Day Five: Geneva - Annecy -Nice
We got out of bed "early" for vacation standards to ensure we left the hotel on time to collect the rental car.
Tip: Do NOT show up late for your rental car. I made this mistake once and learned the hard way. Your pick up time for a rental car is not "a window" of time. It is a set time. Once I showed up for a rental car pickup at what I thought was within "the window" and my rental car was given away. So don't let this happen to you! (Refer to Part 1 for more crucial details on car rentals.)
I appreciate my husband, who was our navigator, for organizing this road trip. The journey from Geneva to Nice takes approximately five and a half hours, offering a scenic route through mountains and along the coast. We decided to stop in Annecy part of the way through the journey to Nice.
Eddie had received lots of encouragement to stop here from friends and clients. Having never heard of the town before, we really had no idea what to expect. Despite my initial doubts upon arrival due to its unassuming initial appearance, I quickly changed my mind as we ventured across the street from the parking lot and discovered charming old cobblestone streets and distinctive shops.
Strolling through Annecy’s chic streets, where flower bouquets hang on the canal railings, made for a charming and relaxed afternoon.
During our stroll, we immersed ourselves in the vibrant atmosphere of the bustling Saturday, surrounded by the colorful array of street vendors showcasing their wares. As the day unfolded, my craving for authentic fondue that I had been dreaming about since we were in the initial planning stages of this trip peaked!
With determination, we consulted both TripAdvisor and Google. After a thorough search of all the fondue places in the area, we stumbled upon a hidden gem that promised to deliver the fondue experience of our dreams. Hello Heaven!
Our cozy lunch in Annecy ‘s La Salle des Gardes restaurant, where we indulged in their rich fondue, salty cured meats, crusty bread and one of the best garden salads I've ever had! Take me back!!!
After our meal, we strolled around the lake to burn off some calories. We captured some amazing photos before embarking on the 5 hour scenic journey to Nice. Grateful to my husband for driving, I made sure to bring my laptop to get one of my favorite blog posts finished during the journey, Everything you Wanted to Know about Being a Foster Mom and How to Support Foster Families: Mom Crush Monday Recap with Bella Giardina.
Thank you, Eddie!!!
Annecy is known as "The Venice of the Alps" and I totally get it with it's many canals and Old World Charm!
Driving in France Tips:
We opted not to pay for the additional cost toll reader. We found it wasn't necessary. France uses both a reader AND a ticket system. Sure, a reader is more convenient, but it was very costly and it didn't seem worth it for us to have it for the length of the rental car. We used the ticket system where you take a ticket and then pay. The ticket system accepted both coins and credit cards.
That hardest part about the drive was understanding the signs at the tolls. I do wish I had done a little research on that before we left. It was a little nerve-racking being unsure if we were in the correct lanes or not and I did my best to look up the information on the road but I found a website that susciently provides all the toll info for France here including how to read the signs!
5+ hours later and 1 pit stop for gas, snacks and souvenirs, we arrived in Nice!
Check out my IG here for all the videos of the ride and arrival.
We stated at the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais De La Mediterranee overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The location was a 10/10 and with our hotel stay, we had access to the beach club, Ruhl Plage, that we fell in LOVE with while we were there for a daily fee. I would absolutely stay at this hotel again for the convenience and proximity to all shops, restaurants and the iconic French Riviera beach.
After checking in and checking out the hotel amenities, we asked the concierge for a restaurant recommendation. Nice is very much a culturally diverse city and, as such, a foodie hotspot! Any type of cuisine can be found in Nice. Craving something different, we asked for the best Middle Eastern / Mediterranean food nearby and the concierge recommended, a Lebanese restaurant, Byblo's by Yahabibi, just a short walk from the hotel.
My delicious kabob platter at Byblo's by Yahabibi in Nice. 10/10 stars for this place. The food, ambiance, al fresco outdoor dining and entertainment made for an unforgettable evening.
Not only was the food to die for at Byblo's by Yahabibi but we also got a show! The entertainment of the night was belly dancing. We laughed, we ate until we were stuffed and then strolled around Nice before turning in for the night.
