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    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - guide monte carlo monaco casino4
    The Casino de Monte Carlo

    About this Guide

    This guide is for those who demand the ultimate in luxury. It was written by a UHNW Monte-Carlo resident who personally frequents everything mentioned below, and continues to edit and update the guide regularly.

    The pinnacle of a luxury resort, Monaco has it all. The nearby areas round-out your stay with history and charm.

    Getting to Monaco

    Fly into Nice airport, either private or La Compagnie airline (which is a first-class-only airline with direct flights to NYC). You can take a helicopter to Monaco, or rent a car at the airport (it’s about a 25 minute drive to Monaco), as it’ll be good to have a rental car or a driver (Monaco doesn’t allow Uber pickups).

    Where to Stay

    The elegant 1864 Belle Époque palace, Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo , was recently renovated and is the height of luxury. It’s in the center of Monaco, in Monte Carlo right next to the Casino de Monte Carlo.

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - billionaires lifestyle monaco1
    Hotel de Paris

    The Monte Carlo Beach Hotel , is actually not in Monte Carlo — it’s on the far east side of Monaco. It’s great if you want to be seaside and hear the waves, eat organic, have access to a large outdoor pool, and walk from your room to the beach club in seconds. Here’s a profile of the hotel in Vogue.

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - monte carlo beach hotel monaco copy
    Monte Carlo Beach Hotel & Beach Club

    If you have more time, also stay at the opulent La Reserve de Beaulieu in the tiny-but-charming Beaulieu sur Mer (a 20-minute drive to Monaco).

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - south of france itinerary luxury reserve beaulieu1
    La reserve de beaulieu

    …Or add a day or two at the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat in Cap Ferrat (a 30-minute drive to Monaco), where the vibe is ultra-exclusive and you can get a suite with a private infinity pool (aptly named ‘The Pool Suite’) or your own luxurious villa, also with a private pool. They also have numerous ‘wellness’ offerings.

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - grand hotel cap ferrat luxury itinerary monaco near
    A Private Pool at the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat

    All of these hotels are great, and ideally you’d stay at least a few nights at each Monaco hotel, then a night or two at the hotels in Beaulieu and Cap Ferrat. If you can only pick one, then choose Hotel de Paris, as the location is the most convenient and you should definitely spend most of your time in central Monaco, so you can walk to restaurants, the beach, and shops. As always, use a Virtuoso travel agent to get a free room upgrade and other perks.

    Where to Eat

    There are many incredible restaurants in the area. Make sure to book a reservation well in advance.

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - south of france itinerary luxury elsa
    Elsa, at the monte Carlo Beach Hotel

    Monaco has a very high concentration of luxury gastronomic restaurants. In fact, there is possibly no place in the world with a higher concentration of exceptional restaurants in such a small area. Most of the best ones are walking distance from your hotel, in Monte-Carlo and Larvotto.

    Expect to spend at least €100 to €200 per person. Cocktails typically cost around €25 each. Many dinner spots don’t allow men to wear casual clothing (like shorts or sandals).

    This is not a complete list of fantastic restaurants in Monaco… there are too many to mention here. Here are some of our favorites:

    Monaco (lunch & dinner)

    Monaco (dinner only)

    • Song Qi has incredible Asian cuisine with veg options.
    • MayaBay, but ask to be ‘in the Thai side’.
    • La Vigie is a romantic seaside spot at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel where you can arrive early for cocktails.
    • Elsa is another seaside at the Monte Carlo Beach Hotel and offers a 100% organic, 1-Michelin star menu.
    • Blue Bay also has a Michelin star — and a great vegan tasting menu.
    • Coya is seaside, and the 9pm seating is a party scene.
    • Maona is a glam spot with live music (although the music can be quite cheesy).
    • The infamous Sass is a night club combined with a restaurant — only go after 9pm and only if you want to party, as it’s quite the scene (it’s famous for basically being a brothel).

    Monaco (open all day)

    • Have drinks at the Polo Bar-style Trinity Bar (it’s on two sides of the street, where one side is a chic lounge/bar and the other is a sport-bar setup).
    • Bar Americain has great cocktails, a comfortable terrace, and a live band in the evenings.
    • Have a James Bond-style martini at the bars in the Monte Carlo Casino (just remember to bring your passport for entry to the casino).
    • Have afternoon coffee and snacks at Cova Plage .
    • MadaOne has tea and scones, plus a well-rounded menu.
    • Amù Monte Carlo is overlooking the sea.
    • Outdoor summer bars: Veuve Cliquot and Mada Lounge in the square.

    Nice

    • For a unique dining experience steeped in history, go to Le Plongeoir , which is perched above the sea. They also have a bar, where you can enjoy snacks and cocktails while listening to the waves crash below you.
    • JAN restaurant is cozy and charming.
    • For trendy, check out the rooftop at Hotel Amour late-night.
    • Nespo is another trendy spot.
    • While the Negresco Hotel isn’t luxurious enough for an overnight stay, they do have two fantastic bars (an outdoor summer bar and a cozy indoor bar, both open all day) and couple of upscale restaurants that are worth dining at: Chantecler and La Rotonde .
    • La Petite Maison is a secret local favorite (especially with Monaco residents).

    Nearby Towns

    Things To Do

    You could dedicate a day to each of these:

    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - corsica travel guide 1
    Charter a yacht and visit Corsica
    • Cap Ferrat: Park at the Four Seasons’ Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat and have lunch or lounge at the Club Dauphin beach club, then do the Cap Ferrat seaside walk (this can’t be missed!) by exiting the hotel by the water (get the gate code first) and turning right.
    • Eze & Villefranche: Spend a day in Eze Village (15 minutes from Monaco and a must-see) and have drinks on the terrace at Chateau Eza . Do the Nietsche hike and cool off in the waterfall, for a good workout. You should still have time to also go to Villefranche and explore that town (another must-see town). Have dinner seaside in Villefranche.
    • Roquebrune & Menton: Lunch and spa at The Maybourne Riviera (a luxury hotel perched on a cliff above Monaco), then check out Roquebrune‘s old town and Menton‘s seaside boardwalk and Jean Cocteau museum .
    • Nice: Go to the market in Nice (drive along the coastal road) and spend an afternoon walking around Nice. Go to the Negresco beach club for drinks or lunch.
    • Cap Estel: Go to the spa, have a swim, then have drinks and dinner at the ultra-exclusive Hotel Cap Estel .
    • Monaco: Get to know Monaco. Go shopping in Monte Carlo, have lunch on Larvotto Beach . Go to the St-Martins Gardens park on The Rock and tour the Prince’s Palace and the Oceanographic museum . If possible, make sure to see a show at the stunning Monte Carlo Opera house.
    • Corsica: Charter a yacht and visit Corsica island for a day (or a week). Stop in Calvi and explore the town.
    • Italy: Go to Italy to shop at the uber-luxury Mall Sanremo where you can buy designer clothing (Loro Piana, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Brunello Cucinelli, etc.) at 50+% off. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Monaco. You can stop and check out some of the Italian towns on the way.
    Ultra-Luxury Itinerary: Monaco, Nice & Nearby - nice french riviera best markets
    the market in nice

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