The hotel gem of the French Riviera: My stay at the Carlton Cannes
Editor's Note
The South of France is the summer hub of the global glitterati, and there’s no bigger crown jewel in this stretch of paradise than Cannes, France.
This French Riviera resort town is home to the iconic Cannes Film Festival, but that’s not the only legend around. The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel is a Belle Epoque architectural gem that lords over the city’s famed Croisette waterfront thoroughfare. The hotel dates back to 1911 and has gone through different ownership groups and brand affiliations, but its current iteration is with IHG’s Regent brand, which reopened the property in 2023 after an extensive renovation that took place during the pandemic.
I lucked out during my recent trip to the International Luxury Travel Market with a chance to stay at the Carlton Cannes. Here’s what it’s like to stay at this storied property.
Related: Gorgeous but overlooked towns in France you should visit
What is the Carlton Cannes?
The Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel had ties to IHG before the extensive renovation. The hotel was previously associated with the InterContinental brand and coincidentally transformed into Regent branding at the same time the InterContinental in Hong Kong was undergoing its own face-lift to return to Regent affiliation — a one-two punch of IHG’s enhanced presence at the ultraluxury playground.
The Carlton Cannes today features 332 rooms and suites (be sure to opt and/or beg your way into one with a view of the Mediterranean Sea) and 37 residences with anywhere from one to four bedrooms that are geared toward longer-term stays. Cannes is already a see-and-be-seen town, and the Carlton Cannes is where you'll find the, er, seen-iest of that scene.
I toured the property back in 2022 when it was still under construction and wondered how it would all come together — you’d see a peek of a pink glass flute here, a mosaic tile there, blond wood in the corner and then gold leaf somewhere else. Ultimately, it works. Whether you’re looking for a hushed, clandestine cocktail or a dinner celebrating the accomplishment of a lifetime, the Carlton Cannes has something for you.
How to book the Carlton Cannes
My stay was included as part of my attendance at ILTM, but you can book directly with IHG to earn IHG One Rewards points and enjoy all the perks associated with elite status. Nightly rates at the Carlton Cannes start at 320 euros ($329) — or 69,000 IHG One Rewards points — in the offseason but climb to 1,100 euros ($1,130) — or 175,000 points — in the peak summer season.
When booking the Carlton Cannes, you’ll want to use one of the credit cards that earn the most points for IHG stays, or one that offers automatic IHG One Rewards elite status for value-added benefits. These include:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Platinum Elite status.
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts, plus automatic Silver Elite status.
The location
The Carlton Cannes is located along the Boulevard de la Croisette amid a stretch of luxury boutiques featuring the likes of Louis Vuitton, Versace and Chanel. Nice Cote d'Azur Airport (NCE) is the nearest international airport and is a 30-minute drive away. Be sure to check out the Carlton Beach Club, which first opened in 1928, across the Croisette for a fabulous lunch with an uninterrupted waterfront view.
For those attending the Cannes Film Festival (or ILTM like yours truly), the Palais des Festivals et des Congres is a 10-minute walk away.
Checking in
One might assume a global hotel conference of travel experts might be a hotel’s worst nightmare — no matter how luxurious the property might be. But the Carlton Cannes team was as cool and crisp as a fresh salade nicoise as they welcomed me upon arrival. Porters take luggage at the front door to whisk up to your room, and another team member is on hand to guide you past the ornamental historic check-in desk to the actual reception tucked away behind the soaring lobby.
The Carlton Cannes is an entirely different design experience from its Regent siblings I’ve had the luck to stay at in Southern California, Hong Kong and Vietnam. But the hotel is in keeping with what I and even friends outside the travel journalism orbit have noted about Regent: These hotels are well staffed with people always thinking a step or two ahead of the curve, asking about everything from late checkout to coincide with my evening flight on my last day to coffee preferences (perhaps my jet lag was showing).
While my room wasn’t ready, it was hard to be annoyed — it was time to be fabulous on the Riviera, so I took the opportunity to kill an hour or two at the Carlton Beach Club across the street.
The rooms
My Classic Sea View room was a luxe, cozy retreat with a beautiful Mediterranean Sea view. Don’t take my word for it — just ask my friends and family who had to endure thrice-daily unsolicited photos of my door artfully left ajar when the sunlight was oh-so-delightful.
