Monaco’s most iconic hotel is home to some of the world’s most exclusive luxury suites…
Bonsoir Monsieur Bond, tres heureux de vous voir,” says the valet at the Casino de Monte-Carlo as a suave Pierce Brosnan steps out of a silver Aston Martin DB5 on Place du Casino in Monaco sometime in 1995. The movie, of course, was GoldenEye.
Reel back several decades to when the savvy Bordelais-born François Blanc began creating a luxury experience to bring the wealthy aristocracy and gambling elite of Europe to an endless stream of parties which acted as a backdrop for the true business at hand: gambling. His deft hand at marketing created the legend of “Monty” and had him crowned the “Magician of Monte-Carlo” as his masterful curation of luxury, lighting, and risk management led to fantastic results. In fact, it was oft said, “Rouge wins sometimes; Noir often; but Blanc always.”
The iconic Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo meanwhile has reigned as one of Monaco’s most legendary landmarks since 1864. Over the course of its 157-year pedigree, Rothschilds and Rockefellers have taken up residence; it also played host to Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace’s wedding banquet. Honoring the Monegasque royals’ decades of patronage, the hotel’s parent company, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, has dedicated a prestige suite to each monarch after their respective passing. The Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III suites are among the most exclusive — not to mention illustrious — hotel stays in the world. Each palatial penthouse has two elegant bedrooms complete with dressing rooms, sauna and steam room, multiple lounges and a dining room.
The suites include a private pool as well as a terrace. One night at the Princess Grace suite runs at around US$45,000 in peak season, while the Prince Rainier suite runs at around US$50,000. Sprawling over two floors of the hotel’s newest wing, the Princess Grace suite was conceived with the blessing of Monaco’s royal family, furthermore endowing Princess Grace’s artwork and beloved literary works from their private collection. A homage to the Builder Prince, sculptures created by the late prince are staged within the Prince Rainier suite, as well as paintings from his personal collection. The 8,930-sq.-ft. suite offers a two-level terrace with an infinity pool boasting divine views of the famed Place du Casino framed by the sparkling Mediterranean.
A fleet of attentive staff is always on standby to orchestrate everything from heliport transfers to in-suite dining courtesy of Michelinstarred chef Alain Ducasse. And to top it off, the coveted suites come with a dedicated private booth at the incomparable Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, a wellness haven offering a hub of state-ofthe- art treatments. When your suites’ footprint extends to dedicated real estate within the most in-demand spa in Europe, a sublime stay is just the beginning. ■
By SI SI PENALOZA
Photography by MIKE JONES
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