Always thinking and planning but I cannot get any feel for hotels in Monte Carlo from the internet. Would appreciate any feedback you might be able to give. Should we try to stay in Nice? I seem to remember someone on the LCT writing about a neat hotel that is a 10 min walk from the heart of Monte Carlo - was charming and not over the top in cost. Anxious for any opinions and suggestions.

Jan

Anaclaire,

We're going next week. We're staying at the Hermitage, which is pricey, but not anywhere near the Hotel de Paris!

Will send in my random thoughts!

Looks like a good choice - please let me know if you like the location and accomodations. We are planning on two nights and do not like the thought of Nice. Have a great cruise. We will be behind you on Bliss out of Dover. I am very excited and hope the weather will be good. -- thanks -Jan

We have stayed at the Hotel de Paris twice, great sevice, wonderful sea view rooms, and great location.

Doris

We're staying in Nice, and have little interest in Monte Carlo. We'll let you know how we do.

Wendy: Nice is great we loved it BUT MC an experience ....do not dismiss it -

Joanna, I agree. To be in that part of the world and not expierence MC would be a shame.It's just like a fantasy land to us...The best example
of excess but fun fun fun.

Doris

No, I'm not dismissing it. I was there years ago. We'll have a view from the ship, and perhaps a stroll around before sailaway.

Anaclaire,

RSSC put us up in Le Meridian a few years ago. It is quite lovely, right on the water and a short walk to the bus stop.

I have posted several times about our hotel in Nice that is a short walk from the center of Old Town in Nice http://www.hotel-la-perouse.com/
I have stayed there three times pre-cruise, and love it, because I am there for just a night or two, and don't need to have access to the beach, although the hotel is on a bluff over the sea.

I really like Nice for the flower market in the morning! Nice little shops, too. Other than the typical tourist spots in Monte Carlo, I really like getting out of town into the little villages up in the hills for some real "old Europe" feel. Of course, they are commercialized (some more than others) and have lots of shops, but it just suits me better than the same traffic I see here. I am not a "city" person.

We also enjoyed Nice - stayed at Hotel Le Grimaldi 6/04- small room with small balcony close to everything. Check hotel on tripadvisor

Joanna, that's where we're staying. Just one night, sounds charming, close to everything.

Wendy: We were very happy with the hotel - yes very close to everything - our room was small but nice large bathroom and tiny terrace - I would stay there again - Joanna

NY Times (today) travel section talks about some restaurants in Nice that look interesting - Joanna

Yes, I've read it and put it in my "document pile" already. Hope we get to try one of those places on Thursday night!

Thanks, JoAnna. Link to NY Times Article

Wendy - today is final packing day! Hooray (but somewhat overwhelming today!) Too much to do

Thanks Kathy - I don't know how to link :( :( - was hoping someone would do it - Joanna

I too am overwhelmed. Just going upstairs to iron ( :( ). I can't see how all this stuff is going to fit! Nice that at least we have laundry facilities on the ship.

Work is overwhelming at the moment too, which is why I want to mostly finish packing today. Then there's cutting the lawn, etc.

Don't forget to pay bills too - and run to the store for last minute items. O my list runneth over! Better get back to the tasks at hand!

Anaclaire,

We stayed at the Hermitage for 3 nights last September before a Seabourn cruise. We had a room with a balcony overlooking the harbor which was very nice. You can walk to many areas. The Hermitage is only a block from the Hotel de Paris and the Casino.

If you are at certain hotels, including the Hermitage and the Hotel de Paris, you get a free pass for the inner rooms of the Casino, which are the most beautiful and worth seeing. We were told that men had to wear a tie and jacket in the Casino, and Alan complied, but when we went in, there were some men more casually dressed.

We also stayed in Nice after our cruise. We liked it and would stay there again.

Merril

Merril - Yhanks for posting this about the Hermitage as well as the Casino at the Hotel de Paris. I might have to force Frank into it for a peek!

Ok. so where are all the reviews from recent residents of the Hermitage? How long a trip to the Palace? Other sites?

