Where to go in The French Riviera.....

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I loved the Costa del Sol, and the Amalfi Coast so much, that now I'd like to go to the French Riviera. I've been doing some research, and see there aren't too many timeshares in that area. Sunterra has one, and I have found one or two others. Unfortunately the reviews aren't too good.

Any ideas on what town to try to stay in, timeshare/hotel, and any general comments/info, would be greatly appreciated!

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I exchanged into Marina Baie des Anges through DAE last summer and would happily do so again. DAE gets Club La Costa inventory at that resort which seems to be a cut above what RCI gets, and also does not have some of the extra fees that RCI exchangers get charged. My unit had been recently renovated. The resort is seafront, which is great, and even better is less than a block from a rail stop, from where you can easily go by train to most destinations on the Riviera (other than St. Tropez which is off the rail line, but can be reached by bus from a nearby town that is on the rail line). This is a resort that it is good to put in a request for, as DAE has good access to trading partner inventory that never makes it online.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks for the info!! The Marina Baie des Anges, looks very nice, I couldn't find Club La Costa, on the Riviera, tho. I did find Spain, and a few other locations. Club La Costa appears to be a top notch resort. I will look into it further.

I exchanged into Marina Baie des Anges through DAE last summer and would happily do so again. DAE gets Club La Costa inventory at that resort which seems to be a cut above what RCI gets, and also does not have some of the extra fees that RCI exchangers get charged. My unit had been recently renovated. The resort is seafront, which is great, and even better is less than a block from a rail stop, from where you can easily go by train to most destinations on the Riviera (other than St. Tropez which is off the rail line, but can be reached by bus from a nearby town that is on the rail line). This is a resort that it is good to put in a request for, as DAE has good access to trading partner inventory that never makes it online.

[Pstreet1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pstreet1]

We exchanged there through RCI. The location was good. The unit we had was very, very dumpy--furniture from the 50's, and it was cheap stuff in the 50's. Lots of extra charges: we had to rent the linens from them and carry them from the office to the unit; since it was raining and we had suitcases to wheel along, that was less than satisfactory. There was an additional utilities charge. It was about $100 in extra costs to get checked out. If the units are better, I'd definitely go with DAE rather than RCI--and possibly they leave the linens in the room even if they don't make the beds.

Oh, with RCI, you have to schedule time for a complete unit check before you can check out. Be sure to schedule when you check in if the time they come matters to you.

We took the bus into Nice ($5.00) and then took the bus to Monaco ($5.00)--just stay on the bus until you get to the main bus station and then catch the bus to Monaco. The buses were even more frequent than the trains and from our location within the complex (it's huge) the bus stop was actually closer--it's on the main street, north I think, from McDonalds. Train station is south of McDonalds; the M is easy to see and makes a good landmark.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks for the info!!!!

Where did you stay? Do you by any chance remember the name of the timeshare? Did you enjoy your visit, and the general area? I've really just started looking into it, but all the different towns look, and sound so nice.

We exchanged there through RCI. The location was good. The unit we had was very, very dumpy--furniture from the 50's, and it was cheap stuff in the 50's. Lots of extra charges: we had to rent the linens from them and carry them from the office to the unit; since it was raining and we had suitcases to wheel along, that was less than satisfactory. There was an additional utilities charge. It was about $100 in extra costs to get checked out. If the units are better, I'd definitely go with DAE rather than RCI--and possibly they leave the linens in the room even if they don't make the beds.

Oh, with RCI, you have to schedule time for a complete unit check before you can check out. Be sure to schedule when you check in if the time they come matters to you.

We took the bus into Nice ($5.00) and then took the bus to Monaco ($5.00)--just stay on the bus until you get to the main bus station and then catch the bus to Monaco. The buses were even more frequent than the trains and from our location within the complex (it's huge) the bus stop was actually closer--it's on the main street, north I think, from McDonalds. Train station is south of McDonalds; the M is easy to see and makes a good landmark.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Club La Costa is a major European points club. They own some resorts outright and at others they will buy a block of units or unit/weeks wholesale from the developer. At Marina Baie Des Anges, CLC owns a block of units.

From what I read from RCI exchangers at this resort, I am very glad I traded into it through DAE and got one of the units owned by CLC. I had no complaints at all about my unit which was in great shape or any extra fees. The only extra fee I had to pay was a electricity charge. My unit had great cross ventilation that made airconditioning unnecessary, so my electric charge ended up being less than 5 euros for the week. There was no unit check on check out. I just handed in the keys, paid for the electricity and left.

