Columbus Hotel

A beautiful designed and furnished hotel. We arrived by helicopter from Nice, and the whole experience made us feel like VIPs (and not the EasyJet travellers that we were). The hotel was spotless, the complimentary cocktails wonderful, the house speciality is a chocolate martini! But be warned that after the freebies, it’s a bit easy to knock back several more, and they really don’t come cheap!
The range of breakfasts was also very good with fresh bread, croissants, cereal or bacon and eggs, lovely coffee and fresh fruit juices. A very friendly concierge recommended other restaurants, a friendly “English “pub by the harbour, and where to get the bus into Monte Carlo itself. Eating out in Fontvieille isn’t as expensive as we thought; on Valentine’s night we ate at a very crowded restaurant on the waterfront, where we had a beautiful three-course Italian meal, with two bottles of Pinot Grigio, for under 80 euros. The following evening we ate at the neighbouring “Michelangelo”, where the “bleu” fillet steak was absolutely gorgeous, and the wine just as good. That meal was so fine and the wine so potent, that I can’t remember how much it cost and still don’t care!
There is, as recommended by our friendly concierge, a good, cheap, regular bus service into Monte Carlo, which is very useful, as it’s quite a hike from Fontvieille. To sum up, this was a hotel and holiday that made us feel very special, and didn’t break the bank (at Monte Carlo or at home).