Telegraph Travel

Here are links to some of my hotel reviews in Monaco, Southern France and the Rhône Valley for The Daily Telegraph:

In Cap Ferrat:

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat

Hôtel Royal Riviera

In Cap d'Antibes:

Hôtel Belles Rives

Royal Antibes

In St Tropez:

Hôtel Byblos

Pan Deï Palais

Hôtel de Paris

Hôtel La Ponche

Hôtel Pastis

Hôtel Le Mouillage

Hôtel B Lodge

In Monaco:

Hôtel de Paris, Monte-Carlo

Hôtel Hermitage, Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel

Hôtel Métropole, Monte-Carlo 

Port Palace Hotel, Monte-Carlo

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel

Le Méridien Beach Plaza, Monaco

Fairmont, Monte-Carlo

Columbus Monte-Carlo

Le Quai des Princes, Cap d'Ail

Novotel Monte-Carlo

Hôtel de France

Hôtel Capitole, Beausoleil

In Cannes

Carlton Cannes

Hôtel Martinez

Hôtel Verlaine

Hotel America

Hotel Le Mistral

Le Cavendish

In Nice:

Hôtel Negresco, Nice

Hôtel La Pérouse

Hôtel Suisse, Nice

Palais Saleya, Nice

Villa Victoria, Nice

Hôtel Rossetti, Nice

Villa Rivoli, Nice

Hôtel Ozz, Nice

Hôtel Boscolo Nice Exedra

Hôtel Nice Excelsior

Villa Otero, Nice

Le Grimaldi, Nice

Villa Les Cygnes, Nice

Nice Garden Hotel, Nice

Hôtel Windsor

Hôtel du Petit Palais, Nice

Hôtel Le Meurice, Nice

Elsewhere in the Côte d'Azur:

Terre Blanche, Tourrettes

Orion Trees Houses, St-Paul-de-Vence

Best of Côte d'Azur and Monaco:

Best Monaco Hotels for the Grand Prix

Best Luxury Hotels in Monte Carlo

Best Luxury Hotels in Monaco

Top 10 Boutique Hotels in Nice

Best Côte d'Azur Hotels With Pools

 

In the Rhône Valley:

Maison Pic, Valence

Château de Bagnols, Beaujolais

Troisgros, Roanne

Régis et Jacques Marcon, Saint-Bonnet-Le-Froid

 

Read below for my review of Hôtel de Paris:

Hôtel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

Everything about this Monte-Carlo palace screams decadence from the three-star Michelin restaurant to the world’s largest wine cellar. Hôtel de Paris is a magnet for the silver screen: not one, but two Bond movies have been filmed here. A recent facelift takes this landmark hotel to an unprecedented level of luxury.


Location 10/10

For the ultimate Monte-Carlo experience, it’s hard to beat this fabled Casino Square location combined with Mediterranean harbour views. Step out of the hotel into the square to listen to opera in the Salle Garnier, attempt to break the bank at the casino, browse the parked Ferraris over coffee at the Café de Paris, or explore the immaculately manicured gardens. Designer shops and restaurants are within 100 metres, while the port is a five-minute walk.


Style/character 9/10

A top-to-bottom renovation has brought new life to this five-star hotel built in the late 19th century to house high rollers from the neighbouring casino. While the celebrated glass dome in the Belle Époque lobby remains untouched, the recent renovation saw two guest wings rebuilt from the ground up. Talented interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon fuses historic features with light contemporary touches. An interior garden courtyard has been created with palm trees and marbled colonnades.


Service & facilities 9/10

After you’ve shopped for diamonds in the upscale shopping precinct (think Harry Winston and Graff), you can order a coffee at the press of a bell in the new courtyard or be pampered in the new spa and hairdresser.  There’s also a shuttle to resort facilities owned by the hotel group such as a thermal spa and a private beach resort. It’s not just the facilities that have received an upgrade with the recent renovation: a thorough staff-training programme has improved service levels enormously.


Rooms 10/10

All rooms are sumptuously appointed with panelled walls, Art Deco details and TVs that blend into the wall like a mirror. Original cornices were uncovered during the recent renovation and are now on display. Extra luxuries vary from dressing rooms to Nexpresso machines hidden in a pull-up drawer. Marble bathrooms have double sinks and a separate toilet. Even the cheapest Superior Rooms are generously sized with balconies overlooking the quiet internal courtyard. You may prefer to upgrade for a larger Deluxe or Exclusive Room with a sea or harbour view.  The most sought-after view is over the casino: though it’s worth weighing up the importance of a casino view versus room size. You could have a Junior Suite with a courtyard view at twice the size for almost the same price as an Exclusive Room with a casino view.


Food & drink 10/10

Gastronomy is a strong suit. Alain Ducasse presides over the hotel’s dining options. Set in a Rococo dream with modernist touches, his Louis XV restaurant serves up three-star Michelin cuisine accompanied by wines from the 600,000-bottle wine cellar. Ducasse’s latest venture is Ômer where he plays upon Mediterranean diversity from Malta to the Middle East with mezze options according to your hunger and your budget. Grab a place on Ômer’s garden terrace for breakfast with continental and American options. Top-floor Le Grill with its sliding roof is the best place on the French Riviera for soufflé, while no trip to Monte-Carlo would be complete without a post-dinner drink listening to live Jazz at the American Bar.


Value for money 7/10

Double rooms from €526 (£461) in low season; and from €852 (£746) in high. Breakfast €40-€48 (£35-£42). Free Wi-Fi.


Access for guests with disabilities?

Yes

 

Family-friendly?
Communicating rooms, cots and babysitting are available.

 

The details

Place du Casino, MC 98000, Monaco (+377-98-06-30-00, www.hoteldeparismontecarlo.com).

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