Category Archives: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

Tramway Line 2 Takes Another Detour…

It’s been a rocky road for the much-anticipated East-West Tramway Line 2 between the Airport and the Port. First it was to be on the Prom, then underground, …finishing at Riquier, …no, at the Port, no… under the Port… Well the latest … Continue reading

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Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged | 2 Comments

Hurry: Winter TGVs Nice-Paris only 19€

This is one of the best deals in France:  Take the train from Nice to Paris for  just 19€! The IDTGV just opened their winter reservations this morning, and if you book now you have a large choice of dates. … Continue reading

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Isabelle Summer Train Pass plus a Secret Train Deal

With summer comes Isabelle:  the 14€ summer-only train pass good for a day of unlimited travel on TER trains between Ventimiglia and Frejus, and inland to Grasse or up to Tende.  Unfortunately, the Nice station is so central that the Carte Isabelle won’t save … Continue reading

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Posted in Bargain Hunting, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | 6 Comments

Nice Transport Transformed: a Peek into the Future

Since the demolition of the Nice Bus Station last year, Nice has been in a sort of chaotic limbo waiting for the promised new transportation hub that will put the train, tram, bus station all in one place and within easy … Continue reading

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Another Award: Nice wins Bronze for Rudest Drivers in France

It’s a big awards week between the Oscars and Michelin stars, so here’s another recent honor: Nice took the bronze medal for Rudest Drivers in France. The weekly magazine Auto-Plus graded 10 French cities based on 6 criteria:  running red lights, surprise … Continue reading

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Using the Velo Bleu Just Got Easier

The Velo Bleu share-bikes are great in concept, but in practice there have been a few… shall we say, speedbumps.  One complication is that if you didn’t plan ahead, you need a cellphone to sign up, and if you are … Continue reading

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Smart Parking comes to Nice

It is one of the banes of living in Nice: driving around in circles, blood pressure mounting, hunting in vain for that elusive parking space.   Well relief is in sight:  starting in June, the city will begin installing Smart Parking, … Continue reading

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Posted in Coming Attractions, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged | 2 Comments

Air Wars: EasyJet and Air France Battle it out over Nice

First it was the Battle of the Daily Deals raining discounts over our fair city, and now it’s the Battle of the Skies, with Air France and EasyJet in an all-out price war… and the winner is?  Nice again! Having … Continue reading

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Strike Season Continues… Next Up: Air France

The good news:  to better compete with low-cost airlines (to whom Air France is losing money hand-over-fist), Air France is restructuring its hub system to create mini-hubs in Marseilles (starting in October) and then in Nice, Toulouse and Bordeaux (all by next spring), which … Continue reading

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Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged | 3 Comments

More Strike Fun: National Strike Day Tuesday

UPDATE:  Here is a list of which bus lines are only cancelled this morning, and which are canceled for 24 hours. After all that vacation time, it’s a drag to go back to work, right?  That’s why the French unions always call … Continue reading

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Wildcat Train Strike Paralyses French Rail Travel

UPDATE:  The Controller strike ended Friday afternoon, but there is another strike set to start Tuesday, this time by Conductors. Thursday, in Strasbourg, a controller was stabbed by a homeless crazy person and is now in the hospital… it’s a … Continue reading

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Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Urban Hazards | Tagged | 1 Comment

Bike through the Mountains… with No Cars!

It’s a mountain bikers dream: to be able to pedal freely through the picturesque peaks and valleys with no cars to worry about… and thanks to the Conseil General, now you can!   Each Sunday morning in July, one of the 5 Mercantour mountains has been designated as … Continue reading

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Getting to the Mountains just got easier: the RandoBus

It’s such a great idea you wonder why nobody thought of it sooner… dedicated buses taking hikers up to the best mountain villages in the Mercantour, for just 5€ round trip!   Selected for their abundance of well-marked hiking trails for all levels, the charming mountain villages … Continue reading

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Posted in Fun Stuff to Do, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged | 3 Comments

Three Days to Avoid Nice

Be forewarned:  Tomorrow there will be car chases on the Promenade… and gridlock everywhere else.  The Transporter TV series, based on the film by Luc Besson, is shooting in Nice all this week, and will be transporting the town… into transport hell.     … Continue reading

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What, you don’t know about the Nice Grand Prix?

All eyes are on Monaco this weekend, but did you know that Nice once had its own glamorous Grand Prix, and a major world racing record to boot? The first man to break the 120 km/hr land speed barrier did … Continue reading

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New Tram Track Crackdown

The police are out in force on avenue Jean Medecin:  between tracking pickpockets, scam artists, and purse snatchers, they are now on the lookout for the latest menace… bicyclists blithely cruising down the tramway tracks.   The new policy started yesterday, and the tickets are no joke: a whopping … Continue reading

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Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Practicalities | Tagged | 1 Comment

Americans in Nice Singing the Blues… the Autobleues

An archaic French rule is going to deprive most Americans from using the fantastic Autobleue electric share cars.   In a stunning policy reversal last week, Autobleue is now being forced to deny access to Americans outside of these 15 States:  Arkansas, S. Carolina, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, … Continue reading

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L’Auto Bleue… It Just Keeps Getting Better

Yesterday was the grand unveiling of Nice’s biggest innovation since the tramway, and the innovative self-service car share system turns out to be even better than expected… Anyone can sign up!  The big question for Americans here was whether we would be forced to submit to the dreaded French Drivers … Continue reading

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L’Auto Bleue: If you like the Velo Bleu, you’re going to love this!

  Photo: www.audos.blogspot.com Ya gotta love this town!  Starting next weekend, Nice will be stocked up with electric cars that can be rented with a mouse click for as little as 5€ an hour.  There will be 17 strategically located stations to start … Continue reading

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Sites for Great Last Minute Travel Deals

Tempted by an exotic weekend away at rock bottom prices?  If you can read French and have a spontaneous spirit as well as a spare weekend or week to fill, then these sites are for you: Unbeatable Wednesdays on Lastminute.com: check … Continue reading

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