Sites near Nice/Monte Carlo

Tommy2
Tommy2 Forum Participant Posts: 18

Hi Everyone

Were planning a trip to the Nice area last week in June 1st week in July traveling down from Calais, Could anyone suggest stop over sites also sites in the Nice area.

My wife and I will be traveling with our caravan we enjoy cycling and walking also close to the beach would be good.

Thanks 

Martin & Debbie

Comments

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #2

    Even in late June/July the coastal sites will be busy and it will be best to book. You can stay anywhere along the coastal railway and reach Nice and Monte Carlo by train. That can be from one of the big campsites at Frejus, but if you want to be closer to Nice then Camping La Vieille Ferme at villeneuve-Loubet is well used. 

    Stopover sites on your way south are too numerous to mention. You just need good site guides and/ or apps on your phone. An  ACSI Camping Card will give you discounts at some sites, but there are dozens of others. Take care. 

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited November 2018 #3
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  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,388 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #4

    I'm not keen on this costal area either. The one visit we made we stayed at Camping Les Cigales – A small urban, level site just to the south of Cannes and about 3/4 of a mile from the beach and railway station from where you can catch trains into Nice etc.

    peedee

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #5

    For Monte Carlo / Monaco look over the border into Italy. Camping Po La Mar near  Ventimiglia is not a site that I know, but the reviews are good and they are offering a shuttle bus service from the campsite to Monte Carlo - about 10 miles. 

  • chrisfreedev
    chrisfreedev Forum Participant Posts: 3
    edited November 2018 #6

    Hi Tommy, 

     

    Driving along the Cote D'Azure coast will be incredible. Although I do agree that sites can be a little busy for my liking, 

     

    Will you be visiting Monte Carlo? 

     

  • Dave0123
    Dave0123 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited November 2018 #7

    I agree with Chris, 

    If you have a chance to visit Monte Carlo its well worth it. Not somewhere you can drive through everyday.. 

     

  • Dave0123
    Dave0123 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited November 2018 #8

    I agree with Chris, 

    If you have a chance to visit Monte Carlo its well worth it. Not somewhere you can drive through everyday.. 

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited November 2018 #9

    Problem with Ventimiglia is that it is a migrant crossing point with attendant problems, especially on the trains into France. As has been suggested, Les Cigales at La Napoule is handy for bus and train travel to Nice and Cannes.

    p.s. It's a long way to go, Calais to Cote d'Azur and back, in just two weeks!

  • dunelm
    dunelm Forum Participant Posts: 373
    edited November 2018 #10

    Twice we have stayed at Le Rossignol campsite in Antibes. It is about 3.5 km to Antibes Town Centre, Harbour and Beach and there is a cycle lane.  (We are not great cyclists and have folding bikes but  thought that the journey was perfectly acceptable.) Just before the town centre is the bus station and train station.  We have taken buses from there to Nice in one direction and Cannes in the other. Last year the bus fare to each was 2 euros per person one way. We also got a local bus towards Cap d'Antibes and walked the coastal path to St. Juan les Pins and got a bus back to Antibes. We also travelled to Monaco and back by train from Antibes. It is possible to lock your bikes in racks at the railway station and then walk into the town centre or the harbour. It is also possible to cycle to the beach close to the harbour.

    We think that Antibes is a pleasant town and there is a larger beach at the far side of the town from where you could start a walk to the Cap.

    There is nearer beach  which the campsite information states is 1200 metres away but we didn't think it as pleasant and the cycle ride was steeper and not on a cycle way.

    According to this year's ACSI Camping Card book the discounted price until 12th July was 19 euros (plus any tourist tax).

  • dunelm
    dunelm Forum Participant Posts: 373
    edited November 2018 #11

    Driving along the Cote d' Azure will be incredibly busy!  In the built up areas the traffic even in late May is extremely heavy, stop/start  for most of the day. (See my suggestion about using buses or trains.)

    Some people like to travel the Corniches sections but having done so once in a camper van we didn't repeat this - fast traffic and lots of bends. We once travelled by bus from Nice to Monaco then onto Menton. This was inexpensive and picturesque with both of us enjoying the views rather than having to concentrate on the road and other drivers.