Don't have to worry about us getting kidnapped in Nice!
For more photos and videos of this day, check out my IG here.
Day Six: Nice
On our first morning in Nice we were excited to hit the beach club we had learned about the night before from our concierge at the hotel. That night, after getting in from our after-dinner stroll, we made the call from our room to reserve 2 seats at the beach club. Having never been to the French Riviera and only being at a "beach club" a few times before, we had no idea what to expect...
Ruhl Plage was an absolute vacationer's dream.
and Ruhl Plage did not disappoint. From the moment we walked down the natural stone steps to the landing where we were greeted, checked-in and then escorted to our FRONT row seats, I was awestruck.
View from check-in. Oh, I could go back there any day!!!!
It was almost unbelievable, from a 2 minute walk from the hotel, we were front row at the most beautiful beach I'd ever seen. The water was the bluest of blue I've ever laid eyes on.
Can you believe this was the view from my seat?!
And now I am forever ruined from all further beach club experiences! Ha! How can I top this place? I have not even gotten started with the other accommodations - the menu, the shopping and the SPA SERVICES!!!
My foodie self died and went to heaven here. A quartet of appetizers and a side of crusty bread and my soul left my body...
Needless to say, we stayed here for a considerable portion of our day, swimming, savoring and relaxing. We left when we decided it was just enough time to wash up and start to get ready for dinner.
Having yet to have Italian cuisine on this trip, we checked Yelp for the best Italian in the area and came across La Terre Del Sud, a highly rated restaurant within walking distance to our hotel.
Our shared appetizer of a combination of both warm and cold Italian favorites - grilled vegetables, burrata, spiedini and roasted beans. Oh this was so delicious!!!
Eddie's appetizer of a cold seafood salad because, 'when in Nice'!
My diner of linguine with fresh seafood. I'm salivating over here writing this blog!
Eddie's meal - Orecchiette with porcini mushrooms, sausage and ricotta
Never too old to say yes to a bib when offered!
After a delicious dinner and easy stroll back to our hotel, we said Ciao to Day 6 and my waist line!
Day Seven: Nice
Today was our last full day in Nice so while the Ruhl Plage was definitely in the cards, we also wanted to make sure we got out and did some more wandering and sightseeing, especially of the 'Old City'.
Our first stop was Ruhl Plage for some beach time and a delicious lunch.
Have you ever seen watermelon this bright?! And yes, I did go home with my own collection of Ruhl Plage rocks.
How pretty is this sky with that water?! Also, Eddie was very in style with his French blue striped shorts - that really is a thing, and I'm here for it.
While at the beach club for the day feeling like Hollywood elites (we're totally not but it felt great to pretend on vacation), Eddie got a 90-minute massage while I read my most recent book and daydreamed about what I would eat next.
Is this not the prettiest Ahi tuna salad you've ever seen?!
Give me all the Salad Niçoise while in France!
After we had our fill of food, sun and salty air, we left to get showered up so we had plenty of time to stroll the rest of the day.
Our first stop was to walk along the Mediterranean up to the section of Nice called the 'Old City' where the buildings and streets are original.
We wandered around like the tourists we were, thrilled to take in all the sights. We stopped at a curious art gallery and daydreamed about taking some of their pieces home that were not in our budget but totally worth ogling over.
One of the streets in the 'Old City' in Nice.
Spotted this place on our stroll and had to send to my soon-to-be neighbor, Jennifer.
One of pieces of art I was obsessed with a Momentum Art Gallery in Nice. How spectacular is this?! It's all bronze and I believe this particular piece was in the $15,000-$20,000 range.
We walked around Nice in the late afternoon. I do wish we had gone earlier as I found out while there, that Monday is the flea market/antique day and it looked like the tables were packing up just as we arrived.
We walked around the local art galleries, artisan shops and ended the evening at Le Grand Café de France for escargot, the freshest salad, and a truffle pizza!
No counting calories on this trip. We counted memories.
Keep your eyes out for Part 5, my last installment of this epic trip and be sure to check out my IG account for more photos and videos!
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