Hotel Belles Rives

Once frequented by F.Scott Fitzgerald, this cosy luxury hotel has retained its sense of elegance and exclusivity while now boasting modern amenities. Sitting on a coveted stretch of the coast, in the pretty cove at Cap d'Antibes, this hotel is renowned among the luxury hotels of the Côte d'Azur as a former playground of 20th-century, disenchanted American artists. Having undergone a renovation in the 90s, rooms are now dressed in an unusual Art Deco style, breaking from the tradition of luxury hotels in this area. While the busy patterns may not be to everyone's taste, the high-end materials and modern finish mean the rooms can adapt to all kinds of guests; some of the facilities available include a laptop, in-room DVD player and high-speed internet. The hotel's facelift retained the social spaces which were so crucial to the early visitors to the villa; there are now three restaurants to choose from, including Restaurant La Passagère, headed by Michelin-starred chef Yoric Tieche. For late evenings there is the plush piano bar, which has a nostalgic feel with its carpeted floor. The Côte d'Azur is fêted for its watersports, and there is plenty on offer here for adults and children. As home to the first water-ski club, the hotel prides itself on its water-skiing activities, but there is also paddle boarding and surfing available. For those who prefer a less active holiday, there is the sleek hotel spa with treatments waiting to send you into seventh heaven.