I was pleasantly surprised by the availability of affordable apartment rentals in Nice (we stayed at the end of April). As in Paris, I was looking for a bright, spacious apartment located in Vieux Nice for three people. I settled on this place, and it was perfect for us.
a fully functional kitchen with the fridge and dishwasher under the counter
Old Nice is primarily pedestrian-only and charming. I loved walking to the market for fresh fruit every morning and grabbing coffee and croissants to enjoy for breakfast in the apartment. The apartment had everything we needed including a fully-stocked modern kitchen and bathroom. It is a 4th-floor walk-up, meaning we got our share of steps in every day! The apartment is air-conditioned although we preferred open windows in April. I would easily stay in this apartment again on a future trip to Nice, but I would also consider staying in a smaller neighbouring seaside town to experience something new.
Our trip to France this year was a week in length, and we wanted to visit two areas: Paris and Nice. We spent three nights in each city, and our days were full from morning to night. In Paris, we wanted to see the main monuments, many of which I had not seen in many years.
On our second day, we were up and at ’em early to catch a train to Versailles. We spent the full day at the Palace of Versailles, and it was great. The palace is incredible. It’s so opulent, and there’s design inspiration in every corner. While we bought tickets in advance, the palace was so busy, and each room was quite crowded (but maybe not even as crowded as it is in peak travel seasons). On a future visit, I would try to get a private tour, which would take us into less-frequented rooms. I downloaded the audio app to learn about the history in each room.
We splurged on a lovely lunch at Angelina, right within Versailles, which was fun. I opted for the quiche lorraine and lemon tarte, and both were excellent.
While every bit of the palace took my breath away, my favourite part of our visit was wandering around the gardens and renting a row boat.
We spent our last half-day walking to the Notre Dame and exploring the area around it, including a visit to the well-known English bookstore Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore was a big hit with my travel companions!
breakfast of champions
I’ve been to Paris dozens of times, but each time brings something different. It’s such a magical city to get lost in! I’m always happy to offer recommendations, so if you have any questions, please ask!
We spent a week in France recently, and, of course, had the greatest time. The week was short, yes, but we maximized our time, and enjoyed every gosh darn minute. I’m already eager to back – no surprise there! I will share a few more photos and details of our itinerary in the coming days and weeks, but I thought I would start by sharing some information about where we stayed
we all loved the joystick faucet control; a two-burner stove top is at the left, and the fridge is behind the middle cupboard
we all loved the sleek light switches and plugs
The apartment is in a secure building with an elevator, and it has all the conveniences needed for short- and long-term stays (e.g., fully functional and equipped kitchen, laundry facilities). When I made the booking with Pick-a-Flat, I was also able to book an airport shuttle. Communication with the company was clear from beginning to end.
I booked this one bedroom apartment on Pick a Flat, and the company has so many incredible apartments for short- and long-term stays. On a future trip, this will definitely be a top site to consult. Apartment sizes and prices vary. Here are a few others I’d love to stay in.
A little while ago, I shared a collection of lighting that I’ve been saving on way-too-many open website tabs. Today, I’m doing the same thing with furniture. Have a look at these beauties.
cutter bench by Niels Hvass via Skagerak, $1249USD
