VERDICT: We gave 4 out of 5 tickets and here’s why!
From snow in Orléans to 25°C on the Riviera, our oceanfront stay delivered one of the best views we’ve ever had.
We arrived in Nice in shock… the weather & the Mediterranean were stunning. We didn’t know what to expect when we planned to come here in February, but it wasn’t this. Azure waters, hundreds of joggers running along the ocean’s edge, cyclists of every age, the weather a very warm 25 degrees.
We had been in Orleans, France not a few days before and experienced a snow storm there with minus 2 degrees temperatures, so this was a welcome surprise.
We soon discovered our hotel was directly across from the ocean, better still, our patio doors opened right onto sea views – we could see all up and down the beach. There were sun tanners, and the many benches & seats were taken up with everyone just enjoying the breeze off the water, some reading, some chatting, nappers & a few travellers that had their luggage, but didn’t seem to want to give up the view just yet.
Our check in was great, we were met at the doors by a bellman, who happily brought in our bags & showed us where we could park briefly, as we needed to return our rental car. We were given a discounted price for breakfast each morning, which was more than reasonable, as we didn’t have a kitchenette in this hotel to make our own.
The room was a very good size, a huge bed, sparklingly clean, a comfortable chair with coffee table, the desk was a good size with another comfortable chair, mini fridge, clothing press, iron & ironing board, the bathroom was an excellent size with bath & shower, and a retractable clothesline.
After a walk about town and after returning our rental car, we decided to go back to the room & order room service as we were very hot and tired. As mentioned, the view was spectacular from our suite, the patio chairs and table were put to good use as we chose a chicken Caesar salad, artisan ham pizza, a chocolate dessert & a lemon meringue tart & enjoyed them on the patio with a glass of wine.
It was quite warm in the room, but as this is unusual for the weather to be this warm at this time of year, there was no A/C turned on at this point. We had the patio door open for awhile but as it was a Friday night, there was a lot of traffic noise, so we had to close it.
After a fairly good sleep (comfy bed, lots of pillows), we ventured down to the breakfast room & enjoyed quite a good selection in the buffet. We did a little of our day jobs & went for a walk in the beautiful sunshine. We did ask about taking the local transit, as it was quite a trek to get to the Old Town. As it turns out, there is a bus stop right across from the hotel, you can get a day pass right there as well, along with the ability to reload it at any time.
Looks Great… Falls Short: A Bright Breakfast Setting That Didn’t Quite Deliver
In the morning, we went to the breakfast buffet that looked fantastic & was in a bright sunroom, with attached patio. Once again, unfortunately, we were disappointed. The scrambled eggs were awful, luckily I noticed there were hardboiled eggs… but they were stone cold. The bacon was decent & crispy. There were a few breads, two types of fruit, yogourt, cereals & cold meats, cheeses & sliced vegetables.
We went down for a walk along the promenade again because we had seen some cafe/bars right on the beach. We enjoyed a Corona almost with our toes in the water – we could feel the spray! Another pretty unreal thing we discovered… it was Carnaval de Nice! We braved the crowds (and if you know me… I do NOT enjoy a crowd…) but saw the most amazing floats parading along with loud music & so many costumes, kids, adults, confetti like you’ve never seen! Many of the spectators were dressed up top to bottom themselves! The theme for 2026 was Long Live the Queen – as in women empowerment.
After the show, we worked our way back to our hotel, noticing the glittering white lights on the palm trees, the amount of security because of the millions of people, the crashing of the waves, then hopped on the city bus to get the rest of the way back. We had a bus stop right across from our hotel, the pricing was reasonable, and they stopped every 10-15 minutes.
The rest of our stay was nice, we did eat there each morning, because we’d prepaid for it, but breakfast continued to be disappointing. Check out was quick and easy. Overall the hotel, location, room and views made up for the breakfast. There is no doubt that the view from the room was certainly in our top 3 in the world.
Interesting in reading about our European Accommodations? Click here to see what we thought!
🎯 Reasons to Return to Nice
- Unexpected year-round appeal – warm, sunny days even in February can completely change your trip
- The Mediterranean views – that deep blue water never gets old, especially from a balcony
- Promenade des Anglais – one of Europe’s best waterfront walks, always full of energy
- Outdoor lifestyle – joggers, cyclists, walkers… the city lives outside
- Nice Carnival – one of the largest and most vibrant carnivals in Europe
- Easy transport – buses and trams are simple, affordable, and well-connected
- Old Town charm (Vieux Nice) – colourful streets, markets, and cafés just a short ride away
- Food + café culture – from beachfront drinks to casual dining with a view
- Gateway to the French Riviera – Monaco, Cannes, and beyond are all within reach
- That “wow” factor – when a destination exceeds expectations, it sticks
🎟️ Return Ticket Rating: 4.0 / 5 (View alone pushes this higher)
With every trip, we offer feedback to travel companies along with honest views for you, the reader. We rate adventures on a scale of one to five tickets, judged on quality, service, memorability, and price. A perfect ‘Ticket Rating’ of a five-ticket score means the experience was flawless and we’d eagerly return. Your desire to go back is the ultimate measure of a trip’s worth. Exclusive to My Return Ticket.
