Webinar with Andrew, Celine, Jerold & Beth
Spotlight on Nice, France
Spotlight on Nice, France: Sun, Culture, and La Dolce Vita on the French Riviera
The Good Life Abroad founder Andrew Motiwalla recently sat down with Nice Community Manager Celine O'Donnell—a born-and-raised local—and program alumni Beth Richter and Jerold Tilden, who just returned from their two-week Short Stay. Here's what they shared.
Nice doesn't need much of an introduction. Most people have heard of the French Riviera. But hearing about a place and actually living in it—even for two weeks—are two very different things. That's exactly what Beth and Jerold discovered on their recent Good Life Abroad Short Stay, and it's what Community Manager Celine has known her entire life.
In our recent webinar, the three of them pulled back the curtain on what it really looks and feels like to slow down in Nice, France—not as a tourist with a checklist, but as someone who belongs there, if only for a little while.
Why Nice?
Celine, who was born and raised in Nice, put it simply: "There's always something to see, to learn, to taste." For her, what makes the city stand out is its rare combination of climate (more than 300 days of sunshine a year), walkability, cultural depth, and easy access to the broader region.
Beth described arriving and immediately noticing something she couldn't get at home in South Florida: "You can walk pretty much wherever you need to. Nothing in the US is so old as what's there—and it's beautiful and real, and it's history right at your doorstep."
Jerold, meanwhile, was struck by Nice's dual personality. The modern section—built in the 19th century—flows seamlessly into Old Nice, with its winding alleyways dating back to the 1500s and 1600s, and then opens onto the Mediterranean. "You get to the sea—not the ocean, the sea—and we saw so many beautiful views of the blue water."
Celine framed it beautifully: being in Nice is like traveling through time and traveling to three destinations in one. You're in France, you're in Provence, and—given that the Italian border is just 30 kilometers away—you're practically in Italy too.
The Apartment and Neighborhood
The Good Life Abroad Nice Short Stay is based in Résidence la Martin, a registered historical landmark that once belonged to an aristocratic family. The building itself is from the 19th century and sits in the heart of the city center.
From that single address, you can walk to the Basilique Notre-Dame in under three minutes, reach the Promenade des Anglais in about 15, and step into Old Nice almost immediately. A Carrefour supermarket is just blocks away, and a fitness center sits directly across the street.
The apartments themselves are generous by any standard—full-size refrigerators, well-stocked kitchens, high ceilings, and tall windows that look out onto the street below. Jerold made a point of noting that the apartment was comfortable enough for work, too: "Every morning I would sit at the table, look out the window, and connect with clients. The internet connection was very good." And Beth loved being on the third floor with the sounds of the city drifting in.
One practical note for those familiar with other TGLA destinations: unlike most sites where there's a washer in the apartment, Nice outsources laundry—staff at the residence handled wash, dry, and fold on Beth and Jerold's behalf. A dishwasher is included in the apartment.
Community Life
One of the most consistent themes in the conversation was the group dynamic. Nice typically hosts around 10–15 travelers per session, and activities in the first few days are intentionally front-loaded to help the group form connections quickly.
"It was almost like a social experiment," Jerold said. "But everybody got along very nicely, and little subgroups formed within our group." Beth added that she's stayed in touch with several people from the trip—via WhatsApp, of course—and that two of the travelers in their group turned out to live in the same town as them back home.
As with all TGLA programs, the WhatsApp group plays a central role. Celine used it to share directions, tips, and restaurant recommendations in real time; the travelers used it to spontaneously organize dinners, visits to local events, and side trips they'd heard about. Community builds quickly when you're sharing a building and a neighborhood.
Celine and the Community Manager Experience
Celine embodies what TGLA looks for in its local partners: someone who knows their city deeply, loves it genuinely, and wants to share it the way a friend would—not a tour guide.
She selected every group activity with that same intention: only places she personally loves, run by local families, tucked away from the tourist trail. A wine tasting at a tiny neighborhood wine shop (the kind you'd never find in a guidebook), lunch on the seafront in Villefranche-sur-Mer, a visit to ancient vineyards on the hills west of the city, and a perfume-making workshop in the tradition of Grasse—where flowers have been grown for Chanel No. 5 and other iconic luxury brands for centuries.
"I choose places that locals run, that are family businesses, that serve things with heart," she said. "I share what I am and what I know."
Beth and Jerold also experienced Celine's support in a more urgent way: when Jerold had a cycling accident on a Sunday, she came immediately, spent hours at the hospital as interpreter, and then arranged for a visiting nurse to come to the apartment every day to change his bandages. "We could not have done this without her," Beth said. "What would we have done if we were on our own?"
The community manager is physically present at all scheduled activities and reachable via WhatsApp Monday through Friday, 9 to 5, for everyday questions—but as the Tildens discovered, real emergencies are handled too.
Day Trips and Excursions
Nice isn't just a destination—it's a launchpad. A light rail tram runs all the way to the Italian border, making Monaco, Villefranche-sur-Mer, Eze, and the medieval village of Èze accessible in minutes. Cannes and the coastal towns of the Riviera are all easy day trips by train.
Beth and Jerold made it to Italy during their two weeks—stepping off the train in Bordighera to find everyone speaking Italian and eating pasta, despite being just a short ride from Nice. "It's so close, but you get off and it's a whole different culture," Jerold said.
For anyone considering Nice as a longer-term base, TGLA's community managers can also help connect you with local real estate contacts if you're exploring what it would mean to stay for a season—or longer.
Things to Know Before You Go
A few practical notes from Beth, Jerold, and Celine:
Walking is the primary mode of transport in the city center, and it's genuinely pleasant. Beth said she walked more than she ever had—and felt better for it.
Public transit is excellent. The tram runs through the heart of the city; buses cover the broader area. The train app is your friend for getting to other towns.
Technology matters. Google Maps, WhatsApp, and a translation app are your core tools. Jerold recommended practicing with Google Maps before you leave home.
Language: French is the language, but many people in Nice speak some English. Basic greetings go a long way—a bonjour when you walk into a shop will open more doors than you'd expect.
Connectivity: Beth and Jerold stuck with their AT&T international plan rather than purchasing a local eSIM card and found it worked perfectly throughout the trip.
Is This Right for You?
As Andrew noted toward the end of the webinar, the Good Life Abroad isn't for everyone—and that's intentional. It's not a tour. There's no bus. You navigate your own days, use technology to get around, and do a fair amount of walking. What you get in return is the feeling of actually living somewhere, not just visiting.
Beth summed it up well: "I loved the apartment. I loved the group. I loved the walking. And that one of us who was reluctant to go on a trip with some guidance? That person is going to do Good Life Abroad again in a second."
Ready to Experience Nice for Yourself?
The Nice Short Stay is a two-week program that includes your fully furnished apartment at Résidence la Martin, travel medical and evacuation insurance, a curated series of community activities and events, and the support of Community Manager Celine throughout your stay.
Questions? Reach us at info@thegoodlifeabroad.com.