Nice and or Cannes- beach with locker, chairs & umbrellas??

[jkt1220]

Will be arriving in Cannes early September. Ship is tendered 10a-7p. Considering either taking train to Nice, shopping, grabbing lunch & then finding a beach to relax on- or after lunch taking a train back to Cannes to relax for the afternoon on the beach w/o having to worry about traveling back to catch the ship in time. Can anyone recommended a specific beach/location in Cannes that has lockers, umbrellas & chairs. The lockers a really important- we'd like to have a safe place to keep our belongings w/o having to worry about taking a dip in the Med. We are not interested in visiting any museums or churches-we will be doing plenty of that in the days to follow- really just looking for some R&R. Thanks!

[cberge]

Will be arriving in Cannes early September. Ship is tendered 10a-7p. Considering either taking train to Nice, shopping, grabbing lunch & then finding a beach to relax on- or after lunch taking a train back to Cannes to relax for the afternoon on the beach w/o having to worry about traveling back to catch the ship in time. Can anyone recommended a specific beach/location in Cannes that has lockers, umbrellas & chairs. The lockers a really important- we'd like to have a safe place to keep our belongings w/o having to worry about taking a dip in the Med. We are not interested in visiting any museums or churches-we will be doing plenty of that in the days to follow- really just looking for some R&R. Thanks!

There is quite a bit of info on this board re your question if you page through or do a search here.

[Hlitner]

First, you should understand that the beach in Nice is absolutely awful by USA standards. But if you enjoy being on a beach full of pebbles and rocks then knock yourself silly (hopefully with none of the rocks on the beach). Cannes, on the other hand, does have some sandy beaches including a free beach located only a few minutes walk from the tender pier. When you get off the tender if you simply walk towards your left (keep the water on your left) you will quickly come to a nice public beach. I am not sure of the current situation regarding lockers or even facilities on that beach (we used to stay in a nearby hotel). You can also walk the other way around the marina to the main part of Cannes where there are facilities on the beach. However, nothing comes cheap :)

 

Hank

[Got2Cruise]

We've been to plenty of sandy beaches, but we wanted to swim in the Med. We enjoyed old Nice and the beach is opposite the flower market. There are plenty of beach clubs that will rent you a lounge chair but we opted to go to the free public beach, same rocks, but for free. We borrowed two towels from the pool and brought them along to sit on. We just wanted a dip, not to spend the entire day there. This fit the bill quite nicely. But yes, bring rubber flip flops or water shoes. I had neither, and survived, but I wish I had them along. There is a public restroom in the flower market to change your clothes, I think it cost .50 Euro.

First, you should understand that the beach in Nice is absolutely awful by USA standards. But if you enjoy being on a beach full of pebbles and rocks then knock yourself silly (hopefully with none of the rocks on the beach). Cannes, on the other hand, does have some sandy beaches including a free beach located only a few minutes walk from the tender pier. When you get off the tender if you simply walk towards your left (keep the water on your left) you will quickly come to a nice public beach. I am not sure of the current situation regarding lockers or even facilities on that beach (we used to stay in a nearby hotel). You can also walk the other way around the marina to the main part of Cannes where there are facilities on the beach. However, nothing comes cheap :)

 

Hank

[jkt1220]

Thank you both for your replies. Sounds like there a lot of options. I wouldn't even mind playing a hotel a "resort fee" to use their facilities for the afternoon. We did this on our last cruise in St. Lucia- was worth the money to have all the amenities there- and we got lunch included! I've been searching to see if I could find any hotels that offered the same in Cannes without luck.

[cberge]

Thank you both for your replies. Sounds like there a lot of options. I wouldn't even mind playing a hotel a "resort fee" to use their facilities for the afternoon. We did this on our last cruise in St. Lucia- was worth the money to have all the amenities there- and we got lunch included! I've been searching to see if I could find any hotels that offered the same in Cannes without luck.

If this is your first trip to France please note that you can NOT compare Europe with the Carib in any way shape or form espcially the beaches. I guess you did not scroll the pages on this board so here is a blurb re the beaches in Cannes that may be of help to you.I have stayed in the SOF,but generally in Menton,and only went to Cannes to get to Antibes.No matter what you do...enjoy.

The best thing about beaches in Cannes is that they are all sandy! What a pleasure. Unlike the galets on Nice beaches, you don't need special equipment like rubber shoes and padded towels to be comfortable. The fine sand is replenished at the beginning of each summer season and kept scrupulously clean throughout the year. As Cannes is at the foot of a wide bay, the drop-off is shallow and the waters are usually calm.

