Le Majestic

No hotel market is immune to change. But the scene in Cannes along La Croisette has looked more or less like it does now for the better part of a century. And among the grand old luxury hotels along the beachfront promenade, the Majestic is one of the most celebrated. This Art Deco palace dates back to the Twenties, and in the present day it’s under the Lucien Barrière umbrella, hence its full name: the Hôtel Majestic Cannes Barrière.

With a location at the west end of the Croisette, practically next door to the Palais des Festivals, the Majestic is understandably a film-festival favorite. But there’s a certain atmosphere of glamour about the place all the year round. The rooms are classically French (and most renovated in 2009), in rich fabrics and antique-style furnishings, and they face out over the bay, admitting a healthy dose of sunshine.

Meanwhile the public spaces, especially the Fouquet’s restaurant, offer mighty resistance to the tackiness that elsewhere threatens to overtake Cannes. There’s a private beach club, as well as a casino, for those who don’t fancy the short walk to the Festival Hall. Perhaps it’s not the place to go for an unfussy little getaway, but if you like your hospitality with a bit of pomp, the Majestic fits the bill.