Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo combines incredible luxury in a comfortable, relaxing environment

Four months ago, I set out on a journey that many would deem unfathomable.  I threw caution to the wind, hopped a red eye flight to Rome with my wife and two young children, and spent the next 6 weeks traveling through Europe, mainly by high speed rail, but with an occasional bus, boat and taxi thrown in.  No cars, no pre-advanced travel plans on how to get from one city to the next – only a list of pre-defined places I needed to be on a particular day, and that was it.

Aside from a couple Italian railway strikes that rendered two of my planned train rides inoperable, it went without a hitch.  The total distance travelled:  roughly 2,400 miles (not including the plane rides to/from Europe), with the southernmost point of the journey being the stunning Amalfi Coast in Italy and the journey concluding in the fantastic city of Dublin, Ireland.

It was without question the most epic journey of my life, as it allowed me to see what are unquestionably some of the most gorgeous places on Earth.  And I did it for one very simple purpose:  to give you the most in-depth look at travel destinations eMercedesBenz has ever offered.

In the coming months, I’m going to be detailing where we stayed, what you can expect from each place, and whether or not each destination is right for you.  And because I did it with kids, I’m going to do it both from the perspective of a couple’s vacation and a family vacation.  Hopefully you’ll enjoy the ride as much I did, and along the way you’ll gain some valuable insight as to where to spend your next holiday.

Kicking things off, we’ve got a look at the sensational Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Why should you visit Monaco?

Think of Monaco, and images of gambling and a phenomenal amount of luxury undoubtedly spring to mind.  It’s one of the places recognized the world over for its unapologetic display of wealth, and in truth, it’s an image well deserved.  The architecture is grandiose; the mega yachts are even bigger in person; and Ferrari’s appear to be the most common form of transportation.

With an area of roughly 485 acres and 2.5 miles of shoreline, Monaco is a shining example of how less is more.

But for those visiting, this translates into a remarkably unique vacation experience.  Don’t think of Monaco as imposing or uncomfortable – it’s exactly the opposite.  It’s like stepping into an alternate, utopian universe where everything bad has been eradicated and only luxury remains.  It’s the cleanest place I’ve ever been; the roads are perfect; the crime rate is among the lowest of the world’s developed countries; and the seediness common to gambling in America is nowhere to be found.

Casino de Monte Carlo and Hotel de Paris

Casino de Monte Carlo and Hotel de Paris

What is present, however, is an elegance and coolness equatable to what you’d find in a Bond film.  If you’ve ever dreamt of being Bond, pack a tux and head to the Casino de Monte Carlo – it’s as close as you’ll ever get.  For families, Monaco is one of the safest, cleanest cities in the world, with the added bonus of being situated directly on the Mediterranean.  And for those looking to be pampered, Monaco is home to one of the world’s top 10 spas as well as a host of incredible shopping.

Irregardless of who you are, if you’re looking for a luxurious vacation, you’ll find it in Monaco.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Overview

Understanding hotels in Monte Carlo is a bit like understanding your family unit.  Picking your favorite child is impossible, but knowing that your children are better than everyone else’s is quite easy.

In Monaco, think of the Monte Carlo SMB resort’s four hotels like your family.  While it’s impossible to say that one is the best, know that as a whole, they’re the best Monaco has to offer.

There’s the Hotel de Paris – the grand dame of Monaco whose luxury and exquisite architecture is matched only by its incredibly illustrious history.  There’s the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, a new, more modern and relaxed option with an incredible lagoon area and numerous activities.  There’s Monte Carlo Beach, an intimate hotel dating back to the ’30’s situated directly on the Mediterranean.  And there’s my choice – the Hotel Hermitage – which manages to combine an incredible amount of luxury and a storied history in a genuinely relaxing and comfortable environment.

Pick any and you’ll be happy.

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Gustave Eiffel Dome in Winter Garden Closeup

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Gustave Eiffel Dome in Winter Garden Closeup

In my case, I picked the Hotel Hermitage because I wanted to experience the luxury Monte Carlo is synonymous with, but in traveling with kids, I wanted a slightly more relaxed environment.  In this respect, the Hotel Hermitage is absolutely perfect.  It’s grand, it’s luxurious, and yet it’s incredibly welcoming and inviting.  For families, it’s absolutely perfect, in that there’s a wealth of family activities and a staff that goes out of there way to make children of all ages feel welcome.

