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Hotel Crime
Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat Scene of Hotel Crime?
May 23, 2007 at 4:34 PM | 0 Comments
********* This event never happened at the Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat. You are making a mistake the Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat is not near Cannes it is in Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and Mr. King never stayed in our hotel for the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.
UPDATE June 7, 2007: The general manager of the Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat emailed us, along with The Sun newspaper who originally reported this story, to say that this crime never happened here. In his own words, the GM writes:
So there you have it. Feel free to send us any of your Cannes hotel tips or information about this hotel, as well as maps of France as this GM offered to do.
*********
Bad things come in threes don't they? Well, this is our third story on hotel theft this week. Movie producer, Graham King, was mugged and beaten at his villa at the Grand Hotel Du Cap Ferrat in Cannes while in town for the Film Festival.
The robbers are said to have attacked King with CS gas and walked off with his passport, money and other personal items.
King was later moved back into the actual Du Cap hotel. According to sources, director Martin Scorsese fears that the robbers will come back to the place for him.
"There are some magpies about looking for their gold. And there is no better time than Cannes Film Festival when people know the rich and famous are in town. Security was stepped up almost immediately, just in time for Brad and Angelina's arrival," the London Sun quoted a source as saying.
Brad and Angelina. Man they get everything don't they? But a good tip to have when traveling--stay in Brangelina's hotel. That is, if you can afford it.
Related Stories:
· PRODUCER GRAHAM KING MUGGED IN CANNES HOTEL [iF Magazine]
· Stars' Cannes security red alert [The Sun]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
Cannes Film Festival Opens, Hotel Du Cap Existence Still Thought to be Threatened
May 17, 2007 at 9:35 AM | 0 Comments
The 60th annual Cannes Film Festival kicked off yesterday and Variety reports that the rumors of the Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc being turned into a private residence by next year are still rattling the Hollywood elite.
A few months back the NY Post reported that the hotel has been sold to Roman Abramovich who wanted to shut the hotel down and make it into a private spot. Even though a rep for the hotel emailed us at HotelChatter saying that rumors were not true, Variety says that Hollywood is still very concerned.
Fest vets were biting their lips on the Croisette Tuesday over the rumor that Abramovich plans to turn the landmark into a private residence....Certain hotels are important to for Cannes, but the du Cap is unique, the hotel of choice for many visiting VIPs, filmmakers and jury members, and has served as the site for exclusive parties and after-parties. Along with the Carlton and Majestic, the Hotel du Cap has become synonymous with the fest, and its closure would send folks scrambling for rooms, meeting places and party sites next year.
Again a rep for the hotel has denied a sale has taken place but we' ll see by next year won't we? We hope Sharon Stone can control herself 'til then.
Since we doubt you are looking to stay at a Cannes hotel this week, take a moment to peruse our French Riviera Hotel Reviews to give you some ideas for next year.
[Photo: Unsure Shot]
Related Stories:
· Hotel du Cap sale rumor rattles Croisette [Variety]
· Update: Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc Not For Sale [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: A Treehouse in St Paul de Vence
April 6, 2007 at 8:50 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll continue talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
A few months ago we'd already started dreaming about spending a few nights up in the trees of the Cote d'Azur in the Orion B&B Hotel. This week CNN dug a little deeper into the roots (sorry) of the Orion Treehouse.
Turns out the brainchild of this luxury treehouse accommodation is a Belgian woman named Diane Van den Berge who bought a farmland property on the Cote d'Azur and then wondered what to do with it:
Soon after buying the property she began leafing through design magazines and stumbled across a guesthouse in India where people stayed in treehouses. She knew she'd found an idea to develop her own place ... The next challenge was to find someone who could build such a structure. She thought she would need to seek help abroad, but through Internet research found a suitable builder 200 kilometers away in France.
Four treehouses have been built since 2004 and she's thinking of putting in a fifth. Apart from the baths, massage showers and internet you'll find in the treehouses, the properties are arranged around a self-cleaning, natural swimming pool, copied from one Diane found in Switzerland. Prices start at 180 Euro ($240) including breakfast for a double--it's definitely another affordable alternative to have a stay on the Cote d'Azur without being in the middle of touristy Cannes or Nice.
