We’ve combed through our hotel listings throughout Nice to find the best budget stays that are clean, comfortable, and safe, yet still, have plenty of charm to spare.

More tips for the South of France:
• 10 Ways to save on your trip to Nice
• A Budget guide to visiting Marseille
• Menton, France: A French Riviera gem

Best budget hotels in Nice

We’ve picked our five favorite budget hotels in the city for this year, so you can save time and money while booking your next vacation.

Guests love the affordable rooms at Hotel Lepante.

Hotel Lepante

Neighborhood: Train Station & City Center
Doubles from $63

With a high review score and low rates, Hotel Lepante is just the kind of place we like to settle in for a few days. Our favorite rooms come with cozy balconies (ask ahead) but every room features free Wi-Fi and air-conditioning. Head to the rooftop deck to relax in a lounge chair. Read the full review

We love the bright and airy lobby at Hotel Aria.

Hotel Aria

Neighborhood: Train Station & Center
Doubles from $72

With a location near the beach, the train station, and Mozart Park, Hotel Aria is a great home base for Cheapos adventuring in Nice. The hotel offers bright rooms with air conditioning, TV, and free Wi-Fi. Premium rooms, worth the extra euros, offer balconies overlooking the park. Read the full review

Enjoy the nice garden at Nice Garden Hotel.

Nice Garden

Neighborhood: Near Promenade des Anglais
Doubles from $74

The Nice Garden hotel offers comfortable rooms in a prime location near the city’s commercial district and the beach. All rooms offer air conditioning, flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi, but we suggest getting one of the rooms that open up to the hotel’s orange tree garden. And yes, the garden is very nice! Read the full review

In the warmer months, enjoy a drink at the outdoor summer bar at Excelsior.

Excelsior

Neighborhood: Train Station & Center
Doubles from $81

If you have expensive taste but enjoy being frugal, book one of the stylish rooms at Excelsior. Rooms feature playful travel-inspired motifs, and some even have balconies to enjoy the views of Nice. Don’t miss out on spending some time outside at the hotel’s garden and summer bar. Read the full review

Hotel Meyerbeer Beach sits on a charming street just steps from the water.

Meyerbeer Beach

Neighborhood: Near Promenade des Anglais
Doubles from $97

Just a stone’s throw from the sea, Meyerbeer Beach hotel offers affordable rooms with quirky charm. Rooms have kitchenettes and televisions, and the hotel provides a fully stocked communal kitchen and free coffee, tea, and beach towels. Read the full review

Hotel photo credits: Booking.com

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More budget hotels in Nice

Looking for more cheapo-friendly stays? Check out our favorite budget hotels in Nice.

The post Best budget hotels in Nice for 2024 appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

What’s not to love? Well, the bill, for one thing. All those world-class attractions can get pricey. However, there are a number of common sense ways to save, while still allowing for a fabulous adventure in France. Listed below are 50 of our best budget tips for visiting France.

This is a “Cheapo Checklist”. We’ve included links through to more in-depth articles, where possible. Be sure to check out the comments at the end for additional tips, and please add your own in the comments at the end!

Related:

• 50 ways to save in Paris

• Tips for traveling to France during Covid-19

Trip timing

• OFF SEASON SAVINGS: If at all possible, save big by visiting France during the off-season (late October – March, except holidays) or during the shoulder season (late September-October and late March-early May), when the savings are still significant and the weather usually quite comfortable.

• AVOID SLEEPING NEAR THE BEACH: Traveling during the high season (June-August)? If possible, limit your exposure to the most expensive destinations (all beaches and coasts). Paris is also at its pricey peak from late May through the end of July. Consider smaller cities and villages. During June and July, for example, a week traveling through Provence or the Gard region will still be cheaper than hitting Nice, the Cote d’Azur, or sticking only to Paris. Still want to hit the beach? Sleep inland in a small village or B&B, and take day trips to the beach.

