Cannes Do: The Art Deco Martinez

The Art Deco Martinez has an excellent position along La Croisette, where the largest clusters of the latest Bugattis, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis always seem to be.

[highlight_text] Here’s a tip: find time to drink or dine next door one night at the somewhat shabby chic but very branche (trendy) La Chunga. [/highlight_text]

It also has bragging rights for having the biggest hotel suite in all of Europe.
The four-bedroom Penthouse Suite comes in at a whopping 10,763 square feet, and features two living rooms (one is circular), two dining rooms, two saunas, four Turkish baths, two kitchens and giant plasma flat screen TVs virtually everywhere.

For transacting business, there’s a boardroom table for 10. For transacting a bit of romance, try any one of the two outdoor Jacuzzis nestled behind some very lush foliage to keep prying eyes at bay on the suite’s enormous teak-floored terrace. All tolled, private outdoor living measures more than 5,000 square feet sprinkled generously with gorgeous chairs, chaises and umbrellas (think cocktails at sunset for 100 of your nearest and dearest) under a canopy of seemingly-always baby blue skies and views of the Bay of Cannes and Mediterranean. By the way, three of four bathrooms have windows facing out to sea. Plus, guests get to choose from Annick Goutal, Molton Brown or Guerlain for their bathroom treats.

Natch, this all comes with a beck-and-call butler (Richard Schilling, the hotel’s Managing Director, is quick to point out that the butler gets nary a wink of sleep while on duty) as well as a generously stocked humidor and open bar. A delightful gift, typically something from Hermes or Baccarat, is also presented to guests staying in the suite.

Should you find the Penthouse Suite booked, reserve the sea-facing Suite des Oliviers. This two-bedroom accommodation has over 4,500-square feet of space, indoors and out. In fact, the terrace is bigger than the suite itself. When booking any of the Prestige accommodations, room 623 has the best views.

An oomph-infused five-star hotel from the start (it originally opened in 1929), this comparatively new suite opened its doors to red-carpet walkers in 2001, just in time for the Cannes Film Festival. (During the festival, the suite was divided into two and welcomed its first two guests: Francis Ford Coppola and Jodie Foster.)

If you can bear to leave this dazzling suite and the breathtaking views, consider spending time downstairs at the SPA Givenchy. We highly recommend their Canyon Love Stone therapy treatment with Vivianne.

At dinner time, there’s the two Michelin-star La Palme d’Or overlooking the bay. Of the 40,000 bottles of wine on hand, order the Château Petrus 1970. It’s only $5,700 to cork it. When making reservations, ask for table 3 inside or table 30 outside. They’re considered the best two in the house for people-watching.

Here’s a tip: find time to drink or dine next door one night at the somewhat shabby chic but very branche (trendy) La Chunga. The food is really quite good (they serve everything from pasta to Beluga) and you’ll get an eyeful of more beautiful people (and movie stars) than you can shake a stick at.

A Leading Hotel of the World member, plan on shelling out about $38,000 in high season for the Penthouse. Bargain hunters can get it for about $12,775 in the off-season.

www.hotel-martinez.com