While the room was the smallest of any of the Regent properties I’ve experienced — not to fuel sibling rivalry, but rooms start at around 290 square feet at the Carlton Cannes compared to 720 square feet at the new Regent Santa Monica Beach — it was still decadent.
High ceilings, bow windows and a color palette of white, cream and yellow made the space feel larger than it was. A curved chaise lounge was the ideal spot to unwind with emails before bed or to sip a quick espresso before early morning meetings. The minibar featured complimentary tea, Nespresso and a mix of nonalcoholic beverages and local beer in keeping with Regent’s “With Compliments” ethos.
Other Riviera touches in the design scheme included the wooden-and-wicker headboard of the bed and a wood-paneled closet area in the entryway. Also, in keeping with “With Compliments,” guests can have three pieces of clothing laundered during their stay.
The cozy bathroom was perfect for a solo traveler and featured a single vanity and walk-in rain shower. Housekeeping came twice daily, including evening turndown service, and I was amazed at how prompt service was for the duration of my stay, from luggage delivery and pick-up to room service — French hospitality at its finest.
Dining at Carlton Cannes
Given the intensity of the conference I was attending, I didn’t get to enjoy the full menu of options at the Carlton in terms of restaurants, which includes Riviera Restaurant for Mediterranean dining, Ruya Restaurant for Anatolian cuisine, Bar 58, the Camelia Tea Lounge and the Carlton Beach Club.
I enjoyed lunch twice at the Carlton Beach Club, which was fabulous for people-watching and the vibes ... but those vibes don’t come cheap. A club sandwich was filling but also 33 euros ($34), while a salade nicoise was 35 euros ($36). Fries come extra for 11 euros ($11).
Breakfast is served in Riviera Restaurant, which I only had a chance to enjoy one morning during my conference. The extensive spread included a buffet with charcuterie, cheese, fresh fruit, a wide array of French pastries and fresh-squeezed juices. Guests can also order a la carte menu options like omelets. Riviera Restaurant is a fun, lively spot, and I wish I’d had more time to enjoy my start to the day here, as it felt like the perfect place to fuel up before a day at the beach or strolling the Croisette for some retail therapy.
However, I did always find time to enjoy a nightcap in the handsome Bar 58, a tucked-away watering hole behind the Camelia Tea Lounge that offered a mix of cozy seating areas and bar seats. While I’m a martini lover, my tablemates easily converted me to becoming a cucumber gimlet (28 euros, or $29) aficionado by the time of my departure.
It’s easy to imagine movie deals getting made and celebrated over a glass of something fabulous at Bar 58, and while I didn’t get a chance to enjoy the menu fully across every Carlton Cannes restaurant, this space is where one goes to feel like a superstar.
But no autographs, please.
Amenities and activities
The Carlton Cannes features Le Club Fitness & Spa, a very extensive wellness offering with a gym, sauna and treatment rooms for a little pampering. While I didn’t have time for a spa treatment, I tried to squeeze in a few workouts and found the gym here had just as much — if not more — equipment as is offered at my local Equinox.
It was too cold outside to enjoy a dip in the Carlton swimming pool, but the property’s back garden is always up for a party. An ice skating rink and winter market were quite the draw during my stay.
Reasons Carlton Cannes might not be for you
While I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel, no hotel is one-size-fits-all. Here are some reasons why the hotel might not be the best for your next vacation:
- Cannes can be expensive in the summer. If you’re looking for a bargain, plan ahead (not that this will always help) or use points.
- The entire staff is warm and inviting (I arrived in sweatpants, and I still got smiles!), but this is definitely a popular luxury hotel. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key and off-the-beaten-path, you might want to look outside of Cannes.
Accessibility
There are accessible routes to all public areas at the hotel, and nine accessible accommodations across all lodging types (residence, suite and guest room) are available.
Checking out
Even if I may have checked in to the Carlton Cannes in December, one couldn’t help but feel summertime excitement thanks to the buzz of the lobby, the cheery and fresh decor, the friendly staff, and the fact that it wasn’t that hard to convince a friend or two staying nearby to join me for a glass of Champagne.
And when I checked out, I couldn’t help but feel a little summertime sadness, despite the December chill. The luxe property has a history: Everyone from Barack Obama to Catherine Zeta-Jones has passed through the front door. Along with history, the Carlton Cannes still provides a contemporary, ultraluxurious getaway.
IHG can be proud of this restored gem in its Regent lineup.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.