Nice or Eze?

[fredandkell]

I don't see a PA that offers visits to both Nice and Eze, so we're trying to choose between the two locations. There are two similar PAs--both options do Monte Carlo/Monaco (which husband wants to do) and one does Eze and one does Nice. Both have about 60 min of free time in each town. So, if you've been to both, which do you like better? It will be 2 adults and 2 kids, ages 8 & 11. I've heard good things about both Nice and Eze so quite torn. Thanks!

 

[Capang]

It’s been a while but I’ve been to both on a guided tour. I prefer Nice but to be fair that’s where I spent the most time. Certain days had open air markets with artists and the beaches were amazing. I remember Eze as being very scenic. We hiked the side of a large hill and had a wonderful view of the Mediterranean.

 

[SIN Cruiser]

For me, Nice is just a big city with pebbled beaches, whereas Eze is a quaint town built on a hill with beautiful views -- much more interesting to me.

 

[gotomu212]

For me Eze was my favorite.

Just a heads up on Monte Carlo(and this was just my family’s perspective) but it was a letdown. The kids obviously can’t go inside the casino so we tried to take turns with one of us staying outside but it wasn’t much fun for me to go in alone. The square they left us in for free time had the casino, a cafe, a gift shop, very exclusive shops, and a hotel. You couldn’t go in the hotel or the cafe unless you were staying there/had lunch reservations and the shops werent happy with kids. So it was a lot of wandering around and with only one adult outside we didn’t want to wander too far. My husband was SO excited for Monte Carlo and afterwards we were like hmm that was a bust. Your experience might be very different and it would help to have firmer plans I’m sure.

 

[ImprovGal]

Is your port stop villefranche? There is Exe, Nice & French Wines.
If it's Cannes instead, I see you have to choose between the two. I prefer Nice, but it's an excuse to visit Fennocchio's for gelato.

 

[fredandkell]

Is your port stop villefranche? There is Exe, Nice & French Wines.
If it's Cannes instead, I see you have to choose between the two. I prefer Nice, but it's an excuse to visit Fennocchio's for gelato.

Our stop is Cannes. I wish it was Villefranche--it seems much more interesting!

 

[fredandkell]

For me Eze was my favorite.

Just a heads up on Monte Carlo(and this was just my family’s perspective) but it was a letdown. The kids obviously can’t go inside the casino so we tried to take turns with one of us staying outside but it wasn’t much fun for me to go in alone. The square they left us in for free time had the casino, a cafe, a gift shop, very exclusive shops, and a hotel. You couldn’t go in the hotel or the cafe unless you were staying there/had lunch reservations and the shops werent happy with kids. So it was a lot of wandering around and with only one adult outside we didn’t want to wander too far. My husband was SO excited for Monte Carlo and afterwards we were like hmm that was a bust. Your experience might be very different and it would help to have firmer plans I’m sure.

I've heard this from several people about Monte Carlo...but ah, marriage, compromise, lol!
I did see on the Casino website that they allow kids before 2 pm. (At least in the atrium.) Were you there before that time?

 

[gotomu212]

I've heard this from several people about Monte Carlo...but ah, marriage, compromise, lol!
I did see on the Casino website that they allow kids before 2 pm. (At least in the atrium.) Were you there before that time?

Haha we were the same! As we were walking back to the bus (my husband half carrying our exhausted son down this huge hill with a billion steps, and my son dropped his ice cream all over husbands shirt, then it started to rain) my husband said man when I pictured visiting Monte Carlo in my single 20s this was not what I had in mind.

We were there after 2 so we couldn’t get past the steps outside- also don’t think about sitting on the steps. Security is not a fan. We stopped in Monaco first and that’s where the lunch free time break was, so by monte Carlo it was later I the afternoon.

 

[scgustafson]

Your post title made me think of this:

 

[kiford]

Tough choice. We liked both. We've stopped at Villefranche twice. Once we did a tour of Eze and then a wine and cheese tasting in Nice (same day/tour) with a bit of time to walk down by the beach. The second time we did a hike in the hills above Eze. Loved both. I have no interest in Monte Carlo or Cannes. But if you are trying to combine one or both of those with either Eze or Nice, I'd go for Eze as it is more interesting IMO. Nice is a lovely city, but it's just a normal European city. Eze is different.

 

[eva]

Eze for sure!