We are planning our 2005 cruise and are looking at the Voyager from Monte Carlo to Ft. Lauderdale. We are thinking of staying in Nice, renting a car and taking day tours to St. Paul de Vence, etc. Any suggestions for an upscale hotel in Nice. We have been to Monte Carlo and feel that staying in Nice would be more quaint and centrally located for seeing the area. Thanks

I believe the Negresco is considered the premier hotel in Nice, and has the famous Chanticleer restaurant. I was there back in the 80's and now prefer a less formal atmosphere. The last three times I was there before a cruise, we stayed at LaPerouse, which sits high above a cliff on the northern end of the town and is just a short walk to Vieux Nice, and next to the access elevator to a beautiful park high above the town. Lawrence (lchoi98) stayed at the Negresco last month before our cruise on the Voyager. Perhaps if he resurfaces he can fill you in with more details. On one of my cruises, we did a full day with a guide (you can drive it just as well yourself) and visited St. Paul de Vence, Vence, Cagnes Sur Mer, the Rothschild Villa, Ez and one other town. This was over 1 1/2 days, and she left us by the Palace in Monte Carlo where we could make our way back to the ship. (We had left from Nice the night before and were docked in Monaco)

We stayed at Le Grimaldi about 3 blocks from heart of Nice - nothing like the Negresco but I loved it - small, charming, sweet room, little balcony, nice bathroom, I think we paid 200 euros - Joanna We really like Nice!

Joanna, don't forget to tell him the price of Tony's breakfast! We heard about that all week...outrageous! There is NOTHING cheap about Nice.

We got up at the crack of dawn in Nice and walked out the door of Le Grimaldi at 7 am (where we could have had breakfast for $15 pp no way we said) so we started walking and walking and walking- found some cute outdoor cafes breakfast 8 euros but they did not open until 8:30 or 9 am - so we walked and walked and walked - finally at 9:15 am I said I am so hungry and do not have energy to walk back to the cute 8 euro cafes - looked ahead and saw a Holiday Inn and said let's just go in and SIT, RELAX, and have breakfast - boring but would serve a purpose at that moment - worst food we have ever eaten and we did not ask price - $50 PP - we were speechless and disgusted at how stupid we were - however, that was the only negative on the entire trip and our fault - Joanna (Tony's blood pressure was very high for atleast a week it is all he talked about)

Oh my goodnesss, Joanna! I certainly believe Tony's BP was high after that! ($50/person -- should have been a buffet with champagne and lobster for that price). :)

Masaki

Thanks guys. Didn't realize that Nice was that expensive. Really liked the Holliday Inn breakfast experience. Wow! We had lunch in the old part of Nice for about 20 Euro pp. (3 course fixed price lunch) We did an all day tour from Cannes and visited St.Paul de Vence, Anitbes, Nice and Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo was our least favorite and that is why am thinking of staying in Nice prior to the cruise.

Come to think about it, why are we taking this particular cruise when Italy is our favorite country to visit and we were just in these cities and towns??? Maybe we should look into the Oct. 15th duel cruises. Marcie, how does your cruise look?

We loved the Voyager but also loved the Diamond - two different ships but both have merit! We loved Monte Carlo to Rome last Sept on the Diamond - weather was perfect and we went on from Rome to Athens- I think you need 11 or 14 nights if you go that distance - Joanna

In Nice last month, we passed on the 17Euro breakfast at our hotel and walked the short walk into Old Nice and had breakfast at much less than 17 Euro for the two of us, with Jes having about 3 cokes. It was in a little cafe outside on the street. I find that the more I can afford outrageous prices for hotels and meals, the less interested I am in having them, being rather simple in my needs before I get on the ship.

We stayed at the Marriott in Monte Carlo & paid about 170 Euro inclusive of breakfast. You can eat outside and look at all the yachts of the rich & famous. The hotel includes a free shuttle service around Monaco (you need to call the bell desk to let them know which shuttle you will be on) including the train station. Trains to Nice were about 4 Euro round trip and took about 20 minutes. It worked out very well for us. We met Joanna, Lawrence & Tony in Nice for dinner (cab from Nice train station about 10 Euro). Cheers, Anne

We stayed in Saint Jean Cap Farrat when we went to the Grand Prix a few years ago. It's a charming village halfway between Nice and Monte Carlo. We stayed at the La Voile d'Or, a smallish 4 star hotel on the harbor. Our consierge (sp?) arranged for a boat to take us to Monte Carlo on the day of the race. Wonder hotel and village!

