Topics

• Why the Cote d'Azur?
• Accommodation
• Airports
• Climate
• Currency
• The Essentials
• Getting Around

• Internet Resources
• Orientation
• Passes
• Passports & Visas
• Public Holidays
• Shopping

• Speaking the Language
• Tipping
• Tours
• What & Where to Eat
• Jetsettr Travel Resources

Why France? Why the Cote d'Azur?

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The Cote d'Azur, otherwise known as the French Riviera can conjure up many images for travellers. Most often, this stunning part of the Mediterranean is associated with the glitz and glamour of events like the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix but even if you're not planning on arriving by private jet, you'll still find a myriad of other experiences to keep you entertained!

Resort towns such as Nice, Cannes and St-Tropez are still the playgrounds of the rich and famous offering shopping, entertainment and nightlife to rival rich neighbour, Monaco however other, less well known destinations such as Menton and Juan-les-Pins on the coast and regional spots not far from the sea like La Martre and Grasse can offer a very different perspective on this popular region.

Accommodation

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Before I travelled overseas last year I spend over 6 months searching for the best hotels to stay in around Europe. Wherever possible, these hotels had to:

• Be within walking distance of the centre of the town/city, the main attractions and the train station
• Be in good condition with at least 3 stars & have good feedback from past travellers
• Preferably have access to wireless internet facilities
• Preferably have breakfast included in the nightly rate
• Have reasonable rates preferably no more than €150 per/night

We'd like to recommend two accommodation options for Nice.

Nice Garden Hotel

Our first option, the Nice Garden Hotel, is a small family-run property not far from the Promenade des Anglais which will suit the budget conscious but no-less fussy traveller looking for accommodation with personalised service and a sprinkling of charm!

For Nice Garden Hotel, click here to find out more and to book.

Hotel Suisse - Ocre Et Azur

Our second suggestion, the Hotel Suisse is for those who'd like to splurge and make the most of this hotel's prominent position on the Promenade des Anglais and of the stunning Baie des Anges views from the majority of its modern rooms.

To book or find out more about Hotel Suisse, click here.

The Jetsettr team uses and recommends both of these hotels.

For hotel recommendations in other areas of the French Riviera we trust and recommend Trip Advisor to find the perfect accommodation. Simply put the destination you're looking for in the search box and let Trip Advisor and the unbiased reviews from other travellers do the rest! Click here to go there now or follow the link below.

Airports

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Nice-Cote d'Azur Airport

Aeroport International Nice-Cote d'Azur  6km west of Nice city centre

Marseille-Provence Airport

Marseille-Provence (aka Marseille-Marignane) 28km NW of the city in Marignane

Paris Airports

Roissy/Charles de Gaulle    23km north of Paris city
Orly                                   14km south of Paris city

Climate

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Protected by the Alpes, the Cote d'Azur enjoys a pleasant but characistically Mediterranean climate with sunny, hot and dry summers and mild winters. If you're travelling in the region in winter, you will most probably experience the Mistral winds which are blown down from the upper region of the Alpes. Rain is consdered rare but is more common around September however for the majority of the year, you'll be able to enjoy its high percentage of sunny days!

Currency

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The official currency is the Euro € (100c = €1).

Most credit cards are widely accepted (especially Visa) which is known there as Carte Bleue or CB.

The Essentials

Currency Exchange

• Barclays Bank - 2 rue Alphonse Karr
• Le Change - 17 av Thiers (opposite the train station)

Internet Access

• Cyberpoint - 10 av Felix Faure (€4 per/hour at last check)

Laundromat

• Taxi Lav  Vieux Nice - 13 rue du Pont Vieux

Post Office

• Main Post Office -  23 av Thiers  

Tourist Information

• Tourist Tourist Office - 5 promenade des Anglais

Getting Around

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To/from the airport

Nice-Cote d'Azur

Ligne d'Azur (  http://www.lignedazur.com/ ) handle the buses and shuttle services around Nice. A shuttle service (Route 99) will get you to/from the airport to Gare Nice Ville (main train station). A taxi to the city centre will cost between €25-30.

Marseille-Provence

Marseille-Provence airport is a minihub for Ryanair and provides flights across Europe.

Navette shuttle buses link Marseille-Provence airport with Marseille's train station (Gare St-Charles) in approximately 1 hour. There are also two metro lines and a good bus service.

Aéroport Roissy Charles de Gaulle

TGV trains link Nice directly to Paris Gare de Lyon (and vice versa) in 5.5hrs. Local service from the same train station link Nice to Monaco and the other towns of the French Riviera. There is no train to St. Tropez so car or bus is your best option.

