I like Myke Thomas..He's a great guy, very knowledgeable. I worked with him and we got along great. But, sometimes we disagree on things. Politics, etc..And recently he did a piece on what he thought was the best hotel in the world — the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur. According to his well-written piece, it's considered the world’s No. 1 hotel, because of Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Hotels for 2023, following an analysis of reviews of 1.5 million properties..It started out as a garden home for the chief lady-in-waiting to the queen, Maharani Chandravati, and was later turned into a royal hunting lodge. According to the report, it was converted to a hotel in the 1950s, and hosted famous guests, including King Charles III, Jackie Onassis and Lord Mountbatten..The photos and the service described is exceptional of course, and the setting as exotic as it gets, without argument. Hotel prices are actually quite reasonable, considering the “fairy tale” experience, as one visitor explained..That’s because it is a palace, not a hotel. A hotel is a hotel..The best hotel in the world however, is the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, on the French Riviera..Why do I say that? Because I stayed there once with my brother Jim in its biggest presidential suite, which goes for US$5,000 a night..We paid media rate — 200 Euro — and it was arranged through its New York media office, with the promise of media coverage in Canada on my part..Keep in mind, this is the hotel where the rich and famous stay during the Cannes Film Festival. The Brad and Angelina types. Where Madonna often stays, when she wants to get away from it all. She rents the popular cabanas, which offer the safety of deep foliage, away from the paparazzi, at a cost of 500 Euro a day..It is also where the illustrious Kennedy family likes to stay, and VIPs such as Ike Eisenhower, Winston Churchill … the list goes on..Famed artist Pablo Picasso designed the menus. It is also the hotel famously said no to US President Barack Obama. That's because the hotel is closed in winter. Obama wanted them to open. They said no..They also don’t tolerate some rich segments of society, such as wealthy Mid-east sheiks, who bring big security forces with them and want to take over entire floors..That is not gonna happen at the Hotel du Cap. They say it disturbs their clientele, who come back year after year..And there is a reason for that. Let me explain..Arriving in the early afternoon, the staff greeted us like we were old friends. They whisked away our BMW rental car, grabbed our luggage and carried it to our room, the most amazing room I've ever seen..As I said, it was the presidential suite, a massive room, filled with authentic French antique furniture and decorated to perfection..Two giant beds, a study desk, and two giant bathrooms. Each with rainforest shower heads — once in there, you don’t want to leave!.I asked the bellman if he had met any movie stars, and he said, ‘Oh yes.’.Brad and Angelina? ‘Yes, he said … they are very nice.’.I can’t remember what I tipped him, probably too much. But hey, when on the Riviera, you gotta act like it..Waiting for us was a big bottle of French champagne in an ice bucket. A basket of fresh fruit. A box of chocolates. A bottle of white wine from their own winery..Three big hardcover books, describing the history of the hotel, the staff and the amazing food choices at their famed restaurant, the Eden-Roc..Also, an electric wand with buttons to call for anything and everything. Instant service..Our balcony, on the second floor, was massive in length and had a fantastic view of the blue Mediterranean..After enjoying some of the goodies and taking showers, we got a call from the manager, a very nice French lady, who asked if we wanted to take a tour of the hotel..Of course, we said..We were taken to every corner of the facility: the tennis courts, the horizon pool, the extravagant themed rooms, the cabanas, and, finally ending up at the Eden-Roc Grille for Manhattans..Then it was time, to meet Monsieur Philippe Perd, the director general of the hotel. A handsome man, he had just returned from Kiev where his Ukrainian wife lives..We had the famous Bellini drinks as we chatted in the hotel bar — the drinks made to perfection..He told us about Madonna, what she likes about the cabanas, about the media that's always chasing her, about Obama, about lots of things. An interesting man, for sure..He asked why we are in France. I told him we wanted to visit the grave of Mike Makichuk. He was my dad’s cousin. He was killed in the Normandy invasion and buried at Beny-Sur-Mer..That seemed to impress him, I think. The French are hard to read sometimes..He then asked us what we will do for dinner. I said, we're not sure, we may go “into town,” meaning Cannes..We parted amicably, and, headed for the pool area, where we had a few more drinks. Later, back in our room, Jim said: “Hey, we’re here, let’s have dinner here, at the Eden-Roc Restaurant.”.I agreed. I would put it on the VISA, no matter how much it cost. You only live once, eh?.Jim didn’t have a sports coat, but they had plenty at the door, which they fitted to his frame — it’s a rule of the restaurant..They sat us at a table, overlooking the Mediterranean, as the sun slowly set..A man was playing piano, softly..The menus, to our horror, had no prices. Yikes!.OK, well, here we go. Suck it up princess!.We settled on the deep sea bass, good for two they said, and asparagus for an appetizer. And, two glasses of house red..Can’t be that expensive, I thought..The delivery of the bass was a show in itself. Several waiters were involved!.One to lift the silver cover, one to slice it up for our servings, and one looking on, in case we needed anything. Amazing!.We felt like kings! And yes, the food was fantastic, really good. (Not as good as the fish on Copacabana, in Rio, but pretty damn good.).We skipped dessert, but ordered a couple brandies off the aperitif cart recommended by the staffer..And then came time, to pay the bill. As the waiter arrived, I was reaching for my wallet, when he waved his hand: “Mr. Perd has taken care of it.”.I was stunned. They had comp’d our dinner!.That night, as I lay in this incredible royal bed, I really had to pinch myself. Without question, it was the best stay of my life..Jim, too, was overwhelmed. We both were..As we left the next morning, our car was waiting for us, at an angle, the door open, a beautiful French girl, standing by it, smiling..And, to our surprise, the hotel cat, Bellini! He too, would see us off..I mean, really. India, or the French Riviera? Where would you rather stay? India would be cool, for sure, but the Riviera? Easy choice..But it is definitely more expensive. Hotel prices start at around 700 Euro..But personally, I think, for a special occasion, such as an anniversary, it’s worth it..You won’t be disappointed.
