Boutique hotels
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Tiara Yaktsa
- Style
- Maroc-inspired Med villa
- Setting
- Red-rock Riviera
Cannes Overview
France
- Coastline
- Bistros and boîtes of La Croisette
- Coast life
- Red carpet, dark glasses
The red carpet only gets rolled out for a fortnight a year, but the Film Festival embues Cannes with perennial flashbulb glamour.
The Regency architecture is as smart and elegant as the natives; shop for swish brands on Rue d’Antibes, or try the old town, aka Le Suquet, for foodie and gift shops. Sip some rosé, nibble on a salade Niçoise, sashay up and down La Croisette (no poodle required), where every hotel has its own beach: if anywhere allows you to star in your own movie, this is it.
Completely Cannes
Tour the Palais des Festivals, 1 La Croisette (+33 (0)4 93 39 01 01; www.palaisdesfestivals.com), and admire the handprints of the stars.
Local Knowledge
- Taxis
- You can hail taxis on the street, or ring (0)4 92 99 27 27 (pick-up charge applies).
- Tipping culture
- By law, 10–15 per cent is added in restaurants, but it’s nice to leave a euro or two. Round up cab fares to the nearest euro.
- Packing tips
- Very big, very dark sunglasses. A glamorous wardrobe, if you want to fit in with the locals.
- Recommended reads
- Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald; The Last Life by Claire Messud; Super-Cannes by JG Ballard.
- Cuisine
- Provençal cuisine for ladies who lunch: fruits de mer, elegant pasta dishes, salads, tapenade, rosé.
- Currency
- Euro.
- Dialling codes
- Country code for France: 33. Provence: (0)4.
- Do go/don't go
- Mediterranean rules apply: spring and autumn are lovely, with July and August hot and crowded. Festival time in May is a thrill if you like that kind of thing.
