The Nicest Spot to Stay in Nice

Voted Best Hostel in France, Villa Saint Exupery is a Traveller’s Paradise

alt What was once a Carmelite monastery, Villa Saint Exupery is located near the downtown core of Nice, France. Not only has the Villa been voted best hostel in France but it has also gained worldwide recognition as it was ranked one of the top ten hostels in the world, and is deemed Author’s Choice in the Lonely Planet.

When arriving at the hostel, tourists can call ahead to the Villa and ask for a free bus pick-up. The hostel is situated on top of a hill and takes around 15 minutes to walk to from the tram or travellers can hop on bus #23 that will take you do the Villa’s entrance. When arriving at the hostel, travellers are greeted by a friendly and professional staff. It is no wonder that most clients end up extending their stay! After settling in, travellers can surf the web for free, lounge in the chapel which is made up of beautiful stained glass windows, grab a drink (only 1 euro!) at the bar or order some cheap home-made pizza or a provincial meal.
alt In the morning, the Villa offers a free, all-you-can-eat breakfast which includes French bread, toast, 12 different types of cereals, fresh coffee, juice and other refreshments. To get in on the grub, one must remember to wake up a little earlier since most food is quickly devoured.

For those of you who are a little more adventurous, the Villa offers a number of exciting activities, including walking tours, canyoning, surfing, scuba diving and rock climbing.

When I first arrived at Villa Saint Exupery, my friend and I decided go canyoning. The activity, which costs around 50 Euros, took us to a secluded spot about an hour away from Nice where we swam, jumped and climbed off of numerous canyons and alpine gorges. The hotel also provides walking and sightseeing tours that will take travellers to the beautiful medieval village of Eze or to the small sovereign city-state of Monaco. If you are visiting Eze Village, make sure not to miss the garden, which is filled with exotic plants, and beautiful statues. Other sites that are easily accessible by train from Nice that should not be missed include Cannes, Antibes and/or Villefranche. Tourists must remember that the beaches of Nice are NOT sandy but are rocky and uncomfortable to sit and lay on. If you wish to enjoy some fun in the sun then hop on a train and go and visit a nearby town.

After the sun goes down, everyone can make their way downtown to one of the many nightclubs that Nice has to offer. Disco Butterfly has gained quite the following thanks to the well-known DJ’s that spin there. Playing everything from house to techno and disco, Disco Butterfly has made a name for itself within the Nice party crowd. Les Trois Diables is another bar located in Nice’s old town; it has two levels, an outside patio, interesting alt decor and a variety of different types of music that keeps the dance floor full. Wednesdays are open mic nights, Thursday’s are student nights (where cover is half off with a student card) and happy hour is every day from 5 to 9 pm. Back at the Villa, there is no curfew or lock-out, so you can stay out as long as you want, party until the morning, and still have a bed to fall into at dawn.

Nice is a great place to visit at any time of year. Here are a few events in which to plan your trip around:

January: Luna Park, Nice's huge stages amusement park

February: Nice Winter Carnival, bonfires, fireworks, huge parades

March: Festival of decorated gourds

May: La Fete des Mai, Nice's oldest festival

June: Fete de la Musique, free concerts all over the city

July: Bastille Day, national holiday, fireworks, parades

August: Liberation of Nice, celebrations are held in Nice's Place Massena

September: Fete de la San Bertoumieu, a grand market selling traditional arts and crafts

December: Christmas Village, an ice rink, Christmas stands, mulled wine.

Villa Saint Exupéry

22 Avenue Gravier

06100 Nice, France

Tel: +33 493 84 42 83

By Yvonne Ivanescu

Yvonne Ivanescu
		About the author:
		A self-proclaimed travel fanatic, Yvonne has had the opportunity to travel to many amazing and exotic countries over the years. Her favorite spot overall was her unforgettable trip to Egypt. Her journey to Paris was particularly special, as it was the Journalism School at Sciences Po that reignited her passion for writing and journalism. Since returning from France, Yvonne has interned at Vervegirl Magazine and MTV Canada while freelancing for a number of other publications. She has an Honors B.Soc.Sc in International Studies with a minor in Spanish and French and is currently pursuing her Masters in International Development and Globalization with a Specialization in Women's Studies.
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