... Here is what I had written at the time of my Monte Carlo experience...
After spending the last few weeks travelling the south of france in a motorhome, i thought i would share some of my experiences with you lucky lot and not least because i recieved the credit card bill through the post ... Read review
excl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: /10 - In the heart of Paris right bank, the Hotel Monte ... more
Carlo, a charming 2-star hotel, is close to some of the citys most revered attractions and chic department stores. Located on a lovely Parisian street, the hotel offers comfortable and quiet rooms and friendly service. It is also conveniently situated near underground links and area restaurants. The hotel is situated in the centre of Paris, close to the Opera and the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. Les Folies Bergeres (cabaret) : 300 metres La Bourse (stock exchange) : 600 metres Galeries Lafayette : 700 metres Opera Garnier : 800 metres Louvre Pyramid : 1.5 km / 0.9 mi Sacre Coeur Basilica : 1.5 km / 0.9 mi La Madeleine : 1.5 km / 0.9 mi
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: 7,35/10 - Family style hotel is situated ia an historic part ... more
of Funchal.It boats magnificient view over the surrounding mountains and the sea. Hotel Monte carlo is situated in an historic port of Funchal, just 500 meter from the centre and 100m from the Cruzes, Frederico de Freitas Museums and Santa Clara Church.EVENTSJune, 3rd to 30th-Madeira Music FestivalThe Madeira Music Festival brings to Madeira a number of classical concerts in special places of Funchal. (about 3 to 5 minutes walking from the Hotel Monte Carlo)FireworksThe Madeira International Fireworks Competition involves firework displays in harmonious combination with music. It takes place in Funchal, and it can be seen from the Hotel Monte CarloFootpathsHotel Monte Carlo works with two of the best footpaths organizations, the tourist can choose between being picket up at the hotel or at the centre of the city, about 5 minutes walking from the Hotel Monte CarloCentre Animation and Folk FestivalsA typical Madeiran folk festival is reproduced in Funchal and all the streets and alleys are decorated and full of pavement cafés.There are performances by philharmonic bands, student choirs and other bands in a party lasting from 7:30 p.m. to midnight every day. All this at 5 minutes or less, from the Hotel Monte Carlo.Night LiveAt the centre of the city of Funchal there are several bars and discos with different kind of music and environment. Since the Hotel are at the centre. Our clients can go out and return safely at the hotel whenever they desire. Night live at the city is already well known for its variety and animation.
Perfectly located between the famous Monte Carlo casino and the sea below, this 616-room ... more
hotel with an ocean liner like design offers state of the art comfort combined with a sumptuous Mediterranean décor. Each of our luxurious room features a marble bathroom and a balcony. You will appreciate the spectacular panoramic view and the brand new fitness centre and its massages.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
The Novotel Monte Carlo is a short walk from the train station, fully equipped for ... more
conferences, and offers luxurious accommodation and extensive views over Le Rocher and the sea.Spacious and contemporary in design the rooms and suites at the Novotel Monte Carlo are equipped with modern en suite facilities.The restaurant and snack bar open onto the lovely garden. Les Grandes Ondes serves gourmet cuisine in a unique and stylish contemporary decor, and Le Novotel Café features musical entertainment.The Novotel Monte Carlo offers a fitness centre, hammam and outdoor heated swimming pool to aid relaxation and promote wellbeing.With 530m² of fully equipped meeting/function facilities, the business travellers have not been forgotten either.
Information: :Price is per double room per night and may vary depending on date booked...
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: 6,13/10 - The Hotel Ambassador-Monaco is a confortable Hotel ... more
in Monaco town center, furnished in Liberty Stile but with all modern conforts of his category, and is easly accesible by any mean of transportation. Palais Princier-Casino-Museum-Strände-Botanischer Garten-Eze-San Paul de Vence.....
NH Hotels, the hotel chain leader in Europe, with more than 300 hotels in 20 countries in Europe, Latin America and Africa. Enter into our web site and find the best available tariff at all times
Advantages: Richest Freak Show On The Planet Disadvantages: Gaudy, Tacky and Fake
...at the time of my Monte Carlo experience...
After spending the last few weeks travelling the south of france in a motorhome, i thought i would share some of my experiences with you lucky lot and not least because i recieved the credit card bill through the post today!
The journey into Monte Carlo is quite unimpressive, very industrial and stark contrast to the picturesque landscapes surrounding Monte Carlo. You ... ...you a taste of what monte carlo is all about....seeing and being seen.
From stars and stripes we followed the harbour round on foot staring unashamedly at the very very expensive yachts moored up...apparently you can pay to have dinner on the decks and let the many tourists stare at you with envious and hungry eyes. My 25ft Jaguar weekend sailing yacht seemed worse than a pedalo at that moment and at one point I was even found salivating ... more
Prelude
In August of this year I was lucky enough to spend a few weeks travelling Provence and the South Of France. Here is what I had written at the time of my Monte Carlo experience...
After spending the last few weeks travelling the south of france in a motorhome, i thought i would share some of my experiences with you lucky lot and not least because i recieved the credit card bill through the post today!
