Mention the name ‘Monte Carlo’ and immediately the mind conjures up images of a glamorous destination, a mecca for the jet-set and home of some of the world’s most exclusive casinos. Glamorous is a very apt way to describe this Mediterranean region. Monte Carlo is a district in the Principality of Monaco, on the South Eastern edge of France. It has become known as the entertainment district of Monaco, attracting well-heeled holiday-makers from around the globe. So what exactly makes this region quite so popular?
Monte Carlo knows how to keep itself in the public consciousness, having been used as the setting for countless movies and television shows over the years. It also plays host to the iconic Formula One Monaco Grand Prix every year, where turbo-charged cars careen through the narrow streets. Other notable events held there include championship boxing matches, the Monte Carlo rally and the European Poker finals. Monte Carlo has long been an attractive tourist destination, with movie stars flocking to its beaches for generations. Of course where celebrities go, the rest of us tend to follow, meaning that Monaco has remained a hugely popular place for vacationers for coming up to one hundred years.
Whether beach holidays are your idea of heaven or hell, there is more to Monte Carlo than white sandy beaches and blue skies. In fact the area comes alive at night, which is when the rich and famous come out to play. While many of us enjoy playing at online casinos like Casumo, Monte Carlo boasts some of the most famous and opulent casinos in the world. None is more famous than Casino de Monte-Carlo, the gambling and entertainment complex that has been operating since the 1850s. James Bond is often associated with this venerable gaming house, and in fact two Bond movies have been filmed in Monte Carlo. The casino offers a myriad of gaming options, including roulette, craps, baccarat, poker, blackjack and of course hundreds of slot and video poker machines. One quirk of the casino is that residents of Monaco are not permitted to enter the gaming rules, with ID checked at the door to ensure that no exceptions are made.
Speaking of residents, a host of famous faces have chosen to make their home in this sunny slice of paradise. (Its status as a tax haven may have something to do with its popularity; we couldn’t possibly say!) The list is long, and features celebrities from the worlds of sports, entertainment and finance. These include the musicians Bono, Shirley Bassey, Mike Oldfield and Ringo Starr, as well as sports stars such as Lewis Hamilton, Paula Radcliffe, Caroline Wozniacki, Nico Rosberg and Felipe Massa. These days Monaco is trying to sell itself to more budget-conscious travellers, but there is no escaping the fact that the Principality is associated most readily with celebrity and wealth. Apart from its gaming rooms, the Casino de Monte-Carlo also features an opera house where superstar vocalists have been known to perform, and where you are equally likely to see celebrated faces in the audience.
Monte Carlo offers a selection of wonderful restaurants, as you would expect from such a high-class destination. In fact you could easily choose to dine at a different Michelin-starred restaurant every night of the week if your pocket book allowed. However, these days Monte Carlo caters to a more diverse crowd, so even if your credit cards aren’t of the platinum variety, you will still be able to sample some delightful Mediterranean dishes during your stay. Plus there are plenty of fantastic bars and cafes to sample and to unwind in after a day of sight-seeing. Those sights include an aquarium, the Prince’s Palace, Napoleon Museum and exotic gardens – there’s a lot packed into this relatively small space.
However much it tries to re-brand itself as a destination for back-packers or budget travellers, Monaco – and Monte Carlo in particular – will be forever associated with chic elegance and glamour. Think of Monte Carlo and images of a tuxedo-clad James Bond seated at the roulette table come to mind, or of enchanting socialites and starlets pursued by paparazzi. Monaco may be the world’s second smallest state (only the Vatican is tinier) but it packs a powerful punch on the global stage. This Mediterranean idyll will continue to act as a playground for the rich and famous, and one of the jewels in the crown of southern Europe.