This lodging is adequate if you're willing to put up with limited opening of the reception desk (WARNING: you will NOT be able to check in if you arrive outside their working hours!), a very poorly designed parking garage, cleaning up your own room, really weird appliances and a 200 Euro deposit (not standard at any other hotel I've stayed in). We couldn't get the air conditioning to work and it turned out you had to shut the patio door BEFORE turning it on or it didn't work -- no instructions, no help, etc. and the staff seemed really surprised that someone wouldn't just somehow figure this out. So we had one very miserable night in which no one got much sleep in 80-degree weather. God forbid they should leave a note that actually tells you how to work it -- particularly as there will be no one to ask for 13 hours between the reception closing at night and opening the next morning! ... There is no staff around at night so woe to you if you are locked out by the coded gates (the place is locked up like Fort Knox) or can't get your toilet to flush, etc. The place has been renovated, but one wonders what it was like BEFORE as it is just about the level of a bad dorm room now, right down to the cheap mattresses and the curious smell which I think emanates from the strange, hemp-like floor covering. It does have a nice garden but it is too far from either the beach or downtown Nice to walk with comfort (at least with young kids -- the beach is about a half mile away and it's uphill on the way back and across a busy road). It has the smallest hotel pool I have ever seen. So if you're going to go to the lovely Cote d'Azur, either pick a family-friendly place that offers a bit more or find a place closer to the beach and the city center. I would just avoid Maeva properties unless there are no other options.

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THE BAD:
Very poorly signposted. Very few staff. Not open out-of-hours. €200 demanded upon arrival - REFUSE WITH GUSTER!. You have to clean your own room, and PAY for towels etc. NO Street parking - had my hire car smacked badly in adjacent road!
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THE GOOD:
Location within 1km of beach and 2km of airport. Beautiful garden - ask for view of garden when (if) booking - we would not go again. Self contained. Balcony. Cooking impliments.
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We stayed at Maeva in august 2007.

The location is a little outside central Nice, just a few kilometers from the airport. Maeva is 5 min. walk from the beach and since it is a little away from central nice the beach is not too crowded.

There is a 30-40 min. walk from the appartment to central nice.

The rooms at Maeva are very small - we had a 4 person apartment and the kids had to sleep in the in bunk beds in the appartment entry.

The biggest problem was that the bathroom had a very unpleaseant odour - smelling damp and moldy.

The place is pretty worn but there is a lovely garden and a very tiny swimmingpool.

Maeva Residence Orion Les Palmiers

For;

Balcony
Mini Golf nearby
Beach not too far too walk
SPAR a 5 minute walk
Swimming Pool (was covered for our duration though?)
Very clean & nice surroundings (garden, view etc)
The price is fine for what you get

Against;

200 EUR deposit (didn't expect it to be too high)
Reception not open great hours and only one member of staff that was English speaking
Were not very helpful or welcoming - didn't give much guidance or promote the city enough
About 40 minutes walk from the main shops
Rooms very small
Tennis courts ?

The studio is fine if you are on a budget holiday and won't be spending too much time indoors.

Nice is a truly lovely place and well worth the visit.