Garden Beach Hotel

The Garden Beach Hotel's all-glass front exterior looks out of place here -- and isn't representative of the chic decor with a quirky spin that's found inside. The lobby's lounge areas have distressed denim couches and chairs, paired with the kind of rusty folk art one might expect in a country boutique, but also stark, boldly patterned geometric wallpaper. Furnishings range from hip coffee tables made from hewn tree trunks bolted to iron legs, to black metal vintagey end tables. Guests are noticeably younger during the high summer season's jazz festival when live music can take over the lobby bar, and it can be noisy from music outside on the beach as well. The rest of the (seasonal) year, guests are mostly older couples and business travelers. 

The hotel is located right on the beach in Juan-les-Pins, a small resort town on the Cap d’Antibes peninsula. Antibes is about an eight-minute drive from the hotel, home to the largest marina on the Mediterranean, as well as charming Old town, and the Musée Picasso, housed in the impressive Château Grimaldi. Shopping, restaurants, and nightlife hotspots are within walking distance of the hotel, and it shares a building with a neighboring casino. 

The train station is a seven-minute walk away, or a two-minute drive. Cannes can be reached in about 20 minutes by car (16 minutes via train). Nice is about a 35-minute drive in the opposite direction (or 39 minutes via train). Nice's airport is a 20- to 25-minute drive from the hotel, or around 50 minutes via public transportation. 

Guest rooms occupy five floors, with about half facing the city or the hotel's garden patio, and the other half facing the sea. The carpeted rooms have older decor that has hints of Art Deco influence, but the overall look is a bit bland, and decidedly dated. There are natural wood headboards, work desks and chairs, and small seating areas. All units have AC, well-stocked minibars, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs that vary from relatively small 30-inch models to larger 40-inch TVs, but some lack kettles. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and single vanities. Some upgraded rooms and all suites add private balconies, and suites have separate living areas with sofa beds. Standard rooms are on the small side at 215 square feet, with one double or two twin beds.

The hotel has a solid crop of features, with its private beachfront pier topping the list. The hotel opens right onto the beach, where rows of comfortable blue loungers and umbrellas are packed a little close, but as a result, there tend to be plenty for all. The pier is lined with more loungers, where guests can take up water sports like parasailing and water skiing, or grab a paddle boat. 

Other highlights include a well-equipped fitness center with several modern cardio machines and weight training equipment. 

The main restaurant, Le Bonsai, serves Mediterranean cuisine in an upscale atmosphere, with an excellent outdoor terrace facing the sea, but there's a fee for breakfast. There's also a seasonal, alfresco beachfront restaurant with a wooden terrace covered in white shade canopies. The lobby bar has a baby grand piano and regular live music. The hotel also has six bright meeting rooms, and several breakout rooms.