Monte Carlo: Hermitage or Metropole hotel?
Discussion
Hi everyone - was hoping for some advice.
This summer I'm driving around France and stopping off for a night in Monaco. I want to treat my passenger on her birthday so have decided to book into a great hotel for the one night stay. I've visited Monaco/Monte Carlo several times before and always thought that these were two of the nicest hotels.
A search on the net has shown a night in each to be approx the same (£300ish) so now I need to decided which one.
If anyone has stayed in either of these or can offer any suggestions then that'd be greatly appreciated!
Olly
This summer I'm driving around France and stopping off for a night in Monaco. I want to treat my passenger on her birthday so have decided to book into a great hotel for the one night stay. I've visited Monaco/Monte Carlo several times before and always thought that these were two of the nicest hotels.
A search on the net has shown a night in each to be approx the same (£300ish) so now I need to decided which one.
If anyone has stayed in either of these or can offer any suggestions then that'd be greatly appreciated!
Olly
FairmontHermitage - History - I have been told, in the old days when everyone lived in black and white,
this hotel had quite a reputation for Royalty and ladies of a certain reputation. So
should be an interesting Hotel. Thats history though, a very resectable Hotel these days. Look at the fresco outside.
Metropole - I have also been told, that this Hotel was a 21st birthday present for
Christina Onassis. Great indoor shopping area, lovely Hotel.
Other than that why not The Hotel de Paris. Great Cafe de Paris over the road. All, as you know, walking distance for THE best food and atmosphere - the Tip Top Bar, full of motoring history, half way down the hill on the left (Metropole side) from Casino Square towards the Lowes / Grand Hotel.
HTH
this hotel had quite a reputation for Royalty and ladies of a certain reputation. So
should be an interesting Hotel. Thats history though, a very resectable Hotel these days. Look at the fresco outside.
Metropole - I have also been told, that this Hotel was a 21st birthday present for
Christina Onassis. Great indoor shopping area, lovely Hotel.
Other than that why not The Hotel de Paris. Great Cafe de Paris over the road. All, as you know, walking distance for THE best food and atmosphere - the Tip Top Bar, full of motoring history, half way down the hill on the left (Metropole side) from Casino Square towards the Lowes / Grand Hotel.
HTH
Obviously you know its location, on the hairpin?
It's very elegant yet quite contemporary. The garden view rooms are stunning, much better than a sea view. The garden is beautiful and relaxing and you are overlooking the back of Casino Square with the stunning architecture of the casino and Hotel de Paris.
There's a great gym/spa on the top floor and a rooftop swimming pool which is a decent size but you'll probably have to avoid Mika Hakkinen and his family as they virtually live there
The pool is fully attended with bar service, fresh towels, etc. to your sun lounger which is great of you feel like chilling all day.
Breakfast on the roof terrace (L'Horizon bar) on the other side of the hotel overlooking the sea is stunning too and a great way to wake up.
The grill restaurant (can't remember what it's called) is fabulous for evening meal if you're feeling lazy although you'll get much better and cheaper "in town".
Ground floor piano bar is nicely chilled out and has recently been renovated and there's the casino if youdon't want to go up to the square and of course the jewellery/watch/clothing concessions in the lobby.
You can get a double garden view room for about £275 per night I think.
It's very elegant yet quite contemporary. The garden view rooms are stunning, much better than a sea view. The garden is beautiful and relaxing and you are overlooking the back of Casino Square with the stunning architecture of the casino and Hotel de Paris.
There's a great gym/spa on the top floor and a rooftop swimming pool which is a decent size but you'll probably have to avoid Mika Hakkinen and his family as they virtually live there
The pool is fully attended with bar service, fresh towels, etc. to your sun lounger which is great of you feel like chilling all day.
Breakfast on the roof terrace (L'Horizon bar) on the other side of the hotel overlooking the sea is stunning too and a great way to wake up.
The grill restaurant (can't remember what it's called) is fabulous for evening meal if you're feeling lazy although you'll get much better and cheaper "in town".
Ground floor piano bar is nicely chilled out and has recently been renovated and there's the casino if youdon't want to go up to the square and of course the jewellery/watch/clothing concessions in the lobby.
You can get a double garden view room for about £275 per night I think.
Thanks for all the useful information.
It's only going to be a brief visit to Monaco, just an evening and night, before leaving after breakfast the next day, so it's really just about the experience of staying in the hotel than seeing the place again.
Found a great deal for the Fairmont at £225 so that makes its appealing, just not sure about the contempary theme compared to the old school style of the other two - but at the saving over the others I'm sure I could live with it. You sure a garden room would be better than a sea view? Are they really that good?
It's only going to be a brief visit to Monaco, just an evening and night, before leaving after breakfast the next day, so it's really just about the experience of staying in the hotel than seeing the place again.
Found a great deal for the Fairmont at £225 so that makes its appealing, just not sure about the contempary theme compared to the old school style of the other two - but at the saving over the others I'm sure I could live with it. You sure a garden room would be better than a sea view? Are they really that good?
OllyHill said:
Found a great deal for the Fairmont at £225 so that makes its appealing, just not sure about the contempary theme compared to the old school style of the other two - but at the saving over the others I'm sure I could live with it. You sure a garden room would be better than a sea view? Are they really that good?
It's not massively "trendy" and not what you'd call a "boutique hotel". There's lots of luxury and elegance still. 
I've stayed at there five times in four years. Four of those times I've had garden views.
The garden is "in the round" (so to speak) with lots of distant to facing balconies but overlooking beautiful greenery, the Casino Square architecture as mentioned and if you get a room on the "hairpin side" (as opposed to sea side) you get views towards the harbour anyway.
The sea view for me is totally over rated. If you want to see yachts coming in/out, go down to the harbour (10 mins stroll) and see them close up.
I always ask for room 5025 is that is in a great position
This is the best picture I can find from Google as I have none on this laptop.
If you imagine room 5025 is just below the bottom left corner of the shot then that's the view but obviously you'll be looking up at it and there is shrubbery/fountain/palms in the central courtyard too.
Hope that helps a bit.
Stunning view agreed, but fell into the whole tourist trap of wanting a sea view - sunset and watch the yachts going in and out, pretty much what its all about.
Plus last time I stayed in Monaco I had no view at all, so this should make up for it.
Think the parking is about 20Euros from looking at the hotels site, at least I hope no more than that.
Going to be fun pulling up there though next to all those Bentley's, Ferraris etc..
Plus last time I stayed in Monaco I had no view at all, so this should make up for it.
Think the parking is about 20Euros from looking at the hotels site, at least I hope no more than that.
Going to be fun pulling up there though next to all those Bentley's, Ferraris etc..
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