• PARIS CAN BE CHEAPER IN AUGUST: Paris empties out in August when locals go on vacation. This can be an interesting time to visit: Many smaller stores and some restaurants close, but hotel rooms tend to be easier to book and a bit cheaper than during June and July. (Here are some thoughts about visiting Paris in August.)

• AVOID FASHION WEEK IN PARIS. Are your Paris hotel searches turning up absurdly high rates? You might be planning to visit during one of the city’s fashion weeks. Although it sounds glamorous, the sky-high rates and crowds are soooooo last season. Upcoming dates: September 23 – October 1, 2019; February 24 – March 3, 2020.

Flying to France

• PARIS ISN’T THE ONLY AIRPORT: Flying from North America? Paris is not your only airport option (although you can find cheap flights). If much of your trip consists of travel in the south, for example, check prices on flights to Marseilles and Montpelier (which may include a transfer in Paris or a connection in another country). Even if it’s a bit more expensive, you can end up saving time and money on train tickets and rental cars by flying into an airport closer to your destination.

• OPEN JAW TICKETS SAVE TIME AND MONEY: Consider flying into one city and home through another. (For example, into Paris and back home from Marseilles.) These “open jaw” tickets can help you save money and time, as you won’t have to circle all the way back to your point of arrival in order to fly home. Best of all, the flight tickets are often about the same price as simple round-trip tickets.

• TRY A LOW-COST AIRLINE: Consider low-cost airline options from the US to France, including Norwegian Airlines which flies to Paris from several US cities.

• CONSIDER XL AIRWAYS: With all the excitement over the low-cost carriers serving the US-France market, we feel that XL Airways sometimes gets overlooked. The carrier offers some of the cheapest fares to France from the US, and, unlike the low-cost airlines, includes a piece of checked luggage in its fare. (We just found a $353 Newark-Paris round-trip flight in September. Good deal!)

• “HUB IT” FOR SAVINGS: Not finding cheap airfare to France? Try “hubbing it”, by flying first to any cheap European destination (for example, finding a cheap flight to Dublin on Aer Lingus) and then catching a budget flight from there to France (for example, on Ryanair). If your schedule is a bit flexible, you could find some savings.

• AVOID TAXIS INTO PARIS: Flying into Charles De Gaulle? We’d recommend avoiding taxis into the city, unless you’ve got a big family or lots of luggage. Some of us prefer the RER, while others always take the bus into town. Here are our favorite cheapo options into Paris.

The Place Pélissière, with statue of Cyrano, in Bergerac. Photo: cjp24

Building an itinerary

• SLOW DOWN FOR SAVINGS (AND SANITY): Resist the urge to over-pack your French itinerary with too many destinations. This is hard, especially if it’s your first time visiting the country. However, driving off to a new town or city every day is both exhausting and costly. (Some tips on planning a trip that won’t leave you exhausted.)

• THINK “DAY TRIPS”: Rather than driving to a new destination every day, consider spending two or three nights in each spot and taking day trips. For example, if visiting the Dordogne, consider basing yourself in a charming village, like Bergerac, and taking day trips to other nearby towns and wineries. Here are our 7 favorite day trips from Paris.

• HANG WITH THE LOCALS: Already visited France’s big highlights? Consider less expensive destinations that have loads of local flavor, like the Dordogne, or small villages in the southwest rather than pricier Provence. Take time to research — grab a guidebook (we’re partial to Rick Steves), learn about the regions, and have fun planning something a bit off the beaten path. Don’t overlook cities beyond Paris like Marseille or Lille or enchanting villages like Saint Emilion.

Here’s a suggested 10-day France itinerary from Paris to Marseille.

All aboard the TGV. Book your seats directly with the railway! Photo: yisris

Trains

• BOOK TGV TICKETS IN ADVANCE: If you plan to take the TGV, France’s high-speed train, book those tickets as far in advance as possible for the best rates and to take advantage of sale fares. The closer you get to the travel date, the more expensive the seats.

