Côte d'Azur
How we got there:As Delta frequent fliers we opted to use Alitalia for its nice long haul to Rome with a connection to Marseille. Placing Marseille into our final destination point opened a few cheaper business class options. As a tier one partner of Delta you can reap the 150% pointAlitalia flies two configurations To Rome the A330 or the 777-200. The onboard product is the same though the Airbus 1-2-1 configuration felt a bit more cramped on the A330. Expect the crew to be firm but efficient without the TLC of other airlines. We highly recommend the 9:30pm flight which allows you to dine and watch a movie before switching your seat into bed mode and getting at least 6 hours of sleep. Flight time on the airbus is approximately 7 and a half hours.
[wpvideo G6agY4yN ]Seat choices. The aisle seats offer more privacy in general and even seats row 2/4 in the aisle provided a more private sleeping experience (circled in red)
A word about connections: FCO airport in Rome has an abundance of business class lounges but check your access viability before arriving. A hidden gem is the Casa Alitalia Roma Lounge. The food is decent and the showers are a great bonus to allow you to be more efficient on the tail end of your connection.
MARSEILLE One night recharge
Where we stayed: Since we were only spending one night in Marseilles with a plan to take the train to Nice we opted for the holiday in express. The price was great and the location was literally across street from the central station. Strangely room 411 is the only room with a private terrace and has a stunning view of the city. The stay was easy, breakfast was included.
What we did:We literally had one evening. Based on local recommendations we jumped in an uber and made our way to the rooftop of a Les Terrasses Du Port which is a beautiful shopping center. The R2 club offers a stunning view of the port. Probably a bit more club like in the later hours but get there early and grab a drink.
[wpvideo j04lq4ga ]Dinner: we reserved dinner on a local friends recommendation at Le Bouchon Provençal. The food was delicious and I would highly recommend the chickpea fries and the Tataki Tuna. The restaraunt is located just adjacent to a beautiful marina with with beautiful promenades.
[wpvideo cmB8biy5 ]NICE From the central station in Marseille we took the regional TER train to Nice. The ride is a just a bit over 2 hours. Booking premiere class offers a quiet and pleasant experience.
Where we stayed: A friend of ours who has been to Nice several times had stumbled upon Le Grimaldi hotel. Located in the city center this boutique style hotel with a French twist is both charming and inviting. The friendly staff, fresh lemonade stand in the lobby and warm and dense patterned wall paper truly reminds you that you are in France. We opted for an upgrade to a superior room which happened to have a beautiful view of a church and was a generous size. We would likely stay here again.
Dining room at Grimaldi
What we ate:Since we only had a couple of nights in Nice we reviewed some recommendations from friends and were able to reserve two wonderful restaurants for dinner.On our first night we dined at Olive and Artichaut. It appeared that this place was definitely trending with several people turned away and a full reservation list for the night. The food was absolutely delicious and it was no surprise to find this venue listed in the michelin guide. The steak tartar and tuna tartar were some of the best we have had.
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Dinner on the second night came highly recommended. We needed to make a reservation in advance for Le Bistro Gormand. Tucked away on a cute and quiet corner it sits close enough to the hustle and bustle without having it be in your face. Outdoor seating was wonderful and we opted for a delicious tasting menu. Favorite dish by far was the macaroni stuffed with foie gras and sprinkled with large delicious flakes of truffle.
Breakfast #2: Chez Maitre Pierre check out this wonderful bakery for some delicious Pain Au Chocolate.
What we did in Nice:This is the kind of place where a lack of a plan is the perfect plan. Walk around the romantic small streets, people watch over crepes, shop at the galleries Lafayette, walk along the water, and of course float in the beautiful green/clear waters of the Mediterranean. While we opted to spend our 2 days in Nice if you have a little extra time Cannes and Antibe are a short train ride away.Images from our time in Nice and the surrounding area:
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