The underrated French city that has a ‘bit of everything' with picturesque beaches and new cheap hotels
Nice has a bit of everything. Great food, scenery and swimming
NICE 'N' EASY The underrated French city that has a 'bit of everything' with picturesque beaches and new cheap hotels
WITH relaxing beaches and super sightseeing – plus just a two-hour flight away – Nice on France's stunning Cote d'Azur makes for an easy sunny getaway.
While it may happily soak up the glamorous associations of nearby Cannes and St-Tropez, this spot on the Med needn't break the bank.
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The idyllic beach at Nice in the South of France
Credit: Getty
WHY SHOULD I GO?
NICE has a bit of everything. Great food, scenery and swimming.
But it never feels like you need to elbow your way through its quaint streets.
It is also one of France's brightest cities, with a reported 147 days of sunshine a year making it a great choice if you want to bask in the rays while also getting a top-notch culture fix.
STREETS MADE FOR WALKING?
ONE of the best things about Nice is just how walkable it is, the piece de resistance being a stroll along the seafront Promenade des Anglais.
As you get your steps in alongside the palm trees, look out for the iconic hotel Le Negresco, which hosted Elizabeth Taylor and The Beatles.
Pack comfy shoes to walk 30 minutes up to the Colline du Chateau — a park from which you can get the best views of the city.
It's smart to hop on a tram (€10, or £8.39, return) outside the airport to get into the centre after landing — it takes just over half an hour.
BUCKET LIST ATTRACTIONS?
THE cute Old Town comprises a series of winding alleys that have hardly changed from the 1700s and are made for wandering, complete with colourful, shuttered facades.
Between the many historic squares and churches, you will find plenty of adorable shops selling handbags, jewellery and other stylish items.
Or head to the flea market Les Puces de Nice, a treasure trove of affordable designer clothing.
Martin Lewis gives travel advice about checking your passport
Need an energy boost? Stop off at the Frisson coffee shop which serves dainty pastries and ice cream.
Enjoy art at the Matisse Museum (€10, or £8.39, entry), before a free walk through the ruins of a Roman amphitheatre in the Jardin des Arenes de Cimiez.
WHERE SHOULD I EAT?
LUNCH on delicious Mediterranean cuisine beneath a chic, striped parasol at the laidback Hotel Amour Plage (part of Hotel Amour Nice) in a prime position on the promenade.
Then retreat to the beach club's sunloungers beside the beach.
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Hunt for bargains at the flea market
Credit: Getty
For a dinner you can dress up for, head to Taulissa above the five-star Le Victoria hotel.
Dine on mouthwatering Provencal dishes — including plenty of fish and seafood options — with panoramic views of the city.
For more of a local feel, try the friendly Rouge wine bar, whose small Mediterranean sharing plates are just as unmissable as the contents of its cellar.
I FANCY A DRINK
EASE into the evening with a sunset visit to Babel Babel, for a range of natural wines and a sea view.
Later, Place du Pin and the adjacent Rue Bonaparte are full of bustling cocktail bars with terraces.
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Enjoy a seaview from Babel Babel cafe
Credit: Alamy
WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
THE Old Town is arguably best, not only for its charm but for practical reasons too — it's close to all the key sites you'll want to visit.
EasyHotel Nice Old Town has had a multi-million pound refurb, and is a stone's throw from all the action.
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Relaxing by the crystal sea
Credit: Getty
There is an all-you-can-eat continental breakfast buffet (£10.49, per person) — including croissants, of course — and the handy option to store luggage at €5 (£4.20) per item for up to 12 hours before or after your stay.
