The enticing South of France has it all. Anything is tolerated as long as you have the money to pay for it or you’re a VIP. Welcome to the epicurean Côte d’Azur – one of the most exclusive stretches of coastline in the world. Just pack your swimsuits – and your status items, of course. The area between Cannes and Menton is the densest in billionaires and stars than anywhere else on the planet.
With an image of irresistible allure, Monaco, the second smallest country in the world, tops real estate experts’ list of the world’s most expensive prime residential property. US$1m will buy you just 17 sq m of home in the tiny Monegasque principality, compared with 204 sq m in Cape Town. Monaco’s population is made up mostly of wealthy foreigners. No wonder, Monaco’s Tour Odeon penthouse is the most expensive apartment in the world. For €300 million you can have a 3,300-square penthouse equipped with a waterslide.
For the last six decades, the city-state has been the richest place on earth. Monaco is set to double its population of ultra-wealthy residents over the next 10 years, and make a 3 percent expansion of its territory. Monte Carlo Sea Land Project is a visionary project of the offshore urban extension of the Principality into the Mediterranean.
Monaco is synonymous with the legendary Casino Monte Carlo, visited by James Bond in Never Say Never Again, GoldenEye and Casino Royale. Throughout the year, you can attend a variety of gaming events and slot machine tournaments to satisfy all your heart’s desires. However, residents of Monaco are banned from entering the casino, but players all over the world can practice casino games online at vegascasinofrancais.fr.
From 2014, the principality’s remodeled harbor has a new luxurious Yacht Club designed by foster + partners as a “center for boating excellence.” Of course, you can stay here or in one of Monaco’s legendary luxury hotels like HÔTEL DE PARIS MONTE- CARLO, HERMITAGE, MONTE-CARLO BAY or Hotel Metropole, but sleeping in the cabin of your very own charter yacht berthed in Port de Hercules is an unparalleled experience, especially during September’s Monaco Yacht Show, May’s Grand Prix or April’s Top Marques Monaco. There are a lot of visitors in Monaco every day, but with a good guide will never feel the suffocating crowds.
Our next stops is the “Billionaire’s Quay” in Antibes, a place offering a panorama of the largest
superyachts. With over 2,000 moorings in Port Vauban, Antibes is the largest yachting harbour in Europe. The largest marina in Europe is the place where both local fishing boats and luxury yachts co-exist.
The picturesque town is also a cultural hub. We will revisit Pablo Picasso’s château-turned-museum housing hundreds of his paintings, ceramics and photos. A tour of the celeb-favored Hôtel du Cap-Eden Roc, one of the most storied and luxurious resorts in the world, is a must. From the new “Miss Dior” film launched here to the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, and amfAR gala dinner, the iconic hotel is at the centre stage of all the glittering events.
Saint-Jean-Cap- Ferrat
We will take a walk between Côte d’Azur villages Villefranche-sur-Mer and the Beaulieu-sur-Mer. Our next stop – Saint-Jean-Cap- Ferrat, a favourite holiday destination among the European aristocracy and affluent holidaymakers gliding in for the summer and winter months. We will tour Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, one of the world’s most iconic resorts. We are thinking about a gourmet incursion at one of the three restaurants overseen by Michelin-starred Executive Chef Didier Aniès, Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2000. Decisions…Decisions…
Cannes
Cannes is spectacular with its entertainment and hedonistic offerings. After visiting the massive Casino Croisette, it is time for a celebrity rendez-vous at Le Baoli nightclub or Les Caves du Roy, where the royal treatment should be on the menu.
The year-round festivals and events will keep everybody well entertained. To understand why the Croisette is one of the most famous promenades in the world, take a stroll through this prominent road in Cannes, listed in the cultural heritage general inventory of France. A tour of the iconic Carlton, Majestic, JW Marriott Cannes, and Martinez hotels is a must for anyone visiting the Croisette.
Nice – a springboard to sample the French Riviera
From the deck of the yacht, sunbathers gathered en masse on the beach along Nice’s Promenade des Anglais will remind you that the French Riviera has something for everyone. Called Nice la Belle, the second-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast attracted not only those in search of sun, relaxation and fun, but also those seeking inspiration. The pearl of the Cote d’Azur can fill each day with joie de vivre, quality people, and quality experiences.