The downside of Cannes beaches is that the prime beach locations along La Croisette have been commandeered by the fancy hotels lining the boulevard and you have to pay to use them. About €20 will get you a lounge chair and parasol for the day. There is a small public beach east of the Majestic Hotel and the long stretch of beach, Plage du Midi, west of Le Suquet hill is free. Palm Beach Casino has an exclusive private beach but just west of it there is Bijou Plage which is free. Continue further for about a kilometre and there is a long stretch of free beach.

Of course none of this applies if you go off-season; from October to April the plagistes or beach managers leave and you can access beaches everywhere. Otherwise, don't hesitate to hop a boat and head out to the Iles Lerins. The two offshore islands of Ile St-Honorat and Ile Ste-Marguerite have rocky but free coastlines.

See more about Cannes beaches, including complete descriptions

[jkt1220]

If this is your first trip to France please note that you can NOT compare Europe with the Carib in any way shape or form espcially the beaches. I guess you did not scroll the pages on this board so here is a blurb re the beaches in Cannes that may be of help to you.I have stayed in the SOF,but generally in Menton,and only went to Cannes to get to Antibes.No matter what you do...enjoy.

 

The best thing about beaches in Cannes is that they are all sandy! What a pleasure. Unlike the galets on Nice beaches, you don't need special equipment like rubber shoes and padded towels to be comfortable. The fine sand is replenished at the beginning of each summer season and kept scrupulously clean throughout the year. As Cannes is at the foot of a wide bay, the drop-off is shallow and the waters are usually calm.

The downside of Cannes beaches is that the prime beach locations along La Croisette have been commandeered by the fancy hotels lining the boulevard and you have to pay to use them. About €20 will get you a lounge chair and parasol for the day. There is a small public beach east of the Majestic Hotel and the long stretch of beach, Plage du Midi, west of Le Suquet hill is free. Palm Beach Casino has an exclusive private beach but just west of it there is Bijou Plage which is free. Continue further for about a kilometre and there is a long stretch of free beach.

Of course none of this applies if you go off-season; from October to April the plagistes or beach managers leave and you can access beaches everywhere. Otherwise, don't hesitate to hop a boat and head out to the Iles Lerins. The two offshore islands of Ile St-Honorat and Ile Ste-Marguerite have rocky but free coastlines.

See more about Cannes beaches, including complete descriptions

 

 

Thank you very much for this detailed information. You are mistaken- as I have used the search tool & read through these pages many times, but when planning for a first time trip to Europe & planning itineraries on your own for 9 different ports- sometimes after searching & searching & reading post after post your head starts to spin---- sometimes it's just makes more sense and is more helpful to just post a specific question.

 

I'm not expecting the beaches of France or in the Med to be like the beaches of the Caribbean. Just looking for the commonality as it would offer some relaxation :cool: We don't mind spending $$, it's our honeymoon, not sure when we'll be back... lots of reasons to splurge of little.

 

Really appreciate the information. I will be sure to save this thread & bookmark it in my email. ~Jillian

[cberge]

Thank you very much for this detailed information. You are mistaken- as I have used the search tool & read through these pages many times, but when planning for a first time trip to Europe & planning itineraries on your own for 9 different ports- sometimes after searching & searching & reading post after post your head starts to spin---- sometimes it's just makes more sense and is more helpful to just post a specific question.

 

I'm not expecting the beaches of France or in the Med to be like the beaches of the Caribbean. Just looking for the commonality as it would offer some relaxation :cool: We don't mind spending $$, it's our honeymoon, not sure when we'll be back... lots of reasons to splurge of little.

 

Really appreciate the information. I will be sure to save this thread & bookmark it in my email. ~Jillian

You are welcome..glad I could be of some help.The reason I alluded to the beaches not being the same (as well as the ports per se) is you would be surprised how many people do not understand the beaches in Europe and do comparfe them to the Caribe and are very disappointed,but you have done some homework which is excellent. Reserching can be daunting and to much inof at eone time even worse IMHO.I would take some up to date book out of the library(actual book OMG) lay off the Interent and just do a little reading re your ports and the country to see what grabs you about them then go back on-line to see what you can find or post questions.I have never liked overload whick can be a planning hazard at times.You will go back there...maybe not for awhile,but you will go back.Have a wonderful honeymoon and buy something really special to always remind yourself of this trip.That will be fun in itself.