• RAIL PASSES ARE PROBABLY NOT A GOOD DEAL: Considering a Eurail Pass or other rail pass? While it’s possible that they could help you save if you plan to travel extensively by train, for many travelers it’s cheaper to purchase point-to-point tickets directly through the SNCF website (see next tip). Once you have your itinerary, price out the tickets to see if a rail pass can help you save (and don’t forget that even with a rail pass, you’ll still need to make seat reservations on the TGV).

• BOOK TICKETS THROUGH THE RAILWAY: Important: Book your TGV tickets like the locals, through the SNCF’s website, the railway’s official website. There’s no need to go through a third-party retailer or agency back in the United States. Book tickets directly for the lowest prices, and print off your tickets at home before leaving for France. Plus: Don’t forget that sometimes First Class seats are actually cheaper than Second Class seats!

• TRY THE LOW-COST TGV: Don’t forget about the TGV’s low-cost option Ouigo (which offers high-speed train tickets from €10 — although points of departure and destinations differ).

• BUY REGIONAL TRAIN TICKETS AT THE STATION: Taking slower, regional trains? Unlike the TGV, there’s no need to book those tickets in advance online. Just buy them at the train station.

•  KEEP AN EYE OUT POTENTIAL TRAIN STRIKES: Part of traveling in Europe is keeping on top of strike updates that could affect your travel plans. 2018 is seeing a fresh batch of strikes on the French rail system. If you already booked a ticket, don’t panic. Here’s how to know if you’re affected and how to change your ticket.

• BUSES CAN BE CHEAPER THAN TRAINS: Take a look at Ouibus for super cheap fares for travel around France — and to Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Perk: Ouibus coaches are equipped with free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets. Sample fare: €5 for Paris-Lille; €35 for Paris-Barcelona.

Cars in France come in all shapes and sizes. Photo: Daniel X. O’Neil

Rental cars and driving

The following tips are excerpted from our larger article, 10 tips for saving on car rentals in France.

• BOOK CARS EARLY FOR DEALS: As with train tickets, booking early is a safe bet for finding the best car rental prices. (Search for your dates and compare car rental agencies.)

• CANCEL IF YOU FIND A BETTER DEAL: Nearly all car rentals are modifiable and able to be canceled. Thus, find something cheaper after you booked it? Cancel and re-book!

• WATCH THE START DATE: Your car reservation shouldn’t necessarily start on the first day of your trip. It should start on the first day you’re leaving the city you fly into! Pick up your car when you’re ready to drive off from Paris, not when you arrive.

• BE SMART ABOUT AUTO INSURANCE: Does your car insurance or credit company cover overseas car insurance? Call before taking off to double-check. You’ll be getting the hard sell from the rental car agency, so know in advance.

• WATCH YOUR SPEED: When driving around France, pay attention to the posted speed limits, as well as to the “speed camera” signs. Yes, you have to pay speeding tickets on rental cars!

• CAREFUL AT THE ROUNDABOUT: While roundabouts keep traffic moving, they can also be a bit dangerous for foreign drivers not accustomed to them. Avoid tickets and accidents: When approaching, you do not have priority — wait until the coast is clear before entering.

• AVOID DRIVING IN CENTER CITY: Most tourist-friendly towns in France have popular pedestrian-only center cities (“centre ville”). Only locals and delivery trucks can drive here. Don’t be the car that wanders off course and winds up trapped on a pedestrian-only cafe-lined street. It could cost (or really embarrass) you.

• PARKING IS EXPENSIVE IN THE CENTER: As you won’t be able to drive in the center city, you’ll spot underground parking garages all over the place. Center city garages, of course, will be the most expensive. If possible, we’d recommend parking farther outside the center at a cheaper garage, and walking or taking transit into the center.

Want more tips? Check out our 10 tips for saving on car rentals in France.

The Tiquetonne is the most popular budget hotel in our Paris guide — and it fills up fast.

Hotels and accommodation

• BOOK EARLY FOR POPULAR HOTELS: The good (and well-priced) accommodation options tend to go first. When it comes to Paris hotels, for example, the one-star Hotel Tiquetonne is the best deal in town — and it completely fills up. Book it, and other popular hotels, well in advance. (See all hotels in Paris, Lyon, Nice, Marseille or Strasbourg, or search all hotels.)

