Is it nice in Nice!
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r8bwt

Original Poster:

167 posts

256 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all

Off to Nice on sunday, anyone been? recommend what to do/see. obviously off to Monaco, but any intresting unusual places to go? esp recommendations for places to eat etc.


Thinking of hiring a car, but everyone I have spoken to has said don't bother get the train.

Thanks in advance

Rob

themaskedavenger

676 posts

277 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Cannes is worth a quick look see.

If you have a decent car get up to the hills behind the coast some great driving to be done

maranellouk

2,066 posts

292 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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anonymous said:
[redacted]

Spat cereal all over the floor. Cheers for that

lotuslad

5,253 posts

283 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Cap Ferrat is very nice, and there's a nice restaurant at the top of the cliff above Monaco.

I've been in the area a few times and it's lovely - Monaco's somewhere to see but I didn't like it that much (apart from the harbour - bloody hell!) A large group of us stayed down the road once and I checked into my room, looked over the balcony and spotted about 50 supermodel types wearing the absolute minumum on the beach outside. I phoned everyone's room to no avail, dashed down to the beachside bar, and found everyone down there, some still with bags, enjoying the scenery

Conversation seemed limited to "blimey" "mmmmph" and the occasional elbow and nod for the next hour

speedtwelve

3,546 posts

302 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
If you do hire a car, make sure it's at least a Hummer or Armoured Personnel Carrier. The driving 'standard' on the Cote D'Azur is truly eye-widening. Used to go there regularly with work and I reckoned one in three cars had some kind of accident damage due to the French 'Stevie Wonder' driving technique.

You can get a helicopter taxi along to Monaco if you are feeling flush. Go down to the harbour in Nice in the evening and let your jaw drop at some of the fabulous floating gin palaces berthed there. There's a jetski hire place next to the airport as well if you want to razz around the bay.

ST

r8bwt

Original Poster:

167 posts

256 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all

Sounds excellent, going with the girlfriend mind so the mirrored shades are definatley a good idea.

I think the sixth sense might kick in though, and she'll know. I'll come back with bruises on my arm from where she keeps nudging me

How much are taxis generally? and are we looking at stupiid money for a pint of the good stuff.

DaGinge

6,740 posts

278 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Not any more.

Without sounding like a snob (cos I'm not) the worst thing that happened to the region was the advent of cheap flights a-la sleazyjet and ryanscare. It has turned the place into the next-generation spanish holiday island and the place is becoming filled with the chav element faster than you can say "big orange ship on the horizon".

Monaco is worth seeing and its relatively high prices keep the undesireables at arms reach.

As for hiring a car, this can be good and bad - it lets you get away from the more tourist areas and lets you find the parts where the old-style charm and sophistication still exist. The roads are generally good quality and not congested, however french driving and parking is a trying experience...on my last trip the hire car received 3 dents in the first 2 days - all when stationary.

lotuslad

5,253 posts

283 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Tip: do not go to Jimmyz for a beer

njburns

2,835 posts

272 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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You must visit Menton.

burnt

1,371 posts

278 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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Remember to dodge the dog poo

You think I'm kidding!!

clintster

57 posts

282 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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Nice is good, also can catch train to Monaco and to Cannes etc

If you do have a car for a while I'd try a trip to St Paul de Vence

Davel

8,982 posts

287 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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Nice is very Nice

Go to the harbour and get the small ferry to Monaco - it's a lovely way to arrive at the place and you pass lots of interesting houses overlooking the waterfront and boats etc.

The market in Nice old town area is lovely in the mornings.

Cannes is worth a trip and the train network is excellent if you're not driving.

Have a great time!

luca brazzi

3,983 posts

294 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Loved it so much, we're going again in Septermber.

In Nice, along the promenade des Anglais go to the Japanese Tepanyaki (sp.) restaurant at the eastern end. It looks odd from the outside, but you walk in over a fish tank, and enjoy fantastic food cooked at your table...just cannot remember the name of it.

Also Cap Ferrat, as mentioned is beautiful and worth a visit.

Best of all was the hilltop village of Eze (note: not Eze sur Mer), where you walk up to a fortified village with loads of little shops and viewing areas overlooking both the bays, and inland to the mountains, truly spectacular. Also, there's a perfume factory there, and only about 4 miles east of Nice, so taxi or car would be easy.

LB

jeremyc

28,094 posts

313 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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r8bwt said:
How much are taxis generally?
Probably amongst the most expensive in the world.

Unless you're feeling flush, or there's no public transport around then avoid them: they really are eye-wateringly expensive all along the Cote d'Azur.

gilbertd

744 posts

271 months

Friday 10th June 2005
quotequote all
Go there a lot, got a mate who lives about 6 miles inland off the A19. Nice old town (Eastern end) market area is heaving in the evenings, all bars, restaurants and nutters on big bikes. Prices can be a bit on the high side but don't have to be if you look around. Mind you, got charged 4 Euros for a pint of Guiness last month, but bugger was it nice after gallons of Eurofiz! In Monaco, no Pistonhead can go there without having a beer in the Rasse Cas. To echo what others have said, the coast train is by far the cheapest (and quickest way of getting around, especially at this time of the year. If you find yourself in Cannes, on the corner of the old harbour, by the town hall (hotel de Ville), you'll see a place with a red sign called La Pizza. Best pizzas in Europe and not expensive either, cost me 60 quid last year to take my mate, his wife and two kids and my daughter there.

cazzer

8,883 posts

277 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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Dont go the Juan Les Pins, I did (all Peter Sarsteads fault) and it was shut.
Mind you that was a tuesday evening in november.

Zod

35,295 posts

287 months

Friday 10th June 2005
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The roads behind the coast are fantastic.

bluesatin

3,115 posts

301 months

Saturday 11th June 2005
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Mougins is a must to go to for an evening meal!