We really enjoyed Nice, and if you have time and a vehicle it is well worth the short drive up the coast to Monaco for a day. We stayed here:
http://lesaintpaul-hotel.fr/
becuase it was a bit more affordable and had car parking. It is about a 25 minute walk to the old town area though, but there is the cutest little bus that shuttles along the coast to the beach/old town. The hike up the nearby hill is worth the view.