GRAND PRIX GLAMOUR
Grand Prix Glamour - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Grand Prix Glamour | |||||
| By: Erin O’Dwyer, Issue 34 - Autumn 2008 | |||||
| (Monte Carlo) | |||||
| MONTE CARLO WAS ONCE THE FAVOURITE DESTINATION OF RACING CAR DRIVERS AND EUROPEAN GLITTERATI ALIKE. NOW AS THEY REV UP FOR THIS YEAR’S GRAND PRIX, MONACO IS CHIC AGAIN. | |||||
| Glamour is back, and so is Monaco. The tiny principality between the French Alps and the Mediterranean Sea has long been Europe’s weekend destination de jour. But a round of multi-million dollar refurbishments at its finest hotels has infused the city-state’s classic luxury with modern cosmopolitan chic. Monaco is again among the world’s best, with a uniquely blended beach spa scene set against a history of exclusive opulence. | |||||
| It’s a pity Princess Grace isn’t around to see it. The celebrated screen goddess wove her own special panache into Monaco’s fabric when she married Prince Rainier III in 1956. Her legacy is everywhere, from the cherry trees that bloom in the Japanese Gardens to the Avenue Princesse Grace that meanders along the glittering coastline ,perfect for driving along in open top convertibles, to the Monte Carlo beach. How to redefine luxury for a new generation was the task of one Monsieur Bernard Lambert. The Nice native is the director general of the Société des Bains de Mer – responsible for Monaco’s finest hotels and restaurants. The SBM was founded in 1863 by order of Monaco's Prince Charles III. Its jewel remains the Casino de Monte Carlo, which was at the time it was built Europe’s only casino. | |||||
| Spaciousness – from the foyer to the bathroom – is what really defines luxury for Monsieur Lambert. “Luxury means space,” he says, when we meet at Sydney’s five star restaurant, est. Lambert also points to finest quality linen, rich comfortable furnishings, and to the state-of-the-art technology as symbols of status. | |||||
| “The Hotel De Paris was built in 1864 but its rooms are equipped with the very latest technology,” he says. “We are trying to keep the essence of the place, the essence of the old, but create a modern hotel concept.” | |||||
| Alongside him is Monsieur Michel Bouquier, president of Monaco’s Tourism and Convention Authority. They argue, along with Monaco’s Ambassador to Australia Henri Fissore, the third member of our lunchtime quartet, over what might be the ultimate way to spend time in Monaco. All agree one must arrive aboard a helicopter from Nice airport, sweeping over the coast. The best place to party is still Jimmy’z – where Princess Grace danced with Placido Domingo in 1974 and Bono has been known to sing an impromptu solo. | |||||
| But should one dine at Alain Ducasse’s three Michelin star Le Louis XV on the ground floor of the Hotel de Paris, or swoop upstairs to the top floor to enjoy grilled fish under the stars at Le Grill? Both have access to the Hotel De Paris’ prestigious wine cellar – rumoured to be among the best in Europe with 400,000 bottles and 950 different wines. Ducasse boasts coffee from nine countries, 15 tobaccos, ten varieties of tea. | |||||
| Dinner over, should travellers buy a ticket to see Monaco FC play at the Louis II Stadium, or take in a production at the famous Charles Garnier-designed Monte Carlo opera house? Then there is the limitless choice of exclusive urban-style spas – thermal seawater baths with sea views at Les Thermes Marins de Monte Carlo and the Spa Cinq Mondes at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel, which offers massages from around the world, are the best picks. Bouquier says luxury is neither obsequious, old, nor stuffy. Instead he sums up the concept in singular words: ‘light’ – gleaming fittings, lustrous fabrics and clean lines; ‘attitude’ – a young, sophisticated and demanding client; and ‘value’ – which is defined as affordable luxury. | |||||
| “We offer a unique experience that is far beyond people’s expectations,” he says. “We are proud of the clichés. Luxury and quality is what we are known for.” | |||||
| The gentlemen also put emphasis on cleanliness and safety – the concern of hotel managers worldwide since September 11. Monaco took a hit, but like its prestigious competitors, responded by sinking millions into upgrades. In five years, hotel capacity has increased by almost 30 per cent and one in three rooms has views across the Mediterranean. The hippest is the redesigned Hotel Metropole, which attracts celebrities the likes of Claudia Schiffer, Britney Spears and Sting. Its designer, celebrated architect Jacques Garcia, wanted to capture the spirit of the 19th century. He added marble, slate and bronze to create a modern comfort that was not ostentatious. | |||||
| “The client is (sometimes) assumed to be nouveau rich, that’s a mistake,” he says. “A sense of culture, a sense of history, and of modernity… these three things are indispensable when it comes to a hotel succeeding.” | |||||
| Details: | |||||
| General Information: Visit Monaco | |||||
| Hotel De Paris | |||||
| Built in 1864 and situated on the Place du Casino, this is old-style luxury at its finest. Rooms offer town or sea views. Try the ultra-modern top floor penthouse, Suite Churchill; or the spacious Suite Garnier, styled from the 19th century with a sweeping terrace. | |||||
| Hotel Metropole | |||||
| First opened in 1889 and recently refurbished by designer Jacques Garcia. The opulent Penthouse Suite has a terrace with sea views. | |||||
| Monte Carlo Bay Hotel | |||||
| Opened in 2005, it has two hectares of gardens and boasts Monaco’s finest restaurants. The villa-style Top Floor Suite, available only on request, has sea and mountain views. | |||||
| Hotel Hermitage | |||||
| Built in 1900, the historic Belle Époque palace has frescos inspired by the Palace Princier. The exclusive Duplex Suite has a private roof-top Jacuzzi overlooking the harbour. | |||||
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