Discovering new cities is great; discovering new cities and coming back to a wonderful hotel is pure heaven. Location, ambiance, amenities, and impeccable service are top on my list when it comes to choosing a city hotel. If you agree with me, read on and keep these names in mind when planning your next trip to Monaco.
Hotel de Paris
This hotel might be the most iconic in the Principality and it has been so since opening in 1863. A regular on most Condé Nast’s Gold Lists, Hotel de Paris has a lot going for it: amazing views both of the Casino Square and of the sea, awesome dining including the 3-Michelin Star Alain Ducasse restaurant, fantastic Formula 1 viewing terraces, private access to a gigantic pool and spa suspended on top of the marina, etc. The hotel has character too: movie enthusiasts will recognize the façade from James Bond sets and other movies, jazz aficionados have become regulars of Le Bar Américain – maybe the most famous bar in Monaco.
The hotel is undergoing major renovation work through September 2018 in order to add a rooftop fitness center, a garden villa on the roof, more shopping and to complete the total remodeling of all guestrooms. We’re not talking new coat of paint and furniture: except for the front façade, everything will go.
Hotel Hermitage
My personal favorite, Hotel Hermitage is elegant, timeless, and glamorous. The hotel is slightly set back from the busy streets of the Golden Triangle, making it more private and roomy. Enter the lobby and all you see is light. Pastel colors, elegant mosaics on the ground, a dome designed by Eiffel himself, and breathtaking views of the Mediterranean, the marina, and the Princely Palace from your private balcony. Everything about this hotel is a testimony to the Belle Epoque years on the Riviera, enhanced by new technology and plush amenities. Grab a drink at the Crystal Bar and gaze at the amazing pieces of art on the walls by Baccarat and Lalique; dine on the deck of the 1-Michelin Star Vistamar and enjoy an impressive view of some of the most stunning superyachts in the world; regenerate at one of the largest private spas in Europe and get ready for another day of visits.
Hotel Metropole
This 1889 palace sits at the center of it all. It is facing the garden of the Casino Square and boasts its own shopping mall in the lower levels. Hotel Metropole is among the favorites of Leading Hotels of the World in Europe and is home to two restaurants by Michelin-Starred Chef Joel Robuchon. The views from the guestrooms and from the pool are unique: Mediterranean trees and the silhouette of the Opera House make for a romantic downtown background. Adding to the prestige of the hotel, the pool has recently been modernized by acclaimed designer Karl Lagerfeld. Last but not least: Formula 1 viewing. You are not familiar with Monaco until you have your first Grand Prix experience. When it comes to that, the Metropole offers some of the best people-(oops, races) watching.
Monte-Carlo Beach
This hotel is one of a kind. Less than 30 rooms, all directly facing the turquoise blue Mediterranean, yet just 5 minutes from downtown. This intimate Relais & Chateaux is a 30’s building brought to modernity by genius architect India Madhavi. It is exclusive, it is sophisticated, it is seductive. The décor is one of a beach house opening onto the sea and the private deck of Elsa 1-Michelin Star restaurant. A few steps down from your room is the massive Olympic-size swimming pool and the equally renowned Monte-Carlo Beach Club where the world’s elite want to reserve their cabanas for the summer.
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort
It is hard to imagine how such a resort can exist in Monaco. Space on land being so limited, the Government decided years ago to allow the construction of a peninsula where the hotel now sits. You will find at the Monte-Carlo Bay your very own casino, some of the largest rooms in the city and by far the most fantastic gardens and pools. This hotel is the most forward-thinking of its kind in Monaco: it is what you would expect in destinations like Cancun, Dubai, or Bali, only it’s just minutes away from the center of it all.
Geoffrey Ravoire
Founder of UNITIATE, Geoffrey is a Marketing Expert, Luxury Specialist and Hospitality Enthusiast. Wherever he goes, his early career and personal interests have always helped him nurture and cultivate a passion for the Travel and Leisure industries. French-born, Geoffrey has accumulated an extensive experience abroad, thanks to regular visits to foreign countries but also thanks to years of expatriation. Currently based in Chicago, Geoffrey has already lived and worked in New York, Shanghai, Singapore and Monaco. You can meet Geoffrey on Twitter and Linkedin.