Even if you’re not traveling with your family, however, the Hotel Hermitage still caters to virtually everyone visiting Monaco.  Located directly next to the Hotel de Paris and steps from the Casino de Monte Carlo and fantastic shopping, you’re quite literally in the heart of Monte Carlo.  Many of Monaco’s key attractions are just steps away or easily accessible via the hotel’s shuttle, making it ideally located for virtually anything you want to do.  Inside the Hotel Hermitage are numerous delectable dining and drink options, including Vistamar and the Crystalbar.  And for a bit of pampering, the Hotel Hermitage boasts private access to the Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo, highly regarded as one of the top 10 spas in the world.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Rooms & Suites

The Hotel Hermitage is a constantly evolving collection of spaces that manage to seamlessly blend the old and the new.  There’s a total of 280 bedrooms with 20 Suites, 15 Junior Suites and 8 Diamond Suites, all of which are separated into individual wings.  Each wing notes a distinct color style, while as a whole the design is incredibly beautiful and coherent.

In defining the style, the Hotel Hermitage is remarkable, it manages to convey a feeling of incredible grandeur and glamour of the Belle Époque era, but it does so in a way that feels new.  Unlike many other European destinations, where the architecture is beautiful but decaying, the Hotel Hermitage is like stepping into a grand palace whose construction was completed yesterday.  It’s grand and magnificent, but it feels fresh and unblemished.

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Suite with Burnt Orange Accents

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Suite with Burnt Orange Accents

Complimenting this modernity, the rooms features classic architecture and moldings, but with contemporary touches and art pieces.  During my time at the Hotel Hermitage, I had the pleasure of staying in a Junior Suite with views and balcony overlooking the Marina.  The room was large, even by American standards – a feat even more impressive considering real estate in Monaco is the most expensive in the world.  The bathroom was spa-like, featuring ornate stonework and a large window that again overlooked the marina.  And the style, as is the case with all of the Hotel Hermitage, was a blend of classic and modern – not overly contemporary, but enough to give the room a vibrant, energetic feel.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo for the Family

If you’re traveling with your family, the Hotel Hermitage is impeccable at making your entire family feel incredibly comfortable.  The staff was warm and welcoming, and my kids absolutely adored their time in Monaco.

At the heart of the Hotel Hermitage’s family services is what’s called the V.I.K. program (Very Important Kids).  In short, everything you need for your family and a host of wonderful extras, are all present upon check-in.  There’s a welcome kit, which includes chocolate lollipops, fruit juice and a coloring kit.  In the suites (which I recommend if you’re traveling with children), there’s also a bathrobe and bib for kids up to 3 years old personalized with his or her first name, a Gustav teddy bear, and if you visit in the summer, suncare and other beach accessories.  My kids were in heaven – they loved their Gustav bear, and they adored the chocolate lollipops.  If you’re traveling with kids, in short, everything you need is already in place, down to the bottle warmers and baby food, if you desire.

As for sleeping arrangements, for kids up to 3 years old, a baby cot is installed free of charge, and for ages 3-12, an additional bed is installed free of charge in all Junior Suites and up.  For larger families, you also have the option of adjoining bedrooms for additional space.

Depending on when you visit, there’s a host of activities for kids to enjoy during their visit.  At Christmas, for example, there’s a remarkable holiday event where the one of the Hotel Hermitage’s most beautiful spaces – the salle Belle Époque – first welcomes children for a Christmas tea and activities, and later, for a Christmas Eve dinner.  Kids even get the chance to ride Santa’s horse-drawn carriage around Place du Casino, while at night, Santa slips into the kids’ rooms to leave presents for the guests.

In warmer months (mid-April through mid-October), kids can enjoy numerous water adventures, ranging from the children’s and Olympic-sized pools up to water sports at the private beach (accessible via the Hotel Hermitage’s free shuttle).  In July and August, kids can also take part in the Marmorata Kid’s Club on the private beach (free for kids’ ages 3-8), which offers a wide range of activities run by qualified childcare assistants.

All of this adds up to a hotel that offers not only world-class amenities for adults, but also world-class amenities and services for even the youngest of guests.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Dining

The Hotel Hermitage offers four culinary venues – Le Vistamar, the Crystalbar, the Crystal Terrace, and Le Limún – as well as the stunning Winter Garden with Gustave Eiffel dome, where breakfast is served.

For an absolutely sensational lunch or dinner, the Michelin-starred Le Vistamar is a must visit during your stay at the Hotel Hermitage.  Led by chef Joël Garault, the menu focuses on the ideal of “take a fish, a vegetable, and cook it to perfection.”  And they do so with remarkable precision.  Every dish on the tasting menu was beautifully prepared, elegant, inventive, but never overdone.  The restaurant itself is intimate and cozy, and in warmer months, the views are absolutely sensational, as you can enjoy your dining experience on the terrace overlooking the harbor.  And the service was exceptional.  Not overbearing or stuffy, the service was relaxed and friendly with just the right amount of attentiveness thrown in.

