I am looking to help a friend of mine who will be presenting a paper at a conference in Nice, France, in a couple of months, as part of her Master’s Degree.
She has secured funding from the University for the flight, and will get a student rate to attend the conference. But her accommodations and meals, etc, are all on her. As a struggling student, finding some leads, for reasonably priced digs and meals, would really put her mind at ease.
So how about it Dopers, anyone out there familiar with this city? Got any great suggestions? She’s thinking she might end up in a hostel but I’m not even sure there is one there.
Thank you, in advance for any and all suggestions, hints, or tips you have to offer!
I live there - just outside, in fact. Does she have a specific budget she’s looking at for accommodation? I can make more helpful suggestions, if so… There are hostels, but I don’t know any offhand - http://hotels.fr might have some suggestions.
In terms of eating, there’s lots of places in Nice that do formules (daily menus) - in the old town, she’ll likely find cheaper food than otherwise, though it’s more touristy than the newer parts. But there are less likely to be roaches in the touristy parts, in my experience.
Anyway, if you can give me some vague ideas around guidelines for food and accommodation, I’ll have a look at what options I can find - what’s her conference on, if it’s open to the public? (I’m often interested in going to random events in an effort to keep my brain working…)
If you’ve got specific questions, do feel free to send me a PM.
When I stayed there for an academic conference in 2003, I think, the hotel I stayed in (run by Meridien, I think) was affordable and only about a half mile from the beach. The mice were round-shouldered, but otherwise it was a decent room. Fantastic town.
Thanks for the tips, (I will be PMing you Nicole1912).
I know she studied premed for undergrad, and is currently in the Health Sciences. I think something to do with Public Health issues.
The conference is not open to the public unfortunately, I already asked her that. Entrance is very expensive which is why she was hoping to qualify for a student designation, which she did.
She is looking for a cheap flight, of course, even if it means flying into somewhere else and taking a train, just in case you know of a cheap routing.
Here’s the part I find the most amusing. Her long time boyfriend is a sound tech who tours with metalhead bands. In fact, he will be touring in Europe when this conference occurs, (April 21 - 23). As they spend so much time apart, him on tour, her here at uni, they will find a way to hook up while he’s is somewhere, (not Nice), nearby, possibly Italy. They are desperately trying to figure a way, having already arranged with the band that she can stay on the tour bus with him, should they make it work.
I find it very amusing to think of her attending/presenting at a public health conference, on the French Riviera, during the day, and then spending the night on a tour bus with the metalheads!
Ah, the life of a university student is never dull!
I spent three weeks in Nice during the summer while I was in graduate school. It’s a very pleasant city, where everything is in walking distance of everything else and there are buses going everywhere if you don’t want to walk. The beaches are crowded but still worth visiting and the surrounding countryside is absolutely gorgeous.
Finding food at a reasonable price is not hard at all. Anywhere you go in the old town, there are stands and cafes with plenty of options at a decent price. Be sure to recommend that she try the Italian ice cream.
One final piece of advice: do not go to Nice during the Cannes Film Festival, when everything becomes five times as expensive.