Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
grinds to a halt. Hoteliers know where to park (allow €15-26/day; some hotels offer special
deals, but space is limited, so reserve ahead). The parking garage at the Nice Etoile shop-
ping center on Avenue Jean Médecin is pricey but near many recommended hotels (ticket
booth on third floor, about €20/day, €12 overnight—20:00-8:00). The garage next to the re-
commended Hôtel Ibis at the train station has better rates. All on-street parking is metered
(9:00-18:00 or 19:00), but usually free all day Sunday.
Youcanavoiddrivinginthecenter—andparkforfreeduringtheday(noovernightpark-
ing)—by ditching your car at a parking lot at a remote tram stop (Las Planas is best) and
taking the tram into town (10/hour, 15 minutes, €1, don't leave anything in your car; tram-
waydescribedlater,under“GettingAroundNice”).TofindtheLasPlanastramstationfrom
the A-8 autoroute, take the
Nice Nord
exit.
Theft Alert:
Nice has its share of pickpockets. Thieves target fanny packs: Have nothing
important on or around your waist, unless it's in a money belt tucked out of sight. Don't
leavethingsunattendedonthebeachwhileswimming,andsticktomainstreetsinVieux
Nice after dark.
MedicalHelp:RivieraMedicalServices
hasalistofEnglish-speakingphysiciansallalong
the Riviera. They can help you make an appointment or call an ambulance (tel. 04 93 26
12 70,
www.rivieramedical.com
)
.
Events:
The Riviera is famous for staging major events. Unless you're actually taking part
in the festivities, these occasions give you only room shortages and traffic jams. Here
are the three biggies:
Nice Carnival
(mid-Feb-early March,
www.nicecarnaval.com
)
,
GrandPrixofMonaco
(lateMay,
www.acm.mc
)
,andFestivaldeCannes,betterknown
as the
Cannes Film Festival
(mid-May,
www.festival-cannes.com
)
.
Sightseeing Tips:
Some Nice museums (Chagall, Matisse, Archaeological) are closed on
Tuesdays, while others (Modern and Contemporary Art, Fine Arts) close on Mondays.
All of the sights in Nice—except the Chagall Museum and the Russian Cathedral—cost
zilch to enter, making rainy-day options a swinging deal here.
Internet Access:
There's no shortage of places to get online. Almost all of the hotels I list
have free Wi-Fi, and some have computers for guests. For other access points, ask at
yourhotelorlookforoneoftheseestablishments,allwithfreeWi-Fi:QuickHamburger,
Häagen Dazs, and McDonald's (multiple locations), or the Nice Etoile shopping center
and Virgin Me-gastore (on Avenue Jean Médecin).
Laundry:
You'll find launderettes everywhere in Nice—ask your hotelier for the nearest
one.