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Le Vistamar Restaurant Gastronomy

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Le Vistamar Restaurant Gastronomy

Hands down, my dinner at Le Vistamar ranked as my favorite dinner in Monte Carlo.  Add in the fact that pricing at Le Vistamar was among the most economical of any I visited in Monaco (two course lunch w/ drink €39, 4-course seasonal menu €65, Menu Gourmand autour du produit d’exception €120), and you have yet another reason to make Le Vistamar a must on your Monaco to-do list.

For a less casual fare, be sure to check out the Crystalbar – an intimate lounge perfect for an  aperitif or after dinner liqueur.  My wife and I stopped in before our dinner at Le Vistamar to enjoy a glass of wine, and were greeted to an extensive list of wines (served by the glass), champagnes, liquors and cocktails as well as numerous lighter food options and deserts.  And speaking of wine, wines options change frequently, hand picked by sommeliers from what’s called the Central Cellar – a space of more than 16,000 sq. ft. hewn out in 1874 beneath the Hotel du Paris and Hotel Hermitage that’s now home to some 600,000 bottles.

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Crystalbar Bar and Seating Area

Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Crystalbar bar and seating area

Another exquisite dining space is the the Crystal Terrace, where you can pick from a selection of cigars or ice cream in addition to the aforementioned drink and food options, all while taking views of the Mediterranean Sea, Port Hercule and the Rock of Monaco.  And for an intimate gathering with you friends, there’s Le Limún.  You can enjoy a light breakfast or lunch, afternoon tea with pastries, or an evening cocktail with amuse-bouches.

Lastly, to get your day in Monaco started off on a delicious path, be sure to enjoy a breakfast in the Winter Garden, which is home to one of the hotel’s most stunning architectural features – the Gustave Eiffel dome (named for the its architect, who also happened to design the Eiffel Tower).  The breakfast is sensational, offering a huge assortment of breakfast offerings and treats, while the Winter Garden’s staff again went out of their way to offer exemplary service throughout our stay – even packing our kids to-go treats for our mornings adventures.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Spa

If you’re visiting Monaco, there’s a very good chance you’re going to enjoy a bit of relaxation and pampering, and there’s no better way to experience this pampering than with a visit to the Thermes Marins de Monte Carlo spa, widely considered to be one of the top 10 spas in the world.  Easily accessible via a private walkway from the Hotel Hermitage, everything you’re looking for in a spa is present at the Thermes Marins, including a seawater pool, 37 treatment booths, a cardio-fitness area and two saunas.

While I typically tend to avoid spas, even I couldn’t resist a visit to Thermes Marins, and it was an incredibly relaxing experience.  The spa centers around the concept of personalized treatments, where you meet with team to determine which treatment is right for you.  I opted for a treatment that included a wrap, rub with scented salts, soak in the whirlpool bath and massage, all centered around the idea of increasing my energy level.  It was a fantastic experience, and I left feeling invigorated and revitalized, which is exactly what I was hoping for.

thermes marins spa monte carlo fitness center

thermes marins spa monte carlo fitness center

Depending on your needs, there’s a tremendous diversity of programs at the Thermes Marins, whether its specific massages, one of numerous treatments, sports coaching or nutrition analysis.  If your visit to Monaco wouldn’t be complete without a day at the spa, you won’t leave disappointed, as there’s truly something for everyone.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Special Events

Although I didn’t visit the Hotel Hermitage for a special event, it’s easy to see how it would excel for virtually any special event you can think of.  As part of Monte Carlo SBM, the special events team can cater to your specific needs, meaning you can utilize all of their venues in a cohesive plan.  Or you can center your activities in the Hotel Hermitage itself.

Hotel Hermitage Salle Belle Epoque

Hotel Hermitage Salle Belle Epoque

For banquets, cocktail parties, or anything else requiring and absolutely stunning setting, the Salle Belle Époque is unquestionably one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen.  It is absolutely jaw-dropping, and if you’ve ever dreamed of a fairy tale wedding, you won’t find a more perfect reception spot.  For a more contemporary option, the Salon Eiffel  (completed in 2010) offers seating for up to 500, a fresco by Suzanne Cole, and a huge projector system, if needed.

From there, there’s a variety of smaller spaces that can be utilized for your specific needs, whether you’re looking for an intimate outdoor setting, a private table in Le Vistamar, and much more.

