Wouldn’t it be Nice

Earlier this year I found myself sitting on the sofa watching Monte Carlo with my mother. Yes, I know. What self-respecting 22-year-old watches a film featuring Justin Bieber’s missus? Well, this one does.

Little did I know that less than 3 months later I would be jetting off to the French Riviera with my own boyfriend (geddit? sly Justin Bieber reference right there) in tow.

Ryanair offer pretty decently prices flights direct from Dublin to the Cote D’Azur. If you want to fly in style you can travel with Aer Lingus, just be sure to book your flights before you choose your accommodation because neither airline flies daily. Once you land you can catch a bus to the city centre from just outside the airport terminal for €4.

We stayed in an apartment just east of the Old Town in Le Port. We booked with a little company called YourNiceApartment who manage several properties in the area and it was well worth it. The apartment was beautifully furnished and stocked with all the books and DVDs we could have ever needed. Only problem was the lack of air conditioning. Fans were provided but they just weren’t strong enough to compete with the June/July heat. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful apartment and everything worked perfectly.

You’ll never get bored in Nice. From staring at the impossibly crystal blue waters to strolling along the seemingly endless promenade, there’s no end of things to keep you occupied. The city offers a welcome break from your typical seaside holiday resort with very few ‘UNCE UNCE’ing nightclubs and no annoying street sellers offering ‘free bracelets’ or promo people trying to shove you into a ‘totally awesome’ club.

The narrow, winding streets of the Old Town give way to picturesque squares with some fabulous restaurants. They say variety is the spice of life and there’s plenty of it in Nice. There are traditional Irish bars, kebab shops, Italian restaurants and French Bistros. Wherever you go you’ll find fresh fish and ‘moulles frite’ seem to be a local favourite.

If you’re feeling adventurous why not hop on the bus to Monte Carlo (yes, I wanted to see the hotel) and spend the day strolling around the city. Check out the Casino and the Prince’s Palace and marvel at the menagerie of sports cars outside the Hotel De Paris.

We never made it to Eze, Antibes, Cannes or St Tropez. I’d like to think we did that on purpose, because if there’s one thing I’m certain about it’s that I’ll be back.

It was Nice to see you, to see you, Nice.

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