Need Christmas advice

We have always gone to Italy at Christmas time and this year the husband wants to go to the south of France instead. We have 2 daughters ages 17 and 14. I know it is a broad question but if you had a week to stay in one or 2 towns (not Paris) where would you go and where would you stay. We love agriturismos in Italy but speak NO french. We are a middle class family on a middle class budget, are very food oriented as I am a chef and love to walk. Medium museum goers and big bargain shoppers. Advice please? Thanks DKEL

everyday cafe

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would you be wanting to stay on a farm in France?

I would pick Nice- plenty to do and see, loads of great restaurants, merkets , easy to get to Monaco and Italy and perched villages etc , museums art galleries etc not forgetting the

Escoffier museum

http://www.fondatione-scoffier.org/

and tomb in Villeneuve loubet village a one euro bus ride away

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Yes we have thought of Nice specifically. Where would you fly into from the US? Is there an international airport in Nice?

Is it particularly deserted at Christmas? Italy is wonderful at Christmas time. DKEL

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There is an airport at Nice -3rd most important in France

You can fly direct to Nice with delta or change in Paris

Nice is an all year round place and has a lot of special activities eg xmas market , living nativity , choral concerts etc etc plus other places on the coast have things on for xmas as well- eg monaco, cannes

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Ok now I am getting excited. Thank you so much. Do you personally have a recommendation for a place to stay in Nice? Budget of about 200 american a night. I can of course search the forum but you are saying all the right things so I thought I would ask you!

Generally we stay in a city for 4 or 5 days to be able to walk everywhere and then rent a car to go out and stay in the countryside for another 4 days or so. We like smaller family run places with breakfast. I live for coffee and breakfast in the morning in Europe. Then hit the streets caffeinated and ready! DKEL.

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Is that 200dollars in total per night for the 4 of you?

are you looking for a 4-bedded room? or 2 doubles/twins for the 200dollars US per night?

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200 US per night for the 4 of us. We stay in one room and usually we get either two double beds or one double and two twins. Because we travel off season we can usually get good room rates. We can spend as much as 250 but would rather eat the extra money!

I saw a travel show on Aix and Avignon last night and both also looked beautiful...any advice there?

I will of course try to get to know some basic french before we leave...(menu french and courteous french) but is some english usually understood?

Thank you again.DKEL

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I can%26#39;t help much with Aix and Avignon - i%26#39;ve only been briefly . It will be considerably colder there than on the coast though.

As far as Nice is concerned over the actual dates of xmas it is considered high season in most hotels, the run up to Xams is low season so that will affect the choice of hotel

here are some small hotels that might fit the bill though

http://www.nicegardenhotel.com/

http://www.villa-la-tour.com/les_tarifs.php

this one has small apartments available as well as hotel rooms which might be a good option for you

http://www.hotelcomtedenice.com/

http://www.hoteloasis-nice.com/

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