Hôtel Belles Rives

First the good: Concierge team was superb from months before our arrival through the day of our departure. Absolutely top notch. (Special shout out to Luca for delightful assistance). Also, our room view was as nice as on the website. The Bad: The day of our arrival we were told the front terrace (basically front and center of hotel) was closed for a wedding. OK. Wedding blared music until midnight - the sort of thump thump thump retro music that literally vibrates the room (and bathroom) - and we were on the top floor. Impossible to sleep. Hard start. I asked the desk guy the next morning what they were telling unhappy guests like me and he responded “it was a wedding”. He didn’t quite smirk or wink, but that was when I understood the chump factor. I knew they had me and he knew I knew they had me. That was really bad ($2200 a night is a lot for me) but the killer is the “private beach” - it isn’t private. They admit the public for money. But - hotel guests get “priority” and a deal on towels (only $8E per towel (to use, not buy)). Private beach and deck area are jam packed and you compete with everyone else (non-hotel guests) for very poor service. That is inexcusable and bumps right up against deception relative to the website. Lesson is that you can’t buy your way into 2020s or 1920s glamour on the Riviera for $2200/night - you can do it with enough money and it may be worth it for at least a short stay, but you have to bite the bullet and go up market. They get three stars because I came to the nuisance and the concierge team was top notch. Next time I’ll save up and go up-market.

The Belles Rives Hotel is a grand hotel with a glamours past. And the past is the most glamorous attribute of this hotel. Arriving early before check-in we asked if it was possible to get in the room early, prior to the 3:00 pm check-in. And, they were able to get us in the room by 2:00 pm however, as the nice front desk attendant walked us into the room, she stated that it was not the upgraded room we had booked as the upgraded room was not available. Now is a nice time to tell us, why not 3 hours ago when we arrived so we could look at alternatives. The room was nicely decorated but very small for a 5 star, very expensive hotel. The staff was very nice and showed up with amenities, fruit, champagne, sweets however they all stood around holding them because there was no table or desk to set them on. And the bathroom was tiny. So, it had a beautiful view of the water and no WIFI. The staff spent two days trying to get the WIFI to work in the room but was not able to fix the problem. Credit for trying. The restaurants were nice and the food generally good. If you like hamburgers, you get a nice hamburger with a bowl of fries for 42 Euros. No garnish, no salad, just a hamburger. The staff was nice but were well trained to avoid eye contact if it was not a table or task they were undertaking. The buffet was ok, nothing to get excited about but on the par with most standard hotel breakfast buffets, similar to the one we had at the airport Hilton. We were able to enjoy a sunbed on the beach front, again very nice and would have been even more enjoyable if at least once during the afternoon an attendant had come over to ask if we would like to order any food or drink. However, they were very engaged with a team meeting at the bar. So, we went up and ordered and brought our drinks back to the lounge. The staff needs better training and more focus on the guests instead of each other, seven staff standing at the F Scott Fitzgerald Bar while guests are patiently waiting does not present a good image. On the positive side the art deco décor was nice, and Lucas the Concierge was outstanding, he made it happen. And the staff did adjust the room rate and provided additional amenities to address the room situation and Wi-Fi issues. That was appreciated. But overall, I would not put this on my list of places to return, the service level needs to be improved and unfortunately the physical limitations of the room and property are difficult to address. Note that the sister hotel that has the pool and gym is not next door, it is about 350 meters down the street.

Short but very pleasant stay, a journey through time! Unforgettable dinner at La Passagère, experience to be repeated

Beautiful spot on the French Riviera, the staff were all exceptional especially the concierge team led by Luca Enrico! Central location with easy day trips, and you can't beat the heritage of the hotel or the views.

The staff were fantastic as was the food and the stunning surroundings. We enjoyed the comfortable sun beds, the beautifully kept small beach and it ended our holiday just perfectly. It’s not cheap but it’s worth the treat. They were setting up for a wedding and the attention to deal was flawless.

Stunning view, lovely stuff, and an inviting atmosphere. Every employee we interacted with seemed genuinely concerned about our wellbeing and satisfaction. The bar has a great little menu to order dinner from (if one wants to be a little more casual than the Michelin-starred hotel restaurant would call for).

Location, heritage, comfort

I read mixed reviews and we usually stay at the 4 seasons or Reserve de Beaulieu which is double the price. I think it's reasonable for the area/quality. The beach is fantastic and so is the restaurant/bar. I think most of the people complaining can't afford to stay or eat there. The hotel is charming. We were there with our 2 kids and is was perfect that they would play on the beach the whole day.

Rooms on the small side.

Stunning hotel with a magnificent view of the Mediterranean. The staff was warm and welcoming, our Junior Suite offered such a beautiful view from the terrace. We left our terrace doors open overnight to throughly enjoy the Spring evening. We were surprised that we had a full moon that glistened all night with its reflection on the water. Our only regret is not staying longer, we loved it!