try:-
logis de France
chateauxhotels.com
Can I also suggest that you post in the Nice forum and title your post for NiceLife or LondonBob.
Good luck
|||
Bon Jour and merci boucoup Boucheboy for your stunning and much appreciated advice! :-)
I have posted my note on the Nice forum.
Regarding the accommodation... Yes, I am looking for chateaux/castle - type accommodation. I visited the two sites you recommended and have e-mailed an enquiry to: chateauxhotels.com
We would really like to experience authentic France and you surely cannot get more authentic than a beautiful old Chateaux or Castle??
Have you ever experienced these Chateaux/Castles yourself within the Cote d Azure area?? Do you have any idea of rates?
I see that you are in Provence. Any recommendations there (same criteria)?
Vous remercier gentillement!
Joburg_Girl_SA
|||
The Chateaux in Provence and the French Riviera tend to be on the Euro200+ price range.
One place you might consider for a %26quot;treat%26quot; is le St Paul in St Paul de Vence. The hotel is right in the centre of this medievil hill village a short trip from Nice. Google relaischateaux.com.
One near us that we like is la Mirande in Avignon - a converted Chateau right behind the Palais de Papes in the centre of the town. This is about a 3 hour drive from Nice
Hopefully in the Chateau Hotels book you will find some ideas. The Logis de France while not being chateaux will give a selection of typical smaller independant hotels all with that unique French atmosphere.
One thing I would say and is common in the French forums is not to try to do too much.
Have a great trip - we will be visiting South Africa this December for the first time and are looking forward to it.
|||
Bouchebouy is wrong to say that %26quot;it is winter so much is closed%26quot;. Certainly in Nice,Menton, Monaco and beyond, so many places that you imagine to be seasonal were open well into November last year so .....! Nice doesn%26#39;t ever really close!
Renting a car is such a good thing to do in Nov because the roads are so tourist-free and you have complete fexibility. The Basse Corniche from Nice to Monaco is famous but the roads are sooooooo bad. The Moyenne and Haut are very picturesuqe but you have to stop en route so that the driver can get the full impact too.
The horrible people the the TA experts so deplore have long since gone back to their council houses in the UK and the Cote is left to the more discerning traveller apparently!
Also, you don%26#39;t need anything above the usual french phrases to get by.... bonjour, merci beaucoup, au revoir, si possible je voudrais ....
|||
Bon Jour Boucheboy et ZebFrance!
Thanx tons to both of you for all your advice! I cannot tell you how much I appreciate it!
Boucheboy, should you require ANY information or recommendations regarding your trip to SA, I do have quite a good knowledge of the most popular cities and towns, so please dont hesitate to ask ANYTHING! Please remember I will be in France from 2 to 18 November 07 - in Paris for the last week! :-)
Please feel free to let me have any other info worth sharing...
You%26#39;re stars!
Travel-happy hugs to all!
Joburg Girl SA
|||
Thank you I shall remember that.
Have a great trip
|||
visits-wise
I would recommend Monaco as a must-see, we also enjoyed Cannes (although it is very broadly similar to Monaco - but with more beaches). Inland from Nice, the gorges are attractive and interesting.
I would agree that a visit to the Avignon area (Pont du Gard etc) would be a good addition to a visit..
I guess that the thing is that 1 week ain%26#39;t long and you might need to give a bit more info about what kind of things you%26#39;d like to experience maybe?
|||
Between my posts (responses) and those of other travellers on the forums and many, many hours of research, I think I have enough info to experience a totally awesome Cote d%26#39;Azur.
For interest%26#39;s sake, I would like to mention that it has been absolutely impossible to get hold of the Hotel Suisse (Nice). Every avenue I have tried has come up empty on securing a booking at Hotel Suisse. :-( Perhaps they are closing and undergoing a revamp during the winter... (just a thought??)
It sure has a wonderful position... (ahh)
Looks like we will stay at the Westminster Hotel which also has a lovely position on the Promenade d%26#39;Anglais.
Thank you very much to all who took the time to respond.
I will post a report on my return in December.
No comments:
Post a Comment