I'm just back from a long weekend in Nice (first time there) and my choice of hotel certainly made my visit very enjoyable. It was a clean comfortable room, not extra big, but roomy enough for the time I spent in it. The bathroom was a fair size (although the shower was only adequate). The air conditioning is noisy and old, but works well enough. Overall I slept soundly for the few days, which is a fair barometer for any hotel. I found the staff friendly and approachable and the location is ideal. If I was coming to Nice in winter I would like a bigger room but at any other time the Grimaldi would be very satisfactory.

We found the Mercure Grimaldi - not to be confused with the more expensive "Grimaldi" on the same street - to be a good budget hotel for a short city break. It takes 15 minutes by cab from the airport (€40) but a bus does drop you nearby. The hotel is located about 2 minutes from the main shopping street and about 5 minutes from Old Nice and the sea-front. Also, about 10 minutes walk to the train station.

The helpfulness of the reception staff stood out for us. They were very busy but tended to all our needs (and even doubled as bar staff). We didn't breakfast at the hotel as it seemed over-priced but opted for croissants at one of the many local cafes close-by for half the price.

The room was basic but clean. The air-conditioning didn't seem to work, which would have been more of an issue had the weather been warmer.

The hotel's best kept secret is its roof-top terrace with sun-loungers accessible by the left-hand lift only.

Nice is an expensive place to eat and many of the restaurants are indifferent at best, but for good price Nicoise cuisine with a friendly family-run atmosphere, try Lou Nissart on Rue de l'Opera.

All in all a well-located budget hotel.

The hotel is ideally located. As you walk out of the hotel you are a short distance away from the shops and restaurants. Only five minutes from the excellent promenade which is a gorgeous walk if you wish to walk along. No parking but not a problem if you have travelled via plane and travelled on foot ie by bus etc.

Very easy to get to, just jump on the 98 bus from the airport, the bus stop for which is just located outside the terminal 2 doors. You simply buy a 4 euro ticket which once validated (you have to stick it in the machine everytime you get on a bus) lasts all day ie you can travel on any bus all day for this one payment of 4 euros. We printed out a timetable as well to get to the hotel and got off at the congres bus-stop which meant just a short walk. To get the bus back to the airport you simply get on just by the Casino on the promenade. Here is the website for assistance:
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And here is the timetable for the bus:

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The receptionists are very friendly, welcoming and speak excellent English.

Breakfast was ok, avoided the eggs/sausages etc as looked too greasy and burnt but there was plenty of other options ie cereal, fruits and breads etc however we got an all in one price and i hear the breakfast would have been 13.5 euros each day i certainly would have chosen to have breakfast elsewhere had i had to pay this price. It is a little excessive to me.

Rooms are lovely, maid service everyday, towels are tiny but there were plenty available as were toiletries such as shampoo, soap and shower gel. Air conditioning was excellent and kept the room very cool during the night. Was a really pleasant stay, with really nice rooms and very spacious.

The hotel also has a bar which is very quiet but a nice place to relax.

Would definately stay there again!

Negatives first. Air con in bedroom struggled to cope with high temps even at night. Towels miniscule but clean. No air con in bathroom.Now the good...

Good sized room. 4 floors devoted to non-smoking 2 to the addicts. Bathroom clean and good size bedroom with ample storage space. Flat screen TV BBC World & CNN only channels in English.Safe key free on request. Breakfast on the expensive side 13.5 euros but worth it for the convenience and by French standards a good choice of cold foods. Hot bacon and scrambled eggs best avoided unless you are grease lovers. Breakfast served 6.30-10.30 weekdays.

Reception service excellent , warm and welcoming.

Utilizing tripadvisor tips tried Restaurant Davia. Food good but cramped and small tables.Just up Rue Grimaldi next to Hotel Grimaldi. Seems some tripadvisor comments re Mercure Nice Grimaldi are from American guests of Le Grimaldi going by their geographical descriptions. ? Could this be inflating Mercure Nice Grimaldi ratings as Le Grimaldi is higher grade?

If taking Bus 98 from Airport to this hotel alight at Bus stop Casino Ruhl on Promenade des Anglais before you get to Place
Massena. It's a shorter walk through the pedestrianised area.

We would definitely stay at this hotel again. Travelled Easyjet from Liverpool. All that advice to buy bus tickets in advance from tabacs 10 trips for 10 euros useless. Went into 3 different tabacs none of them had bus tickets.

Buying train tickets from the SNCF boutique in Rue de la Liberte involves long queues. Our experience was better to queue at Nice Ville station as there are more manned counters there.

If visiting Monte Carlo by train exit Monaco Monte Carlo Station at upper street level. Opposite station exit take No 2 bus to Palace, Aquarium, Cathedral. Buy daily tourist bus ticket for 3 euros on the bus. At the aquarium you can catch the tourist mini train for a tour of Monte Carlo.