Jetsettr Tip

For longer journeys (Paris to Nice, Avignon to Nice etc.), it is generally advisable to pre-book your train ticket as seats sell very fast in mid to high season, especially on popular routes. (Most local journeys between towns in the French Riviera are run by the local train network so there isn't always a need to reserve a seat however if you are using your rail pass for the journey, a stamp will be required.

Even if you have a rail pass, most routes require seat reservation and sometimes there is a small surcharge to do so. If you decide to wing it (as sometimes we do!), you risk not getting a seat and if you have a first-class rail pass, you may have to sit in 2nd class for the journey, depending on the availability of seats and bookings.

But don't worry, you can purchase individual tickets or an entire rail pass with the Australian branch of Rail Europe. Click here to find out more or to get booking!

Bus

Intercity Bus Station handle local, long-haul and international services. Try Intercars for long-haul travel and Eurolines for inter-Europe journeys.

Getting Around the City

The Nice tramway provides a modern and hassle-free way of making your way around most parts of Nice.

Local bus services are handled by Ligne d'Azur and tickets can be purchased on-board.

Holiday Bikes rent scooters, bicycles and cars for a different way to view the area. Main car hire businesses are located at the train station, airport and off the Promenade des Anglais on Avenue Gustave V (McDonalds is on the corner).

For more information on the tram route, visit the official Nice Tramway Site here.

Find out everything you need to know about the services provided by Ligne d'Azur here.

Internet Resources

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French Riviera Tourism
http://www.frenchriviera-tourism.com/

Antibes-Juan les Pins Tourism
http://www.antibes-juanlespins.com/eng/index.html

Cannes Tourism
http://www.cannes.travel/?lang=en

Nice Tourism
http://www.nicetourisme.com/

Marseille Tourism
http://www.marseille-tourisme.com/en/in-marseille/

Menton Tourism
http://www.tourisme-menton.fr/-Menton-French-Riviera-Cote-d-Azur-

Monaco Tourism
http://www.visitmonaco.com/us

St. Tropez Tourism
http://www.ot-saint-tropez.com/

Orientation

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From near Gare Nice Ville, Jean Médecin runs south to place Messéna where the modern city centre spans to the north and west. The bus station is situated three blocks east. Walk 1.2Km south from the train station and you'll discover the Baie des Anges and the famous promenade des Anglais. The hill to your left is known as Le Chateau which you can walk up for an amazing view of the greater Mediterranean Sea and the port on the other side

Passes

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The French Riviera Pass gives you in most cases, free access to 20 museums, sites, the Nice Le Grande Tour Bus and other tourist services around the Cote d'Azur as well as a 60-page guidebook so you can learn all you need to know about the region.

For more details and to purchase the pass, click here.

Passports & Visas

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All visitors to France require a valid passport.

For leisure travelers, a visa is not currently required by Australian or New Zealand passport holders (for stays of up to 90 days).

Citizens of other countries may require a visa.

Different regulations apply for stays of more than 90 days. For further
information please consult with the French Consulate or your travel agent.

Public Holidays

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Shopping

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From corner stores that sell sand buckets for the beach to designer boutiques, the French Riviera offers many shopping opportunities. In Nice, you'll find all the big brands in the modern city centre around place Messena. If money's no barrier, head to  Blvd de la Croisette in Cannes. Maybe you'll even get to brush shoulders with a holidaying A-Lister!

Speaking the Language

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Tipping

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In cafes and restaurants you can expect that a 15% service charge will be added to your bill.  A tip of €1-2 is polite for other services such as porting, ushering, doormen, taxi drivers and hairdressers.

Tours

The sun and sand is what lures most holiday-goers to the Riviera however when you're finishes soaking up the sunshine on the beach, you'll see that there are plenty of other sites to keep you busy!

Nice

Parc du Chateau is a hilltop park offering magnificent views of the old city and beachfront. If you can't face the steep stepped climb, take the cliffside lift!

Art enthusiasts are sure to enjoy the Musee d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain where you'll find Andy Warhol's 1965 Campbell's Soup Can; the Musee National Message Biblique Marc Chagall displaying the largest public collection of work by Marc Chagall as well as the famous Musee Matisse which of course offers a fantastic collection of exhibits and paintings for Henri Matisse.

Cannes

If you're lucky enough to be visiting Cannes during the film festival, people-watching would have to be the attraction of choice! Just strolling the promenade will be enough to keep you busy all day!

