THE FRENCH RIVIERA - France 2014 - page 1102

enough,andtheparking(limitedspaces)isfree(Sb-€85-105,Db-€100-115,Tb-€150-175,
Qb-€180-200, breakfast-€10, air-con, Wi-Fi, 16 Avenue Durante, tel. [phone],
www.hotel-durante.com , [e-mail] ) .
$$ Hôtel Lafayette***, in a handy location a block behind the Galeries Lafayette
department store, is a good value. It's comfortable, homey, and modest, with 17 mostly
spacious rooms (some with thin walls), all one floor up from the street. It's family-run by
Kiril, George, and young Victor. Rooms not overlooking Rue de l'Hôtel des Postes are
quieter and worth requesting (standard Db-€105-120, spacious Db-€115-130, preferential
rates for Rick Steves readers if booked directly with hotel, breakfast-€10, in-room coffee
service, air-con, no elevator, guest computer and Wi-Fi, 32 Rue de l'Hôtel des Postes, tel.
04 93 85 17 84, www.hotellafayettenice.com , [e-mail] ). See map on
here .
$$ Hôtel St. Georges**, fiveblocksfromthestationtowardthesea,offersfairrates,
a backyard patio, and friendly Houssein at the reception. All rooms should be freshly
renovated by the time you visit (Sb-€90, Db-€120, Tb with 3 beds-€140, extra bed-€20,
breakfast-€9, air-con, free Wi-Fi, 7 Avenue Georges Clemenceau, tel. [phone],
www.hotelsaintgeorges.fr , [e-mail] ).
$$ Hôtel Vendôme*** gives you a whiff of the belle époque, with pink pastels, high
ceilings, and grand staircases in a mansion set off the street. Its public spaces are delight-
ful. The rooms are modern and come in all sizes; the best have balconies (on floors 4 and
5)—request une chambre avec balcon (Sb-€115-135, Db-€150-180, Tb-€180-200, prices
varywithdemand,checkwebsitefordeals,breakfast-€15,air-con,guestcomputerandWi-
Fi, limited parking-€15/day—book ahead, 26 Rue Pastorelli at the corner of Rue Alberti,
tel. [phone], www.hotel-vendome-nice.com , [e-mail] ).
$ Hôtel Ibis Nice Centre Gare***, 100 yards to the right as you leave the station,
gives those in need of train station access a secure refuge in this seedy area. It's big
(200 rooms) and modern, but a good value with well-configured rooms, a refreshing pool,
and cheap €9 parking (Db-€93, big “Club” Db-€125, breakfast-€9, air-con, guest com-
puter and Wi-Fi, bar, café, 14 Avenue Thiers, tel. [phone], www.ibishotel.com ,
[e-mail] ).
$ Hôtel Belle Meunière*, in a fine old mansion built for Napoleon III's mistress, of-
ferscheapbedsandprivateroomsablockbelowthetrainstation.Livelyandyouthhostel-
esque, this simple but well-kept place attracts budget-minded travelers of all ages with
basic-but-adequateroomsandcharismaticMademoiselleMarie-Pierrepresiding(withper-
fect English). Tables in the front yard greet guests and provide opportunities to meet
other travelers. Air-conditioning may be installed by 2014 (bunk in 4-bed dorm-€24-28
withprivatebath,€18-22withsharedbath;Db-€68-78,Tb-€84-93,Qb-€116-124;includes