Bonjour. Hello everyone. This is the final article in the series about my first solo trip to the Côte d’Azur.
It’s travel day from Côte d’Azur Airport in Nice, South France, to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
It’s about a 2-hour flight with KLM.
I plan to share details about the flight and transportation to help those who are traveling from France to the Netherlands for the first time.
・ Nice Côte d’Azur International Airport
Nice greeted me with clear skies in the morning!
I took a BOLT from my hotel to Terminal 2 of Côte d’Azur Airport.
The airport is less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Nice, making the journey smooth. As I traveled along the coastal road, I enjoyed the scenery of the sea and streets, savoring my last day in France.
I also got a final glimpse of the five-star luxury hotel, Hotel Negresco.
Côte d’Azur Airport doesn’t have direct flights from Japan, but it’s the third busiest airport in France after Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports in Paris. Many airlines operate here, making it a stylish gateway for trips to the South of France.
Since there are two terminals, be sure to check ahead to avoid any confusion.
There are also restaurants and places to eat before the security check, so you can relax a bit.
After checking in, I was stopped by security.
I had packed a bottle of wine I bought in Paris in my backpack, carefully wrapped to prevent it from breaking. However, it seems that I couldn’t bring it on the plane. So, I had to go back to the check-in counter to check my backpack as luggage, and then go through the security check again.
I’m glad I arrived at the airport early. I’m sharing this experience as a cautionary tale—make sure to keep this in mind when you travel!
Terminal 2 has The Infinity Lounge, a Priority Pass lounge, as well as duty-free shops that you can enjoy while waiting for your flight.
In Japanese airports, smoking areas are usually located past the security checkpoint, but I didn’t see any smoking areas in Terminal 2 of Côte d’Azur Airport.
Instead, you can pass the time at one of the cafes inside the airport.
・ KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM /How much is a one-way fare from Nice to the Netherlands?
This time, I’m heading from Nice to the Netherlands, specifically to Schiphol Airport. I booked and purchased the flight tickets about six months in advance, and I’ll provide a rough budget for reference.
Although flying with a low-cost carrier (LCC) would have been cheaper, I chose KLM Airlines for peace of mind. Being my first trip, I wanted to avoid potential delays and ensure a more reliable experience.
JPY 35,270
Seat reservation 2,220
Total 37,490 yen
KLM Airlines Credit card payments incur a 2% fee.
Economy class front standard seat, window seat reservation 2,220 yen
I was processing everything on my computer, but during payment, I encountered an inexplicable payment error. When I contacted the support center, the representative gave a curt response, saying, “It happens occasionally.” lol
Not limited to KLM, but support centers often lack warmth in their responses. Despite the paid phone service, there are long wait times. Since the issue wasn’t caused by me, is it just me who thinks they should improve this?
Checked baggage: Maximum dimensions of 158 cm (62 inches) and up to 23 kg per item. Carry-on baggage: Maximum dimensions of 55 x 35 x 25 cm. Personal item: Maximum dimensions of 40 x 30 x 15 cm, with a total combined weight of up to 12 kg.
・Onboard experience with KLM Airlines
The flight time from Nice to Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands is approximately 2 hours. I’m excited to fly with KLM Airlines for the first time.
KLM Airlines, also known as KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, has a refreshing blue livery.
KLM is a member of the SkyTeam alliance and offers a loyalty program called Flying Blue, which provides miles and other benefits. Unfortunately, you cannot earn miles with Japanese airlines like JAL or ANA. Therefore, if earning miles is important to you, flying with British Airways, a member of the same Oneworld alliance as JAL, might be a better option.
The seats on the plane don’t have monitors, but they do have USB ports. There’s also a cup holder and a spot next to it designed to hold a smartphone upright. I found this convenient for watching movies or using my phone during the flight.
Goodbye, France! Goodbye, Côte d’Azur!
Saying goodbye to a week in France as we take off.
I hadn’t had breakfast, so the in-flight sandwich and the chips I brought along really saved the day.
Two hours went by in the blink of an eye!
We’re already in the Netherlands.
Actually, I’m wearing orange today for a reason, and I plan to write about it in a future blog post.
・Arrival in the Netherlands: From Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam City Center
My first visit to the Netherlands is in Amsterdam.
I’ve arrived at Schiphol Airport.
From here, I’ll be meeting up with a friend who lives in the Netherlands. Following their lead, we’ll take a train to Amsterdam Central Station, which takes about 20 minutes.
There’s a station in the basement of the airport arrival lobby. A one-way ticket in second class costs €5.90. Although I didn’t see any passengers using that section, there are also first-class seats, as shown in the top right photo.
It seems that trains often experience delays, so if you’re taking the train when returning home, be sure to allow extra time.
The top right photo is of Amsterdam Central Station. Do you notice anything familiar?
Yes, it’s quite similar to Tokyo Station, and it’s said that Tokyo Station was modeled after it.
You can buy tram tickets and other public transport tickets at the GVB Service & Tickets office located in front of the station.
With the help of my friend, I was able to purchase them smoothly, but there are various ticket options based on time, duration, and coverage, so choose one that matches your stay.
Spring in the Netherlands means being welcomed by the colorful tulips.
It looks like my stay in Amsterdam is going to be enjoyable!
Now, let’s take a break from the Netherlands part and look forward to the continuation later.
Updates might be a bit slow, but I appreciate your patience.
Thank you to everyone who has read along!
