MY STAY
Nice & the sea
Hôtel Palais de la Méditerranée worked best for me as a Nice city hotel with the sea across the Promenade des Anglais. I could walk toward the old town, return for an hour at the outdoor pool and head out for another meal. The beach clubs opposite were separate from the hotel, not a private strip of sand included with the room.
Room view
I checked the advertised view closely. A little terrace over the pool might show only a sliver of the Mediterranean through the old facade, whereas a genuine sea-facing balcony changed the room. Blackout shades helped with sleep, and a welcome of chocolate or wine made coming back pleasant.
Breakfast & pool
Breakfast looked out toward the water, though the food itself was less memorable than the view. I used the gym and pool between city walks. One practical detail mattered unexpectedly: room cleaning could require hanging a sign on the door. Knowing that at check-in would have saved a day of wondering why the room was untouched.
Would I return?
A proper sea-facing room and a pool within walking distance of old Nice make this a useful city base. A true water view was worth choosing carefully; after that, Nice itself supplied much of the pleasure.