It's not just the azure sea that sparkles on the French Riviera; the towns that make up this fabled stretch of coast in the south of France shine with pure enthusiasm for life. Nice, birthplace of the well-known Salade Nicoise, is no exception, and Hotel Normandie is right in the thick of the action in the Musicians Quarter near the center of town. In an area teeming with cafes and bars, this three-star hotel offers bargain rates and an unbeatable location just minutes from the beach.
Located in the center of Nice, Hotel Normandie provides the business traveler easy access to the train station and offers airport transfers as well as shoe shine, Wi-Fi, fax and photocopying services. A short taxi ride from the Acropolis convention center, the hotel is a good stop for the busy and budget-minded business traveler who would rather spend money entertaining than on a hotel used primarily for sleeping. Unlike some Cote d'Azur resort hotels, the Normandie is open year-round.
In addition to standard single and double rooms, the Normandie offers a selection of triple and quad rooms suitable for families or groups. All 44 rooms are soundproof, air-conditioned and have en-suite bathrooms. Some bathrooms have showers, others have old-fashioned narrow French tubs and still others have modern acrylic resin jetted tubs or handicapped-accessible showers. It's a good idea to state your bath preference when reserving your room. While you're at it, check to see if there is a balcony room available.
Even though it's easy to nip down to the lobby breakfast area or a neighboring cafe, weary travelers may want to call the front desk to have breakfast brought up to the room to kick start a day of sightseeing or a round of business talks. A simple "petit dejeuner" -- breakfast -- consists of coffee, juice, fresh croissants, preserves and, in the lobby, endless bowls of cereal and milk for the young backpackers who often populate the quad rooms.
The Musicians Quarter is one of the most architecturally picturesque areas in Nice, and Hotel Normandie sits right in the middle of it. A 10-minute wander along streets named after such famous musical personalities as Mozart and Verdi will get you to Old Town and the Cours Saleya flower market. Here you will find a fantastic array of flowers, fruits and vegetables every day of the week except Monday, when the space is transformed into an antiques market. Pick up a baguette, a hunk of local cheese and a piece of fruit, then head for the beach. In 10 minutes you'll be lunching by the sea, enjoying a refreshing beverage from one of many beach vendors. Note that Nice beaches are pebbly, so bring some water shoes or flip-flops and a padded mat.
