It isn’t often that bazaar tries accepts venturing off to foreign lands to sample something new, but when the offer of visiting Monaco’s iconic Monte-Carlo landed on our desks, this was an offer from Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer that we couldn’t refuse! Think Monte-Carlo and what immediately comes to mind? Luxury shopping, celebrity sightings and five-star service? Bazaar explored Monte Carlo for you, and gives you some tips and tricks to enjoy a thoroughly pampered stay when residing at any of the Monte Carlo SBM properties.
It’s a press trip, we’re not celebrities nor influencers per se, so I wonder how I’m going to make my way from the airport to the Hotel de Paris after a long journey. With great care, as the hotel has already arranged a knowledgeable driver to collect a group of us coming from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait and the travel itineraries have been organized so that we’re all arriving together. This is precision planning that is indicative of the customer experience being foremost in the minds of those providing service across the Monte Carlo SBM portfolio. A short drive later and into view comes the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea that lap along the coastline of Monaco, impressive architecture emerging from below Maritime Alps which overlook the only 500m deep quartier of Monte-Carlo. How did this tiny little strip of land become such a bastion of luxury, famous for being the ultimate playground of the rich and famous?
Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, owned through partial majority by the Royal Family, are the caretakers of several properties including Casino de Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo Country Club, Monte- Carlo Golf Club, Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, Monte-Carlo Beach Club, Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, Hôtel Hermitage Monte Carlo, and the Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo which is where bazaar will be staying.
As we exit our limousine, assisted by the beautifully dressed doormen of the Hôtel de Paris, one can’t help but be enthralled at the Place du Casino, beautifully set like an emerald cut diamond, if the shoulders and shank of that diamond were inlaid with uber luxury cars beyond that of your typical sports car. This is European luxury that is a world apart from what can be seen in Kuwait or Dubai. It just feels different. Much of that must be a conscious bias, an innate respect of history and glamor, the stories and dramas that make up Monaco and the people who revel in it.
Four bi-color columns boast ionic designs, the shaft made of what looks like to be polished pink granite, and mark the hotel entrance. One column proudly announces that Edouard Niermans in 1909 was the architect of Hôtel de Paris, actually built in 1864 and heavily revised in 1878, 1910, 1950; most recently through a 93 million KD refurbishment completed in 2019 which took the hotel back to its late nineteenth centur y roots. As you enter via the tall, wood, glass and brass revolving doorway pushed for you by gloved, attentive doormen, a vast foyer, hall and rotunda are revealed. Dressed by the fragrant blooms of florist Marco Traverso, the eye is presented with features of marble columns, sweeping arches, and intricate carvings which are a sight to behold. There may be a sharp intake of breath as you look upwards, your eye caught by the richly dark shells of giant tortoises held into place by claws of alabaster. But, whip out your cell phone to zoom in using your camera and it’s a relief to find the ‘relief’ is just cleverly painted. No animals were harmed in the depiction of these carvings. The dome is topped with Art Nouveau stained-glass that houses a central, dripping chandelier. This is stunning. Huge exotic plants bury roots deep in weighty Chinoiserie ceramics, fine lacquered and inlaid wood screens hint at travels to the Orient which brought back these antiques, the marble floors hold oversized velvet thrones and luxuriously upholstered couches and this feels like a heady cocktail of travel, adventure and luxury all in one beautifully curated belle époque scene.
With the promise that our luggage will make it safely and accurately to our apartments – a feat of logistics in itself and completed faultlessly, the group heads to their assigned rooms to settle in. Monte Carlo SBM has made sure that each one of us on the press tour has a sea view. bazaar’s suite, no. 554, is perfectly placed to watch the Grand Prix (if it was F1 season) and when stepping out onto the balcony to take in the vista there is a thrill which cannot be emphasized enough, especially for this bazaarite who grew up in the nineteen eighties heyday of Formula One. Ayrton Senna would battle across the chicane and through the famous tunnel eventually establishing a record of the greatest number of wins for an F1 driver in Monaco that still stands to this day. Noticing that the Hôtel Hermitage diagonally opposite holds similar views, these are without doubt two hotels that are ideally placed to enjoy Formula One in comfort, while enjoying room and concierge services that are second to none.
