STAFF HOTEL REVIEWS

Europe > France > Nice

Le Meridien Nice

1 Promenade des Anglais
Nice 06000 France

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, October 2006

Comfortable, well-located, and on the waterfront. These words sum up the Le Meridien Nice in a nutshell.

Comfort: As part of the Le Meridien brand one expects and receives a certain level of comfort. The hotel delivers at that level. It is not at the level of the Le Palais De La Mediterranne or Hotel Negresco. It is not a 5 star Luxury Collection hotel. But it is above the standards of most chains and we don’t expect anyone would be disappointed with the level of comfort here. On a recent trip we were upgraded from a Classic to a Superior room which offered a small standing-room-only balcony and a slight view of the sea from that balcony. As Starwood Preferred Guest Gold members, they also provided us with a complimentary bottle of Evian and a tray of fresh strawberries.

Location: The location at 1 Palais Anglais is perfection. Direct access to the beach (be aware that the “beach” in Nice is one made of stones but is still usable and does attract many “beach” goers) is a prime benefit. But the hotel is also well located for getting to and from the airport – just a 15 minute drive on the Palais Anglais – and to a large “Zone Pieton” (a street for pedestrian use only – i.e. tourist central). Allow us to recommend the restaurant “La Tavernne Massena” right smack on the “Zone Pieton” on Rue Massena. Wonderful place for pizzas and homemade pasta at an affordable price. The only area this hotel is not quite near is the “old city” – one that we were less impressed with than in other Riviera towns.

Waterfront: This probably doesn’t need much explanation but out the door and across the street and you’re on the water. Pretty sweet. The Casino Ruhl is also in the building.

Hot Tip from the Hotel Magician: The Mercure Palais Anglais hotel also shares the building (the actual hotels are completely separate – the Mercure is on the lower 2 floors while the Le Meridien Nice is on the top 7 or so). Nothing is shared between them and you’d never know they shared the building if you didn’t pay close attention. If you are looking for this exact location and don’t mind trading in some in-room quality for a lower rate, it may be worth a look.

-DG

Labels: france, hotel, le meridien, nice

Europe > France > Nice

Hotel Mercure Nice Centre Notre Dame
28 Avenue Notre Dame
Nice 06000 France

By Dave Grossman, HotelMagician.com, September 2006

We chose this particular hotel for two reasons.

The first was price. On a recent 2 night stay we paid about USD$150 a night. Not bad for central Nice in Fall.

The second reason was location: at Notre Dame and Ave Jean Médecin, it is very centrally located. You are near all the centre-ville sights and only a 20 minute walk (or 3 minute taxi) from the water. Note that we also review the Le Meridien Nice – which is right on the water if that is more your speed.

Back to the Mercure… part of the Accor chain of hotels, the Mercure is about a pleasant and simple stay at reasonable cost. It succeeds at this. The rooms are small (but not tiny) and are well kept and nicely appointed. There is a small rooftop pool on the roof of the hotel that makes for a pleasant swim at summer.

Parking is available in an almost-connected lot next door for (as of Sept. 2006) 10 Euros a day on your hotel bill – good through 1pm the following day. Breakfast is included only in some rates so check when you book with us by reading the details of the rates carefully. Don’t choose a higher priced rate for breakfast, though. There are several exceptional bakeries (boulangeries) in the immediate area for crossaints, quiches, croque monsieurs, etc.

While for a luxury hotel in Nice, we recommend the Le Palais de la Mediterranee, or Hotel Negresco, and, a step below, the Le Meridien Nice, the Mercure Notre Dame provides a perfectly enjoyable experience at a much more affordable price. While we did not review the Mercure Palais Anglais that sits on the water adjacent to the Le Meridien, it is reputed to be equal to the Mercure Notre Dame with regards to their rooms at a location right on the water – again, if that is your preference and it is in season.

NB: As of the time of this review (2006) a tram is being constructed along Ave Jean Médecin. While it will be great when complete, it is causing some traffic tie-ups at the moment. Functionally, the location still works – but allow a little extra time if driving to figure out where you can turn during the construction.

-DG