LindaTerrill

Belmond La Residencia in Mallorca is one of my favorite hotels in Spain. There are some excellent offers around Labor Day and most are combinable with Belmond Bellini Club or Virtuoso amenities.

They offer a complimentary boat excursion from Soller that's lots of fun, but only certain days of the week in summer. If it's offered one of the days you're there, sign up early. The beach in Deià isn't great, but you can find good beaches around the island. Deià is full of art galleries, shops and locally owned cafes and restaurants. The village is quite an enclave of artists and musicians,
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​​​​​Book lunch at Ca's Patro March for lunch one of the days for a great afternoon out on the waterfront. The walk down is a beautiful hike.

Easy flights from LHR.

floridagal23

thanks! I will look into this.

floridagal23

It turns out that we can only get direct flights that work with our fixed time VS award flights to and from Nice. Sadly Mallorca flight doesn't work on the return. So, we are still trying to get into the Royal Riviera, but failing that, any preferences among the Barriere in Cannes, the Hyatt in Nice, the Grand Hyatt Martinez, or the Intercontinental in Cannes? Or any others? We would book a FHR stay so we will have breakfast included and Mr Floridagal wants to do some day trips around but if some sightseeing or dining is within walking distance that would be great too. We are only staying for 4-5 nights. Thanks!

Kagehitokiri

greece has amanzoe (also aman sveti stefan)
aman is better value vs peak at many hotels

metropole well regarded here, not govt owned
best in south of france is outside cannes/nice

have to talk to hotels themselves (not central) re availability
FHR agent can call them, any US agent can book through FHR

can redeem VS miles for >
virginatlantic.com/gb/en/flying-club/partners/virgin-group.html

- Necker Island - says requires VS silver/gold to book now
i enjoyed my stay, but would recommend private dining
takes bookings for aug 26 and sep 6, check sep 2/3/4/5
web reservation system publishes 3 night minimum stay

- Lodge Verbier - high quality, but check occupancy, through sep 24
there is also classical music festival every summer (not labor day)

- Kasbah Tamadot Marrakech
- safaris - kenya & south africa
(those 3 also have reports here / on FT)
- Franschhoek hotel

quitecontrary

I don't know without googling it when Labor Day is (excuse my ignorance) but if it's during school holiday time in Europe most hotels will have families with kids. The only hotel of those you mention I've stayed at in the South of France is the Carlton in Cannes. Sea views with balconies are great there - I think it was the Grace Kelly Suite that I had earmarked as in the best position. The breakfasts are great and there's a beach club across the road.

Pausanias

First Monday (therefore first weekend) in September (therefore useless for going anywhere).

uggboy

It would be interesting to learn more about this hotel, should you indeed stay with them please let know us about your experiences here on FT.

Cheers & Safe Travels. ^

lightwalker

I can recommend some SLH properties at the Cote d'Azur:

1. Chateau Eza in beautfiul Eze (we just had lunch here, but the views are amazing and the hotel looked great)

1.a You mentioned the La Chevre d'Or of Relais&Chateaux, where we just walked by. No doubt, this is a tad better (it has a pool with this great view) and more expensive (and its restaurant has two Michelin stars).

2. A little drive along the coast in between Nice and Cannes lies Juan-les-Pins, Antibes. We stayed in Hotel Juana, but the sister hotel seemed even nicer (we tried their private beach): Hotel Belle Rive

3. In Cannes: the Grand Hotel Cannes. While the 70s style furniture might put you off, it's all new and the location with a garden in front leading to the Croisette is very nice. It also has a beach, much like the Intercontinental you mentioned.

If you are interested in a trip report about those hotels and some tips for dining, see my blog: http://www.continentaltraveller.blog...dazur-in-april

floridagal23

Many thanks. Hoping to get in here but the hotel will only offer us a non refundable rate so when our plans are definite we will try to get in here. Also quite odd reservations keeps telling us no availability but I see availability popping up on the website from time to time. Will keep you posted if we go.

floridagal23

Many thanks! Looking into the antibes options!

floridagal23

Thanks. This is now the intercontinental.

Pausanias

The Carlton in Cannes has been part of the IC chain for decades. It's the main HQ of the film festival each May and a load of other events. In other words, it's a corporate/coventioneer sort of place and not a luxury hotel in the definition of this Forum. If you're lucky you could hit a quiet time and think it has real Riviera glamour and bump into the ghosts of Cary Grant and Grace Kelly . . .

Kagehitokiri

ex FS terre blanche has pool villas, also rentals including staffed of residences on property perhaps comparable to hualalai setup
that hotel is one of a FHR's new (unusually large number) france properties in 2016/2017

also discussed here is la reserve ramatuelle, rooms and villas, michelin

cant recall re some other discussion, for example properties like cap estel

relais & chateaux has maps online, may search multiple hotels at once for reservations

carlton-cannes.com/en/our-history/ first bought by IC (Pan Am) in 1982

vuittonsofstyle

The Royal Riviera was originally redesigned/renovated by Grace Leo Andrieu (now just Grace Leo) and unfortunately, not enough money was spent. They created a new conservatory wing - Villa Orangerie - in the grounds, which became the better option. They have a handkerchief beach - really tiny. The food is OK, but not special. Rooms in the main building are a lot better than they were since the latest refurbishment.

Today, it is a good 4-star but cannot compete with the likes of Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat or la Réserve Ramatuelle, but for this coastline it is not too bad.

Epicura

Didn't see Hotel Du Cap Eden Roc posted as a suggestion. Might break the bank but IMHO all 5 star properties at the Cote d'Azur are overpriced. I would rather spend 2k here than 1k on a hotel that doesn't offer half the value but that's just my 2 cents. I avoid Europe during Summer, period.