Nice Travel Tips
La Tete Carree Library in Nice; (c) Raymond Morland/UNSPLASH
Nice Facts
Official Language: French
Currency: Euro
Time Zone: Central European Time (6 Hours ahead of EST); Nice uses 24 hour Military Time
Dates: Day/Month/Year
Metro Population: 1.1 Million
Nice Travel Tips
Passports are necessary for U.S. citizens.
Even in spring or summer, check the weather report before leaving your hotel. Lyon often has sunshine and rain on the same day.
Though English is spoken by many locals, locals respect Americans more when they first attempt to speak French.
Post offices are located throughout the city identifiable by a yellow “La Poste” sign. Post office hours are Monday-Friday 8am-7pm and Saturday 8am-Noon.
Most large stores are open Monday-Saturday 10 am-7 pm. Small shops usually close for lunch.
Electricity connection is different than America, so bring an European Adapter or buy a more expensive one at the airport.
Buy a CityPass to save money.
Pedestrians do not have the right of way. When crossing the street at a major intersection, look both ways and walk swiftly.
Before leaving America, find out if your health insurance covers an unexpected hospital visit in France and the locations of the hospitals covered by your health insurance. Bring anti-bacterial wipes for your hands.
Locals dress chic at nice restaurants and galas. During summer months however, wearing jeans and a t-shirt is acceptable. For clues, note how locals dress entering at Tram stations. Dress in a similar fashion.
Women wearing short-shorts may result in unwanted attention from many men.
Nice is a walker’s paradise, so bring good walking shoes
Bring beach shoes to comfortably walk on the stone beaches.
For budget meals, try lunch specials at the sidewalk cafes. Places serving American cuisine usually have large portions.
Use French when explaining that you want “take-out”, even if the waiter appears to speak English. One sister told her English-speaking waiter to take away the remaining half of her pizza. He threw it in the garbage because “take away” doesn’t mean “take-out” to English as a Second Language speakers in France.
Palais Rusca in Old Nice at night; (c) Soul Of America
International Calls
Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype on your smartphone.
Holidays
Holidays are New Year’s Day, Easter, Easter Monday, Labor Day, VE Day, Ascension, Bastille Day, Assumption Day, All Saints’ Day, Armistice Day and Christmas.
Nice also has:
Nice Carnival (February): One of the largest carnivals in the world, featuring parades and “flower battles”
Nice Jazz Fest (July): A major international music festival
Ironman Nice (June): A prominent triathlon event.
Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes (November): Scenic coastal marathon
Christmas Village (December): Local festive market
French Language
Bring a French phrasebook for the following English words/phrases often oo memorize before your trip: Sir, Madame, Hello, Please, Thank You, Excuse Me, Goodbye, I don’t understand, Where is?, How much?, Do you speak English and Where is the toilet?
Charm and good manners are appreciated by the French. You are expected to greet people with “Bonjour.”
The more you use in French (Sir, Madame, Hello, Please, Thank You, Excuse Me), the more help you will receive.
Avoid being an “Ugly American.” Start every interaction in French with “Bonjour”, then follow with English with a pleasant voice. You will receive assistance from most people, if they understand some English. Then conclude with “Merci.”
Safety
Public display of affection among couples is more common than the U.S. Some sisters, especially single women age 35 and over, may receive more attention from local men than they are accustomed to in the U.S. If the attention is unwanted, firmly say “No.” Seek assistance from others if necessary.
Several Tram stations attract scammers trying to sell you something or want to take you somewhere. Don’t engage in conversation. Just walk away.
American sisters may notice a significant increase in the number of French sisters dating European men compared to the U.S.
Nice is considered a “safe city”, but a woman alone should use common sense when walking around late at night.
Pickpockets don’t fit a profile and include children. Use care at tourist attraction areas and on public transportation.
Seek help or information only from official personnel (train station agents, tourist office, tour bus drivers, airport information desk, airline employees, hotel desk clerks).
Saxophonist playing on Promenade des Anglais; (c) Soul Of America
Interactions with Local People of African Descent
Many sisters and brothers living in Lyon are from French-speaking African and Caribbean countries like Senegal and Martinique. Don’t expect them to greet you the same way that they do in America.
If you have not traveled to Africa before, you may not have experience with the way that Africans may stare at African Americans. Usually, they are staring out of curiosity.
Due to the language barrier and culture, the U.S. custom of a head nod or “Hello” is not familiar to every African you meet in France.
Handling Money and Valuables
Currency is the Euro and major credit/debit cards are accepted by most establishments. Banks are open from Monday-Friday 9:30am-5pm. Some are open on Saturday. Bring at least one debit card and one credit card from America.
The ATMs only accept PIN numbers with 4 digits, so check with your bank before going. Use the ATM card to purchase Euros, since they usually have a better rate than many currency exchange offices.
Locals don’t wear money belts because they stand out as “tourist.” Get one that you wear inside a shirt or blouse. Otherwise, place money in hidden pockets or deep inside your bag, so that it’s hard for pickpockets.
Put only things that you are willing to lose in your visible pockets. When riding a Nice Tram, carry little cash, a debit card, and a copy of your passport for identification. It’s easier to replace those items.
Store your original passport, extra money, plane ticket, list of debit/credit card customer service phone numbers and other valuables in the locked hotel safe.