Royal Hotel Sanremo ★★★★★

I feel like Grace Kelly in 'To Catch A Thief' as I walk up toward the impressive white, ornate façade of the aptly named Royal Hotel Sanremo and enter, taking in its opulent décor frozen in time. Despite its classical heritage the hotel is most up-to-date and exquisitely comfortable in every sense. Under the glittering Murano glass chandeliers, I have stars in my eyes as I am kindly welcomed and ushered up to my room. This turns out to be daintily designed and airy and with a marble bathroom, naturally, and a large sumptuous bed. The silvery striped wall paper shimmers softly in the bright white room, while vast windows frame the impossibly blue sea just beyond my outstretched fingertips.

Exploring the magnificent 147 year old establishment, I can quite easily imagine rounding a corner and bumping into the suave Cary Grant. I soon find myself walking into the exquisite Bar delle Rose, which, as its name suggests, is indeed full of flowers and floral prints. I have begun to notice this is a theme in the hotel, which makes sense, this is after all the Riviera dei Fiori (The Riviera of Flowers) which, due to its subtropical climate, allows exotically scented flowers to bloom all year round.

Wandering through the surrounding gardens I reach the spectacular swimming pool, overlooking the dazzling sea. Designed in 1948 by the celebrated architect, Gió Pontí, it is filled with seawater, which is maintained at a perfect 27°c from April to October. After a brisk swim I decide to make my way to the hotel’s utterly serene spa. Here I am able to make the most of another pool with waterfalls to massage your back, a Swedish sauna, and a steam room.

Later tearing myself away from the hotel, I head into town to discover what wonders await me beyond the boundaries of this luxurious bubble – as otherwise the seductive spell of the Royal Hotel Sanremo will keep me entranced in its lavish confines and I will forget all about the world outside. But then again, that wouldn't be so terrible... This is a Belle Epoque dream that I am quite happy not to wake up from.