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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Urgent warning to millions of holidaymakers to do quick check to avoid being hit with a shock bill
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of tourists are being warned to make a quick check before they go on holiday this year. Most of us will want to use our phones while abroad to keep in touch with loved ones, post on social media or find our way around a new city. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Check your phone contract before you jet off to avoid being hit with a big bill Credit: Getty But doing so could see you hit with a shock bill. Before Brexit you could use your data plan in Europe for free. But since Britain left the European Union many mobile phone providers have started to introduce charges to use your phone while on holiday. If your mobile phone contract does not include data roaming then you could be charged up to £6 per GB of data you use, according to price comparison website Uswitch. This could mean you find a big bill on your doorstep when you get home. But there is a quick check you can do to stop this from happening. Setting a roaming spending cap before you start using your data while abroad can help you avoid unexpected bills, recommends Ernest Doku, Uswitch mobiles expert. A data roaming spending cap allows you to limit how much you can use your phone outside of your normal plan. You can restrict how much you spend on roaming, picture messages and texts, which can stop you racking up extra charges. Most mobile phone providers give you this option, though in some cases you will need to set it up yourself. Avoid these common holiday booking mistakes for a stress-free vacation Some providers also set their own default cap, so you will need to check how yours works before you jet off. Ernest Doku explains: 'Many networks will apply additional charges if you go over your allowance or if you don't have roaming included, so setting up a spending cap ahead of your trip is a great way to avoid these.' You may need to set a spending cap even if you pay for a roaming bundle that allows you to use your phone while abroad. This is because most bundles will give you less data to use while away than your normal contract does. How to avoid roaming charges Simrat Sharma, a mobiles expert at Uswitch, said switching to an eSIM - short for embedded SIM - can be cheaper than using international roaming. 'eSIMs make it easier to change networks," she said. "So for example, if you're abroad you can quickly connect to the local network to pay local rates - without having to add or swap a physical local SIM card for your device. "This means travel eSIMs are almost always cheaper than using international roaming, as users are effectively tapping into the same network plans as locals. If you're regularly switching numbers or travelling to different locations, you'll be able to keep them all safely in digital format rather than carrying around a number of small cards. 'The software can easily be accessed via your device's app store and uploaded to your phone in a few quick steps." Even if your plan includes data roaming, you may also be able to use less internet on holiday. How do spending caps work? Once you have a spending cap in place you cannot spend more than the set limit. This means that if your cap is set at £50 a month then you will not be able to spend more than this sum on data roaming while you are abroad. You will usually get a notification when you are close to your limit, so you know that you need to reduce your data roaming. Once you reach your spending cap you will not be able to use your phone to search the internet, post on social media or use messaging apps. The level your spending cap is set at varies depending on your provider. For example, at BT Mobile the default data roaming cap is £35 a month but you can increase this limit if you choose. In comparison, Sky has a data roaming spend cap of £45 per month per SIM card. It is set automatically and resets every month. Three mobile also has a worldwide data roaming limit of £45 per SIM. How do I set one up? You can usually set up a cap via your provider's website or app. To register for a cap online you will need to log into your account and visit the spending cap tab. You can then choose your own spending cap and save it to your contract. Some providers will also let you set up a cap via text. For example, EE customers can text SPEND CAP to 150 to get one. It may take a few weeks to come into force, so you should check your contract now before you jet off on holiday. You can make changes to your spending cap and increase or decrease it later on. These changes may also take time to feed through. Ernest Doku said: 'If in doubt, contact your provider to talk about roaming caps and what your current deal will allow you to use, as well as how much this will cost.' Which mobile phone companies will let me use my phone for free? Several mobile phone companies will let you use your phone abroad for free. Asda Mobile will let you roam for free in 46 European countries. You