The journey into Monte Carlo is quite unimpressive, very industrial and stark contrast to the picturesque landscapes surrounding Monte Carlo. You get the first taste of its financial implications by the increased frequency of the tolls upon its approach. It seemed like there was a toll booth on the roads every 10 mins as opposed to the every couple of hours we had experienced around Provence.
We arrived at night, a bit "blind". by that i mean with no campsite booked and no idea where to park up our home for the night. A quick drive through the very windy streets with sharp gradients and we found ourself at the port which proved to be our trouble-free home for the night. The port itself had parking restrictions but we made ourselves as inconspicuous as a 40ft motorhome could be and slipped on our least creased and tatty clothes and was able to walk straight into the bar area and past the most luxurious yachts i have ever seen.
As we were there for one night only the plan was to take in the sights, hit the casino and generally have a good ol' gawp at what there was to see..... and that there was plenty!
The bars themselves did not seem anything special. A quick overpriced drink in stars and stripes only a minutes walk from our motorhome gives you a taste of what monte carlo is all about....seeing and being seen.
From stars and stripes we followed the harbour round on foot staring unashamedly at the very very expensive yachts moored up...apparently you can pay to have dinner on the decks and let the many tourists stare at you with envious and hungry eyes. My 25ft Jaguar weekend sailing yacht seemed worse than a pedalo at that moment and at one point I was even found salivating profusely at one Caymen Island registered monster yacht....one day....one day i had to remind myself!.
The walk round the harbour takes to you to the grand casino which is an absolute must should you go to Monte Carlo. Part-owned by the Monaco Royalty - the Grimaldi's, it is the very essence of Monte Carlo - Big, Oppulent, Ostentatious and Brash.
The valet parking gathers a bigger crowd than many Football crowds. Its all about who comes out of what car. The tanned fake boobed women dripping in gold accompanied by their equally tanned and generally older companions. It was almost like a parody...a cliche if you will but like any car accident.... you cant help but stare now matter how awful it is what you are staring at. Cars with values equal to the GDP's of many medium sized countries made to an impressive parade and for all you car enthusiasts to which i am not there was two ferrari daytona's (apparently only 15 left in world) and more bentleys than a premiership clubs car park.
Unable to get into the main casino due to the no open toed footwear policy - all that dressing up to no avail, we decided to to have a drink at stars and stripes again mainly due to its good people spotting location, and there we sat sipping Kiri Royals (£8 a glass) and played the "spot the plastic surgery" game..... not a hard game to play. Back to the motorhome, relief it was still there and had a generally unproturbed night. Had a walk round in the morning past the tacky Ferrari and Porsche souvenir shops and after all the visual bliss of provence felt a bit hemmed in so decided that a visit up to castle wasnt needed and just needed to go somewhere where tight faced old leathery men/women were not in abundance...... stupidly headed for Nice....where there's plenty.... but more of that another time.
Summary
Overall Monte Carlo is nothing better than a glamourous freak show.... you go there to see and be seen and i found the whole place, gaudy without being tacky and monied without the class. Plenty of suntanned Italian men eye candy for the ladies... and enough boats and cars to keep even the most ardent anti car/boat person happy. I would not reccommend more than a couple of days there and bring fake tan and shoes!...oh and free parking at the port :)
Advantages: It's Monte Carlo Disadvantages: Not for the financially-challenged
If I say Monte Carlo to you what image does it bring to mind? Do you picture Michael Schumacher and chums speeding around the hair-pin bends? Can you see yourself sipping champers with the in-crowd in the Hotel de Paris? Do your eyes turn green with thoughts of THAT harbour…the harbour where if you’re yacht is worth less than £5million you would really feel VERY embarrassed. Or do you reminisce about “our Gracie”, the beautiful Grace Kelly who fell ... ...that when people think of Monte Carlo they usually just think of Monte Carlo square – let me give you the image. Sit outside the Café de Paris and daintily sip your espresso. Take in the majesty of the imposing Casino building opposite. At a mere £20 to get in one should definitely take a look this evening after dinner! Maybe the boys can take a little flutter whilst we’re there, but we girls will just sit on the sidelines looking immaculate, and ...
Kirsty1 13.08.2002
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monte Carlo (Monaco)
Advantages: Great people watching Disadvantages: Very expensive
Monte Carlo is situated in the heart of the French Riviera within the city-state of Monaco close to the French-Italian border. Often regarded as the playground for the rich and famous it is small but far from unassuming. Monte Carlo is exactly what you would imagine it to be: opulent and affluent, ostentatious and brazenly glitzy with everyone wearing their money on their sleeves. People walk the streets of Monte Carlo rarely, but when they do, often ... ...not all that much to Monte Carlo beyond numerous exclusive shops (every fashion darling boutique imaginable), hotels, restaurants, of course the casino, and many admiring tourists. As an experience, it's fascinating and worth spending a few hours there but I would suggest no more as either boredom or jealousy will take over. I can recommend a day trip as access from many of the main resorts along the Riviera is easy by bus or by train. Although the ...
