Hôtel Le Cavendish ★★★★

In Cannes you can find luxury hotels and design hotels, but I found this charming hotel particularly appealing. It is the sort of place that you want to keep for yourself, to preserve its intimate and exclusive feel. With only forty bedrooms, the service is personalised and you feel like one of the VIPs who strut down the streets of Cannes every summer. Here, they don’t differentiate between film stars and other guests: everyone gets four-star comfort and a warm welcome from the hosts.

On top of the luxurious high-quality service, the Cavendish Hotel offers the perfect location on boulevard Carnot, close to the sea, shops and Palais des Festivals (where the Cannes Film Festival is held each year). From the hotel you can go and treat yourself in the designer boutiques, walk by the yachts docked in the town harbour and get a taste of the picturesque feel of Provençal markets. In terms of design, the hotel is equipped with modern installations, technology (air conditioning, television, WiFi) and refined interiors.

Still, charm is not something material, but rather a blend of the French way of life, good taste and great service. The hotel owners, Christine and Guy Welter, have incorporated this into their hotel. This building is a former aristocratic residence built in the Belle Epoque, and it has retained the magnificent facade and gorgeous flooring, retaining the spirit of old-fashioned hotels. The loyal team is above all friendly and personable. There are only 34 rooms in the whole hotel, so your privacy is guaranteed. You will find numerous period features here, including the Belle Epoque lift, marble staircase and parquet flooring, and stylish furnishings that have been carefully selected by Christine herself. Here, Baroque sits next to the style of the Second Empire and the feel of Provence, and creates a unique result. It is easy to imagine you are a film star acting on the set of a romance or period drama. I almost didn’t want to go outside! It feels like you are in another world, only with all the comforts of modern amenities.

The bedrooms are full of light, comfortable and elegant. You will not be surprised to find a beautiful bathtub in the marble bathroom - this is the kind of place where you treat yourself to long soaks before wrapping yourself up in the soft bathrobe. I loved the smell of lavender water sprayed on my pillow in the evening, and waking to the smell of butter croissants in the morning, rising from the delicious breakfast served in the cosy lounge. You can choose a lovely tea, spread homemade jam over your baguette and garnish your pretty plate with fresh fruit and macaroons before leaving to enjoy the attractions of Cannes. Don’t forget to try the delicious panna cotta either!

In the evening, the same lounge transforms into a gorgeous, candlelit cocoon furnished with large armchairs, where you can take advantage of the open bar for pre-dinner drinks. Try some Provençal wine and nibbles as Christine and Guy Welter recommend some great restaurants where you can go for a peaceful dinner.