Related Stories:
· Orion B&B reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Cubicle Dreamin': A Night in a Treehouse [HotelChatter]
· Branching Out With Luxury Treehouses [CNN]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Say Hi To The Hi Hotel
April 5, 2007 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll continue talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
While a stay on the Cote d'Azur normally makes you think of luxury and elegance, you can always get something different by hitting the Hotel Hi in Nice. It's full of funky colors and weird shapes and has a 24-hour self service "restaurant" for guests who have to follow a few strange habits, like using the tea cup for a bowl. The 38 rooms follow nine different concepts, like a hot pink cyber-culture room and furniture that looks like computer screens.
Although a while ago we were worried that high concept would mean low service, recent guests all say the service is friendly and the staff are all flexible. And the high concept's proven popular too, like this guest thinks:
A really different in yer face hotel experience awaits but i have to say we really enjoyed our stay. The rooms are very eccentric,with no wardrobes and a bathroom separated by a few woven twigs, which took a bit of getting used to , me and my missus aren't shy but i wasn't that impressed with the toilet being so exposed.
Okay, so it ain't perfect, but it sure is different.
[Photo: JMoneyDark]
Related Stories:
· Hotel Hi reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Hi-Concept Hotel in Nice [HotelChatter]
· French Riviera Style: Villa La Tour Hotel in Nice [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Two Picks in Eze
April 4, 2007 at 9:01 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll continue talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
The village of Eze might be small, but in the world of luxury hotels, big ain't necessarily beautiful. Eze sits on a rocky peak above Eze-sur-Mer, another village just a walk down a garden path below Eze itself, the two of them snuggled in between big guns Monaco and Nice. Obviously a stunning location, it's still a little surprising to find several luxury hotels in such a small village, but a HotelChatter reader's given us a rave about both Chateau de la Chevre d'Or and Cap Estel.
Cap Estel sits down below on its on peninsula, and it used to be the holiday home of a Russian prince. Now it's a deluxe hotel with 8 deluxe rooms and 12 self-contained suites, and it bills itself as one of the most prestigious venues on the Cote d'Azur.
Outside it has a heavenly infinity pool (although they call it a "seawater pool with overflow effect") and inside a fitness room overlooking the Mediterranean plus another pool. A major complaint of guests: it's hard to find it because it's so hidden and secluded; but once you get there, that becomes an advantage.
Head up the hill and the Chateau de la Chevre d'Or (meaning the Golden Goat!) provides rather impressive views in a building that used to be a medieval castle. A popular honeymooning spot, it also tries to attract "weekend breakers" and this summer's short break special includes 2 nights' accommodation, one lunch and one dinner plus breakfast each day and fitness club access, for 1476 Euro (almost $2000) per couple. But perhaps the secret sealing tip comes from our reader:
I believe the hotel car is a rare Rolls Royce Corniche (the 1 million dollar kind), of course particularly suited for driving along the Corniche that passes Eze (the car is always there, and ironically has the license plate 10000, I guess the other zeros to show the price tag didn't fit).
If the hotel can afford this Roller then you've got to expect a few niceties inside too.
[Photo:Letsflyaway]
Related Stories:
· Cap Estel reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Chateau de la Chevre d'Or reviews [TripAdvisor]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Hotel Moliere, Cannes
April 3, 2007 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll continue talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
In the starring city of Cannes, just near the Hotel de Provence, you can find another very reasonably priced 24-room hotel, the cute pink-painted Hotel Molière. According to the the Hotel Molière website, the big selling points are something like this:
In the center of Cannes, 100 m. from the Croisette and the beaches, in a calm flowered garden, southern exposure.
Whether the flowers are calm or the experience of being in the garden is calming isn't quite clear, but we figure either way it can't be a bad thing. Most of the rooms have a terrace overlooking this calm garden, so ask for one of these when you book; all of them are air-conditioned, not always the case in this budget range. There's no in-house restaurant at Molière but its central location means you won't be too far from food--just the same, breakfast is included in the room rates, which start from about 100 Euro ($130) for a double (with bathroom) in low season, rising to up to 135 Euro ($180) in high season.
