Nice vs Avignon - oh the dilemma with track issues

There is plenty to do in the Nice area for 5 nights, so it might be simpler to stay there!

JR, I totally get your frustration. We are traveling through France for 5 weeks May/June. Months ago when I started planning this trip I checked to see that our location choices were train accessible. A couple weeks ago I started buying tickets and found track disruptions on 3 of our routes. By adjusting travel dates I was able to get to and from, but with now too much time in 2 places and not as much as I want in 1. Several of our lodging picks could not be adjusted so I had to choose second picks. Having some tickets already purchased meant canceling those to make the whole thing fit. I am still rethinking it. What I would suggest is deciding which area you would feel most disappointed to miss out on. If it is a tie, then I would do what Balso suggests and do the easiest transportation wise. What about a bus from Nice to Marseille and train to Avignon. I had not considered busses, but now I am. Good luck!

Jef, thanks for that suggestion. We checked and that just might work. Makes a long travel day, but heck, gets us where we want to go. We will either use that option or stay put in Nice. Decisions, decisions.

If you look into buses, look into buses from Nice to Avignon. Flixbus has a couple of departures a day and it does not take that much longer than the train.

Balso, do you think Avignon is worth the effort?

In my opinion, 5 nights is not enough time to do justice to both the Nice region and the Avignon region. 5 nights is perfect for a good exploration of one or the other. So, since you land in Nice, I would just visit the Riviera, and keep Provence for a future trip!

We spent 4 nights in Nice and never ran out of things to do, would have loved more time there.

Visited Avignon as a day trip from our base in St-Remy and didn't care much for the town at all
YMMV

Nice.
I'm near Monaco right now, having come over by train from Montpellier a couple days ago. From just west of Cannes all the way to the Italian border, it is so beautiful. I've been here many times and it never gets old. I've also spent a lot of time in Provence, and it has some spectacular scenery, but Avignon really doesn't inspire me.

Thanks everyone. We were just using Avignon as a base. Bus trip to St. Remy and train to Isle sur La Sourge. That is about all the time we were going to have there. If it really isn't all that, we will just stay put per your suggestions. If it was a must see, we would make a greater effort to do so. If we stay in Nice would you suggest we fly back to Paris (Orly) or train it?

An if we stay in Nice the whole time, hotel recommendations? Right now we are at a hotel by the train station thinking it would be easier to catch the trains to go to Cannes, Antibes, Menton, etc. If we stay elsewhere is there easy public transport to get you to the train station? Should we look in Old Town, or near the beach? We want easy. Budget around $225-250 per night more or less.

The term "must-see" really has no meaning out of context. Rome, Vienna, Budapest, London, Venice, Berlin--those are all must-sees if you agree that the concept even exists. You aren't trying to see them on this trip because they make no sense geographically, and your time is limited. Five nights is simply not enough time for a decent visit to the Riviera and Provence. The lack of train service is allowing you to focus on one of the two areas and thereby get a much better look at it. I know having plans upended is disappointing, but you're going to end up with an itinerary that is better, overall. It's not that St-Remy and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue are unworthy of visits, but that they are impractical this time around (and even more so with no trains running when you need them).

Edited to add: I forgot to respond to your question about hotels. My price range is much, much lower than yours, so I have no specific hotel to suggest. There's a tram running down Avenue Jean-Medecin east of the Nice-Ville station. It looks like the closest stop to the station is just north of Ave. Thiers. The tram runs down to Place Massena near the seafront. The city also has buses. You don't need to stay up near the train station (though I opted to do so--it's an area with a lot of budget hotels).

Don't stay too close to the train station in Nice, it isn't great. Stay closer to the old town, somewhere near rue de France would be perfect. You still have easy access to the train station, and there are buses along the coast too.

I too do not recommend staying too close to the train station in Nice (although right on Jean Medecin isn't as bad). The nearby services aren't great. I generally recommend the Carre d'Or (roughly the area bordered by the Promenade des Anglais, Blvd Gambetta, Blvd Victor Hugo and Jean Medecin -- Rue de France/Rue Massena as mentioned parallels the Prom) or the few blocks around or the Old Town/Vieux Nice (just note some squares can be noisier, and deeper is further away from the tram). As noted, the tram runs down Jean Medecin (and intersects Line 2 to the port and airport about 2/3 of the way down). It then hits the Old Town and turns left, running parallel to the Old Town.

Another who would avoid staying near the Nice train station.
Look at Beau Rivage near the beach and Windsor in a nice area but not on water/beach.

Love Beau Rivage. Great location.

Let me add that before you make any final decision, check your transportation to Paris. Are flights or trains available when you want to go?

Bets, yes if we leave on the Sunday, we can get a train or fly. Just have to decide.

And I agree about staying in the scenic area as described by Gooster rather than near the train station. I was in both areas today.
Be sure to visit the port area.

I too counsel against sleeping in the Nice Ville station vicinity. I thought I had said that upthread but it must have been in another thread running concurrently.

Lucky Bets