do not need to contact it to say that you are going away. Simply carry on texting, using social media or streaming as you do at home. Keep an eye on how much data you are using. The first 5GB of roaming are free but after this you need to pay 10p per MB. Asda will let you know when you have used 80% and 100% of your data limit. GiffGaff contracts can be used in the EU and several other destinations at no extra charge. It has a cap of 5GB, after which it will cost you 10p per MB. If you have a pay-as-you-go contract then you will be charged at the usual UK rates. O2 is the only big network provider that has not brought back data roaming charges. If you are travelling to one of 40 destinations in its Europe Zone then you can call, text or use data as you would in the UK with no extra cost. You can use up to 25GB of data without a penalty. Meanwhile, Tesco Mobile customers can make texts, calls and internet searches at no extra cost in 48 destinations. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The clampdown 'killing' one of Turkey's most popular holiday towns: How a curfew, ban on dancing and soaring pint prices is 'ruining' Marmaris for Brits
With its picturesque cobblestoned streets and its breath-taking coast with waters a shade of blue you would never spot in the UK, the beautiful resort town of Marmaris grips you within a heartbeat. As one local put it, it is surrounded by 'beaches like Miami, waters like the Maldives and mountains like Canada '. But it is something else entirely that draws in the British en masse… the streets of Armutalan. A strip known for little to do with landscapes and more to do with neon lights, extravagant dance shows, topless barmen and sparklers. According to the 'fun pubs' up and down the main street, more than 90 per cent of their customers are British. One pub owner even went as far as suggesting, '99 per cent British!' Over the years the area became popular for British families and young couples wanting to go out, dance, and let loose on holiday while still being able to have a seated table and look after their children - with many even having dedicated kids play areas. But it also controversially became known for young barmen taking their tops off and dancing on table tops for the 'entertainment' of older women on the hunt for foreign 'boytoys'. To find out exactly what the strip is like once the sun sets, especially as a solo female traveller, I visited the renowned Armutalan at 10pm. Having been to strips across the likes of Ibiza and Malaga, I braced myself for the worst. I arrived there expecting to see drunken Brits breaking out into fist fights, creepy barmen harassing you to come in for 'free drinks' and yobs looking for the perfect opportunity to rob your phone in the busy crowds. But I was taken aback when all I witnessed was a warm welcome at 'fun pubs' where music was booming, families were dancing to British classics, and no-one was coercing you into stepping in. In a refreshing change, I did not find myself constantly looking over my shoulder to check if my drink had been spiked or if I was in any danger. What I did witness, however, was a dying street that was until recently mobbed with people. Venues that would by now in the holiday season be rammed with dancing Brits stood close to empty, with most barmen 'too scared' to dance or encourage customers to get up out their seats for a boogie. The drastic change in atmosphere came after 14 pubs were closed down a few weeks ago over floating restrictions which include a new curfew on music and lights being turned off at the stroke of midnight and bars entirely closed by 12.30am. It adds to bans which came into place following Covid on bar staff dancing topless with customers on tabletops and the use of sparklers, even on birthday cakes. The 'boring' measures came after some locals felt the 'dirty dancing' and 'loud music' was inappropriate, arguing that it made the resort town look 'sleazy' and 'cheap'. But Brits - who flocked to see the dance shows - say the 12am curfew may see them 'never return' to the beloved resort, as pub owners say it is 'killing' the tourism industry. A Brit I met at the street's Parkhead pub, said she had visited just five weeks ago and it had been busy 'as normal', but in the space of a few weeks had 'completely died out'. The street itself was empty of sound and soul, bar the neon lights and music reflecting from inside the pubs. Turkish authorities say the curfew was brought into effect to avoid causing trouble for nearby locals having to listen to booming music into the early hours of the night. There have also, for a few years now, been restrictions on music only being played until 1am for pubs and bars situated along the popular beachfront on Marmaris' Long Beach. But police are cracking down. Venues found to be breaking rules risk being shut for periods of three to ten days, or even permanently as in the case of two venues very recently. As the clocks hit 12.30am, you could see hyped young people flood onto the beach after the music blasting in the beachfront bars was brought to an abrupt end. Critics say the changes are 'fair' as