• ROLL THE DICE WITH LAST-MINUTE BOOKINGS: Flexible with your hotel options? If you’re willing to gamble a bit, you can often find great deals at the very last minute. This is especially true if traveling during the low season or to less touristy destinations. Here are some thoughts about when to book for the best deal.

• RENT A FLAT: Hotels are not your only option, of course. Renting an apartment or staying with locals (through homestays) can offer much more room, kitchens, laundry facilities — and even save cash. Search for apartments in Paris.

• SLEEP ON THE FARM: You’ll find additional accommodation options in France, especially in smaller towns, villages, and in the countryside where “chambres d’hotes” (guestrooms) and gites (guest houses) abound. Our favorite is the “farm stay”, a sort of rural bed-and-breakfast option (although many offer delicious dinner options, often with locally sourced food). Check out the Gites de France website for more info.

More tips: Check out our tutorial to 10 ways to save on your hotel in France.

Sightseeing

• BE CAREFUL WITH PRE-BOOKING ACTIVITIES: It’s tempting, when planning your trip back home, to pre-book those tickets to the Louvre, Seine river cruise, Latin Quarter walking tour, and late-night crepe eating course. Be careful, however, as plans change once you’re on the ground. People are tired or have a blister (or are grumpy and need some downtime). All that pre-booking leaves you with less flexibility and non-refundable expenses. It’s okay to book a few things, but give yourself flexibility!

• SPEAK WITH PROFESSIONALS: Get guidance from the source! Stop by the tourist information center first thing when you arrive in a city, pick up maps, and find out about museums, events, walking tours, day trips and more. You’ll find them in the heart of every city on the tourist radar: For example, in Paris there are five in the center, Marseille (next to the old port), Nice (at the airport, train station, and center city), and Bordeaux (at the train station or center city).

• SOME OF THE BEST STUFF IS FREE: There’s no ticket necessary to explore city streets or hang out in a café, of course. However, don’t forget that some attractions are free, too. Ask at the tourist information center for free activities, free (or discounted) museum admission, and free walking tours. (In the City of Light, for example, these Paris museums are free.)

• CULTURE JUNKIE? CONSIDER A PASS: If you’re staying for a few days in a city and are serious about museums and attractions, research whether or not the city offers a tourist sightseeing card or pass. These passes often include free (or highly discounted) admission to popular museums, and cover public transit, and could save you a lot of cash. Some popular passes include the Paris Passlib’ Card, Bordeaux City Pass, Marseille City Pass, and Nice “Riviera Pass”.

Keep an eye out for great lunch deals like this delicious meal in Saint-Malo. Photo: sumidiot

Dining

• AVOID YOUR MINIBAR: That stocked minibar in your hotel room will cost you. Instead, head straight to the nearest grocery store for basics, like water, fruit, picnic supplies, and toiletries. In France, look for the following chains: Ed, Franprix, and Monoprix. (Here’s a guide to French supermarkets.)

• FEAST AT LUNCH: France has a wonderful lunch culture, kept alive by many employers who still grant proper lunch breaks and offer restaurant “tickets” to subsidize dining out. Because of this, a “corner bistro” scene still thrives, with small restaurants competing for lunch business with reasonably-priced “plats du jour”. Dinner is almost always more expensive, even if the menu has hardly changed, so take advantage of these “plats” and feast at lunch. (Five tasty lunch deals in Paris and how to eat your way through Paris on €20 per day.)

• WATER AND BREAD ARE FREE: French restaurants are required by law to offer a carafe of water and basket of bread to customers. Unless you’re really picky about your water (or prefer bubbles), there’s no need to order bottled water. Stick with “une carafe d’eau”.

• HOUSE WINE IS GREAT: Unless you’re a serious oenophile, ordering “un pichet de vin” (a small pitcher of house wine) is going to be fine at restaurants throughout France. You’re in France. (Read more on tips for buying wine in France.)