  • dunelm
    dunelm Forum Participant Posts: 373
    edited November 2018 #12

    Obviously!

    My recommendation would be to go there by bus or train.

    In my opinion, the Palace (with audio tour) is well worth visiting.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited November 2018 #13

    If you could say what time of day you will arrive and how far roughly you like to travel in a day then recommendations can be provided. The route to Nice from Calais if through Reims, Lyon, Marseille and the tolls are significant. Frejus is popular for caravanners but wherever you opt for on the South coast you will definitely need to book.

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited November 2018 #14

    The Cote d`Azur is only choc a bloc from the end of July to the end of the third week in August either side its "busy" its always busy because of the density of population. Vielle Ferme is centrally located between Nice and Cannes, five minute walk to Bus 200 running between Nice and Cannes fare is 1.5e for any distance travelled (can be reduced to 1e with a 10e ten trip card) takes round 50 mins to Nice or Cannes depending on traffic. Twenty minute walk to Biot station trains to Cannes Nice, Monaco etc. For those over sixty purchase a seniors ticket 25% reduction, no ID required. Nearest supermarket is five minutes in car. Access to beach not so good as railway runs along coast so it a thirty minute walk or use the car. Good safe cycling along coast . Best place to eat in our opinion is Old Nice prices are surprisingly reasonable if you look. The Cote d`Azur is not a place to get away from it all so you either like it or hate it, it is an area that you can explore for years!

  • Tommy2
    Tommy2 Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited November 2018 #15

    Thanks 

    For all your suggestions and advice 

    Yes its a long way to go just for 2 weeks but with work commitments I`m afraid we can`t go for any longer.

    Yes we do plan on going to visit Monte Carlo 

    We will probably plan a afternoon ferry from Dover arrive in Calais teatime short drive then overnight then maybe 2 stops on way down.

    Best Regards

     

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,388 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #16

    There is not a lot of difference in an autoroute journey via Paris or Reims but I would suggest via Reims would be the easier of the two. When we made this trip taking much longer than your intentions we also crossed in the afternoon and made the first stop near St Omer on the Aire at Arques for 3 euros for the night. This is next to a campsite so if you were uncomfortable with the Aire you could always use the campsite. Sorry I don't know its name. The halfway point on your journey would be round about Beaune, about a 350 mile journey from St Omer via the autoroutes. I am sure someone can advise you of a campsite in this area or alternative to the Aire at Arques.

    peedee

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2018 #17

    Hi Tommy, We used to do something similar when we lived in the Midlands. From there we drove to Portsmouth after work on a Friday in time for a cabin on the overnight ferry to Le Havre (dep. 2330, and arr. 0830) . From there it was a do able two day drive to the Med., sharing the driving,  with one overnight wherever we got to about the halfway mark. About 330 miles per day I recall.   Take care. 

  • beverley12
    beverley12 Forum Participant Posts: 87
    edited November 2018 #18

    We stayed at camping La Vielle Ferme a few years ago. Campsite quite pleasant, good take away pizza, large swimming pool (unseated and quite cold). Showers etc ok but not wonderful. 

    Cycled (cycle lane most of way) to Antibes. Caught bus to Nice. Both nice excursions. 

    Walked to beach  (2 roads to cross and under railway line) pebbles - big dip. But ok.

    However the area around it is built up, and slightly run down. 

  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited November 2018 #19

    380 miles south of St Omer, there's a good overnight stop at Vignoles, a commune of Beaune, camping les bouleaux. It's dearer that the municipal in Beaune, but more accessible being just off the motorway at J24.1. You can also fillup at Intermarche on the way in. Caravanners need not unhitch as there are drive-through pitches. No need to book.

    You'll be about halfway there by then!.

     

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited November 2018 #20

    We always stay at Guignicourt which is 3 hours from Calais and just off of the Autoroute short of Reims. It’s rather expensive at around 30 Euros but that’s because of the convenience. Second night Sennecy-Le-Grand, La Herronière, or a site along that road between Chalon-sur-Saône and Tournus. Autoroute all the way and you can take pot luck on ignoring the very lengthy by-pass around Lyon or go straight on using the “old” Autoroute depending on the time of day.