Related Stories:
· Hotel Moliere forum [TripAdvisor]
· French Riviera Style: Hotel de Provence, Cannes [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Le Yaca, St Tropez
April 2, 2007 at 9:09 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll continue talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
Depending on how good your French accent is, St Tropez's Hotel Le Yaca can sound anywhere between superbly romantic and, well, kind of working-class. Practice that accent if you can because a stay in Le Yaca is definitely worth it if you're hitting the "Riviera playground" of St Tropez.
Le Yaca has a star-studded history (like many spots along the Cote D'Azur)--it was once home to famous writer Collette, and even people like Greta Garbo and Clark Gable hung out there, and those "anyone who's anyones" still continue to drop by.
Dating from 1722, Le Yaca can be found in an older part of the village area of St Tropez, and while most of the 27 rooms look into the garden, some have a view over the bay--not a bad little view.
Previous guests sing its praises pretty unanimously:
Great hotel, amazing restaurant, awesome staff. I ve stayed in good ones but that one is very charming and special.
And on top of that:
This is one of the best hotels that we have ever stayed in from every perspective. Rooms, food, service, quality are exemplary.
Naturally enough the prices match but if you're spoiling yourself on the Riviera you're not really expecting to do it for nothing, right?
[Photo: Phil H]
Related Stories:
· Le Yaca reviews [TripAdvisor]
· French Riviera Style: Columbus Hotel Monaco [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Villa La Tour Hotel in Nice
March 30, 2007 at 8:50 AM | 0 Comments
Another handy tip's just come out of the UK Times for those of you seeking a cosy and not-too-pricey place to stay on the Cote d'Azur. The Villa La Tour Hotel in Nice is a small 16-room place located a 10-minute walk from the sea and near the Cours Saleya flower markets. The building was originally a convent dating from the eighteenth century, but fortunately most of the rooms have been renovated recently (and certainly more than once since the convent days).
Recent guest feedback has the usual mix of "good value" and "too small"--but for the price, ranging from just $60 to $160 a night, you can't expect too much. A quick tip: Room 101 apparently has a grotty view of the laneway and some people complain about the lack of an elevator. Like the Hotel de Provence in Cannes, while the rooms are not so big, but it's homely:
Old travelling chests, art books, brown leather chaise longues and candles create a comfortably stylish welcome.
And of course, it's just nice to stay in Nice.
[Photo: TripAdvisor]
Related Stories:
· Villa La Tour Hotel reviews [TripAdvisor]
· A Riviera Room For 50 Pounds [UK Times]
· French Riviera Style: Hotel de Provence [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Hotel de Provence, Cannes
March 29, 2007 at 8:50 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll be talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
If Cannes is the place you just must be for your Riviera holiday, but you don't want to totally blow the budget, then the UK's Sunday Times tips the Hotel de Provence. It's right in the middle of Cannes and only a couple of blocks from the beach, but feels more like a garden than the oft-found conference-venue style block hotels. The owners, the Portiers, run just 30 rooms here, and that gives it the personal touch, according to the Times reviewer:
Simple touches such as linen tablecloths and fresh flowers in the rooms show that this is a labour of love, not just a business.
And while the rooms are a little small (that's the nice way of saying poky), the character and the location seem to make up for it. The big tip from previous guests is to request a room with a view or balcony over the garden (you can't get beach views thanks to the monstrous hotels built between Hotel de Provence and the coastline). Extremely reasonable rates start at just $100 for a double including breakfast--more at peak or with a terrace.
[Photo: Kathryn14]
Related Stories:
· Hotel de Provence Cannes reviews [TripAdvisor]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Columbus Hotel Monaco
March 28, 2007 at 9:10 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll be talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
For those looking for a not-so-secret stay along the French Riviera, then may we suggest the Columbus Monaco a boutique hotel owned by Formula One Star David Coulthard. Located in the Princess Grace Rose Garden (a 6-minute helicopter ride and 30-minute car ride from the Nice airport if you feel the need for speed), the hotel has 153 bedrooms and 28 suites each equipped with some crazy technology like:
An interactive TV system with infrared cordless computer keyboard, dual phone lines with direct modem access, CD stereo system and Playstation
Of course, this hotel is all about flash so the hotel's bar and trendy brasserie "have already become two of the coolest drinking and dining spots on the Cote d'Azur."
