Hôtel Columbus Monte-Carlo

Monaco is a kingdom that inspires dreams the world over. Bordering the Mediterranean, this minuscule country is the global epicentre of glamour and blue skies. In other words, it was perfect for my little getaway. On my to-do list was the oceanographic institute, exotic gardens and of course the Royal Palace. But in the end it was the seaside pleasures of the beaches of Larvotto and Port Hercule, along with contented strolls along the streets of the old town to the Condamine market, which enveloped me in the azure ambience of this destination more than anything.

My temporary palace was the luxurious Hotel Columbus, which wonderfully evokes the high standards of the golden city-state from its seafront location. Upon entering the sleek, dark wood lobby, guests are greeted as VIPS and welcomed like Monaco’s own Princess Grace. The elegant retreat showed me that you can have your cake and eat it too: you can visit a sublime location, enjoy all the luxuries of a designer establishment and enjoy pleasant, professional service without the need for compromise.

My Deluxe bedroom was bright and spacious, with a clean and chic interior design radiating a traditional seaside feel. I was lucky enough to have a balcony overlooking the rose garden, which meant that the delicious perfume of flowers accompanied my al fresco coffees in the mornings. But for me the real advantage was the bathroom, where you can relax in a gorgeous bathtub while listening to your favourite music. Pure heaven!

The palm tree-bordered hotel terrace is the perfect setting to conclude a day in paradise, sat under the late afternoon sun sipping a refreshing drink - my favourite was a delicious concoction of champagne and rose petal liqueur. Then, after wandering the harbour for a spot of dinner, the pleasure of returning to the fantastic hotel under the starry Riviera skies was definitely the icing on the cake.