those wanting to party later into the night can still go to Bar Street, the resort's nightclub strip. But the appeal is not there. Those flocking to Armutalan Street are on the lookout for a family-friendly night out that isn't overrun by hormone-filled teens on their first party holiday. And the infamous Bar Street is not known to be the safest of places. Every pub owner along Armutalan Street and the Long Beach beachfront warned against venturing there alone. And Brits who have visited the resort for 20+ years and call Marmaris their second-home told me to steer well clear, telling me that spiking and harassment is all too common there. Just days before I arrived, one person was shot dead in an 'armed conflict' which broke out between two groups on the Bar Street strip. Mahoney, the owner of Parkhead bar, Mahoney said to me: 'They tell you if you want to go out, go to Bar Street, but the English people's culture is pubs. 'They don't want clubs, only the young people want to go to clubs. Most people that come to this street doesn't want to go to Bar Street. They are older people with families. 'Bar Street is quiet now, people don't go there. It's expensive and it's too much trouble. 'Three or four days ago, someone was shot and killed there. It's so much more dangerous. 'And if I sell a drink here for 150 lira (£2.74), on Bar Street it is three times more expensive. 'But 90 per cent of the people here are British. In this area, on this street, it's mostly British. 'We were the first many years ago to start having kids play area. 'In Marmaris you can ask any tourists about the pubs and the restaurants, everyone loves us. Most our customers they come here over 10 years, 15 years. We are like family with them. 'But now after 12am they close the lights and tell customers "go home". Which is really bad. 'If we ignore it the police come and give big fines, last year I had two fines which cost 400,000 lira (£7,300) each. 'Some of the dance maybe it was too much, dirty things, but the things we done was because they like it, it was not sexual, it was just for a laugh. 'We did it because that's what they like. But okay, we said "okay no dance, no fireworks, no hassle". We accepted it. But why a curfew? 'Now our regular customers say if it is like this we won't come back.' And the threat of losing decades-long loyal customers is very real. In fact, it is clear it has already started to happen from the emptiness on the main street. And bar owners say they have had 'too many' regular British visitors message them to say they will be holidaying elsewhere this year due to the curfew. Speaking to me in the noisy Chuckle Brothers bar Bedirhan Saritac told me: 'It's not fair. Let's be honest, it's not fair. 'By midnight people are just starting to get drunk, start enjoying it, and bang it's all closed. 'What are they supposed to do? Go and buy a bottle and go to their room? That's not what they came here for. 'It's only British people that come here, this street our customers are all from the UK. 90 per cent. 'The Brits are mad about it. Most our customers are like our friends now because they come every year, some come four or five times a year. So we are like family with them now. 'It's already stopping people from coming. 'People have already texted us saying they cancelled their flights. 'We're losing customers. They say they are going to Greece now. 'They're killing Marmaris.' Admitting the topless dancing may have been 'over the top', he said: 'Look, yes we have some fault. On some things we're wrong too as bars, we accept that. 'Some people may not like the taking tops off. We done it but that worked, but we see the point and we're not doing that no more. 'But the thing is this was one of the busiest bars in Marmaris, busy every night, if I was doing something wrong why would I be busy all the time? 'People come because they like that. I'm not doing it for myself, people like it. 'But some people don't, so we see the point, we don't allow it anymore. 'We say "we're sorry, we won't do it again". I don't know what the problem is with sparklers, but they say "don't do it" and we say "fine". 'But why are you closing the bar at 12, why are you turning the music off at 12, it's not fair. We weren't taking our tops off after 12, it was happening before.' Bedirhan Saritac continued to tell me how the effects have already been seen in the few weeks since the clampdown. He reckons he loses £2,000 a day (110,000 lira) during peak season due to the new measures. At the next pub down, staff member Adar from Mad Boys repeats the same as Mr Saritac: 'Our tourism season only six months, that has to last us the year. 'After seeing some boys' dances at some bars, like some dirty dances, the government say Turkish people are not this and want to stop it. 'We were very angry but then we saw some of the videos of kids dancing on the tables and it's not good at all. 'But it's not all, just a few doing that. 'Now they don't allow even normal dance, normal cha cha dance, the customers want to dance but they don't allow it. 'We are really hoping it gets better and they change it to at least 1am. 