Vacation to Europe with 5 people and need trip advice!

I haven't been to Nice but I'd spend less time there and more in Paris -- unless you've been to Paris and seen most of what you want to there. If you're having trouble finding things to do in and around Nice, I'm sure other posters will have ideas. But my idea would be to shorten your Nice stay and lengthen your Paris stay. I've been there several times, totaling several weeks, and I'd love to have another week or two there. Remember, also, the first of your Paris days will be subpar because of jet lag. You'll be conscious (hopefully) but not fully functioning, unless you're much better at sleeping on flights than most people are.

What drew you to plan 5 days in Nice in the first place? If you can post that, others can give you better ideas of how to fill your time. Nice itself has a few days of designated "sights," and then there's the whole of the Cote d'Azur easily accessible from there, including Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, Eze, Grasse, Juan-les-Pins, Villefrance sur mer, St. Paul de Vence, and MANY more. But if the area isn't of interest to you or your group, then spend more time in Paris and Florence (both of which have more than enough attractions and daytrips to fill your time, however long it is).

For all your destinations, a great place to start is Rick Steves's books, or his relevant web pages under the "Explore Europe" tab on the top left of this web page. Then, come back with more specific questions. "What should we see in Florence?" is too broad to answer, but "Are there any stores in Florence that sell unusual fabrics?" is something that can be easier to learn from a Forum than a guidebook.

Here's Rick's page on Nice; click "At A Glance" to get started: http://www.ricksteves.com/europe/france/nice

I agree with the others: You're having trouble finding things to do in Nice, because IMHO, for a tourist and not a local, there's really not 5 days worth of things to do in the city of Nice itself.
To fill up 5 days, you'd need to use the train system, or even rent a car and branch out, exploring the Riviera, going west and north; and even take a train day trip to Monaco. That would help fill up 5 days.

But having a rental car in Nice is a pain because of parking and traffic hassles. If you're going to do that, better to sleep in places near the highway that offer adjacent surface parking.

It's your trip, so you get to do it any way you want, and we all have different travel preferences; but if it were my trip, I'd reallocate the time with more in Paris and less in Nice.

You say that Paris is a must see, but you're only giving it two days, at least one of which will be jetlagged. Why is it a must see? I suggest you start your planning with a good guidebook to Paris and make a list of your must sees. From that, you can estimate how much time you should spend there – I would strongly suggest more than two days, or you're going to spend most of your time just trying to figure out your way around. The eyewitness guides and the National Geographic guides have lots of photos and they can be helpful planning tools.

You have only 12 to 14 days (Depending on whether your dates include your travel days). That's not much time. I would suggest limiting the trip to Paris and Florence, or saving Florence for another trip and just doing France in this one.

Though I believe that there is plenty to do in and around Nice, I do have to agree with those who say you aren't giving Paris enough time, especially since your first day is likely to be a jet-lagged one. Also four nights won't really give you five days. More like three. Absent any indication of your interests, I'll add to the list, already given, the Matisse Museum, Chagall Museum, and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in St. Jean Cap- Ferrat.

Jocelyn, If none of you have been to Paris, my suggestion would be to forget Nice altogether. Paris can easily occupy the group for 5-6 days. Travel from point A to Point B always takes longer than expected so you might not have as much time in Nice as you think. Do Paris well and then move on to Florence. TC

Okay! Yeah this is all very helpful! Yeah we had planned to stay in Nice and then travel to neighboring places such as Monaco as many of you have suggested. It's just such a frustrating venture to book and plan a trip without the help of a hired trip planner (trying to keep our costs down) As for why Paris is a must see, two members of our travel group have never before been to Europe and want Paris to be their first.
I look forward to many more suggestions from all of you :)
Also if you have suggestions for sites that could perhaps help us outline our trip that would be appreciated too!

With so little time you should IMHO spend half your time in Paris and then fly from there to FLorence on Easyjet and spend the rest of your time there. This will maximize 'being there' time. Both of these places repay the time spent. There's almost no point in even stopping in Paris if you only have two nights, one full day. From Paris there are dozens of great day trips if you want to vary the scene. From Florence, you have an easy day trip to Siena and also easy daytrips to Lucca or Pisa.

Look.. basically everyone is saying.. spend at least 3-4 days in Paris then 3 days in Nice.. I have been to both.. Paris numerous times.. and Nice is fun ,, and yes you can daytrip to Monaco and Cannes and Eze blah blah.. but its simply not a 5 day place to me.. and Paris is like a place you could easily spend a week and not see half of what you want to see.. its kind of silly to give it less time then Nice????? And no matter how many times you have been to Paris.. many of us have been there for dozens of times.. there is always something you have not seen or done.. so you don't need to worry about being bored with a repeat visit.

PS Nice weather will likely be pleasant.. but not super beach weather maybe. averages will be in the 65-70 f range) . just thought I would remind you of that..

Janet and Pat have given you great information. Do you yet know how to get to Nice from Paris?
The train will take you 5 hrs 46 min. Cost 63.00 This does not include packing, checking out of your
lodging and getting to the train station, and then the reverse, once you arrive Nice.

Paris deserves at least 4 days. There is soo much to see there! Have spent 28 days in 3 trips
and still haven't done all I wish to do.

Sample:

5/29 Travel

5/30 Arrive Paris. Passport control, pick up luggage if checked, then Train (RER), bus, or taxi into city
you have spent at least 2 hours on these tasks. Check into lodging. Evening meal time for sleep

5/31 Paris...still somewhat jetlagged.

6/1 Don't take that 5+ hour trip...Stay Paris.

6/2 Paris

6/3 OK, we'll let you go to Nice...Airport!! Orly>NCE Easyjet 1H25m $45.32 Bus airport to Nice
Center 30 min. Check into lodging. http://en.nicetourisme.com/
I spent 3 nites nights in Nice on my first trip. I think part of its' draw is the Romance of the Riveria.
For the amount of time you have , 3 nites should be fine.

6/4 Nice Bus to Eze in afternoon

6/5 Nice Villefranche-sul-mare train 7 min. 1,80 euro or Monaco

6/7 Train...Niceville (8:09)-Firenze SMN (14:44) 6H46m $50.60 or...silly as it sounds

Fly Easyjet NCE (11:30)-VCE (12:35) 1 hr 05min $53.26 Bus to Venice S. Lucia 30 min. 6 euro
Train Venice -Firenze SMN 2H05m 19 euro.

6/8 Florence

6/9 Florence

6/10 Florence?

6/11 Travel where do you fly out of?

As Janet suggested it would be more relaxing to do just Paris and Florence, just flying between the 2

This may give you some thoughts as to how much you would be traveling.

If there are 5 of you, have everyone list 1 thing they want to see in each location, most votes wins.

Planning should be part of the fun.

With 5 your don't even have to vote on what to see within each location -- you are not joined at the hip -- split up into pairs and triples on occasion so everyone gets to do what they want and you are not driving each other crazy. We have always done this with our family of four and the advantage is lots of one on one time with other family members. This is an expensive trip and every moment has value -- spend as little as possible of the time grimly marching behind people doing what they want while you are bored silly. Nothing wrong with a little mix and match along the way with meeting together at x time to do something as a full group.