Chic Retreat

WHERE TO STAY

There are around 130 hotels and accommodation providers in Cannes offering some 8,000 rooms. The most prominent are the beach-front, five-star hotels like the Majestic (lucienbarriere.com), Martinez (hotel-martinez.com) and Grand Hotel (grand-hotel-cannes.com). These are obviously the most expensive places to stay but certainly the most appropriate if you are seeking the film-star treatment.

WHAT TO DO

If the paparazzi are trying your patience and you have had enough of the beach, Cannes provides plenty of alternatives. A 15-minute sail by shuttle boat will take you to the beautiful Sainte Marguerite Island, famed for its fort in which the "Man in the Iron Mask" was incarcerated. The nearby island of Saint Honorat is home to the monks of the Abbey of Lerins who pass their time producing excellent wines and a liqueur named Lerina. Further afield, the fragrance-laden town of Grasse offers a scent-filled adventure into the world of perfumes.

FESTIVAL DE CANNES

The film festival takes place in May and sends the city of Cannes into whirlwind of parties, film premieres and film-star glamour. The excitement that accompanies the influx of A-list actors, directors and producers is felt by everyone and leaves its indelible mark on the city for the rest of the year. If you want to see the rich and famous rub shoulders with Hollywood greats, this is the time to visit. As you would expect, May is also the time when Cannes is most in demand, so prepare to pay a premium for the privilege of partying with the stars.