'All customers are saying "if we have to go to the hotel at 12am why we are on holiday? We might as well stay at home." 'All our customers, 99 per cent are British. We don't have any others tourist, just British in this area.' As it hit 11pm, I had expected the strip may become busier. But still it was a stretch to say it was even 'dotted' with people. Some bars were busier than others, but none of them looked how they should coming to the end of June. Speaking to one Scottish family at Chuckle Brothers through the loud music, Claire Quinn, 43, Fiona Muir, 41 and Shannon Luff, 25 said: 'The energy is down, it's a lot quieter than normal. It's terrible to see. 'When you come on holiday you don't want to go home at 12am. 'That's not what I came here for to be told to go home. 'In other destinations you have to go to clubs. The difference is when you come to Turkey and you can sit out here and it still take in the entertainment. 'The tourism has heavily gone down. 'When you've little kids or even teens, when you've got sparklers it keeps them entertained because they can't go out. 'It couldn't have been more family orientated. 'It's put a big damper on it. This is the quieter than I've seen it.' Ms Muir added: 'I've been coming here for 27, 28 years. My kids have been coming since really small. We've all been really shocked. It's a real shame.' Meanwhile, Ms Quinn said this may be her last visit. She said: 'I will not be back. If it stays this way. We come here for the atmosphere and the family entertainment and it's gone. 'I've been coming here twice a year for five years, but this will be my last time here unless it changes. 'You used to get the men dancing on the tables with sparklers, all that entertainment, but you don't get any of it anymore. 'Just look around outside too, it's completely empty. 'It's terrible, really terrible.' Further down the strip Lee Potter, 33, was visiting the bars with his family, Harriet Walker 29, Janine Potter 29, and kids Thomas and Tallulah. He said: 'The first year we came here it was absolutely booming. It was mental. 'We've been coming for four went to Jacob's they were dancing on the tables. 'It was also so cheap. You could get a pint for 80p, now it's about the same as London prices.' On the dancing they said: 'It is was a bit like entertainment, but it was a bit crude. It's not for when your with family. But before you couldn't walk down this street. Now it's dead.' Diane Harvey was here just five weeks ago. She told me: 'Everything was normal. Now it's dead. 'I've been coming to Marmaris for 20 years, it was never any trouble, any problem. 'It was mobbed five weeks ago with tourists, families with babies. 'The boys were all dancing, no trouble, no nothing. 'I came back here on Saturday, and I'll tell you it's the worst I've seen it. 'They can't come up to dance with customers anymore. I would normally be up there dancing with all these boys. 'I'm coming back here in October with friends and it's not going to be the same. They've ruined it, ruined Marmaris. 'Next year I'm not coming here, I'll be going to morocco. 'On all the Marmaris groups on Facebook, they're all boycotting it. They're going to Spain, Portugal. 'I don't know if I'll come here next year, I'm going to Morocco next June instead. Further down by the beachfront, where music has to be turned off by 12.30am, Lauren Bennington, 31, Lea Binns, 24 and Keeley Whitehurst, 20, told me 'it's not the same'. The trio, who had all met back here on the beach many years ago, said: 'We would usually be here till like 5am but now it's half 12 and everyone floods onto the beach. 'We've been coming for eight years. It was packed even last year but now it's so much quieter. 'And the problem is you don't want to go to Bar Street because it's quite rowdy there. 'They used to do the sparklers and the dance shows and the guys dancing, and they say it's bad cos they're doing it in a sexual way but they're not. 'They're just entertaining. And the thing is the sparklers and stuff, the kids love it too it keeps them entertained It's definitely not the same.' Nearby Emma Boriss, 46, and Emily Boden, 24, from Blackpool, warned me against going to Bar Street. They said: 'This beachfront, it's a home away from home. 'But Bar Street, it's dinghy, it's like a back street. 'Someone was shot there a few days ago. 'We've been once with a chap from the Manchester bar before, but we wouldn't ever go back. It's dangerous. 'It's a shame that they've ruined these bits. We'll probably still come, but not if it weren't for the people we know well now. 'I could see how first time goers wouldn't come. They'd go somewhere like Portugal instead.' Almost everyone I encountered walking down the strips at Armutalan Street and the beachfront had been regular visitors who had made Marmaris their yearly trip over years. And the new curfews risked changing this for them. For James Roberts, 28, and Jade Bingham, 27, Jamie Bone, 20, and Dylan Cox, 21, it was their first time visiting. They said: To be fair it's out of respect for the hotels and locals isn't it. 'But we have to say it is a bit of a let down for tourists.'