The Hotel Hermitage Monte Carlo Conclusion

As a first time visitor to Monte Carlo and the Hotel Hermitage, I wasn’t sure of what to expect, as luxury can oftentimes be uncomfortably uptight and uninviting.  But after visiting the Hotel Hermitage, I can tell you firsthand that this isn’t the case whatsoever.  The staff was incredibly professional, warm and courteous, the hotel itself was stunning, and as a whole, my entire family thoroughly enjoyed every second of their time in Monte Carlo.

If you’re looking for an incredibly luxurious and yet incredibly comfortable vacation, you’ll find it at the Hotel Hermitage.  It truly is the epitome of what Monaco has to offer.

 

Hamilton Lands on the Podium at the Monaco Grand Prix

In sport, you have to accept that there are days when you won’t win

Lewis landed on the podium for the sixth time in his career in Monaco on Sunday, ending this year’s race in third place.    Hamiltons finish kept him in the lead for the Drivers’ Championship with 110 points, 14 points ahead of Sebastian Vettel (96 points). Valtteri ended his race in fifth and is currently in fourth place in the Drivers’ Championship with 68 points.

Driver Chassis No. Grid Result Fastest Lap
Lewis Hamilton F1 W09 EQ Power+/01 P3 P3 1:16.270 (Lap 15)
Valtteri Bottas F1 W09 EQ Power+/04 P5 P5 1:16.312 (Lap 21)
Strategy Start Stop 1
No. 44 HyperSoft UltraSoft (Lap 12)
No. 77 HyperSoft SuperSoft (Lap 17)
Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018.

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One - Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Formula One – Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, Monaco GP 2018. Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton

A big congratulations to Daniel, I’m really happy for him. He was so close to winning his first Monaco Grand Prix two years ago, so it’s good for him to have it now. I’m happy with the weekend – we were the third quickest team and we almost got second. I’m grateful to only have lost three points to Sebastian in the championship fight – I’ll take that and move forwards. It wasn’t a really difficult race, we just had to take the tyres go a long way; I didn’t think they were going to go as far as they did. It’s a shame that the race is unfortunately not as exciting as the whole spectacle of Monaco, especially since through practice there’s no place like it and the track is just epic in Qualifying. We hope that Canada will suit our car a little bit better; but it will be another close fight, especially with the Ferrari.

Valtteri Bottas

That’s Monaco – sometimes a lot of things happen; sometimes nothing happens and you get a pretty uneventful race like today. I think we made the right choice with the SuperSoft tyre for my second stint, it felt like it was working better than the UltraSofts. The first stint was difficult because of the tyre drop-off, but the second stint was really good, I could put pressure on the cars ahead. I had more pace than the cars in front of me, and yet there was nothing I could do; even with the pace difference overtaking was impossible. We knew the weekend might be difficult and that’s how it turned out to be, but we managed to do successful damage limitation. Qualifying P5 did not make that any easier for me and I don’t think we could have done anything different today with the car we have. Montreal should be a better hunting ground for our car, so we hope for a better outcome in Canada.

Toto Wolff

In sport, you have to accept that there are days when you won’t win and, if you’d offered us third and fifth before the weekend, we’ d probably have taken it as a fair result. Congratulations to Daniel, he deserved the win and was the quickest man out there this weekend. It was a tough and frustrating afternoon for Lewis and Valtteri. Lewis suffered from graining on both tyre compounds which he had to manage through most of the race; we discussed making another stop but it would only have cost us positions, not gained any, so it was the right call to stay out. Valtteri ended up running most of the race on the best compound, the SuperSoft, but there was no way past Kimi so he had to follow him to the flag. Overall, this was a weekend of damage limitation for us and we can be pleased to leave Monaco in the lead of both championships. Now we will regroup and aim to return to winning form in Canada.

Andrew Shovlin

It was a frustrating afternoon in many ways, we finished where we started and never really had much opportunity to do any more. Our HyperSoft stints were weak on both cars, we suffered graining early on and fell back so stopped Lewis quite early for UltraSoft to avoid losing race time. Valtteri had a similar issue but we kept him out a bit longer as it wasn’t really impacting his race. Our championship rivals were better at managing the HyperSoft today and we need to understand and improve before Montreal as it’s likely to be even trickier there. With Valtteri we decided to try the SuperSoft tyre as Lewis was feeling that the ultra was quite delicate and needed managing. This seemed to work well in terms of pace, with Valtteri catching the cars ahead quite quickly but there was no way to pass so he had a rather frustrating afternoon following Kimi for 46 laps. Lewis was concerned that he wouldn’t get his tyres to the end as they opened up early on but after some degradation they stabilised and he was able to keep pace with Vettel who seemed to have similar issues and Riccardo who was struggling with a power unit problem. Towards the end of the race, the midfield cars closed up which took away any real options to do anything under a safety car, so we just focused on bringing the cars home. Happily we’ve not suffered too much of a dent in our championship today and we didn’t come here expecting to be the benchmark, so overall we are not too disappointed. However, whilst Montreal should suit our car more, the tyres will play a big role in the strategy there and unlikely Monaco, you can overtake. So, we’ ll be working hard over the next few days to make sure we understand our weaknesses. We had a tough weekend in Monaco last year and finished first and second in Montreal a few days later so we are confident that we can recover our form and will be aiming to do just that.