Nixu1980 06.11.2009
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monte Carlo (Monaco)
Advantages: Beautiful beaches Disadvantages: Nothing to do
...prices of the hotels in Monte Carlo! Then we planned for our first day to get a bus to Monte Carlo. The bus ride was great, they were more like coaches; comfy seats, seat belts, tv, AC, a toilet, everything! We knew that Monte Carlo was a very luxurious city, so thought that we would be living the high life for the day, unfortunately not!
When we got off the bus, we went into the local shopping precinct. We entered on royal red carpets (which are ... ...Garden in the center of Monte Carlo... i would have enjoyed it more if it hadn't have cost us £25 for a sandwich! Aah well...
We could afford nothing in monte carlo, and we were ignored everywhere we went by the inhabitants of Monte Carlo. In the end, we went back to Nice where we could get just as nice beaches, but be treated in a more polite and courteous way.
If you have lots of money to throw away, and will wear nothing but Prada or Escada, ...
jennykellett 06.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monte Carlo (Monaco)
Advantages: Safe, high standards, great for sun, sea and nightlife Disadvantages: Expensive concrete high rise
I spent three months in Monaco last winter with my two children and enjoyed every minute of it. I avoided the high prices by renting an apartment in Beausoleil just over the border where accommodation is a fraction of the price (monthly rental was about the same price as the South of England and considerably less than London). I could still walk to the centre and use the brilliant local bus service which is cheap, clean and very efficient. The art ... ...maze of underground passages and public elevator systems which are all linked to the marble lined underground station. Once discovered, this labyrinth of passages reduces the distances and eliminates the hills which would otherwise induce heart failure in all but the fittest (hence the need for public defibrilators on the streets!). There is plenty to do and see, always something going on every weekend - the tourist information centre near the casino ...
pippa2 12.07.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monte Carlo (Monaco)
The beautiful little kingdom of Monaco, situated at the France-Italy boarder along the Mediterranean, is an exquisite place to visit. This little town-kingdom probably has the highest density of super-rich people in the world. Millionaires from all over the world flock to this tax heaven. As a result, the real estate is at premium; so much so that they have shifted the train station to underground to use the over ground space for real estate!
Apart ... ...number of skyscrapers housing expensive apartments.
Fortunately, the exquisite natural beauty still remains un-spoilt here. The sea is deep blue here with lovely pebbly beaches. The town is very well maintained and very clean. Almost from anywhere in the town you can see the palace, high up on the hills.
Just like other towns in French Riviera, the harbour is a very busy place. It is crowded with boats and yachts. You can buy a ticket to the glass ...
data_ray 21.11.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Monte Carlo (Monaco)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Monte Carlo (Monaco)"
Advantages: Beauty, Luxury and Class Disadvantages: too expensive
300 days of sunshine, 30 000 residents, 108 different nationalities, 7600 Monégasques 12 000 French citizens, 5 000 Italians all living on 2 square kms.
Monaco is without a doubt the most expensive place on the Mediterranean but still crime free!
Monaco, where the palace is situated, on the rock, sixty meters above sea level.
Monte-Carlo is the rest?and what a rest?..luxury, class, beauty, cleanliness, but also lots of investors and concrete.
Official language is French and monegù. Official currency is Euro. English and Italian are widely spoken.
☼?≈?≈?≈?≈?≈?≈?☼ LUXURY ☼?≈?≈?≈?≈?≈?≈?☼
It's everywhere; I am not talking about the luxury you would find in certain areas of the planet, but « the Belle Époque » luxury.
You will ...
Jossland 02.03.2007
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Monaco
Advantages: The Grand Prix of all Grand Prix's Disadvantages: Monaco ain't cheap!
FORMULA 1 MONACO GRAND PRIX - MONTECARLO
Now, I was fortunate enough to attend the Monaco Grand Prix in 2001, on an incredibly hot, but glorious May afternoon. This Grand Prix is the Jewel In the Crown of the Formula 1 Racing season and the most eagerly awaited of all the races. Despite the current boring predictability of Formula 1 racing, MonteCarlo is probably the one race circuit likely to throw up a wild card winner. Although, things did go true to form during my attendance, when a certain Mr Michael Schumacher was victorious in Millionaires playground.
Packages for the weekend can range from circa £1,500-£2,500 with the specialist tour companies, who provide packages including return flight to the U.K, 2 nights stay in 3-5 star accommodation, airport transfers, and balcony viewing for the main event. Conclusion, it ...
Advantages: Great racing Disadvantages: Small cramped conditions
In modern Formula 1, there is simply only one Monaco. There would never be another instance allowed due to the constraints it inflicts on teams, drivers,residents, spectators and cars.
It is allowed to continue on the calendar as it is all part of the Formula One show. In fact it is probably the most famous race of all.
Set around the streets of the small principality in Southern France, Monaco holds one of the worlds most famous playboy cities, MonteCarlo.
Full of expensive hotels, houses, bistros,casinos and Yachts in the harbour, it exists on the world tour because of its history in Motor Racing.
Yet, to everyone other than the few people who make money from it, it is seen as a headache from hell.
Over the years it has seen some greats drive here. From Moss,Clark and Graham Hill to Modern marvels such as Mansell ...
