The hotel was opened in 1975 by Princess Grace herself and, partially built on stilts, was the first to bring the American 'resort' hotel concept to the principality, the idea being to cater to every need of the hotel's diverse clientele under one roof. Needless to say that with its 602 guest rooms, this establishment is the cruise liner of Monaco's hotel fleet. As soon as you set foot in the huge lobby, complete with marble floors and a variety of sculptures to be found all around, you'll be taken aback by its sheer scale. Follow through past the selection of luxury boutiques and you'll find yourself faced with the breathtaking panoramic views from the 24-hour Saphir 24 bar, where you can relax in the comfort of the modern sofas provided and imagine setting sail on a virtual cruise through the large picture windows overlooking the sea and the boats mooring off the coast. This is also where you'll find live music in the evenings.
The famous L'Argentin meat restaurant is located on the ground floor of the hotel, as is the largest gala room on the Côte d'Azur, not to mention the hotel's very own casino. Access to the guest rooms is along a series of seemingly endless but nevertheless pleasant corridors featuring decor based on a nautical theme, with the doors designed to look like cabins on a ship. The hotel offers breathtaking views from its furnished roof-top terrace on the 7th floor, where you will also find the relatively small 15m long freshwater outdoor pool and solarium terrace. Furnished with deck chairs, it is open from 8:00am to 10:00pm, as is the bar. Visitors to the hotel also have the option of visiting the superb spa, which opened in 2009, from 9:00am to 9:00pm. Other options include sweating it out in the spacious and very well-equipped fitness centre, trying your luck in the Casino - just a 2 minute walk away, relaxing with a drink in the Champagne Bar, or heading down to the restaurant to enjoy a bite to eat on the panoramic terrace.
Amy Adejokun
Section editor