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I can fit 2 weeks' worth of clothes for a long-haul holiday in just a carry-on suitcase with clever packing hack
Plus, some more packing tips for families PACK IT IN I can fit 2 weeks' worth of clothes for a long-haul holiday in just a carry-on suitcase with clever packing hack Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AS the holiday season draws near, many of us find ourselves grappling with the intimidating task of packing for our travels. Whether it's a weekend escape or a two-week adventure abroad, the challenge of fitting everything into a carry-on bag can often seem impossible. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Fitting everything into a carry-on bag can often seem impossible Credit: Getty 3 Arabella has gone viral after sharing her packing hack Credit: tiktok/@arabellastokes However, one TikToker, known as 'arabellastokes', has taken the internet by storm with her ingenious packing hack that promises to transform the way we travel. For many, packing for even a weekend in a carry-on bag feels like an impossible mission. The endless debates over which outfits to take, the struggle to cram toiletries into a small space, and the constant worry of forgetting something essential can make the process overwhelming. But TikToker Arabella shared how she successfully packed for a two-week trip to Japan - a country renowned for its diverse climates and unique fashion culture - all in the same compact suitcase. What she packed: Two jackets Eight tops One dress Five pairs of trousers Two pairs of trainers Socks Underwear Makeup Curling iron Toiletries Passport Headphones Laptop Arabella's packing tips combine clever folding techniques with the use of packing cubes, which can be purchased in a set of eight from Primark for just £8. Packing cubes have become increasingly popular among travellers due to their ability to maximise space, minimise wrinkles, and provide easier access to belongings while on the move. They help separate and compress clothing and other items, simplifying the packing and unpacking process, and may even save you from incurring carry-on luggage fees. Her video, shared on 16 April, garnered 2.1 million views and 628 comments. One viewer wrote: 'How to be you? Haha. I will stay for only 11 days but I brought almost a month of clothes.' I tried 5 viral packing hacks to see which was best at fitting EVERYTHING into a carry-on case & the best was free Another commented: 'My toxic trait is thinking I can do this too.' A third added: 'My toxic trait is thinking I could do this but then ending up with a checked luggage half of my husband's checked luggage, a carry-on and personal item full.' Meanwhile, someone else remarked: 'That was really impressive… trying to convince myself that I can limit myself to a carry-on for Italy!' Others were quick to point how heavy the carry on would be with all those items in. A TikTok comment read: "This is 100% more than 7kg and you won't be able to use this as cabin carry on though, no?" She replied: "It depends on your airline! I've personally never had to weigh a carry-on." 3 Investing into packing cubes is one of her main tips Credit: tiktok/@arabellastokes Each airline has it's own policy and guidelines regarding the weight of a carry-on item. Passengers are required to check before they travel. People were also keen to find out what suitcase she had as it was aesthetically gorgeous. But unlike her cheap packing cubes, the carry-on came with a heft price tag. She had the Beis Small Carry-On Roller in Beige, which retails at £223.
