to rent a car or not

We are travelling to st. paul de vence and nice. is it best to rent a car to get to st. paul de vence? should we turn it in when we get back to nice? No one has responded to my Easter Sunday question. We are still trying to figure out what we will do on Easter sunday. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Also, any suggestions on hotels near the Nice airport, as we have an early a.m. flight would be helpful.

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Novotel has an hotel close to the airport, so has Campanile and Kyriad. What is early flight?

It is definitely easier to drive to St-Paul-de-Vence but there are some buses that bring you there from Nice (www.lignedazur.com)

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Do you have any hotels in mind? Have you booked anywhere yet? The airport is so close to the city centre, about 4 miles that you could easily stay right in the middle of Nice and get a taxi quickly to the airport or even the express coach depending what time you set off. The Prom starts at the airport and continues to the Port right over on the east side of Nice but there is a big diference in atmosphere and general buzz depending where you stay; it%26#39;s much nicer in the centre than by the airport for the sake of getting up 30 mins earlier, imho. If you have a hotel booked or planned, it is easier for everyone to recommend carhire places vs public transport and even restaurant recommendations and you may get some more responses. Have you contcated the Tourist Office for info re what is open Easter Sunday. I love S Paul De V and would have sunday lunch at La Colombe d%26#39;or if open, that would mean no car so i could drink, be worth the cost of a taxi from Nice. There is also Eze Village, taxi from Nice at Easter, I remember the Chateau Eza Easter menu looked fabulous (VVVVV expensive) but once in a lifetime I would say.

best wishes, Lisa

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I was about to suggest ATS shutteles to go back and from the airport (you have to take the return trip now...). Go on www.allaboutnice.com to get their web address. 20 something euro per person one way in shared shuttles.

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Here%26#39;s the address for ATS shuttles. Sorry for the delay, I am using a brand new iBook on vacation and I am not used to Macs. So here it is

www.a-t-s.net/default.asp?id_partner=7088

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early is 7:00 am flight! that%26#39;s why i thought we might need to stay near the airport. I thought we would turn the car in the day before, and just walk around nice, even if the shops were closed. I appreciate all of your suggestions. I assume a few restaurants would be open on Easter, even if the shops aren%26#39;t. Do we need to reserve a time at the Foundation Maeght for Saturday or can we just show up? We are staying at the Villa St. Maxime Saturday Night. Would you recommend anyplace special for dinner?

Thanks in advance

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I don%26#39;t think you have to reserve in St-Paul to visit the Foundation%26#39;s site.

I like %26quot;Le siècle%26quot; at the West End Hotel on the Promenade des Anglais. It is relatively affordable for the quality of the food and the service. Reservation required.

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Most hotel restaurants will be open on Easter Sunday, but book in advance.

Easter Sunday would be a godo day for just driving around and looking at the scenery--take one of the Corniche roads over to Monaco and come back by another one; drive around St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat; take the coastal drive from Nice to Cannes; go up to old Mougins and walk around. With luck, the Feu Follet restaurant there will be open. Afterwards visit the pretty little town of Valbonne and perhaps drive up to Grasse.

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The following websites might be useful to you:

http://www.saint-pauldevence.com/index.html

There%26#39;s an english section and a list of restaurants and tel numbers and a bit of info about each restaurant. I would recommend La Colombe D%26#39;or. I read a guide recently that recommended a restaurant called %26#39;Le Saint Paul%26#39;, high priced, Michelin-starred, part of a Chateau Hotel.

Also:

http://www.maeght.com/intro.htm

for info about the Fondation, in French but gives opening times- closed for lunch out of season so you might need to plan it carefully. No advance reservation required.

I am sure you will find things to do and see and places to eat, just wandering about Nice on Sunday, particularly in the Old Town. Get your hotel to book you an early morning taxi for your flight or use a central taxi tel number, it%26#39;s universal in Nice and ring them yourself:

04 93 13 78 78 (code 00 33 and miss off the first 0 might be required)

best wishes