• TO MARKET, TO MARKET: Outdoor food markets are another French ritual that tourists shouldn’t miss out on. From Brittany to the Cote d’Azur, towns hold weekly, bi-weekly, or even more regularly (in Paris outdoor markets can be found every day). Explore, sample, and pick up the perfect ingredients for a budget-friendly lunch or dinner.

• GO EASY ON THE TIP: Know when to tip in France. For small stuff (coffee and croissant, beer at the bar, etc.) no tip is necessary. Table service usually merits a small tip (not 15%!), and taxi drivers and tour guides deserve tips. (Read more on tipping.)

Shopping is a sport in France, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Photo: Ignacio B

Shopping

• “SOLDES” ARE YOUR FRIEND: Take advantage of the city-wide annual sales (“Soldes”) that are held throughout France in January and July. These events stretch for weeks in the winter and heat of summer, and nearly every retailer gets in on the action. Here are some tips for “soldes” success and advice for saving on shopping in Paris.

• TAX REBATE, PLEASE: Planning to do lots of shopping? If purchasing more than €175 in the same store on the same day, you qualify for a 12% tax refund. That can add up. Here’s how it works.

• MARCHÉS AUX PUCES: Some of the best shopping deals can be found in flea markets throughout the country. In Paris, there are a number of “marché aux puces” to check out. No matter where you’re visiting, ask at your hotel for information about second-hand markets and vintage shops.

Check your smartphone plan before you get online in France! Photo: FaceMe

Staying in touch

• SIM SAVINGS: Planning to use your smartphone? We recommend buying a SIM card if you have an unlocked smartphone handy. Calls, emails, and the Web will be much, much cheaper. Even if you don’t own an unlocked phone, you can purchase one cheaply in France or before you leave. Here’s how it works and tips for finding the best SIM Cards in France.

• CALL YOUR CARRIER: Not planning to make a lot of calls with your phone? At least call your carrier before leaving home to know how much calls, text and emails will cost you. Consider getting a special international package to avoid surprises (like AT&T’s “Passport” package). Plus, be sure to set up your phone to avoid data drains.

• GET ONLINE FOR FREE: Use free Wi-Fi whenever possible. Many cafes and international chains (like McDonald’s and Starbucks) in France offer free Wi-Fi, as well as municipal buildings, libraries, parks, and some museums. Ask at the tourist information center about free Wi-Fi hotspots in town.

Banks and money

• USE ATMS: To get the best deal on getting money in France, avoid all currency exchange counters and sketchy looking ATMs. Instead, use official bank ATMs to get the best exchange rates.

• CALL YOUR BANK BEFORE LEAVING: First, tell your bank and credit card company that you’ll be traveling (to ensure that your card will work abroad). Then, ask how much you’ll be charged for ATM withdrawals and for purchases. You may find that one of your cards has no foreign surcharge. Here are some questions to ask.

• STICK TO EUROS: When making a purchase with an American credit card in France, you may be asked if you’d like it to be processed in euros or US dollars. This is just a ploy to insert another middleman into the transaction. Always stick to the local currency — in this case, euros.

More information

Want to read more? Check out our top-rated budget hotels in Paris and Nice, or search hotels, B&Bs, and apartments in hundreds of cities throughout France.

For more tips, visit our France guide, or read more about ways to save in Paris here.

Your tips

Have additional ways to save money on your trip to France? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post 50 Ways to save on your trip to France appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

But its popularity can make it expensive, especially when you consider its proximity to notoriously pricey places such as Monaco and Cannes.

However, with a bit of planning, it is possible to keep your trip on a tight budget. Follow these simple tips to enjoy a taste of the French Riviera without the big price tag.

Related: Stay cheap at our favorite budget hotels in Nice

Nice budget travel tips

Looking to save a few euros on your French Riviera getaway? Here are 10 ways I saved on my trip.