If you want to head to the beach, the hotel has a taxi-boat take you to Paloma Beach at the tip of Cap Ferrat or you can have a helicopter fly you to St. Tropez for the day. Other hotel services include yacht rentals, golfing, fashion consulting or as they call it "looking good sessions" and a Danielle Steiner spa.
The reviews on the place are pretty stellar except for a recent one where a guest complaining that David Coulthard wasn't overly-gracious. Meanwhile, we are upset that the beds aren't built like the racecar bed from Silver Spoon.
[Photo: TripAdvisor]
Related Stories:
· Columbus Hotel Monaco reviews [TripAdvisor]
· French Riviera Style: La Bastide Gourmande [HotelChatter]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: La Bastide Gourmande
March 27, 2007 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll be talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
Budget Travel always does a pretty good job of finding out of the way, less crowded and less expensive lodgings in popular cities or as they call 'em "secret" hotels.
For the French Riviera, BT says that the La Bastide Gourmande in La-Colle-Sur-Loup is a perfect compromise for those who want to be near the beach but can't handle the crowds, which is in a sense, everyone on this earth.
[T]he friendly hotel offers clean, colorful rooms; a good restaurant; and a lovely pool with a great view of the classic Proven?al countryside. There's even a boulodrome, should you feel inclined to indulge in a game of petanque.
Hmmm...that second sentence does not make any sense for those who don't parlez vous frances. But it seems that petanque is a French version of lawn bowling.
As for the lodgings, there's eight smallish rooms each with a different theme like "Africa", "New York", "Indonesia", "Red Poppies" and even "Disney" (for the kids.) You can view the pictures of the hotel rooms here--as you can tell the New York room is cold, harsh and minimalistic, not in a hip design way either.
Also included is a pool and a garden, all for just around $72-$84 a night.
The downside so far? Creepy cicadas are "guaranteed" to be buzzing throughout the summer. For the record, once you have lived through a cicada invasion, you learn that there is no such thing as a cicada "chirp." It's more like an annoying, constant, scary-sounding bzzzz. That and they leave their carcasses all over your stuff.
Related Stories:
· La Bastide Gourmande reviews (for those who speak French) [TripAdvisor]
· Secret Hotels of the French Riviera [Budget Travel Online]
French Riviera Hotel Reviews
French Riviera Style: Villa St. Maxime
March 26, 2007 at 9:05 AM | 0 Comments
The Cannes Film Festival is still a ways off (it starts on May 16) but a reader's recent tip about the French Riviera got us daydreaming about escaping to Cote d'Azure. This week we'll be talking about some of the hotels worthy of checking into. As always, we wanna know what you think, not just what Uma, Rod Stewart, P.Diddy and Paris Hilton think, of the hotels here. So send us your thoughts and questions or comment below the story, telling us what's right, what's wrong and what's just French.
The French Riviera hotel scene is largely dominated by the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc and the Hotel du Cap Ferret, both of which are extremely expensive, the latter enforcing a snobbish "cash only" rule for their $800+ a night rooms.
So that's out of the question for anyone not featured regularly in the pages of Us Weekly or the Wall Street Journal. Instead, we looked at what was the #1 hotel ranked on TripAdvisor which does the rankings based on popularity, not necessarily room rate.
What we found was the Villa St. Maxime Hotel in St-Paul-de-Vence. Along with having a killer views of the sea, a cozy atmosphere (there's only six rooms so think of it as a chic French B&B), a relaxed ambience and even a pool, the room rates in the low season can be as little as $212. In peak season, May through September, the rooms bump up to $232.
Since we haven't been, we'll leave it to the words of a recent reviewer:
My husband and I stayed at the Villa St. Maxime in April 2006. It was our first visit to the area and we couldn't have been happier there. After driving through the concrete congestion of the Cote D'Azur area, we were a bit apprehensive. Not to worry! We were given a warm greeting by our great host, John, who was generous and hospitable. The light filled rooms are clean, modern, comfortable, and quiet. The modern architecture of the Villa is complemented by the eclectic decor.
The hotel's owners/hosts John and Ann get rave reviews from almost every reviewer, proving that you don't have to be a celeb to get some quality service in the French Riviera.
[Photo: Shill3]
Related Stories:
· Villa St. Maxime [TripAdvisor]
