Holiday Inn Express Nice Grand Arenas by IHG

We had an excellent stay at Holiday Inn Express Nice yesterday. The staff made a real difference, especially Guuen at reception, who was kind, professional, and helpful. His warm manner made us feel very welcome and looked after. The hotel is conveniently close to the station, so getting around was easy. Our room was clean, comfortable, and well maintained, and the atmosphere was calm and pleasant. Breakfast was very good, with a nice range of good-quality options, better than we expected. We had a great experience and would highly recommend the hotel to anyone visiting Nice.

We only stayed one night while waiting to get into the apartment we’d rented, and it was a great place to stay. The staff were great and the room was spotless. We’d read that breakfast was limited, but didn’t find that to be true and really enjoyed it. We’d definitely stay again. Kudos to the staff!

The location was the highlight for us. Nice-Saint-Augustin station is about two minutes away on foot, with connections to local attractions. Terminal 1 is a five-minute walk, and Terminal 2 takes around 20 minutes. The recently developed area around the hotel felt pleasant. There’s no hotel car park, though public ones are nearby and cost about €20 a day. The room was clean. One staff member seemed unfriendly at first, but another was warm and helpful, which left us with a good impression. Breakfast didn’t offer much, but for a night or two we could find something to eat. I wouldn’t choose this as a longer holiday base; it feels more suited to an event or airport stay. We arrived after 3pm, but check-in still took about 10 minutes because we were told no rooms were available. They also asked for our passports. It wasn’t a big issue since we had them, though it was the first time we’d been asked for them at a hotel in France. I understand it’s a regulation, but I’d stayed at many French hotels before without being asked. The air conditioning is kept at 21-22°C under a French government rule. That temperature worked for us, though we hadn’t encountered the rule elsewhere in France. The price seemed high, but was reasonable for the area, which is generally cheap. I’d recommend the hotel, since nearby alternatives probably aren’t very different in value or service.

The room was clean and nice, and the location couldn’t be better. In winter, though, the heating felt quite cold because you can’t control it from the room. Breakfast was basic, with no real variety.