I had the pleasure of staying at the Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat for four days this month. I booked the reservation with some of concern regarding the comments about snobbish staff, and possibly an overall difficult experience.

None of those warnings bore themselves out during my visit. I found the Grand Hotel to be welcoming, warm and with the overall feel of being reserved in the most elegant way. I detected no hit of snobbishness (and I pride myself on very sharp "antenna"); in fact, the opposite - people were very friendly and accommodating.

The grounds are magnificent, the setting was heavenly. The pools were awesome, and the cabanas were extremely inviting though I didn't get a chance to stay inside them. The air conditioned funicular from the pool to the hotel was quite over the top.

The rooms are very nice, though a wee-bit old fashioned - but then again, it is upper class Europe and that's the style of such venues.

Beware of some of the prices - I was charged $30 have a shirt ironed; the breakfast was very expensive for what was served. But then again, you don't check into such a place and expect a bargain. On anything.

Cap Ferrat is itself a very lovely part of the Cote d'Azur. I can understand why villas there are the most expensive on the Riviera. It has the most spectacular views in a region rich with such things. And the entire peninsula is lush, scented with pine trees, rosemary and exotic flowers and - on the whole - very very well maintained. St Jean (part of the same peninsula) has nice, much more moderately priced restaurants for an escape "back to reality" if one's looking for that.

I also had the pleasure of having lunch at the Hotel du Cap Eden Roc, arguably the main competitor to the Grand Hotel. Both were wonderful, and I'd even say Eden-Roc was more beautiful. It had a stiffer and stuffier feeling than Grand Hotel; patrons' displays of wealth seemed to be a bit more "in your face" than at Cap Ferrat. I'd sum up the differences as - Eden Roc is the place for glamour and celebrity and Grand Hotel du Cap Ferrat is the resort you'd go to for sophisticated elegance and the "cozy serenity" that immense wealth can buy.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Grand Hotel to anyone who can afford the splurge and indulge in the best of grand living, European-style.

Maybe our expectations were to grand for this hotel or maybe it was because we were spending $1200 a night. But the service, quality and food of this hotel cannot compare to other 5 star hotels or any Ritz Carlton. Upon checking in we were brought to our ocean view room which was nice but not $1200 nice. The TV was old, the room was small and to get into the bathtub/shower combo you practically need a step stool.
The food is very mediocre. They charge 45 Euros for their pathetic excuse of a buffet brunch. It is horrible. You can get a better brunch at your local holiday inn. The bread was stale, the only had one or two types of cheese, runny eggs, no potatos, bad (can like) fruit and the list goes on and on.
The pool is not heated even though they claim it is (it's freezing!) and there is NO service by the pool. I sat there for FOUR hours and could not find anyone to order food or drinks from. There is also nothing going on at night. They are supposed to have a pianist playing outside in the evening but some nights we would go out there and there would be nothing and no cushions on the chairs to sit at. The service at their outside patio was terrible as was the service in their restaurant. We would have to track them down (get out of our seats to go find someone).
And finally this hotel has no gift shop, just a blink and you miss it boutique near the pool that sells a few swimsuits and hats.

if you want another good hotel in the area, go to Beaulieu Sur Mar. Great location !


Pros:
Beautiful Grounds
Very nice concierge who got us the best table at restaurants and gave good advise on excursions

Cons:
Overly expensive for what they are providing
Horrible food
bad service
mediocre rooms
Freezing pool
No pool side service
no gift shop

We have just returned from staying at this hotel. Having seen the hotel we thought it was beautiful and chose to stay there during a week when we got married. Whilst the hotel were fully aware we were getting married they did not bother to congratulate us or send us a card. They did however get the general manager down to the pool to suck up to one of the russian oil tycoon during every lunch time though.

We found the staff especially the concierge and waiting staff to be rude and snobby. They made us feel as if we were not good enough and that they were only concerned for thier multi-milllionaire type guests. Furthermore the food prices were extortionate 9 euros for a coke by the pool. 45 euros for simple and not thta nice breakfast and 115 suros for lasagne.

The only people we felt to be helpful and nice were the bellboys and lifeguards,

we have stayed at the Grand hotel du Cap Ferrat severl times and plan to go again.
while the rooms are on the small side, and a Spa will not be ready until 2009, we still think this is one of the nicest places to go.
The staff, from the concierge down to the beach boys, are all excellent, friendly and forthcoming. The concierges especially make one feel at home, as does the staff of the restaurants. it is never a problem to have something special prepars.
The setting is outstanding.
While the hotel is elegant, it is never over done or chi-chi.

We recommend the hotel highly


Indy Marion