Hi Rosamund, I did this trip at the end of April. This was the first time JY had run this holiday and there were some teething problems - JY sent small refund cheques to us all to acknowledge some of this. My inexact memories below.
I cant remember if I flew from Heathrow or Gatwick, but most of the group were on my flight and we had to wait in Nice for about an hour for another smaller group from a different location. There were about 25-30 of us in total, a usual mix for a JY tour.
The hotel was very central - I'd never been to Nice before but once I'd got oriented on the next morning's Nice tour, it was easy to work out where everything was and Nice is very walkable. I thought the hotel was fine, not brilliant; I was happy with my room, I think some got better rooms with balconies but that's the luck of the draw. Breakfast a buffet, wifi worked, there was a bar in the hotel but nowhere to eat in the hotel in the evening so we all mostly split up into groups and walked into the old town to find restaurants.
FIRST EVENING welcome drink and dinner in a local restaurant. This was the absolute low point, the worst included meal I've had on a JY holiday, still can't believe that JY managed to find somewhere so awful and depressing for a meal (and in France!) - its funny now looking back on it, but it must have been a dreadful introduction for those who had never been on a JY holiday before and I think the TM took a lot of flak from some of the other group members. The venue was also where we were supposed to have the farewell dinner, fortunately changed to somewhere much more palatable.
DAY 1 morning tour of Nice. Jackie our TM and a local guide took us round. Good for getting oriented for me as new to Nice but guide a bit dreary, if well meaning. After we grabbed lunch (in an area with lots of bars), those of us going to St Paul de Vence met. This was an optional excursion, we took the local bus which took about 30-40 minutes I think. Sweet little hill town with lots of arty shops, I liked it a lot. Then back on the public bus. We didn't all get seats and I did the think the cost of this trip a bit of a rip-off.
DAY2 first walk. I didn't go on this one as I wanted to have a full day in Nice (I'd never been there before) and I also wanted to go to the Marc Chagall art gallery which wasn't open during any of the free time we'd have in Nice (am a huge fan of Chagall). I had a lovely day. Reports of the walk were a bit worrying for the expectations of the next 2 days walks - the guide was a mountain/ski guide and it didn't seem to be well-tailored. Should say the fellow tour members all seemed to have no mobility problems.
DAY3 second walk. Unfortunately I didn't make this walk either. Think I had a dodgy moule or two in the restaurant the previous evening. So stayed behind with one or two walking wounded from the previous days trip and another with stomach issues. On the 3 days walks you have to take sandwiches and drinks bought in the local supermarkets the evening prior to eat a rest stop at lunchtime. So spent the day in Nice, including sat on the promenade for a few hours, in pleasant weather, with one of the other group members eating our bag lunches and watching the world go by. Reports of the walk were a bit disappointing, arrival in Monaco was late afternoon and they had half an hour there before having to take the train back.
DAY4 walk. I went on this walk. Other participants said it was the best of the 3 full days walks and the most well thought out (although we could have done with more thought to where the comfort breaks would be as some suffered). Cap Ferrat and Villa Rothschild. I enjoyed this walk. The weather was a bit rainy and drizzly, but I prefer it to be cold rather than hot. The guides (2 of them with the TM) were very earnest and the lady guide talking about all the flowers and shrubbery and did go on a bit. You do have to be pretty fit, I remember lots of up and down stairs before Villa Rothschild and up and down the coastal paths.
EVENING FAREWELL DINNER. Went to a different restaurant from the first day and this was good and well organised.
Summing up, I really liked Nice and think this tour could work well if they get the walks better sorted.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I will try to answer them.
Katy
