Monte Carlo

• The Meridien Beach Plaza Hotel. This hotel has a business centre, fitness suite, indoor and outdoor pools and a private beach. L'Intempo restaurant overseen by Emmanuel Lehrer opens 24 hours a day.
• Fairmont This large hotel hugging the cliffs offers suites, meeting rooms and exhibition space. It has three restaurants, bars and cafes, and a fitness centre.
• Hotel Columbus. Owned by F1 driver David Coultard this hotel, near the heliport, offers a chic yet more casual venue than is usual in Monaco. It has seminar rooms for up to 90 people and a tiered auditorium.

CONNECTIONS

Airport
The Nice Cote d'Azur International Airport is 24km (15 miles) from Monaco. There are 2 terminals; both have pre-bookable office spaces with all the usual equipment and services along with WIFI on request. The airport opens at 04:00 and closes half an hour after the last flight arrives.

• Helicopter. Daily flights depart every 20 minutes between Nice Cote d'Azur Airport and Monaco. The heliport's mini-van provides a shuttle to your hotels. For further information, or to make a reservation, visit the website www.heliairmonaco.com, telephone (+377) 92 05 00 50 or fax (+377) 92 05 00 51. Flight time: about 7 minutes. Average rate: EUR 95 one-way, per person
  
• Bus. Hourly connections from terminal 1 and 2 from 09:00 to 21:00. Journey time: about 45 minutes. Fare EUR 13 oneway, EUR 21.5 roundtrip.
  
• A taxi to Monte Carlo will cost between EUR 70 and EUR 90 on average and takes about 45 minutes. If you book a taxi back to the airport from your hotel be aware that it may not wait if you are late.

ENTERTAINMENT

Casino
Built in 1878 by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris opera house, the casino is open daily from 12:00. Men need to wear jacket and tie and passports must be shown. Try your luck at roulette in the Salle EUR ope or craps and blackjack in the American Room. For high rollers, chemin de fer and pai gow poker are available in the Salon Prives.

Grand Prix
In May the F1 Grand Prix comes to Monaco. The rest of the year you can still check out the circuit that winds through the streets and visit Prince Rainier's collection of vintage cars on Terrasses de Fontvieille.

Sights
You could watch the changing of the Palace Guard at 11:55 and then visit the cathedral where Princess Grace is buried. Or stroll through the Japanese gardens on Avenue Princess Grace and carry on by the sea to check out the yachts. If you have more time you can take the elevator from the harbour's western side to the Musee Oceanographie.