Travel to the South of France: Party like Rihanna, or relax — why the French Riviera might be your next destination
You can party and shop like a rock star here, but much of the South of France’s appeal—beach-hugging coastlines, 300-plus annual days of dazzling sunshine—comes courtesy of Mother Nature and doesn’t cost a dime.
If you’re headed to Monaco, check out the sublime Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo. A stunningly chic 5-star property that takes full advantage of its Mediterranean locale, it’s hosted everyone from Jennifer Lopez to Sting. A sensual experience from the moment you walk in and are greeted by the scent of Nepalese amber, a stay here is all about understated luxury for the Métropole’s international guests. Whether you’re traveling to Monaco for the annual Formula 1 Grand Prix car races or merely using the hotel as a base for visiting the principality’s casinos (guests get free access to the glamorous Casino de Monte-Carlo), you can’t go wrong staying here. The luxury style factor will soar this fall when the Métropole introduces its Karl Lagerfeld-designed outdoor space, including a new pool, terrace, gardens, poolside Robuchon restaurant and glass fresco-style art installation.
Pretend you live in this paradise—and get way more room than in a hotel—by renting one of seven beautifully decorated apartments from Riviera Experience, in the
gorgeous and friendly village of Villefranche-sur-Mer between Nice and Monaco. Three are housed on the Villefranche waterfront, which overlooks the Bay of Villefranche; most of the others are in the colorful and charming Old Town. Or if you’d rather make Nice your Riviera base, check out Parler Nice Apartments, two stylishly furnished sunny flats perfectly located in the city center. Both apartment-rental firms are offer personalized English-speaking service, all the comforts of home—and THEN some.
ROLL LIKE THE 1%…EVEN IF ONLY ON VACATION
The French Riviera’s been a hangout for the gorgeous jet set for decades. These days, everyone from Rihanna (who this summer strolled the streets of St-Tropez) to P. Diddy (known for his yacht parties) to Kanye West and Kim Kardashian plays hard on the Côte d’Azur. But you don’t have to be Hollywood royalty to do it in Cannes during May’s annual Film Festival, or at Les Caves du Roy, the place to be seen and to party in St-Tropez. This always-sizzling nightclub—open weekends April through October but every night in July and August—is housed at the 5-star Hotel Byblos Saint-Tropez and is as well-known for its eternally long lines as for the electro-house sounds spun all night long by legendary DJ Jack.E. Stars like Diddy, Jay-Z, Naomi Campbell and George party here—but if you’re staying onsite at the Byblos, you TOO get to roll like a VIP and skip the endless queue.
Keep your groove going on the eastern side of the Riviera at Black Legend Monaco, another fabulous and upscale nightclub from Groupe Floirat, the French-based enterprise behind Les Caves du Roy and Hotel Byblos. The brainchild of CEO Antoine Chevanne, this stylish, harbor-side restaurant/bar/lounge morphs into a pulsating dance spot about midnight—and it’s all a tribute to black American music, from Motown to contemporary R&B from funk to soul. Live music also reigns here, with French and international singers and bands covering African-American classics from Marvin Gaye and Prince. Spend the evening at Black Legend. Savoring its newly revamped dinner menu with Italian-French-Spanish-with-an-American-twist cuisine and inventive cocktails and then hang half the night when the youthful partiers fill the place later on.
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