Nice, Cannes, Saint-Tropez – the French Riviera doesn’t exactly scream of an affordable getaway. Yet AMMI gives visitors the chance to experience Nice without blowing the budget. Over five central locations, it provides stays for less than £100 per night and, because the rooms in three of those also feature cooking facilities, it also means you don’t need to eat out multiple times a day. Win win. We stayed at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice, which is the group’s hotel in the historic old town.
Why stay at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice?
Location, location, location. In addition to price, it’s this accommodation’s proximity to Nice’s Vieille Ville neighbourhood that makes it stand out when searching for stays. If you’re the kind of traveller who loves nothing more than getting lost in a maze of small cobbled streets and packed-in buildings that predate Napoleon Bonaparte, then having the city’s old town available to explore at the back of the hotel is ideal.
It doesn’t look much from the outside – a rather unsuspecting keycoded door that leads up narrow stairs to the reception and rooms (there’s no lift, so bear that in mind if you have accessibility requirements). Once in, though, you’re welcomed into the cheerful reception by a solo receptionist doing their best to juggle check-ins and guest enquiries.
What are the rooms like at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice?
There are 10 studio rooms, all of which have a small kitchenette and ensuite bathroom and a few featuring private balconies. They range from standard doubles and twins to family rooms, suites and an apartment if you need a little more space. No matter what size you opt for, you get a Nespresso pod machine, microwave, kettle, hob and enough kitchenware to prepare and eat basic meals. Ours also had a filter coffee machine, toaster, teapot and colander.
The decor is simple but tasteful, with two-tone walls painted dusky pink and cream and bedclothes to match. It’s clean, comfortable and, despite being immediately adjacent to a busy thoroughfare, doesn’t suffer noise from cars or passers by. As well as a couple of arty framed prints, there’s also a Smart TV with free Netflix on the wall. There’s a water dispenser in reception, which was a small mercy when we stumbled in from the 30-degree heat outside and needed some chilled relief. But if you want something more interesting or find yourself peckish in the dead of night, there are also drinks and snacks available in the room that work on an honesty basis (i.e. you’ll be asked if you took any when you check out and charged accordingly).
What are the best places to eat and drink near the AMMI Vieux Nice?
The only cooked food you’ll find in the AMMI Vieux Nice is whatever you cook yourself in the kitchenette. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of places to eat and drink nearby. For starters, there’s Brasserie Gaglio just a few buildings away; a quintessentially French cafe-restaurant with plenty of outside tables, which is where you’ll be sent if you order the hotel’s optional breakfast. There you get coffee, juice, a small baguette with jam and your choice of a pastry or, in our case, satisfyingly buttery omelette with sausage and bacon.
Outside of that, you’re spoiled for choice within a five-minute walking radius thanks to the old town in one direction and Garibaldi Square in the other. We’d recommend grabbing some Niçoise street food like socca (chickpea flatbread) and pissaladière (a tart topped with onion, olive and anchovy) from the counters of Chez René or Lou Pilha Leva. Good pizza is easy to find – Nice was part of Italy until it was given to the French in 1860 – and there are well-regarded sushi, Vietnamese and tapas options with the Indian Lounge dishing out genuinely good curries. Chez Acchiardo, set on one of the old town’s main arteries, is a fabulous option for classic French cuisine and has a lunchtime plat du jour that you can buy for less than €20.
What is the service like at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice?
Every receptionist we interacted with at AMMI Vieux Nice was exceptionally friendly and helpful. We arrived on the national holiday of Bastille Day and they enthusiastically assisted us to pick out the best location to enjoy the traditional fireworks display (we ended up in a crowded Cannes for a superb pyrotechnic extravaganza). They’ll also help you book day trips and activities, if required, such as visits to Monaco or the tourist village of Eze. Because they’re working alone, there was the odd time that we found the reception unmanned or had to wait our turn while they gave comprehensive directions to another guest.
What are the facilities like at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice?
Outside of the handy amenities you get in the room we’ve already described, there isn’t much else to discuss here. There’s a reception and there are rooms and that’s about it. There is a self-service laundry and we did notice a basket of beachware (parasols, windbreaks, etc) that you can borrow for free. Plus, there are lockers available 24/7 if you plan to explore the city after checking out.
What’s the area like around Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice?
The French word for ‘old’ is in the hotel’s name and all of Nice’s most interesting historic spots are very close by. Walk around the corner from entrance and you’ll immediately be met by the fish market on the edge of the old town, and then explore those streets until you reach the Marche aux Fleurs market for fresh fruit and veg, as much lavender as you can tolerate and plenty of souvenir possibilities. We timed our walk to the famous Promenade des Anglais at around nine minutes, which means you could conceivably be up to your shoulders in Med in 10. If you fancy burning off some calories, you can begin the thigh-burning ascent to the panoramic Parc de la Colline du Château at the top of Castle Hill from the hotel (a lift is also available). And there are plenty of handy travel links on your doorstep, too.
Why you should you book a stay at Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice
If you’ve just pulled into the Port Lympia on your megayacht and are looking for a luxuriant Succession-style stay on the Côte d'Azur, this isn’t it. If, however, you’ve always fantasised about a holiday on the French Riviera but have been put off by the cost, the Aparthotel AMMI Vieux Nice would make an excellent option that goes beyond a no-frills roof for the night.
DETAILS
- Address: 10 Bd Jean Jaurès, 06300 Nice, France
- Price per night: From £81
- Closest transport: Nice Côte d'Azur airport is 20 minutes by car or 25 minutes by tram
- Book now: Via Booking.com