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2014 Monaco Grand Prix – Driver’s Thoughts

Round Six of the 2014 Formula One World Championship brings us to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix, held at the Circuit de Monaco

After spending time in Monaco and seeing the circuit for myself, I’ve come to understand the excitement that surrounds the Monaco Grand Prix. Racing through the heart of Monaco past the most luxurious of hotels and yachts while surrounded by beautiful people and extravagance, it’s an experience that and a place that should be on everyone’s list, race fan or not.

But what do the racer’s think about Monaco and the circuit itself? Find out below

Lewis

Monaco is just incredible. As a kid you dream about racing through the tunnel and it’s such a fantastic feeling to actually experience it first-hand. I won here in F3, GP2 and finally in Formula One in 2008. It’s a real driver’s circuit, a second home race for me after Silverstone and I’m excited about the prospect of another good weekend here.

Driving round the Monte Carlo circuit is a seriously hair-raising experience: it’s like the most hardcore rollercoaster you can possibly imagine! Starting with Turn One, finding your braking point is quite tough and there are quite a few bumps on the way in which make it even more challenging. You’re hard on the brakes on entry then hard on the power on exit: heading up the hill into Turns Two and three. This is a really intense section of the track as you can’t see the corners coming, so you really have to know your lines and get it spot on.

You’re then into Turn Four, Casino, which is really tight and again you have to pinpoint your markers so accurately to get it right. You can very easily brush the barrier through here and we see it happen almost every year at some point in the weekend. From there you jink right before heading down through Mirabeau and into the tight, twisting section of Turns Five, Six, Seven and Eight: all very low-speed.

Next up it’s the tunnel, which is a seriously exciting and unique bit of track. It’s flat out into the darkness and you really can’t see where you’re going: you just have to hope you’ve positioned your car in the right place to get a good run back out into the bright sunlight on the other side. From there you’ve got the tight chicane of Turns 10 and 11, the tricky Tabac corner at 12, then the Swimming Pool at 13 and 14 which is taken almost flat out. The next chicane at 15 and 16 is much tighter before you get hard on the brakes again into Rascasse. Both this and the final corner, Anthony Noghes, have really low grip levels and it’s so easy to make a mistake on exit with all the power available from these cars.

An interesting feature of the circuit is that, because of the enclosed nature of the track with all the buildings surrounding you, there’s really no wind effect. It’s just you, the car and the tarmac!

Nico

Monaco represents an immense challenge for the drivers. As you negotiate all those narrow streets, it’s extremely difficult to get the most out of yourself and the car without making a mistake as the circuit is very unforgiving. The slightest miscalculation can ruin the entire weekend and deprive you of a potentially excellent result. It may still be possible to salvage a respectable finish, but if you’re aiming for victory or a podium then you really can’t afford to make any mistakes. You’re constantly driving at the limit and these new turbocharged Hybrid cars will make it even more of a challenge.
What makes for a fast car in Monaco? You need a soft setup but you have to avoid overdoing it. You also need the maximum in terms of downforce. Handling could play a special role this year. Turbocharged cars are very different to their predecessors. They can be more difficult to drive through certain types of corner and you notice it a lot more on a street circuit like Monaco.

With the barriers hemming you in on both sides, you’re driving at the limit all the time. You can’t see very far ahead, which means you have to navigate most of the track from memory. You have to know which corners are coming up next. One of the key points is the hairpin: the slowest turn on the entire race calendar and an exceptionally difficult corner to get right.

The next unusual feature is the tunnel. The big difficulty here is that it’s obviously much darker than the rest of the track. As you emerge, your eyes need to quickly readjust to the bright sunlight. This is quite problematic, because you have to prepare for the next braking zone which follows on immediately. At this moment every second counts: especially because the bumpy surface on the section leading down to the chicane can easily throw your car out of line. I always have a smile on my face at this point, as it used to be my route to school. The school bus used to take us through the tunnel each day but now I’m roaring along the same road in a 300 km/h Formula One car. That’s quite a special feeling!