With its wedding-cake architecture and air of effortless luxury, along with a location right on the Place du Casino, the Hotel de Paris has epitomised every tourist’s dream of Monte Carlo since it opened in 1863. The capital of the tiny principality of Monaco on the French Riviera is synonymous with casinos, and the five-star Hotel de Paris strives to be the ultimate Monte Carlo experience.
It’s hardly surprising that the hotel’s iconic façade and interior, with a giant equestrian statue of Louis XIV that players rub for luck in the lobby, is now visual shorthand for ‘Monte Carlo’ in any number of Hollywood movies. The hotel has featured in Iron Man 2, Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted, and two James Bond films, Never Say Never Again and Goldeneye, among many others.
Four Different Room Categories
The rooms at the Hotel de Paris are grouped into four categories, based on the type of view, the room décor, and the level of luxury. There are courtyard views, city views, sea views and casino views, and rooms range from doubles to luxury suites, including the finest accommodations in the hotel, the Presidential Suite.
There are five restaurants and bars on the premises, indoors and on the terraces, with fare ranging from snacks and grills to Michelin-starred haute cuisine prepared by master chefs Alain Ducasse and Dominique Lory. The hotel’s 450,000-bottle wine cellar is world-famous. However, a four-year renovation programme began in October 2014, and from time to time certain venues will not be open. Guest should check the Hotel de Paris website in advance, to ensure their favourite features will be available.
Casino and Other Attractions
As befits a Monte Carlo casino hotel, Hotel de Paris features an extensive range of slot machines and table games in the casino, including archetypal French standards like Roulette and Baccarat. With a pedigree extending back more than 150 years, the Hotel de Paris gives every player a taste of the luxury and elegance traditionally associated with French casinos.
Hotel guests also have access to a private Mediterranean beach, complete with tents, cabins bungalows and solariums. The Thermes Marin Monte-Carlo is a peaceful luxury spa attached to the hotel, where guests can enjoy a variety of spa treatments or relax in the indoor pool, sauna or hammam. They can work out in the fitness centre, play golf at the Monte Carlo Golf Club, and swim or play squash or tennis at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
Making the Most of a Visit
Apart from updates on the progress of renovations, the Hotel de Paris website also gives guests news bulletins and alerts them to special offers. Anyone planning a stay at the hotel is therefore advised to go through the site before making a booking, to ensure they have all the relevant information.
The website also provides practical details of all the services available, as well as crucial access information. As Monte Carlo can be reached by air, rail, road or sea, it is a good idea to check the easiest access routes first.
