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Monaco is filled with palatial hotels, each offering a unique luxury experience for the discerning international visitor. But which ones top the list, according to guests? [ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type="show" ihc_mb_who="2" ihc_mb_template="1" ] TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel platform, brings together more than 315 million reviewers who rate hotels, restaurants, attractions and even cruises (this last one is new). Travellers rely on candid reviews and guidance from other TripAdvisor users to discover hotels of all types, from local hidden gems to luxurious palaces. Following are the top five value for money hotels in Monaco... [caption id="attachment_41423" align="alignnone" width="900"] Hôtel de Paris[/caption] 5) Hôtel de Paris Monte Carlo It is Monaco’s most famous hotel, starring as the backdrop in many iconic Hollywood films including Iron Man 2 and two James Bond films: Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye. [caption id="attachment_41424" align="alignnone" width="900"] A room in the Hôtel de Paris[/caption] Built in 1863 by the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) under the auspices of Charles III of Monaco, the hotel sits at the heart of Monte Carlo and houses the three-Michelin restaurant Louis XV by Alain Ducasse, as well as his 2nd restaurant Ômer in the new rotunda. [caption id="attachment_41425" align="alignnone" width="900"] View from a balcony in the Hôtel de Paris[/caption] In early 2019, the hotel reopened after undergoing a dramatic €280 million renovation. The original Belle Epoque design was maintained while the hotel was given a much-needed upgrade. Terraces have been added to all of the 207 rooms, and views range from the port of Monaco to the inner courtyard. Guests can enjoy a cocktail in Le Bar American, which features a diverse range of live music, and make the most of a new rooftop wellness centre complete with swimming pool, sauna, gym and bar. The hotel is perfectly situated in the heart of Monaco, next to the Monte Carlo Casino, the Café de Paris, and a host of restaurants and bars. [caption id="attachment_41428" align="alignnone" width="550"] Port Palace Hotel[/caption] 4) Port Palace Hotel This is one of the lesser known hotels in Monaco, but guests give it 5/5 for location, and 4/5 for value. Monaco’s first and only boutique hotel is situated close to the marina and the Yacht Club of Monaco, featuring uninterrupted views of the sea, luxury yachts, and the Rock. [caption id="attachment_41434" align="alignnone" width="900"] Port Palace Hotel room[/caption] Hermès design director Leila Menchari has created contemporary rooms filled with colour and light. Port Palace Hotel bills itself as having “an aura that is passionately low-key, a much more intimate environment that boasts an excellent marina location.” The hotel seems to have gone all out on the rooms, boasting above-average room sizes and the highest bathroom space ratio in all room categories. That means each room comes with a marble bathroom and personal jacuzzi. [caption id="attachment_41432" align="alignnone" width="900"] Port Palace Hotel bathroom[/caption] It also features a restaurant and bar, but perhaps the most surprising is the wine cellars filled with thousands of Grand Cru bottles carefully selected by the hotel’s sommelier. A spa and fitness room round off the boutique hotel experience. [caption id="attachment_41427" align="alignnone" width="900"] Hermitage Hôtel[/caption] 3) Hermitage Hotel Monte Carlo This romantic Belle Epoque hotel was built in 1890 and 1896 by the architect Nicolas Marquet with sections, including the lobby, designed by Gustave Eiffel. [caption id="attachment_41435" align="alignnone" width="900"] Hermitage Hôtel deluxe room[/caption] It features 278 rooms and 35 suites. Special features include the Michelin-starred restaurant Vistamar and the amazing spa Thermes Marins Monte Carlo. A winter garden, a terrace with views of the port, Monaco and the Rock, and creative cocktails at the Crystal Bar all add to the Hermitage experience. [caption id="attachment_41436" align="alignnone" width="900"] Roof top terrace at the Hermitage Hôtel[/caption] This ‘palace’ is the sister of nearby Hotel de Paris and features equally jaw-dropping interiors including marbled bathrooms and 19th century furnishings. Trip Advisor reviews rank it 5/5 for location, and an overall average of 4.5/5. [caption id="attachment_41429" align="alignnone" width="900"] Metropole Hotel Monte Carlo[/caption] 2) Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo Old-school glamour meets modern luxury in what is perhaps Monaco’s most impressive hidden treasure. It is literally hidden behind a gate and courtyard and completely undetectable from the street. But beyond that gate lies a Belle Epoque mansion, a low-key retreat for the international elite aiming to fly under the radar. [caption id="attachment_41430" align="alignnone" width="900"] Roof top pool at the Metropole design by Karl Lagerfeld[/caption] The swanky roof top pool and lounge area were designed by Karl Lagerfeld, while the heated indoor saltwater pool is one of the most beautiful you will see in Monaco. Guests are spoiled for choice when it comes to eating: Restaurant Joel Robuchon, Yoshi and Odyssey have all made their gastronomic mark on the Principality. With a rooftop terrace overlooking Monte Carlo square, this hotel screams opulence while rates are comparable with Monaco’s flagship hotels. [caption id="attachment_41437" align="alignnone" width="900"] Monte Carlo Bay Hotel[/caption] 1) Monte Carlo Bay Hotel With an average score of 4.5/5, the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel ranks the highest when it comes to value for money, with rooms as low as 148€ in the off season. Inaugurated in 2005, it is one of Monaco’s newest hotels, situated on the eastern end of the Principality. It enjoys incredible sea views and is surrounded by some iconic nightlife hotspots, including Jimmyz and Maya Bay. [caption id="attachment_41438" align="alignnone" width="900"] Sun catching by the lagoon at the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel[/caption] While this may be called a hotel, given its sheers size and all that has been included, it might as well be referred to as a resort. Guests can enjoy the Turkish bath, spa, casino, kids club, tennis court, four hectares of gardens with waterfalls, a solarium, beach access, jacuzzi, fitness centre, sauna, indoor and outdoor swimming pool (recently voted the best in Europe), and a nightclub. Monte Carlo Bay Hotel has a Michelin-star restaurant, the Blue Bay, headed by chef Marcel Ravin, offering Caribbean and Mediterranean culinary delights. And, considering Monaco has around 300 days a year of sunshine, the hotel’s sunny terrace surrounding the sand-bottomed lagoon is an inviting retreat.   [/ihc-hide-content]  

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