A plate of les biscuits that look too good to eat declares, “Welcome Bazaar Magazine” but we’re on holiday so they are eaten, and the textures and tastes produced by the hotel’s patisserie are nothing but indulgence itself. Within the room you can find an incredibly well-stocked fridge, with all manner of delights, and in the drawers too there are nuts, crisps and chocolates. A large bottle of mineral water is there for the taking and smaller bottles are dotted around the apartment. These can be used to fill the coffee maker, or kettle supplied for the tea to be found in a presentation chest with ample flavors to choose from, or the mineral water can even be used to fill the iron should you need it. I did have to request an iron and board be sent to the room…I don’t think Beyoncé and the like do their own ironing, so no need to have these items taking up valuable real estate in the suite.
It is a large fifth-floor suite though, with plenty of space in which to store the luggage you’ve brought with you, and room enough to stash the shopping you’ll be tempted to splash out on. Practically on your doorstep in the Monte-Carlo Shopping Promenade, you can find Balenciaga, Céline, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Prada. There are over 40 luxury houses close by, as well as…Zara. But this is not like any Zara you’ve ever seen, this is, “Bougie, yo!”, and the prices are even better than here in Kuwait!
Getting back to exploring the Hotel de Paris, settle into your plush towel robe, slip on your blue faux-velvet and gold embroidered room slippers and dig around in the drawers, cupboards and shelves to discover various gadgets, gifts for purchase or provisions. Points for finding the bottle stopper the size of a doorknob, charming cufflinks and a delicate hand fan, which can be used to hide your blushes and alleviate the vapors when further explorations unearth the box for adults only.
The next day there is a sit-down interview with Pascal Camia, the Directeur Général of Monte- Carlo SBM, and he is certainly charming as well as accomplished. The three-time ex-Olympian bobsledder has vision and welcomes a challenge. We spot Camia in the corridors of various properties throughout our short stay and he always stops to say hello; the hands-on approach is refreshing, and means as a leader he must be observing and maintaining standards constantly. In our discussions Camia reveals that the famous Lebanese restaurant Em Sharif will be opening soon, and at time of printing the popular Levantine gastronomic experience will have been enjoyed by guests for six weeks already. Frustratingly, in talks with most of those who arrange high-level planning for Monte- Carlo, they can only be circumspect when hinting at the fabulosity of events, offerings and celebrity performances to come, a tantalizing taste of the absolute discretion observed by those that serve the Principality. No wonder people feel safe here. The best tip bazaar has discovered is signing up for and subscribing to the emailshots form Monte-Carlo SBM. These are beautifully curated with excellent links and offers and keep you informed of the latest calendar scheduling so you can perfectly plan your vacation time.
Within Hotel de Paris you can enjoy a varied choice of restaurants, each with their own distinct vibe. We were grateful to be fêted with dinner at the Michelin starred Le Grill, and if you’ve never had sea bass melt in your mouth then you must try the epicurean delight, Loup de Méditerranée marine à cru, agrumes de Menton the name of which is larger than the portion but the taste of which is beyond huge. It’s subtle yet robust and if you take your time to truly enjoy your food and the company you keep, you’ll discover why the natives from these parts can be so gastronomically indulgent and yet so thin. “A little bit of what you fancy does you good” is certainly the philosophy here.
If you really want to experience something good for your health, the spa Thermes Marins has many services that are guaranteed to make you feel phenomenal. You can literally walk from the Hôtel de Paris to Thermes Marins via an underground corridor, so you see guests already clothed in their spa wear walking around from place to place, secure in the knowledge that they won’t be seen by prying eyes. You can spot the regulars as they each have gray and aqua blue Thermes Marins holdalls in hand and they are confidently striding towards the floor they need to be on. There are several treatment areas over quite a few floors, but at least the staff are friendly and no doubt used to lost first-time guests asking for directions.
