Let's Go Europe 2019. Harvard Student Agencies

Vertigo hosts ye olde happy hour from 7pm-9pm, when ciders are only €2.10 and signature beer cocktails start at €5 for a hefty 50cl pour. If this spot doesn’t fit your vibe, never fear. The bar is on Rue Ecuyère, one of Caen’s most animated nightlife streets.

       i Beer cocktails from €5 for 50cl, happy hour ciders €2.10; wheelchair accessible

       LE WHAT’S

      1 Bis Av. de Tourville; 02 31 93 57 76; www.lewhats.com; open W-Sa 11pm-6am

      A night at Le What’s is like hanging out with a cool exchange student: it’s foreign and exciting but you’re never 100% sure you understand what’s going on. Unlike in larger French cities, this place plays real French music, and unlike in some cities that think they’re too cool *cough* Paris *cough,* everyone actually dances too. Everyone else there will seem like they’ve been a hundred times (and they probably have), so to avoid sticking out as the tourist you are, keep a few things in mind: don’t come before midnight (or better yet 1am or 2am), keep the receipt from entry to redeem two included drinks, and just smile and nod.

       i Entry €10 with two drinks included; wheelchair accessible

CANNES

      Coverage by Alejandro Lampell

      Take out your only pair of clean slacks, unpack the button-down shirt that’s been sitting in the bottom of your bag for weeks, straighten out the creases of your giant pack, for you are now in Cannes—a household name synonymous with affluence, extravagance, and class. Unlike tourist-friendly Nice or metropolitan Marseille, Cannes—the ritziest city in the Côte d’Azur—caters almost exclusively to, well, an exclusive clientele. You need only take a stroll along the yacht-filled Old Port or the diamond-encrusted storefronts at the Boulevard de la Croisette to understand what we’re talking about. Home to the infamous annual Film Festival, visiting Cannes in May entails rubbing elbows with A and B-list celebrities. The real draw of Cannes, however, is not the possibility of bumping into your celebrity crush while walking along one of the city’s sandy beaches, but the sandy beaches themselves. They’re a hot commodity in the French Riviera, and explain, in part, why it’s virtually impossible to find a place to stay for less than €40 a night. That said, if you do it right, Cannes is actually a very manageable city, and with our recommendations, you’ll be able to survive—thrive even—on a traveler’s budget.

       ORIENTATION

      Cannes’ city center hugs the coastline of the Mediterranean, with suburbs stretching inland towards the French Alps. It’s just a 30-minute train ride west from Nice, making it a great day trip destination for those who don’t want to break the bank on accommodations. Vieux Port marks the true center of town; here, you’ll find the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, the venue of the Cannes Film Festival. Just west of the Vieux Port is the Old Town, called Le Suquet. East of the city center lies the famous nightclub area and yet another yacht-packed port. Connecting these two areas are the Boulevard de la Croisette, a major thoroughfare that runs along the shore and is lined with name-brand stores, upscale restaurants, and art galleries, and Rue d’Antibes, Boulevard de la Croisette’s inland counterpart.

       ESSENTIALS

      GETTING THERE

      The nearest major airport is the Côte d’Azur Airport in Nice, located approximately 20 mi. east of Cannes. The smaller Cannes-Mandelieu airport, located 4 mi. from the city center, is much closer, but frequented exclusively by smaller private aircrafts. From the Côte d’Azur Airport, you can take a 20min. train ride to Cannes (€6). Cannes has two train stations, Cannes and Cannes la Bocca. Make sure to get off at the former, as the latter is several miles east of the city center.

      GETTING AROUND

      For us plebeians who cannot afford the luxury of wasting away our days bobbing on yachts on the Mediterranean, the most efficient means of exploring Cannes is by foot. Crossing the city from east to west takes 40min., tops. Cannes also has a public transportation system called Palm Bus, which consists of five bus lines. All five lines pass through the main Hôtel de Ville stop, adjacent to the Vieux Port. You can purchase tickets on the bus (single ride €1.50), from tabac shops, or from the tourist office on Boulevard de la Croisette (24hr ticket €4, 3-day ticket €7, 7-day ticket €13.50, 10-trip ticket €12). Buses run daily from 6am-9pm, but there is also a night line called Palm Night, which runs from 9pm-2am.

      PRACTICAL INFORMATION

      Tourist Offices: Cannes’ main tourist office (1 Bd. de la Croisette; 04 92 99 84 22; open daily Mar-Oct 9am-7pm, Nov-Feb 10am-7pm, July-Aug 9am-8pm) is located near the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

      Banks/ATMs/Currency Exchange: Banks, ATMs, and exchange houses litter the city, but most are located close to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès.

      Post Offices: Cannes Croisette (22 Rue Bivouac Napoléon; 04 93 06 26 50; open M-F 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, Sa 9am-12:30pm). The postal code is 06400.

      Internet: There is free Wi-Fi at the train station and central tourist office. You can rent a personal hotspot box at the Cannes Tourist Office (€7.90 per day, additional €3 upon return).

      BGLTQ+ Resources: Centre BGLTQ Côte d’Azur (123 Rue de Roquebillière; 09 81 93 14 82; www.centrelgbt06.fr; open M 9:30am-8pm, Tu 9:30am-5:30pm, W 9:30am-8pm, Th 9:30am-5:30pm, F 9:30am-8pm, Sa 2pm-8pm)

      EMERGENCY INFORMATION

      Emergency Number: 112

      Police: Police Municipale (2 Quai Saint-Pierre; 0 800 11 71 18; open daily 24hr)

      US Embassy: The nearest US Consulate is located in Marseille (Place Varian Fry; 01 43 12 48 85).

      Rape Crisis Center: Institut National d’Aide aux Victimes et de Médiation (14 rue Ferrus; 01 45 88 19 00; open daily 9am-9pm)

      Hospitals: Hôpital de Cannes (15 Av. des Broussailles; 04 93 69 70 00; open daily 24hr)

      Pharmacies: Anglo-French Pharmacy Cannes (95 Rue d’Antibes; 04 93 38 53 79; open M-Sa 8:30am-8pm)

       ACCOMMODATIONS

       HÔTEL PLM ($$$)

      3 Rue Hoche; 04 93 38 31 19; www.hotel-plm.com; reception open daily 9am-1pm and 3pm-7pm

      Hotel PLM is the clear winner in the race for value housing in Cannes. This small yet modern two-star is located on Rue Hoche, a popular pedestrian area, and is within walking distance of some of the city’s best restaurants and nightlife. The well-lit rooms are clean and welcoming (unlike the staff, unfortunately), outfitted in sleek grey and white furniture—a sharp contrast from the décor of PLM’s slightly more upscale neighbor, Hotel Villa Tosca.

       i Basic single from €30, basic single with ensuite shower from €46, double from €59; reservation recommended; BGLTQ+ friendly; no wheelchair accessibility; Wi-Fi; linens and towels included; laundry facilities

       HÔTEL ATLANTIS ($$$)

      4 Rue du 24 Août; 04 93 39 18 72; www.hotel-atlantis-cannes.cote.azur.fr; reception open 24hr

      Frequented by seasoned beach-goers, Hôtel Atlantis’ rooms come equipped with air conditioning. The décor is uplifting, and although Atlantis doesn’t offer a communal vibe like most European