On the French Riviera, we decided to take a spot for a hotel where we could enjoy a relaxed beach life and make a day trip to Monaco. We explored the area and drove through a few towns to see what felt nice.
We ended up in the beach town of Juan-Les-Pins and booked accommodation at The Originals Boutique, Hotel Les Strélitzias. The hotel room was spacious, clean, and tidy, with the added bonus of a balcony, which is always a nice touch. The hotel’s common areas were also cozy and stylish, and in the front yard, between the hotel buildings, there was a large, tidy square with terraces where one could enjoy the sun as a counterbalance to the hustle and bustle of the city. The price for this accommodation was 113 € per night.
Juan-Les-Pins is a popular and stylish beach town with a long sandy beach, actually one of the longest on the French Riviera. Additionally, the town boasts many charming little shops, cafes, and restaurants, offering everything one could wish for from a relaxed beach town.
Juan-Les-Pins is located about 30 km from Nice, with good transport connections to other French Riviera beach towns such as Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Monaco, and other smaller destinations. These are easily accessible by train along the coast.
Antibes also seemed like a very nice town as we drove through it. We drove along a road right by the beach, which ran atop the coastal wall. At this point, the road was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for one car, but the views were stunning, with the crystal-clear sea lapping against the rocky shore. Although as the driver, I didn’t dare to glance at the scenery but rather focused on watching out for passing cyclists and ensuring the side mirror didn’t scrape against the wall.
Shopping Tip for the French Riviera
If you want to satisfy bigger shopping cravings away from the beachfront streets, head to the Polygone Riviera open-air shopping center. Here you’ll find a wide range of clothing stores like Pull&Bear, Bershka, Primark, Uniqlo, etc., as well as a good selection of restaurants. I recommend Fresh Burritos restaurant.
The shopping center is located about 15 km from Juan-Les-Pins, near Nice Airport. You can easily spend a day here and fill up the empty space in your suitcase.