1. Avoid peak season

May through August is peak season in the south of France, especially August when most of Europe is on vacation. By visiting in September, I took advantage of big savings on my airfare and accommodations but still enjoyed the gorgeous weather. It was also a lot less busy than it would have been had I visited the previous month.

Can’t make it in September? Mid-March to April is also a good time to consider a trip.

Related: When should you book hotels for the best rates?

The lovely view from Lou Souleou Bed & Breakfast. Photo:

2. Book a hotel in a central location

I made life a lot easier, as well as cheaper, by picking out a budget hotel in a good location. Lou Souleou Bed and Breakfast, now a seaview guesthouse, was easy to get to using the airport bus and overlooked the picturesque Promenade des Anglais, where you can find many other budget hotel choices. It was also ideally placed for Cours Saleya and Vieux Nice. That meant that within Nice itself, I didn’t need to take public transport anywhere. I also had the bonus of discovering streets and vistas at my own pace that would have been inaccessible by public transport anyway.

Know your dates? Search over 740 hotels in Nice

The breakfast spread at Lou Souleou can keep you going all day long!

3. Make the most of the free hotel breakfast

Many hotels offer complimentary breakfast — a great way to fuel up for the day ahead. At Lou Souleou, I could pick from fresh bread, homemade crepes, fruit salad, cereals, and yogurt, with a selection of jams, coffee, and orange juice. Meaning it was a long time before I needed to think about splashing out for food again!

Related: Nice hotels under $100 per night

4. Take a free walking tour

I’m a big fan of walking tours to get your head around a place, and in Nice, I took the free tour offered by the Riveria Bar Crawl company. It was a great way of ticking off some of the sights, as well as picking up some insider tips and hints.

5. Use the markets and have a picnic

Eating out could quickly become pricey in Nice. But it’s easy to pick up food for picnics at markets and supermarkets. I enjoyed delicious fresh food from the outdoor market Cours Saleya and supplemented it with pieces from the supermarkets. These are surprisingly plentiful — there’s a large Monoprix on the main avenue Jean Medecin, for example.

What’s more is that Nice is brilliant for picnic spots — enjoy your meal on one of the famous blue chairs overlooking the beach or on the beach itself. You can also have a picnic with the picturesque views from the Parc du Chateau.

A shop making socca, a local specialty and popular street food in Nice. Photo: Passion Leica

6. Enjoy Nice’s street food

Another way to refuel on a budget is to take advantage of Nice’s street food. Pissaladière — a tart/pizza topped with anchovies, olives, and onions — was a great way to fill an empty stomach. I also enjoyed socca — a chickpea flour-based pancake. You can pick up a plate for only €3 from Chez Rene Socca in the Old Town.

7. Invest in a museum pass

The region’s link to modern art was one of the reasons I wanted to visit the south of France, and destinations such as the Matisse Museum were high up on my to-do list. I made a significant saving by investing in a 7-day Musées de Nice pass for €20, allowing me access to 13 museums. With the entrance to the Matisse Museum alone costing €10, this worked out as a great value.

Relaxing on one of Nice’s beautiful beaches. Photo: Frances Ambler

8. Avoid private beaches

You could enjoy Nice’s beaches from the comfort of a sun lounger, but it would cost you up to €20 a day. On the other hand, the public beaches are completely free — you just need to come prepared for the pebbles! Many hotels and hostels loan out inflatable mattresses for the beach. I also found that by taking a short train ride, I found much quieter public beaches, including the luxury of a sand beach near Antibes!

9. Explore the area by public transport

Public transport along the Côte d’Azur is a real bargain, with bus fares at a flat rate of just €1.50 within the region and train tickets not exceeding more than €10. That makes more expensive destinations such as Monaco and Cannes accessible for day trips. It also opens up lesser-visited parts of the coastline for exploration.

One of the favorite days of my trip was when I took the train to Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (€4) and walked the path along the coastline to picturesque Menton. From there, I even walked onto Italy — before taking the train back for just €9.