For the remainder of the year, they say that Cannes basks in the aura of the film festival however Ile de Lerins and Ile Ste Marguerite are only a short boat ride away and are great places to get away from the crowds.

Monaco

Of course we couldn't speak about Monaco without mentioning the famous Casino de Monte Carlo and if you feel like splashing out for  lunch or dinner, the Café de Paris right next door will have you feeling like you're in the club!

Changing of the Guards occurs everyday at 11.55am outside the Palais du Prince in Monaco Ville. Afterwards you can visit the state apartments or take a stroll through the beautiful gardens that lead you down to the Musee Oceanographique de Monaco, a fantastic aquarium and great way to spend a few hours.

Of course, if you're travelling there in late May, you'll have the opportunity to see the Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Jetsettr Tip

What & where to eat

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With the flavours of the Mediterranean in full swing around the Cote d'Azur, you'll find many regional specialities to tempt your tastebuds!

In Nice, like in a lot of cities worldwide, you'll find some magnificent, authentic restaurants in the back-streets, often off the main tourist drag. The main tourist strip with restaurants and cafes galore can be found across the road from the promenade des Anglais not far from the base of hill Le Chateau. This is also where the markets are held and the area is entered via big archways. Perhaps the perfect option after your afternoon stroll along the pebbled shore?

And of course, no matter where you head to in France, a myriad of bread (pain) varieties, cheese (fromage) and croissants will follow. Buon appetite!

Breakfast

Don't leave France without trying a pain au chocolat (chocolate croissant) or escargoe (sultana and custard pastry) for breakfast... or any time of day for that matter!  Or more simply, grab yourself a baguette and some butter jam and a coffee and take a seat to watch the world go by - you'll have yourself believing you're a local!

Lunch

If you're missing home, take a stroll around to the port in Nice where you'll find the slighty quirky Australian Bar called Kookaburra to lift your spirits! Even if it's only to interact with other English-speaking patrons and staff or for an Aussie beer, you're sure to enjoy the spot overlooking the port.
Whilst in Monaco, live it up with lunch at the famous Café de Paris, right next door to Monte Carlo's casino.

Dinner

If you're heading down to Marseille, make sure you try the famous Bouillabaisse (seafood stew). It's a regional specialty and if you get a good one, the flavours will just burst in your mouth!

In Nice and its other close neighbours, you'll become familiar with options like Socca (a type of French poppadom!), Ratatouille, Nicoise salad and Farcis (stuffed and roasted vegies).

Jetsettr Tip

Bistros can simpply be pubs, bars with snacks and light meals or a full on restaurant.

Brasseries often look like cafes and serve beverages and full meals from morning till late.

Menu Du Jour is the Menu of the Day that is basically a three course meal (entrée, main and dessert) for a set price. Drinks are usually extra.

Jetsettr's Nice & Cote d'Azur Travel Resources

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Nice - Cote d'Azur Trip Designer

We've put together a great selection of travel accessories for a perfect trip to Nice and the French Riviera! Browse the Nice - Cote d'Azur Trip Designer

Nice Garden Hotel & Hotel Suisse - Ocre Et Azur

These great options are Jetsettr's recommended hotel for Nice. Whether you're looking for a reasonable rate or an unbeatable location, we've got you covered! Find out more or book a room for the Nice Garden Hotel here.

For Hotel Suisse - Ocre et Azur, follow this link.

For hotel options in other towns of the Cote d'Azur, we highly recommend Trip Advisor to find the best deal and to access real traveller reviews. Start searching now.

Lonely Planet

Get yourself a Lonely Planet guidebook and make the most of your journey. Start your journey here.

Rail Europe

Rail Europe offers a number of hassle-free ways to get you to and from Nice from single ticket journeys to a French or multi-country train rail pass. Discover your options here.

Travel SIM

Keep in touch with friends and family with this international SIM card from Australian company Travel SIM. Enabling you to use your own mobile, have your friends and family SMS you for free from their website and with incredibly competitive calling rates, it's the Jetsettr team's recommended communication choice. Read more about or purchase your Travel SIM now.

Trip Advisor

Browse accommodation and read reviews from travellers throughout the globe and then search for the best deal on your chosen accommodation or attraction with one of the world's most trusted travel resources. Get recommendations for the French Riviera.

Viator

Viator offers what could be debated as access to the biggest range of tours, day trips, attractions and more online. And as a Jetsettr Travel Partner, you can research and then book it all before you go. Get browsing and booking!