From Wayne Hudson, Mexico
Where I went: Cap d’Antibes
Why I went: A family wedding. Talk about bad planning, the wedding overlapped the first week of the Cannes Film Festival, which meant the hotels had been booked years in advance for the Festival. Procrastinator that I am, I RSVPed so late that I missed out on staying at one of the villas that the bride’s family had rented for the wedding guests.
Who organized it: I did with the help of friends who live in Cap d’Antibes.
Where we stayed: Val des Roses, the bride who is in her mid-twenties recommended it. What a surprise. Ultra stylish, a place I could actually live. A mix of traditional and contemporary with an emphasis on both style and comfort. The sea view room had high ceilings, three sets of big windows, a small balcony with a table and two chairs with views to the sea and garden. There was a large luxury bathroom, also with a big set of windows and a partial sea view. Nice touches like four flower arrangements that were refreshed during my stay. A laptop with internet plus WiFi if you bring your own laptop, and a complimentary minibar.
The place is incredibly small, four suites and two rooms in two buildings set in a very beautiful garden. The lobby is like a comfortable living room in a Cap d’Antibes villa, it opens in turn to a conservatory, which in turn opens on to a very attractive terrace with views of the gardens and partial views of the sea. The conservatory is where the complimentary breakfast buffet is served. They do not have a restaurant per se, but offer light meals, quite good I might add, served on the terrace or by the pool.
Who it’s right for: The young and stylish, the place was popular with 30 somethings especially from Scandinavia.
Who it’s wrong for: If you can’t live without one of the butlers or a cabana at Hotel du Cap then this is not for you. It’s relaxed and somewhat casual, even a little quirky, although I loved it.
What I’d go back for: Cap d’Antibes. An oasis in the otherwise hectic Cote d’Azur, quiet lanes, green spaces, and crystal clear waters. Despite zillion dollar estates and billionaires around every corner, the place is decidedly low-key and unpretentious. Cap d’Antibes has many excellent restaurants, but one of the standouts was the Indagare recommended Le Pavilion at the Imperial Garoupe.
What not to miss: Rent a boat with a captain at Antibes Bateaux Services in Port Vauban and then spend the day on the Baie des Milliardaires, a place of rare natural beauty and great snorkeling. Break the day by boating over to the Hotel du Cap for lunch at the Eden Roc, and arriving there by boat is just so Riviera.
What we loved: Lunch at Plage Keller, the essence of the Riviera experience, beautiful setting on the beach on a picturesque bay with yachts at anchor and the Alps Maritime as a backdrop. Beautiful food served by a warm and friendly staff and beautiful people populating this icon of the good life.
