Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo

The Hôtel de Paris is the hotel most people picture when they imagine Monte-Carlo, and for a once-in-a-while trip it is the one to book. A five-star palace built in 1864, it stands on Place du Casino beside the Casino itself and the Café de Paris, with the Opera and the terraced gardens within a few steps. Its 206 rooms range from Superior and Deluxe rooms to Junior Suites, Suites and Prestige and Exclusive categories, with views over the sea, the harbour, the casino or an interior patio, and some have terraces. The dining and drinking are part of the draw: Le Grill, on the eighth floor with Mediterranean views, Le Bar Américain with live music, and Le Louis XV by Alain Ducasse, a Michelin-starred restaurant that closes seasonally and should be checked before you plan around it. The hotel also has an outdoor pool with loungers, a heated rooftop pool at the Sky Club, and access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo spa with its 30 treatment rooms and a heated seawater indoor pool.

Location is the main reason to pay the premium. You are at the centre of the glamorous district: the Casino is next door, the Circuit de Monaco passes within about a minute on foot, the shops of the Golden Square are close, and you can walk down through the gardens to the port. The Prince's Palace and the Oceanographic Museum are on the Rock, a bus or taxi ride away or a long downhill and uphill walk. Monaco-Monte Carlo railway station is about a ten-minute walk, and Nice Côte d'Azur Airport is about a thirty-six-minute drive. The slope between the station, the square and the port is steep, so a room near the lifts and a taxi at night are sensible.

Staying here: choose a room category by view, since sea-view rooms and terraces carry the most premium and city or patio rooms the least. Check-in begins at 3pm, check-out is before noon, and the minimum check-in age is 18. Valet parking is charged by the day at a high rate, and pets are allowed for a nightly fee, so ask about both at booking. Wi-Fi is free in public areas with a device limit. Spa treatments need advance reservations, and in summer and on Grand Prix weekend prices and minimum stays rise sharply.

Who it suits: couples, honeymooners, anniversary trips and travellers who want the full Monte-Carlo ceremony with doormen, sports cars on the forecourt and a swim on the roof. It is not the choice for those on a budget or those who want a quiet residential area, since the square is busy day and night. Families are welcome, but the atmosphere is adult, so consider whether you would rather spend the money on Fontvieille and a pool. Book early for spring and summer.