With temperatures set to hit the 30s this weekend, there’s only one place any self-respecting Monaco dweller should find themselves, and that’s lounging alongside one of the Principality’s many swimming pools.
With Larvotto resembling a packed sardine can at this time of year, Monaco’s sumptuous pools are the only way to top up your tan in peaceful bliss.
Here we guide you through five of the best options for cooling off in the capital of luxury.
1. Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort
There’s nothing that screams Monaco glamour like the Monte-Carlo Bay’s Mediterranean gardens. The hotel’s 100-metre long lagoon, complete with sandy bottom, Jacuzzi and picturesque waterfalls, is unique across the continent. Adorned with bridges and encompassed by ten acres of lush greenery, this serene setting also offers uninterrupted 180 degree sea views. If ever there was a slice of heaven on earth – this is it.
Further Information
Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, 40, avenue Princesse Grace, MC 98000 Monaco
Phone: +377 98 06 25 25
Email: groupes@sbm.mc
Web: www.montecarlobay.com
2. Fairmont Hotel
If you prefer a livelier vibe while you’re catching some rays, check out the Fairmont’s Nikki Beach. The seventh-floor heated rooftop pool oozes party vibes as world-famous DJs spin the soundtrack to your summer. With the Fairmont’s mouth-watering lunch and dinner menus also on hand to accompany your poolside stint, you’re sure to be in ‘seventh heaven’.
Further information
Nikki Beach @ The Fairmont, 12 Avenue des Spelugues, MC 98000 Monaco
When: Every day from noon until late – reservations advised
Dress Code: Smart Casual
Phone: +377 93 506 500
Email: monaco@nikkibeach.com
Web: www.fairmont.com/monte-carlo/
3. Stade Nautique Rainier III
For a more wallet-friendly take on poolside glamour, head down to Port Hercules to the Olympic-size pool at Stade Nautique Rainier III. With a daily entrance fee of just €5,60, the pool is one of the most bargainous options on offer in the Principality, all located against the backdrop of some of the world’s most prestigious superyachts. A laned section of the pool and four-level diving board provide opportunities for the more active of sun-worshippers, while the wonderfully curly 45m-long slide and “toborock” are more than enough to keep the kids entertained.
Further information
Stade Nautique Rainier III, Route de la Piscine, 98000 Monaco
Phone:+377 93 30 64 83
Web: http://www.mairie.mc/poles/pratique/sports-loisirs/stade-nautique-rainier-iii
4.Hotel Metropole
Five-star sunbathing elegance is captured beautifully around the Hotel Metropole’s ODYSSEY. Designed by renowned fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld, the ODYSSEY features a stunning pool and fresco-style installation consisting of 15 glass panels depicting Ulysses’ journey. With the bustling Larvotto a no go, the Odyssey brings you the sea, only better, with its heated saltwater pool. The elevated sundeck provides a magnificent spot from which to soak up the experience, as you enjoy the hotel’s lavish Mediterranean gardens. Throughout the summer months ODYSSEY visitors can enjoy alfresco dining in the day, before the area is transformed into a glamorous cocktail bar from 19:00-23:00. Unfortunately only available for hotel residents or spa members, the Odyssey is an experience that should not be missed, if you have the time and the budget to do so.
Further information
ODYSSEY, Hotel Metropole, 4 Avenue de la Madone, 98000 Monaco, France
Phone: +377 93 15 15 15
Email: metropole@metropole.com
Web: www.metropole.com
5. Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel
Those who like a little variety in their life are spoilt for choice at Le Meridien, which is home to not just one, but two outdoor pools within which to make a splash. Situated on the ground floor and surrounded by Mediterranean blue, both pools offer a stunning terrace from which to enjoy some R & R. If the pools start to become tiresome, Le Meridien also boasts the Principality’s only private beach.
Further Information
Le Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel, 22 Avenue Princesse Grace, Monte Carlo, 98000, Monaco
Phone: (+377) 93 30 98 80
Web: www.lemeridienmontecarlo.com