Thermes Marins Head of Spa Christophe Fautrier is keen to discuss with bazaar the experience of Thermes Marins therapists. He himself has a medical background as a physiotherapist, leading his team for the last decade. Health and wellness are the orders of the day for preventive healthcare, and stress reduction for guests is a priority particularly after the global experience of the last two years. Fautrier says that “I just want to relax” is the main request made to therapists these days going on to explain that Thermes Marins uses the synergy of cosmetics, technology, nature and personalization of the treatments to provide the ideal treatment for guests in the time that they have to receive services. So, if you have a few hours free, your therapist will suggest which treatments would work best for you in that time, and the therapist will consult and work with you to deliver on your wellness goals. Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo also generously provides guests with aftercare guidelines to maintain the advised regime wherever in the world guests may be. Very handy for the global jet set.
After eating a light, healthy lunch in L’Hirondelle connected to Thermes Marins, bazaar explored Hotel Hermitage a bit, and played with the sound amplification under the stained-glass cupola supported by the same kind of ironwork as the Eiffel Tower, no doubt because it was also designed by Gustave Eiffel. Going through to the fountain outside at the front of the hotel, there is a delightful little mini-hermitage, stuffed with straw, various bricks, and little alcoves and this home is specifically built to attract bugs and insects so that they can naturally pollinate the gardens. What divine attention to detail.
Wandering back over to the Hôtel de Paris it’s time to discover the Diamond suites of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The latter suite is occupied by a Monegasque whose apartment is being refurbished so he’s moved in for a few months, as one does. The Grimaldi Royal family has a long history with Hôtel de Paris, hosting the wedding reception of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace of Monaco, who also celebrated twenty years of marriage here so it is fitting that they have “his & hers” suites. Each is decorated with personal items of their namesake, and within the two-floor, nearly one thousand squared meters suite, the oshibana or pressed flower artwork of Princess Grace adorns the walls, as well as letters, books, photographs, and oil paintings of the glamorous Hollywood icon-come- princess.
The balcony wraps 180 degrees around the Diamond suite Princess Grace, meaning the port views of Monte-Carlo are second to none. There are two terraces, a heated infinity pool, jacuzzi, gorgeous bathrooms, two bedrooms, two sitting rooms, a living room, study, kitchen and privileged contact with the Guest Relations Manager. There is even in-suite check-in for this apartment which sounds discreet and luxurious.
Something that really stands out to bazaar is that the staff of the hotels, no matter their position or role, do not shy away from greeting guests. They look you in the eye, with confidence, and this gives you absolute confidence in your experience too. There isn’t much reason to ever leave your hotel; service is first class, the restaurants and cafes are excellent and you can absolutely luxuriate in your surroundings within the Hotel de Paris, Hotel Hermitage and Thermes Marins without ever needing to step foot outside. This would be an absolute shame however, and while a quick weekend getaway may be what you’re looking for, bazaar would recommend staying a minimum of one week and exploring all the restaurants and facilities that Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has to offer. There is Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort and Monte-Carlo Beach to visit too, and anyway, you need at least one whole day to people-watch from the tables of Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, ideally situated to voyeuristically peruse those coming in and out of the Hôtel de Paris or Casino de Monte Carlo- which is home to a restaurant designed like a train car, and watch the bollards that delineate the place itself, lower electronically for the limited few luxury vehicles which are allowed access to park within Place du Casino. It is a completely different way of life in Monte-Carlo and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has the provision of services down to a fine art which is a joy to experience. And they are always striving to be better so you can be guaranteed a wonder ful stay.
To book your stay at any of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer properties, resorts or restaurants visit www.montecarlosbm.com and make sure to subscribe to the e-newsletter to stay up-to-date on all offers and events.
