My Mom and I stayed at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort in January 2010. The resort has a casino, gym (with free personal trainers) and a spa. While it is not on the main drag, it’s within walking distance to most of the attractions. When you arrive, you feel like you are special…because for what the rooms cost, you should be 🙂 If you feel like splurging, I highly recommend staying at this hotel. If not (and honestly, it’s cheaper to stay in Nice and take the 30 minute bus over for the day), I’d recommend you visit this hotel for the Cinq Mondes spa. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Rates & Promotions
I’m not going to lie…like everything else in Monte-Carlo, the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort is expensive. Rates in the low season run around 276 Euro/$369 per night for a Superior Room (326 Euro/$463 per night for an Exclusive Room). High season (May – August) is about 377 Euro/$504 per night for a Superior Room (485 Euro/$649 per night for an Exclusive Room). This usually does not include meals (the continental breakfast cost me 35 Euro). The hotel has special offers that focus on gourmet experiences, Monte-Carlo nightlife and the annual Monte-Carlo Grand Prix.
Room numbers are located on the floor (not on the wall or door).
Rooms & Suites
The resort offers 6 types of Rooms & Suites (3 Rooms and 3 Suites). The 3 Rooms offered are the Superior Room (city view), Exclusive Room (sea view) and the Prestige Room (sea view). The 3 Suites offered are the Duplex Suite, Exclusive Suite and Top Roof Suite. We stayed in the Superior Room and it was wonderful. The room was very comfortable, spacious and cozy. It’s tempting not to leave the room at all!
Fitness Center
The resort has a small gym with personal trainers on-site. The equipment was fairly new, bottled water & towels were provided. And, if you had the time, you could take advantage of the free personal training. I was able to do a 45 minute run and strength training without having to wait on a machine.
The Cinq Mondes Spa
My absolute favorite thing about Monte Carlo? THE CINQ MONDES SPA! OMG, this place is heaven on earth. Seriously. The purpose of our visit to Monte-Carlo was to gamble & spend a day at the spa. We lost at the casino but the spa more than made up for it.
I’ve been to countless spas in the U.S. and abroad and this has to be the absolute best in my opinion. We started out in the hammam to relax prior to our spa services.
My first service was the “Aromas & Flowers Japanese Bath” — and it was the most fabulous thing I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was like Christmas!
The Japanese Bath is essentially a big wooden tub that traps heat so the water never gets cold. You step into a tub of very warm water, then aromatherapy oils are poured in the water. Once that is complete, rose petals are sprinkled on top of you. Then, the masseuse places a pillow under your neck and proceeds to give you a scalp and neck massage. Afterwards, you are left alone for about 15 minutes to relax. Later, the masseuse brings you peach tea, honey and dried fruit to snack on while you relax in the bath. Did I mention that the water never gets cold? OMG, this was HEAVEN! I do not think I will be able to replicate this in my own tub with some Calgon & Lipton. My next home needs a relaxation room like this.
After the Japanese Bath, I had the Oriental Massage which was basically me laying on hot towels while being massaged with warm oils. Total bliss. Once the services were over, I was taken to the “Relaxation Room” to recline with some peach tea & honey. I would go back to Monte-Carlo just for the spa. It was just that fabulous.
Not sure what to do when you visit Monte-Carlo? Check out Visit Monaco’s website for the latest news on upcoming events and recommended attractions.
Nikki’s Rating: 5 (Absolutely Wonderful)
Rating Scale 1-5 (1 = GET OUT NOW; 2 = Seriously?; 3 = Eh, it’ll do; 4 = Fabulous; 5 = Absolutely Wonderful)
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International Travel Chick 