Related: Cheapo day trips from Nice

10. Enjoying the free entertainment!

I could have rushed around ticking off the “must-dos”, but I really enjoyed allowing myself to take in the sights and sounds of Nice itself. From the skaters, runners and street performers to the atmospheric twists and turns of Vieux Nice, there was more than plenty to soak up for free — making for a relaxing visit, as well as a cheap one!

Have you been to Nice? Tell us your favorite things to do in the comments.

Photo credits: Booking.com

The post Nice, France Budget Travel: 10 ways to save appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Times have changed. For those with the means, Nice was surely truly delightful in its pre-World War I heyday, when royalty from Russia, England and Germany enjoyed a leisurely winter season in the Riviera city.

The Roaring Twenties

Cycling along the Promenade des Anglais

In the early 1920s, Nice changed dramatically and the city was reshaped. Reshaped to accommodate the automobile, and reshaped to accommodate a totally new kind of visitor: Americans. Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald wanted to drive, not walk, along Promenade des Anglais.

The new Riviera was brasher and louder than its pre-war counterpart. And the thousands of flappers and playboys who cruised over the Atlantic to enjoy an American summer season on the Côte d’Azur created a new kind of Riviera. They drank cocktails (free from Prohibition restraints), explored the Mediterranean coast and revelled in summer rather than winter sun. It was visitors from the US who persuaded Nice hoteliers that they should not bar and shutter their premises from Easter to early October.

The Americans did not stay long. Their love affair with the Riviera was abruptly curtailed by the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the Great Depression. But the Roaring Twenties left their mark, creating a Riviera style that still greatly inflects how we perceive the region today.

Nice today

The Promenade des Anglais is not the gentle walk it was a hundred years ago. Six lanes of traffic speed along Promenade des Anglais, unhappily separating the city from its beach. Critics of the Riviera city argue that the beach was overrated anyway. There is not a speck of sand in sight on this long stony sweep of coast.

Yet Nice still has something going for it, and it’s a great city to explore for a day or two. In the Musée Matisse and the Musée Chagall, both north of the city center, Nice has two world-class art galleries. Its Orthodox cathedral is a very fine example of Russian sacred architecture and contains a treasure trove of Russian religious art.

The old part of town (called Vieux Nice) is a great place just to wander, especially on weekday mornings (not Mondays) when the streets and squares around Cours Saleya host a lively open market. Then climb up to Le Château (which curiously has no château) for fine views of Vieux Nice and the port below.

Where to stay

Nice remains a popular spot for Russian visitors and the city has a good range of restaurants and shops that cater to this Russian clientele. And for somewhere to stay, why not try the hotel favored by both Lenin and Chekhov? They both stayed at the Pension Russe.

Okay, the name has changed and nowadays the old Russian guesthouse styles itself Hotel L’Oasis. The hotel reopened last year after renovation. It is in a lovely leafy courtyard, a calm green retreat off Rue Gounod that offers the perfect antidote to the noise and bustle of Promenade des Anglais. Double or twin rooms run from €65 low season to €79 high season (including breakfast).

How to get there

Nice is easy to reach. It has direct trains from seven European capital cities, among them half a dozen daily trains from Paris. The journey time from Paris is less than six hours.

The local Nice Côte d’Azur Airport receives direct flights from over 100 cities in Europe and further afield. Travelers from North America can fly into Nice on direct daily flights from New York (JFK) with Delta and twice weekly flights from Montréal with Air Transat.

Nice has one of those small and manageable airports that make a great gateway into Europe. But rather than just changing planes, why not stop off for a day or two to explore the French Riviera’s major metropolitan center?

The post Nice, France: Give Nice a chance! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Since I didn’t have a yacht to travel the coast (it was in the shop, of course!), I took the next best thing: the €1 Ligne d’Azur bus.

What’s that you say about €1?

That’s right. One euro gets you anywhere from Cannes to Montecarlo, and everywhere in between (price is per trip). So, for pennies, I hobnobbed from Nice to Monaco and had time to visit Cannes along the way.

