Paradis in Nice

Q: My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to France and want to spend time on the Côte d’Azur, preferably Nice or Cannes. However, we are horrified by the cost of accommodation. Could you recommend a nice, cheap hotel in either of these cities we could use as a base. We would prefer a private double room, as we would not like to share a room or facilities with other guests. Help us out, please! - Valerie Jones

A: I strongly recommend you consider the Paradis Hotel in Nice, which is one of the hidden gems in this beautiful city. It has the most stunning location, only 80 metres from the Promenade des Anglais, hidden away in a side street between the Vuitton and Armani stores that lie on the beachfront. The main square, Place Massena, is only a three-minute walk away and the main shopping district about five minutes. This is prime, prime territory, but you can get a really nice double room from only 50 Euros. While it is called a hotel, it also has hostel-like dormitory accommodation, where the cost of a bed starts at only 14 Euros. But if you book one of the double rooms, you'll get lovely en-suite bathroom, a TV, air conditioning, a mini bar, a safety box, a tea/coffee maker and free wi-fi Internet. Rates depend on the season and can rise to 110 Euros over peak season (especially the Monaco Grand Prix), but that's still a fraction of what other hotels in this area charge. The hotel is extremely popular, so book as soon as possible. Check out the hotel on the www.paradishotel.com website. (10 May 2009)