[katheren Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close katheren]

FR places

It's been a while (maybe 4 years) since I went to the Riviera. But everytime I go, I stay in a town called St. Raphael. Frejus is walking distance, beach is beautiful, lots of great great restaurants. St. Tropez is about an hour away by boat if I recall correctly. Can't really go wrong in that area regardless. Have fun.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks for all the replies!!!!.....I am trying to put together a trip for 2009. I would like to go to Paris, for a week, and the Riviera for 7-10 days. I can use Marriott points for a hotel in one of locations, and the airfare, if I can't get a decent timeshare in both locations.

I decided not to stay at the Marriott timeshare outside of Paris, since we think it's just too far to commute, each day.

It's easier to use the points for a hotel in the Riviera. To stay in the Paris Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysees, I would likely need to use 'anytime' points. Double the normal amount.

The problem is, I'm not sure if there are any decent timeshares in Paris, or what the availability would be. Nor am I familiar with timeshares in the Riviera.

Anyway, that's my plan....One week in Paris, and a week or so in the Riviera. I would use a timeshare for one of the locations, and probably a hotel, for the other. (Of course, 2 timeshares would also work, opposed to one hotel stay. I just don't think that's realistic.)

Any suggestions on how to best accomplish this, Or which area has the better timeshares, probability of getting one, would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!!!

BTW.....We would be going in early May, or September.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I loved the Marriott in Paris, great location, great rooms, we were only there one night but can't wait to go back for an extended stay.......

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

I'm sure that I would love it, too. I just don't want to have to use 280,000 points, to get it.

Maybe if I stay on top of it, and try and book on the first day of availability, I can get a week with 'standard points.' I'm not sure of the availability, tho. So far, every date that I have checked, has been 'stay anytime' @ 280,000 points.

I loved the Marriott in Paris, great location, great rooms, we were only there one night but can't wait to go back for an extended stay.......

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I'm sure that I would love it, too. I just don't want to have to use 280,000 points, to get it.

Maybe if I stay on top of it, and try and book on the first day of availability, I can get a week with 'standard points.' I'm not sure of the availability, tho. So far, every date that I have checked, has been 'stay anytime' @ 280,000 points.

Yes, you will have to book it one day at a time when they first open up - a friend just did it with the Rome property for next March.....
I had a 'regular' award for my stay June 5 to 6.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Yes, you will have to book it one day at a time when they first open up - a friend just did it with the Rome property for next March.....
I had a 'regular' award for my stay June 5 to 6.

Do you mean that I should book each day @ 35,000 points, opposed to a weekly stay.

If I do that, are they then converted to the weekly rate? Or, am I stuck with the 35,000 a night rate? Cause if I am, that's just no fun. That's still 245,000, for the week.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Do you mean that I should book each day @ 35,000 points, opposed to a weekly stay.

If I do that, are they then converted to the weekly rate? Or, am I stuck with the 35,000 a night rate? Cause if I am, that's just no fun. That's still 245,000, for the week.

I will check with my friend when I see him later today - I believe you can 'lump' all the days together at the end.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Thanks Pat!!!! That would be great info to have, and could make all the difference, in making this doable.

I will check with my friend when I see him later today - I believe you can 'lump' all the days together at the end.

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

Any ideas on what town to try to stay in, timeshare/hotel, and any general comments/info, would be greatly appreciated!

We stayed at the Timeshare Vaugrenier in Villeneuve Loubet (about a 15-20 minute drive from Nice). This was seven years ago so I can't comment on what it's like now but we really liked it. We got this on an RCI weeks trade.

It is a regular apartment complex where people live so there are only a couple of apartments for timeshare trades. We had a 2BR/1BA (very small bedrooms and bathroom). But the kitchen was fine; it had a DISHWASHER (only time we've ever had that in a Europe TS) and a washer/dryer. The living room/dining room area was good sized and it had a nice balcony with a Mediterranean view. But it is NOT on the beach if that is important to you.

Great location for daytrips to the Cote d'Azur towns (and Monte Carlo if you want to see that area as well).

Nothing fancy but good apartment, nice apartment complex, great location. You can see my photos of it in the link below. Pre-digital camera days so not very many photos and not good quality Wrote a TUGS review with more detail.