Hotel Ozz by HappCulture

HappyCulture Indeed

HappyCulture

Looking for a hip, trendy, fun and comfortable hostel? Hotel Ozz is the perfect one in Nice.

My friend and I stayed for 3 nights in a 4-bed female room with a shared bathroom.

View from the room

Common area/lounge

The building is relatively new and well kept, and there's a lift. The reception/main area is spacious with tables and chairs, TV, guitar, games, etc.

Reception desk is in front of the girl standing right at the back

There is a microwave in the dining area which you can use. We didn't avail the breakfast but it looked like standard French breakfast (croissant, spread, butter, and cereals, hot drinks and juice).

Dining area and kitchen at the back

Microwave

Dining area

There's a secured luggage room where you can leave your stuff before check-in/after check out, and an outside seating/smoking area.

Outdoor seating

Location

It is about 13 minute- (easy) walk to get to the Old Town from the hostel which is not too bad really, but it is very near the Gare de Nice-Ville train station (3 minute-walk), tram line and the bus stop for the airport (just past the train station), which is handy if you plan to do trips to neighbouring areas like Cannes and Monaco or to get to/from the airport. There are also loads of restaurants and supermarket/convenience stores within the vicinity as the hostel is just about 5 minutes from the high street.

Staff

Staff members are no doubt very friendly, accommodating and helpful.

Room/facilities

The room door and lockers on the right

The room was spacious and the bunk beds were very comfortable to sleep in. There is air-conditioning in each room. Each bunk bed has a personal light, sockets and a curtain for privacy. There is also a locker allocated per person, but you need to have your own padlock or buy one from the reception. The bathroom was clean and comfortable to use. You need to bring your own towel but you can rent from the reception. You can also borrow a hair dryer.

Our bunk beds

Roommates' bunk beds

Overall Rating

Excellent: it was a great and comfortable stay for a very affordable price. I highly recommend this hostel!

Left and Right from Nice

Île-Saint-Honorat and Villefranche-Sur-Mer

(Left) Half a day's worth of exploring one of the Lérins Islands and Cannes Old Town, and (Right) ending the day with a delightful dinner in Villefranche-Sur-Mer

View of the coastline of Île-Saint-Honorat from the fortified fortress

A. Île-Saint-Honorat together with 3 other islands comprise the Lérins Islands. The largest two of these Mediterranean islands off the French Riviera are good swimming and picnic spots from Cannes --- perfect for day trips.

Getting there:

Gare de Nice-Ville

Regular trains between Nice-Ville and Cannes stations

- regional (slower) trains take about 40 minutes

- faster trains (Trenitalia) take about 24 minutes

Tip for tickets: check the price online, as sometimes, tickets bought online are cheaper than those purchased at the station.

From Cannes station, stroll along the high street until you get to the Le Vieux Port. Walk along the port towards the right to get to Port de Cannes where you'll find the boats for the Lérins Islands. It's roughly a 15 minute walk from the station.

Depending on where you'll go, ticket prices and boat timetables will vary.

Boat to the island

We chose to visit only one, which was Île-Saint-Honorat because it is less crowded there as compared to the other more famous island, Île-Saint-Marguerite (due to the Maritime Museum where the Man in the Iron Mask was said to be imprisoned). The other 2 islands are uninhabited. A standard adult return ticket was worth €16.50, and the boat ride was about 30 minutes from Cannes.

We bought lunch from McDonald's before going to the island. But there is a restaurant in the island where you can have a meal.

What's there to do?

Abbey de Lerins Monastery

Exclusively inhabited by monks since the 5th century AD, Île-Saint-Honorat now hosts the Cistercian Congregation of the Immaculate Conception, and is known for producing wine, lavender oil, honey and Lérina, a herbal liquor which boosts appetite.

Abbey de Lerins monastery and church

Scattered in the island are small chapels and religious establishments. The largest structures of the island are the Abbey de Lerins monastery and the fortified fortress.

The fortified fortress/monastery

Inside and up the fortress

At the top of the fortress

There are also a lot of picnic spots and swimming points.

Island trail

Swimming spot in the island

You can just choose a spot and settle for a quiet day of relaxation, meditation, and swimming. There is no entrance fee to the island but it is expected that people observe silence and proper conduct.

Church of Our Lady Esperance

After getting out fill of swimming, we headed back to Cannes with the last boat departing the island and took a stroll to the Church of Our Lady of Esperance. Sitting atop the hill and overlooking the port, this Gothic-style stone church was completed in the 1600s, and is a good place for panoramic views of the port.

We then bought some souvenir magnets from one of the shops in the high street while making our way back to the train station.

Church of Our Lady of Esperance

B. Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer panorama

Villefranche-Sur-Mer is one of the most charming Niçoise fishing villages on the French Riviera. It is known for a lot of good restaurants and cafes where one can have a good meal while people-watching and enjoying the charming views of the Old Town.

Restaurants along the port of Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Villefranche-Sur-Mer port

Getting there:

We took the train from Gare de Cannes to Gare de Villefranche-Sur-Mer and then walked along the port to the Old Town.

We had a very satisfying dinner at a family-run restaurant deep in the Old Town, and then headed back to the hostel after by train.

Fish, ratatouille and salad

Steak, chips and salad

Creme brûlée

Expenses:

train ticket - €13

lunch - €15.50

ferry ticket - €16.50

candles - €2

magnet - €12

dinner - €32

Total: €91