If you want to live like Beyonce for the weekend, you can't do much better than the Hotel Metropole in Monte Carlo.
In the heart of Monaco (a throw away from the Casino) is the Hotel Metropole - a hotel which is remarkably fabulous even by Riviera standards. Karl Lagerfeld designed the pool; Joel Robuchon (who has a total of 28 Michelin stars) has three restaurants and it counts Rihanna, Jay Z and Beyonce as former guests. It even got a shout out from Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl.
You might think that a trip to Monaco is all about the Grand Prix or spraying champagne off yachts, but it also makes the ultimate relaxing spa mini break thanks to the Metropole. Karl Lagerfeld designed the pool area Odyssey which is home to the only ESPA spa in France and Monaco, with Greek inspired rituals and personalised treatments.
While there aren't Chouptte lilos and we didn't spot one fingerless glove, the area is Karl through and through. There is a black and white colour scheme, with Chanelegent white sun loungers and floating parasols. Oh and the odd Chanel pool bag.
Karl was inspired by the Journey of Ulysses from Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and so the pool is surrounded by 18 glass 20m x 3m backlit screens forming a mural of Karl's vision of 'Ulysses.' Karl photographed several of his modern day muses wearing Greek togas and then superimposed them onto a photograph from his archives of a Greek coast taken in the 1850s. Although Karl doesn't make it into the mural, you might spot the pony IRL as Karl has been a guest at the hotel.
The pool terrace is home to one of the three Joel Robuchon restaurants, Odyssey, which serves breakfast and light, seasonal lunches through the afternoon. To be washed down with a local glass of Rose, natch. At the hotel is also Joel Robuchon 's first Japanese restaurant in the world, Yoshi, and the main fine dining restaurant, Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo.
In contrast to the clean lines of Odyssey, the hotel has a classic, cosy Mediterranean style with a jumble of florals, crystal chandeliers, heavy tapestries and china lamps, orchestrated by French interior designer Jaques Garcia, also known as the "magician of atmospheres."
The lobby is one of the best places in Monaco to spend the afternoon people-watching over a pot of tea. There's a constant supply of delicate pastries, a luxurious aroma (Ambre du Népal) and a large fresh flower frame made of vibrant pink and orange blooms - the perfect Instagram prop.
One thing is for sure, the Hotel Metropole will make you feel like you're on an A List break whether you have a bank balance like Beyonce's or, most likely, not. They will even arrange HeliAir helicopter transfersback to reality, taking just 7 minutes from Monaco to the tarmack at Nice airport.
Visit Metropole.com for more information and for price enquiries. To get there visit HeliAir and British Airways****.