Is 2 weeks in Nice too long?

Hi,

Thinking of going to Nice (or New York-can%26#39;t decide) for 2 weeks in Dec/Jan with husband and teenage daughters. Would like to base ourselfs in the one place and do day trips to all the surrounding areas like Cannes and Monaco is this a good idea or should we divide our time between different places? Maybe one week in Nice and one week in Toulouse?

Any suggestions or help would really be appreciated.

Thank you

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I would spend one week based in Nice doing the riveria and one week based in western Provence (eg Arles) seeing the sights (pond du Gard, Tarascon, Arles itself, St Remy, Les Baux, Nimes, l%26#39;Isle sur la Sorgue, Aix, Fontaine de Vaucluse) there. As you are going to be there in winter, lying on the beach won%26#39;t be an option, unless the weather is exceptional! There is plenty to see and do in Provence but a lot of the interesting places to visit are over the western side. What are your precise dates? Cos if you will be in Provence over Christmas you will need to take into account that a lot of places will be shut.

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2 weeks isn%26#39;t too long for Nice as there is a lot to do and see and its also a good base for exploring the wider area = cannes/monaco/antibes /st paul de vence/Eze village and many other places-eg mountains .

Nice and the other big places don%26#39;t shut down in winter apart from the icecream shops and private beaches.

Its often really pleasant to sit on the beaches in winter as it can be quite sunny and even warm in the sun -though not actually sunbathing weather -its common to see butterflies flying around even on the first of january

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Thanks for your replies - we will be going over the Christmas period so we are thinking to book for 1 week at the Holiday Inn in Nice (priority club member) and then just see for the other week when we get there?? Is that a good idea?

I%26#39;m really not to sure what to do!

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I would say that, in winter, two weeks in and around Nice is rather too long, especially as most places along the coast will be very quiet if not dead. A week in western Provence would be good. We had four or five days over the New Year based in Avignon a few years ago and enjoyed it very much.

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Thanks all,

How far is Nice to Avignon and is it easy to get to?

What about the Toulouse area or Bordeaux?

Now thinking 9 days in Nice and 7 days else where.

We will be in Nice Christmas day.

Thanks

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You would need a car in western Provence. Train to Avignon takes about three hours, as does driving. Bordeaux not a place I would choose, although it has a historic centre. Might be a good compromise if you don%26#39;t want to drive. Don%26#39;t know Toulouse.

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And Bordeaux has twice as many wet days and twice the January rainfall of Avignon.

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Thanks LondonBob,

My husband works about 70 hrs a week, really doesn%26#39;t want to drive, he was to relax whilst experiencing a different country/area so maybe we will spend all our time in Nice and just do day trips.

In Nice would the Old Town area be our best bet?

Thanks