Thanks Jake and Ardman,
They booked a hotel in Nice for the first night and last 2 nights of their holiday. It was recommended to them by friends who live in Nice so should be ok. Gave them the info on Villefranche and they are palnning on heading there for the days in between. My miother thinks it sounds lovely. They are planning on going to Monaco and maybe across the border into Italy so all that seems fine using Nice or Villefranche as a base.
Thanks again guys!