Suggestions for village on a main train / bus line within 25 minutes of Nice

For hotel recommendations it would be helpful to have some additional information. How many are traveling? When are you going? What is your budget?

I found a nice hotel in the pedestrian area of Old Nice for <70€ night. That was for a single in July 2012.

I don't know whether your better-value assumption will hold true in this area, since the whole coast line is quite popular. Nice and Menton both have HI youth hostels. Menton is more mid-sized and so could have more options than a village like Villefranche-sur-Mer.

Not sure what price range you are looking at, but its worth calling or emailing some hotels to see if they have non-view rooms available at a lower rate. Here's our story: on a RS tour a few years ago the tour ended in Nice and the hotel was quite expensive to stay a few extra nites after the tour (both in asking them via email and looking on web reservation systems). So I found a different place in Nice for about 80E/nite. The morning the tour ended I asked the front desk if they could call my next hotel to see if my room was available. The gentleman at the desk asked why we weren't staying with them and I explained. He said that they had non-view rooms available at about that same price, and the location would have been much more convenient. I had not known to ask about the possibility of non-view rooms or any others that might be at lower than the usual rate, but now you do.

We are 2 adults traveling, and plan to fly into Nice on May 5th .... budget-wise would like to spend under 100 Euros .... thanks for your help! // Peter

Peter, I stayed at Hotel Solara in July 2012. I just looked up their current rates and in May a double goes for 85€ without a balcony and 115€ with balcony and view. It's a very nice basic hotel if that's what you're looking for. I enjoyed my stay there a lot. It's a 2 block walk to the tram stop and the tram goes to the train station so it was convenient for day trips. It gets really good reviews on booking.com and Trip Advisor.

EDIT Also wanted to add that the location was very good, on a pedestrian street about 2 blocks to Place Massena which is where the tram stop is. Also short walking distance to Promenade des Anglais and the Old Town flower market, etc.

Hi Peter. I traveled to the Nice area 10 years ago and stayed at the Hotel Welcome in Villefranche-sur-Mer. Villefranche is a quaint little town on the water with a train station. It's about a 20-minute train ride to Nice and the same distance to Monaco.

Wow, Frances, that hotel looks wonderful! A bit over Peter's stated budget at $400/night though.

My wife and I stayed at the holiday inn in port saint laurent , 5 minutes from the nice airport , right on the French riviera , beautiful view from the room balcony , nice restaurants along the boardwalk , and close to the train station , 10 minute train ride to nice and about 25 minutes into Monaco or the same to Cannes

Thanks, fellow travelers!
I'm looking into your suggestions right now!
If you get any more insightful thoughts, or afterthoughts, please continue to share!
Thanks again // Peter