Oops...meant to say wonderful!

jlillberto- Thanks. I knew you meant wonderful. BTW, does the hotel have a website? Love to look at their grounds, rooms, etc. Sounds like a winner. We are also looking into a hotel in St. Paul de Vance which was recommended on this web site. We really do not want to stay in Monte Carlo but just arrive at the pier in time to depart. ( 10:00pm for our cruise)

Definetly stay either in Saint Jean Cap Ferret
it's a lovely place.. or better your idea of St Paul de Vence!
We love the hotel there called
La Colombe d'Or.. it's wonderful.. and if you don't stay there- a must to have lunch on there vine covered terrace. Food is delicious and then there is just being there.. Their main dining rooms walls are covered with priceless paintings.. just unreal.. when the artists were starving they traded their works for room and board..
I was looking for their website and found this:

"In days gone by, visitors to this small stone-built Provençal-style hotel stood a good chance of bumping into artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Miro and Léger. Now visitors are more likely to bump into actors and celebrities including the Beckhams, Elton John and Roger Moore, who go to eat in the hotel's renowned restaurant, which serves up good Provençal cuisine. But the artists have left their mark - many were cash-strapped when they stayed, and so paid by leaving some artwork, which is displayed in the restaurant. The hotel has added to those donations to build up a surprising collection of art. There are also sculptures around the outside pool, including one by Calder. Each of the 26 rooms, which include 11 suite apartments, are decorated differently. The hotel is just at the entrance to the village of St Paul de Vence, about 15 minutes from Nice. "

Here is their website
http://www.la-colombe-dor.com/dove/hotel.htm

For Saint Jean Cap Ferrat here is the website
( also for all of Provence towns)
http://www.provenceweb.fr/e/alpmarit/stjeanca/stjeanca.htm

Thanks for the info Claudia, I tried the web site for the Hotel La Colombe d'Or but it seems it is in French and does not list rooms, rates, etc. Is there an English version of the Web site? There is an email contact and I will contact them and get details.
We agree with you and will probably stay in the St. Paul area until cruise time.
Thanks again.
Maurice

Maurice, that hotel is really nice and very famous. You might go to Karen Brown's website for more information. It is in English. go here: http://www.karenbrown.com/franceinns/detail.lasso?RecID=9932

Thanks Claudia. I often use Karen Brown's website for resource materials for hotels. She is almost always correct and we have stayed at a number of her rec and have been very pleased.
Maurice

That seems to be their website.. best just to email them..
Agree, Karen Browns books are great. Have used her France and Switzerland books .. all of her recomendations have been wonderful..

Claudia, have you ever stayed at Le Cep in Beaune? We learned about it from Karen Brown. I loved that hotel. Lovely restaurant, first time I ever ate cock's comb as an appetizer!

No but the Chateau de Gilly in Vougeot <sp?> which is in that area is the most stunning wonderful place to stay if you are doing the Beaune wine tour..
It is a castle turned hotel and is gorgeous.. restaurant yum! Oh, I want to go back!
http://www.chateau-gilly.com/uk/hotel_gilly.php

I was fortunate to stay at both Le Cep in Baune and Chateau de Gilly in Vougeot about 6 years ago on a Butterfield and Robinson bike tour of Burgundy. Both are lovely however, Chateau de Gilly is set off by itself in wonderful settings and is a remarkable chateau. You must have dinner in the cave like wine vaults. This hotel I would go back to again.
Le Cep is nice and is smack right in the heart of Beaune. Nice but nothing special ( as Chateau Gilly is). Biking through Burgundy is also something special. What a way to see the countryside and meet the locals. Would make this bike trip again in a heartbeat.

Would have dinner in the Chateau de Gillys' stunning dining room in a heartbeat..
One of the most beautiful dining rooms in France isn't it?

One more place to put on my "must do" list. Can you believe, I have to get up in 6 hours for my DABS cruise! I really should have drank that wine. But I had to drive home a wonderful family friend who walks with a cane. You just take the trade-offs for the important people to be there.