At this price, you can’t exactly expect hors d’oeuvres to be served, but all buses are air conditioned, have comfy seats, and big windows from which to watch the view as you glide by. And, get this – the locals use them like they would public transport. In fact, during my ride to Montecarlo, an older woman asked me if we had gotten on the express. My elementary French was good enough to understand the question and say yes.

Before you hop on…

Nice is a major hub and there’s no need buy tickets in advance. Pay on board the bus and head to Juan les Pins, Cape d’Antibes, Antibes, or the lavender-scented Giot. Or, do as I did and visit Montecarlo for an afternoon. Cannes is also on the Ligne d’Azur’s list of bus stops. Otherwise, just hop on the Ligne’s #100 bus (also known as the Monaco Express) from Nice to Montecarlo and vice versa.

Buses leave from Nice’s Gare Routiere.

For more information, visit the Ligne d’Azur’s official web site where fares and schedules are easily accessible. Fares and schedules are available here.

The post Nice Tip: Travel the French Riviera for 1 Euro! appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Cheers back home

In 1915, absinthe, sometimes known as the “green fairy,” was banned in France. Pernod Fils and Ricard reformulated a drink without the illegal wormwood using less alcohol and more star anise and sugar. The strong liqueur is generally mixed with water, five parts to one. Clear on its own, pastis clouds when you add water to it. Use ice with caution as the cubes have a tendency to crystallize the pastis.

Though popular all over France, pastis is heavily associated with the lifestyle of southeastern France. You can pick up a bottle at almost any grocery store or supermarket. A 70 cl bottle will cost about €10.

NOTE: Americans may bring home 1 Liter of alcohol without paying any tariffs or taxes. More bottles may be brought back for personal use, but you will have to pay a tax. Read more on the US Customs website.

While you’re at it…

Pick up a bottle or two of rosé wine. With an emphasis on Mourvedre grapes, up to 80 percent of the wine manufactured in the Provence region is the charmingly pink-colored rosé. And don’t worry about rules governing what months are “okay” to drink rosé… it’s always a good idea, as far as we’re concerned!

The post Nice cheap souvenir: Bottle of Pastis appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

A visit to the Monastere de Cimiez is a quiet, enchanted escape from Nice. Dating back to the 16th century, the gothic church you see today was the result of an 1850 renovation. The church is famous for three paintings by prominent brother painters, Louis and Antoine Brea. The near-by museum, the Musée Franciscain, explains the role of the Franciscans in Nice over the centuries and allows visitors a peek into a recreated (and especially drab) monk’s cell.

The adjoining cemetery is notable for its picturesque qualities, marble graves, and notable residents. Painters Raoul Dufy and Henri Matisse, both former residents of Cimiez, are buried here. Wander through the cemetery, making sure to leave time for the beautifully landscaped gardens.

Visiting the Monastere Notre Dame de Cimiez

The church is open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM. The museum is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 AM – 12 PM, and 3 PM – 6 PM. Admission is free.  For more information, call 04-93-81-00-04.

The post Nice: Visiting Monastere de Cimiez for free appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

We’ll admit it, we’re foodies. We love delicacies of all sorts—be they mass-produced or true gourmand-level foodstuffs.  Whether it’s oddball licorice from Sweden, boxes of Finnish chocolates full of mysterious and quasi-toxic liqueurs, or staffer Laura’s butterscotch cookies, you’ll always find us snacking on something at 611 Broadway.

But even we weren’t prepared for our meal at Café de Turin in Nice this past summer, where we dined on shrimp the size of a baby’s arm. And a smiling, drooling, chubby baby at that.

Café de Turin is a required stop for any self-respecting seafooder. Crates are stacked on the sidewalk full of the day’s recent catch of oysters, shrimp (sorry, prawns), langoustines, and mussels. The owners are cheerful, the wine is cheap, and the air-conditioning is non-existent, and the atmosphere is perfect. To say we like Café de Turin is to paint a faded picture. We love the place!

The post Biggest. Shrimp. Ever. appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.