Discover Some of the Most Famed Hotels to Visit for the Day on the Cote D’Azur
The French Riviera – just those words alone evoke ideas of a lavish lifestyle that epitomises elegant pursuits and sophisticated pleasures. The Cote d’Azur conjures up images of driving a roadster, top down, along curving cornice roads overlooking panoramic views of the sapphire sea. Only here can you can see celebrities accepting awards at Cannes Film Festival, Formula One racers roaring at impossible speeds through Monte Carlo’s streets, during the Monaco Grand Prix, or the latest gleaming superyachts on display, at the Monaco Yacht Show. More than almost anywhere else on the planet, the South of France represents the spot for opulent living.
When it comes to truly taking part in all that this iconic region has to offer, there’s literally no better way to make this world your own than by securing one of many exclusive luxury Cap Ferrat villa rentals and the surrounding areas. With a spacious villa rental in Cap Ferrat – with stunning sea views, swimming pools, manicured gardens and so much more – as your base, you can head out and explore all that this storied area promises.
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Whether it’s strolling through the narrow, cobbled pathways of a quaint, medieval hilltop town, trying magnificent French cuisine in one of Nice’s Michelin-starred restaurants or claiming your place at one of Saint Tropez’s uber-exclusive beach clubs – you’ll fit right into the South of France way of life from your luxurious villa rental on the French Riviera.
One of the most pleasurable diversions available to those who call the South of France home – even for just a short while – is a visit to one of this region’s legendary grand hotels. Experience the service, the pampering, the architecture and the ambiance of establishments that have played host to some of the globe’s most famous, notorious and noteworthy individuals throughout the years.
Here are three luxury hotels on the French Riviera that you simply cannot miss.
Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, Cap d’Antibes
The classic, the original grande dame of hotels on the French Riviera, Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc is the perfect setting to wile away a day beneath the glorious Cote d’Azur sun. The Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc radiates an Old-World charm. You can almost imagine characters from The Great Gatsby lounging poolside or wandering through its graceful interiors – complete with plush Louis XV and XVI décor, gilded mirrors and shimmering chandelier.
Set on a prime seafront location in Cap d’Antibes, the Eden Roc is within easy driving distance of some of the most inviting rental villas in the South of France. Head here for a few hours to marvel at the nine hectares (an astonishing 22 acres) of beautifully landscaped grounds, to play tennis on one of the hotel’s 33 clay courts or to try out its array of watersports options, such as kayaks, paddleboards and jet skis.
Rejuvenate body and soul in Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc’s Sisley spa, with its four treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, gym and beauty salon. Dine like royalty in the hotel’s collection of fine restaurants. Sip bubbly as you gaze out at breathtaking views of the Mediterranean from your table at the Eden-Roc Champagne Lounge. Photography credit Arthur R – shutterstock
Hotel Le Negresco, Nice
Considered to be amongst the very last and most imposing of the grand palace style hotels on the French Riviera, the epic Hotel Le Negresco has been dazzling patrons throughout the last century and beyond. The Negresco provides a selection of enchantments so unique and alluring that to this day it attracts a wide, varied and illustrious clientele. On any given visit, you’re as likely to rub shoulders with the latest Hollywood phenom as with members of any number of European royal families.
Claiming pride of place in the heart of Nice, directly across from the Mediterranean Sea and a mere 10-minute walk from the central Place Masséna, the Hotel Le Negresco provides a doorway into a more genteel time.
Sample an expertly stirred or shaken house original or classic cocktail in the hotel’s Le Relais bar, a wood-panelled sanctuary often frequented by world leaders and academy award winners. Allow yourself to give in to the glamour of the Hotel Le Negresco, as you stare at a massive painting of Louis XIV in the Royal Salon and stand beneath the stunning glass-ceilinged rotunda. Photography: credit-ansharphoto-shutterstock
Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Steeped in history and exuding grandeur of a sort that is rare in today’s hectic world, the Four Seasons Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, which first opened its doors in 1908, is an ideal spot to spend a few blissful hours. Nestled in an idyllic hillside location on the coast in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the Four Seasons Cap Ferrat is easily accessible from the most splendid rental villas on the Cote d’Azur.
Benefitting from the superb facilities and standards of the Four Seasons chain, which recently took it over, the Grand-Hotel provides a welcome haven from the cares and concerns of everyday existence. Although every corner of the Grand-Hotel impresses, it is the famed Club Dauphin that really inspires awe.
A veritable oasis of perfection, this oceanfront pool club is reached via a funicular that whisks you through luxuriant grounds. Club Dauphin boasts a vast, heated infinity pool filled with seawater, delicious treats served in high style, a renowned instructor who has taught the children of celebrities and the jet-set how to swim and absolutely unparalleled vistas of the exquisite sea glimmering in the warm South of France sunshine. Photography credit-ChislovaArina -shutterstock