I don’t know if it’s a sign of the times, but there are some good last-minute deals on hotels for Midem 2009. If you want to stay in town, you can find good rates at the Amarante Cannes (photo) which is located on Boulevard Carnot, with double rooms under €500 for 4 nights. A few doors away, the Residence Excel [...]

In 1929, Emmanuel Martinez built the seafront hotel that bears his name on the Croisette in Cannes. 80 years later, “la belle dame” is directed by Richard Schilling and has become a highly respected establishment in the world of international luxury hotels. It’s also one of the key meeting points after hours for the trade fairs, notably Midem. With seven [...]

According to a report on Car Rentals.co.uk, the Hotel Martinez in Cannes is being put on sale as part of the Concorde Groupe, currently owned by Starwood Capital. The hotel is one of the key venues on the Croisette, and features strongly in all events held in Cannes. Built in the 30s, it is notable for its numerous reception rooms [...]

I’m a little surprised, but there are still some rooms available in and around Cannes for the festival. I did a quick check and came up with three within 5 kilometers. Your best bets are in either Mandelieu or Juan-les-Pins. Click on this hotel selection for an example. But don’t be surprised if the link draws a blank first time [...]

The other film festival in Cannes, the International Pan-African Film festival, will kick off this year on April 18 with a special reception on the beach of the Noga Hotel. Guests this year include Marie-Ange Banbancourt, Emile Abossolo MBO, Roger Cantin, Wyoma, Oxaï Roura and Serge Diantantu. The line-up includes films from across the African diaspora (notably a strong selection [...]

It’s almost unthinkable to be in Cannes for a few days and not have access to your e-mails. Midem obviously has Internet connections for visitors, although you usually have to stand in a queue. If you want a more accessible connection, you should think about taking a WiFi subscription. SFR is the supplier within the Palais, but I’ve had no [...]

Forbes has just published their Top 10 choice of topless beaches, which includes Cannes. As they say themselves, “Call us old-fashioned, but we tend to favor topless beaches rather than nude ones. Nearly all European beaches are topless, and sunbathers there have a blasé attitude towards nudity, which means no gawking or cameras”. The fact that they recommend staying during [...]

Over the past few years, the Russians have become a very notable presence along the Riviera and inevitably have started investing there. So the news that the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat between Nice and Monaco has been sold to Russian “oligarch” Leonard Balavatnik is not entirely surprising. Roman Abramovich had already bought Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc near Cannes last year. These magnificent [...]

According to a report in The Times, the Carlton Hotel is about to change hands. The grand old favourite of Cannes’ wealthier visitors is currently being sold together with other properties in the InterContinental Hotels Group. Of the £400 million price tag, the Carlton is estimated to be worth £150 million. The new owner will most likely be Morgan Stanley [...]

<span style=”font-style: italic;”>Originally posted on January 12, 2006. </span>If you’re still making plans, don’t despair. Midem 2006 is going to be one of the busiest in years. That’s the good news. The bad news is that all the hotels in the centre of town are full. So you’re going to have to try either for an apartment (see ads elsewhere [...]