Nice Excelsior Hotel

Set within a 19th-century Belle Epoque building, Nice Excelsior Hotel is a trendy and colorful boutique property that attracts tourists -- especially couples who don’t mind huddling up in the smallish guest rooms. Colorful, travel-themed decor is found throughout the property, including giant murals of the Mediterranean coast, chairs and desks styled as travel trunks, and even a library filled with travel books. The small but inviting lobby has contemporary couches and chairs around a fireplace, while a charming outdoor courtyard also provides seating shaded by umbrellas. The breakfast room is a bit small, but has a funky atmosphere with clear plastic chairs and a few padded booths for seating. Overall, it's a solid choice with stylish interiors and a convenient location that makes a good base for exploring Nice and the region.

The hotel is located just down the street from Nice's main train station, which is about a two-minute walk away. There are restaurants, cafes, and shops in the area, while Avenue Jean Medecin, a main shopping street, is just three blocks away. The beach and the popular Promenade des Anglais can be reached in 15 minutes on foot. Nice's charming Old Town is about a 20-minute walk away, or guests can take a tram that stops about five minutes away from the property. The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum is also a 20-minute walk from the hotel, as is the Marc Chagall Museum, while the Matisse Museum can be reached in 23 minutes via public transportation. It's a 10- to 15-minute drive to Nice's Cote d’Azur Airport, or around a half-hour via public transportation.

The hotel's 42 rooms are artfully decorated with a bright and colorful style that adheres to the travel theme seen throughout the property. Though color schemes vary -- some rooms are cloaked in cool blue shades, while others feature a vivid red and orange palette -- all have murals of Mediterranean coastal cities adorning bedside walls, as well as colorful padded headboards with reading lights and travel trunk-style drawers and tables. The spaces are compact and can feel cramped to some, though Suites and Superior Rooms offer a bit more space -- which sometimes allows for a single chair. Business travelers should note that all rooms lack desks. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, minibars, air-conditioning, safes, and free Wi-Fi, plus some have small balconies or patios, but there are no tea/coffee facilities. Bathrooms are cramped as well, with brown, gray, or vivid red mosaic tiling, vessel sinks, L’Occitane toiletries, hairdryers, and rainfall showers or shower/tub combos. 

The hotel offers a decent, though limited, array of features. A buffet breakfast is available for a pricey fee, and can be delivered to rooms. There’s a bar serving light bites and drinks in the hotel's lovely outdoor courtyard. Massages can be booked upon request. Business guests can take advantage of one fully equipped meeting room and a public computer in the lobby. Wi-Fi is free throughout, but it has received varying reports of reliability. Discounted parking is available at a nearby garage for a hefty fee.