Nice Virgin !

I am in the process of planning a short break in early October. After much deliberation, I have more or less plumped on the 2* hotel Regence, Rue Massena.

Has anyone stayed there and if so, what were your thoughts on the overall experience? There is no doubt that the location seems excellent.

Would it be a good idea to book an airport transfer service for a door to door delivery (I will be travelling with my elderly but still active father) :-)

Also, how straight forward is it to travel, by train presumably, to Monaco and other Riviera resorts?

Thanks.

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If your father is active he should be fine on the airport transfer bus - it%26#39;s only 15 minutes or so. From where you%26#39;re staying you%26#39;ll be near a tram line, which will take you to the train station. Train travel is pretty straightforward, goes along the coast, and is faster (but more expensive) than buses.

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Stayed at Regence once, it was clean and friendly, great location, very good value for money,

Use the airport bus 4e per person, about a 5 minute walk from Albert 1er bus stop.

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Thanks for the input guys :-)

I have booked the flights + hotel this morning and looking forward to a good break.

Hopefully it will still be pleasantly warm in early October!

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It%26#39;ll be better weather than Edinburgh! October there will be like end-August there, but almost certainly without the rain we get.

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Hi. I%26#39;ve spent my last 5 summer breaks in Nice and have stayed in Hotel Regence twice, though my daughter and her friend have just stayed there again for a third year. It is a perfectly adequate hotel - lovely decor in the lobby/reception/dining area. Rooms are fairly basic but clean and the bathroom/shower are absolutely fine.

We didn%26#39;t find the breakfast great value as choice was quite limited but there are SO many places round about the hotel to eat breakfast that it%26#39;s not a problem. The staff at the front desk were always really helpful and pleasant.

The airport bus stance to centre of Nice is located just outside the airport terminal door (I think bus service no. 98 or 99) - though this year we took a taxi - 35 euros - as we were getting tired and hungry.

You could get either the bus or train to Monaco, Cannes, Eze etc - only 1 euro on the bus - great value and breathtaking scenery but takes a good bit longer than the train. Travelling by train is great once you are actually on it. On the down side, Nice train station always seems very hot %26amp; crowded - best to buy your tickets using the machines available rather than queue.

Hope this helps.

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That%26#39;s great advice dot, much appreciated.

Presumably I will have to get to a central bus station if taking the bus along the coast.

I read somewhere that you can catch an airport bus from the Promenade des Anglais. Is this correct because it appears that the hotel is only a few hundred yards from the seafront (although I do appreciate that it is one long prom!).

Thanks again.

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Hi

Yes you can get the airport bus back to the airport from the stop just by the Casino on the promenade.

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%26gt; Presumably I will have to get to a central bus station if taking the bus along the coast.

Besides bus is cheaper than train, the view is better. I took train first times but nowaday, I take bus most of the time. No.100 goes along the coast, very scenic, for Villefrance, Beaulieu, Monaco and Menton. No.83 (82??) for Eze Village, etc on Moyen Corniche. Train is not bad but the bus has better view, No100 running directly on the coastal route. To take these trains, you go to Gare Routière/bus terminal near Place Masséna and the Old Town. They don%26#39;t go via Nice train station. I don%26#39;t know where Hotel Regence is located but sounds like an easily walkable distance.

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My boyf and i are just back from nice and had a disaster trying to find our hotel after getting the bus - we hadn%26#39;t a clue where to get off and spent ages running about asking directions - by which time we were hot and in much need of a rest!! If you have the money i%26#39;d advise a taxi from the airport to your hotel to save hassle - if you like adventure and cramped hot spaces - get the bus - its cheap but do get a map when your at the airport - that was our mistake!!

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Better still buy a street map of Nice before you leave home so that you can plot the route to your hotel before you land.Compass Group Pop Up Map of Nice £3 even has many of the hotels already marked on it. 4E each on the bus + £3 for the map much cheaper than 35E for a cab.

And if you want to know the nearest bus stop on 98/99 just mention name of your hotel on this forum and ask the many willing helpers.

Just a little bit of forward planning helps to keep the relaxed holiday mood going!