Liguria, Italy or Nice/Monaco

Having been to both, I can tell you that they are very different. Nice is larger, has nicer beaches and more to do, but lodging near the beach can be expensive. Towns along the Ligurian coast are much smaller, quieter and very relaxing. Many beaches are small or rocky, but lodging prices are more reasonable and almost every place is within walking distance of some type of beach. In Cinque Terre, Monterosso might be a good choice for you - better beaches and more for teenagers to do. There are definitely advantages to both Nice and Liguria. How you want to spend your non-beach time may be a deciding factor.

Hi Tina,
We were in Nice and in Liguria this past summer with 2 daughters (then 12+13) and we would ALL go back to Italy without a doubt. There are fewer tourists, many lovely and quiet towns, Great Food and so much more. We visited Cinque Terre which was lovely, and spent about a week in Lerici by day, and in a rental apartment in La Serra at night.Check out Homelidays.com for rental accomodation.

I thought much of Liguria - apart from the well known CT and Portofino, was a series of high rise beach towns of little charm. But we couldn't find a place of much appeal and so continued on (after a night) in Genoa. I'd love to hear that there are some towns between Ventimiglia and Sestre Levanto that folks here would recommend.

Thank you all,
Great info,
Tina

I would like to invite you to the website (www.northitaly.eu) where we offer charming holiday homes and apartments in Liguria.

So what towns in Liguria have nice beaches and are not too quiet. I have three teenage boys with me.
Thanks
Tina

I too, have been to both, and I strongly disagree with Doug about Nice having better beaches than Liguria.

James! Where did that shot come from?

You seem to be back to your attack mode. (Should I expect a PM saying "Do no mess with me, Doug!")?

I said nothing about Nice having better beaches. I didn't mention Nice.

Why would you call me out for something I didn't say?

Doug, are you sure you have been to Liguria? What high rise resorts are you talking about? That sounds more like Monaco (most overrated place I've ever been to by the way).

If you read what I said, I described my experience with precision - Couldn't find anyplace that seemed interesting and that wasn't crowded with four or five story buildings (OK, "high rise" might be an exaggeration if Monaco is your standard). I specified that we gave up at Genoa.

Monterosso is part of the CT and I asked about towns north of there.

I meant what I said - I'd be interested in hearing about towns along the Ligurian Coast.

I don't understand why you feel compelled to come back to your old ways and blast me for something I didn't say and misrepresent what I did. Especially on a post that is more than two weeks old! Are you going to spend your evening picking fights up and down the Helpline? Again?

In 2007 we stayed for a week in Calvari (small town, not right on the coast), but the nearby coastal city is Chiavari. We spent one day looking around Chiavari, and went to the beach both there (or maybe right next store in Lavagna) and in another nearby town (sorry can't find the name). I thought Chiavari was very nice (very old, arcades, cathedral), but I don't know much about restaurants, nightlife, etc. We were staying in a house and cooked several meals. There is a train station in Chiavari with great connections to lots of reasonably close places. We "day tripped" to the CT, Milan and Pisa, and went on an overnight to Florence, but it could be a long day trip. Genoa is closer than any of the places I mentioned; we actually didn't make it there. As far as beaches, they were nice, family beaches. Not great sand, but really you are in Italy on the Mediterranean! What's not to like?

I have been to both areas several times and both have alot to offer. Nice is a large city with plenty to do and a very large beach - pebbles. The city is still hopping well after midnight. Monaco was great but now that the harbor has been updated to accomadate cruise ships it is not near as attractive (also many high rise hotels}. The charm of the 60's is gone. The Ligurian coast has many towns that have good beaches - Santa Margherita, Camogli, Levanto, Portovenere, Sestri Levante and several others, plus the Cinque terra towns - though Monterossa al Mare has the only real beach. You can rent an agriturismo in some of the towns for about 400 euros per week, though it may be a little late to find one available for June.