Also, how far is Le Meridien from the sites? I think if I pick up a Starwood Amex I might be able to get enough points to stay there.

thanks,

Marc,

The Hermitage was magnificient. Service was excellent. Room was beautiful. Walking distance to everything in Monte Carlo. I would definitely stay again. Privledges to the inner rooms at the Casino since it's a sister property and actually connects.

We loved our Nice Hotel. Charming rooms, great view and location. Just a short walk from the Flower Market and 10 min. from the Port area. I really wish we had had more time in Nice. Hotel Perouse was the name.

jan

My October 27 cruise ends in Monte Carlo on November 3. It does overnight there from November 2, so I will get to look around. I decided to spend November 3 in Nice, since I booked a 9 a.m. flight back to the U.S. I am not sre that was a wise idea, but the other flights seemed to have 6 hour layouvers in the NE from midnight. In retro, I wish I had stayed in NJ at a friend's and made the flight going back even longer.

At any rate, I have booked Hotel Le Perouse due to the view and location.

Should I arrange transfer from the ship in advance or just get a taxi after debarkation in Monte Carlo? Should I do more sightseeing before going to the hotel? My cruise is port intensive with no sea days, and I am staying in Rome beforehand and Hassler, so I imagine I will have had my fill of sightseeing.

Debbie, if I understand you correctly, you are disembarking in Monte Carlo and going to Nice? My suggestion, if you haven't been before would be to stop in Eze on your way to Nice.

Right, I am ending in Monte Carlo. They overnight there till 11/3, so I will see some things there on 11/2. Then I am going on to Nice because my flight leaves on 11/4 at 9 a.m. I wish I had made it later in the day for many reasons, but it is done now. The do have tours to Eze on the Monte Carlo day. I had not checked into it. I will. I know I am going to want to come back to this area soon with my husband. He goes to France, Italy and Germany every couple of monthas and NEVER sightsees at all. He just goes to work and goes to his hotel. What a waste.

Do the drivers you hire from the ship tend to speak English? My European languages are quite on the light side in most cases.

Jan, you and others have me excited about Le Perouse. I have heard nothing but good about it, though I believe it was that hotel that has a huge pic of a roach in a champagne glass on Trip Advisor. Perhaps a disgruntled employee?

Debbie, our driver spoke English but of course I forget the name of the company. Maybe Olivia will read this and remember.

Oh, I am reading, but don't remember, as I LOVE it when someone else takes charge as Karen does!

OK, if nothing else, I will point to the name of the hotel on the piece of paper!

Now, what about Hassler? Can I go anywhere from there w/o going up and down the steps? I can see going up and down once, but I don't want to start the cruise with sore calves.

Hi Debbie,

Lucky you to stay at the Hassler!

Yes, you can go up or down from the hotel by taking Via Sistina or Via Gregoriana. I agree, the steps are "fun" just once or twice!

Editing to add: I seem to recall there is an elevator or escalators in the Spagna Metro station that goes up to the same level as to where the Hassler is . I used it years ago, don't know if it's still there or not. The Metro stop is , just don't know if the escalator/ elevator is functioning anymore.

Thanks, Maria. This is great info. I will be sure to report some of these tips as I get them when I go and will be sure to report on Hassler, also and get pics.

Any recent reports from Monte Carlo? Hermitage? Fairmont? Hotel de Paris? Le Meridien?

thanks,

Nice is half price to Monte Carlo and just as lovely - actually better.

Actually in checking out possibilites for Grand Prix, Nice was more expensive, at least at certain hotels. Probably just depends on what you want, but the Le Meridien Beach Plaza in MC was much less than the one in Nice, even though we'd love to stay in Nice, decided for just the one night to go with Monte Carlo. At least this was the case a couple of weeks ago when we booked.

Meridian Nice Nov 7th-Nov 9th 157.50 Euros per night AAA rate.

We have never stayed in Nice so want to give it a try..

Nice is super - we have booked same one Frank - MC so pretty but not much to do??

Probably just depends on what you want, but the Le Meridien Beach Plaze in Nice was much less than the one in Nice, even though we'd love to stay in Nice,

explain JoAnn

uuuhhh meant the Le Meridien Beach Plaza in Monte Carlo. LOL :o :o