Hôtel Royal Riviera

Rising five graceful stories above the thin line that separates the quietly prestigious towns of St.-Jean and Beaulieu, this 1904 hotel evokes the Riviera's Gilded Age. Fans of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald know they frolicked here in the '30s, creating pages that might have been torn from Tender Is the Night. In 1988, an unfortunate modernization destroyed much of the Belle Epoque charm of the palace, but Grace Leo-Andrieu, one of France's most inventive hoteliers, arrived from Paris to help the hostelry regain its old reputation. She can't help the location near the train tracks, which makes some of the front rooms noisy, but she's done everything else in her power to make the hotel ever more chic. It occupies a .4-hectare (1-acre) tract with a beach of its own, to which tons of sand are added at regular intervals. Bedrooms are posh and plush, with big windows, private balconies, deep sofas, and fruitwood armoires. The largest and most appealing are the corner units (any room ending in "16"). Regardless, each is charming and elegant.

Facilities:
2 restaurants; bar; babysitting; pool (outdoor); room service

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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