We plan to stay near the train station in Nice since we will be doing lots of day trips. Has anyone recently stayed here? The reviews on TA and Booking seem solid enough, but the hotel states they have recently renovated. Would love first-hand input of anyone here has had a recent stay. Thanks!
Posted by
Washington DC
28082 posts
I am not familiar with that hotel, but it's basically around the corner from the 2-star place where I stayed in 2017. I was fine with the area (and I'm a solo female traveler, 65 at that time), but there are a few not-exactly-attractive blocks around the train station. I know they aren't what some people look forward to when they imagine a trip to Europe. I'd recommend walking the area on Google maps just to be sure you're fine with it. I've found booking.com reviews to be reliable.
I ate several times at Le Saetone, just one block east of Hotel Paganini. I also liked Voyageur Nissart, across the street from the hotel; it has a more limited menu. Neither is a super-duper, special-occasion place, but they seemed reliable options. Reservations might be needed, though if you stopped by right after they opened for lunch, you might be OK.
Seeking a change of pace, I went several times to Le Socrate, a more casual Lebanese place that's just a bit farther from your hotel. It has a broad menu with nothing terribly creative on it, and its decor makes it look like a chain, though I don't think it is. It won't be a special, really memorable meal, but I liked it enough to make repeated visits. You won't leave hungry.
I found the tourist office located on the plaza in front of the Nice-Ville train station very helpful. Stop by, tell them what side trips you plan to take, and they'll hand you relevant brochures. They can also provide guidance on buses.
Do be careful on the regional trains running along the coast. They are worked by teams of pickpockets.
Posted by
California
1625 posts
Don't know if your heart is set on staying by the train station, but we stayed in Nice for the GrandPrix and our hotel was about 3-4 blocks from the Ocean and about a 10 min walk to the train station, we also did a day trip to Eze taking the Bus, which was also just a tram ride to the bus station and we walked to the tram station too. So maybe think about expanding your search a little bit? I would love to go back to Nice and actually explore Nice and then do day trips to all the little beach villages,
Posted by
OP
Gulf Coast, usa
1191 posts
No set on the train station, was just looking for convenience for day trips. Didn't know how easy it was to get to other areas from the train station, or any knowledge about how easy to use the tram system was. Guess we better look at it all.