French Riviera

The Côte d’Azur (French Riviera) definition: Mediterranean coast of southeastern France and extends all the way to the Italian Ligurian Riviera.

Bring your joie de vivre to one of the most glamorous playgrounds for the beautiful, notable, and successful because the French Riviera oozes class, sexiness, and unparalleled natural beauty. It is truly a paradise and encompasses everything you need to live very large. You will fully understood why legendary aristocrats, royalty, and notoriety such as Picasso, Léger, Matisse, Renoir and Chagall, (not to mention Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, and Angelina Jolie) set up camp here.

Allow us to build you the perfect itinerary on how to do the Côte d’Azur. Pay careful attention to each town (there are many famous and unfamous, and each of them have their own beauty and charm!)

Touchdown in Nice: Promenade Des Anglais and Casinos

Riviera city Nice (pronounced ‘Niece’) has the only airport where all domestic, international, and private charters land and park.

A lot of visitors overlook Nice and go straight to Monaco, Cannes, St Jean Cap Ferret (Our personal Favorite), Eze, Grasse, Antibes, or St. Tropez, but we highly recommend spending some time here as it holds it own. Walk the Promenade des Anglais and the old town, try Bouillabaisse and Salade Niçoise as they are local specialties, visit the Messena square at nights, and play your luck at the Casinos in Nice; they pay slightly better than Monaco from my experience.

Cannes : Palais des Festivals and The Promenade de la Croisette

The best time to visit the Côte d’Azur is in May because the weather is starting to warm up and more importantly, the Cannes film festival starts.

The Cannes film festival is only open to individuals in the film industry and press, however, from the moment you arrive, you are engulfed in an ultra-glamorous, posh atmosphere. From the people, the gowns, the countless photographers, the exotic ambiance to the after-parties, shopping, and dining, you come across while walking on the Promenade de la Croisette: Both boutique side and beach side, this voyage is bar none. It is truly an exhilarating city during this time of year and if you are interested in attending the festival screenings itself at the Palais, I can let you in on a little secret: email me.

Dine at Baoli, The Carlton Bar, and Michelin star beauty La Palm d’Or.

Parties you can’t miss:
Chopard
De Grisogono
The Annual AmFar Gala
Vanity Fair Cannes Party : Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cap d’Antibes.
Robert Cavalli Yacht party
Opening and Closing of the Film Festival

Monaco: Tax Haven and Topless Beaches

After the festival ends, the Monaco Grand Prix begins within a few days- that’s right, killing two birds with one stone we are.

The French Riviera is also a major yachting and cruising area with several marinas along its coast. Monaco is no exception with super yachts docked in the harbor. Each year the Riviera hosts 50% of the world’s super yacht fleet, with 90% of all superyachts visiting the region’s coast at least once in their lifetime. Visit the infamous Monte Carlo Casino and view the cars (It’s like LA and Miami on Steroids). It makes sense why swanky films like Casino royale, Oceans 12, and snippets of Grace Kelly’s How to Catch a Thief were filmed in Monaco.

Go to the beaches during the day. Beaches here are pebbly! But that doesn’t mean you can’t relax, lounge, tan, and have a masseuse come to you. Topless beaches are prevalent in the Riviera (although I would not go topless in Nice) Skip the one piece, and carry a bikini set. The top is coming off anyway as you wouldn’t want tan lines.

St. Jean Cap Ferrat 

The most exclusive address in the world, Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen’s estate Villa Maryland is here and so is Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild.

Hit up secret beaches Plage Paloma and Plage Mala.