Bad Bunny Showcases Monaco

 

As an internationally known travel destination, celebrities often come and go from this part of Europe. Still, it appears one in particular, the superstar singer, Bad Bunny, made good use of his time when he was here during the recent Monaco Grand Prix as showcased in his latest music video aptly titled, “Monaco”.

The video initially begins in New York City’s most famous restaurant, Carbone, where the singer, Bad Bunny meets Al Pacino before the video then starts showing shots of the Principality of Monaco.

Under a multitude of dance beats, one begins to quickly recognize iconic Monaco hot spots, including those from the inside and outside of the beautiful Monte-Carlo Casino and even the famous Fairmont Hairpin, make an appearance between images of him on a superyacht with a plethora of female models against the backdrop of Monaco.

As a Puerto Rican superstar, he has consistently captivated audiences and pushed boundaries around the world with his distinctive blend of contemporary sounds and Latino beats, all of which have earned him numerous awards.

His latest album, ‘Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va A Pasar Mañana,’ (no one knows what will happen tomorrow), which ‘Monaco’ is a part of, was released earlier this month on October 13th to already outstanding reviews and sales as the album debuted with a staggering 145.9 million streams on its first day, making it the biggest debut of 2023. 

The Monaco song’s lyrics, merge music and his love for a luxurious lifestyle including the world of fast cars. In the chorus, he effortlessly raps a clever reference to Formula 1 drivers Max Verstappen and Sergio ‘Checo’ Perez, which adds a twist to the song, with Checo making a cameo appearance in the video and Bad Bunny trying on Verstappen’s racing helmet.

When the music video ends at the five-minute-mark, viewers are then taken “behind the scenes” to show how many of the Tik Tok-style shots of Monaco were shot, while between yachts, the Casino, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the large private villa which is located in the hills of Cannes.

Monaco’s presence in this music video not only highlights the allure of the Principality but also showcases its significance as a global destination for music, entertainment, and full-on luxury living.

Book: All in Monte Carlo

 

As a local, many of us are well aware of the good and bad of what life is really like in the Principality of Monaco.
 

Now, a new fascinating book has recently been published under the title, All in Monte Carlo, which in ways confirms what a number of local people already believe pertaining to the luxurious lifestyle in the Principality, a place where not everything that glitters is considered gold.

Inspired by true events and written under the pen name of Anne Shilling - for the most obvious of reasons. All in Monte Carlo takes you on an intriguing journey where revenge is served in ways never imagined by the four main female characters, all of whom become interconnected such as life is in Monte Carlo where everyone is truly about one degree of separation from each other and no background is left uncovered.

These strong, resourceful women, each from different beginnings and careers utilize both their intuition and personal ambitions to keep them focused and on track in high society when dealing with the men, the money, and the drama that ensues in a part of the world where appearances are everything.

All in Monte Carlo captivates you through what can be the turmoil in each of the characters’ daily lives with the various hotspot locations and even the architecture is described to a T, which can be followed by the illustrated map, offering a mind’s eye view whether you live in the area, or have previously visited Monaco.

From someone who lives in the area, the content of the book is very relatable and confirms any notions one may have about the Principality. Each of the characters in the book not only provides an insider look but it keeps you guessing who they might be based on in real life, or even a combination of people, and more especially the salacious scandals of what each of the characters is dealing with in their lives and how things will ultimately end.

This book is a definite read for everyone, whether you live in or near Monte Carlo, have been a visitor, or are planning a trip to Monaco.

All in Monte Carlo is available on Amazon and other major online retailers.

A Reflection of Summer 2023

 

In one word - busy.

Well, actually, since the Cote d’Azur broke tourism records again this year so to say it was busy is a definite understatement.

It was expected that summer 2022 would be hectic due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions being lifted and people desiring to get out and live again, but it was still astonishing to witness on every level how many visitors came to the region.

In the past, a summer season in the region would start around the end of April until the end of September after the Monaco Yacht Show which is usually also an indicator that the season has ended. What is quite noticeable now is people are starting their holidays sooner around the middle or end of March, or choosing to arrive in September or even as late as the end of October.

Local news reports indicated back in early April that visitor hotspots like Eze Village were receiving 1000+ visitors a day bringing the total to 5000+ over their normal amount which just continued to climb in numbers as summer approached. To this point, the municipality is considering measures to regulate the influx of tourists.

From my business side, clients wanting to rent a vacation property had begun booking their villa stay back in late 2022, (which was reminiscent of before COVID-19), and for numerous reasons such as to confirm their accommodation during the prime of the season, better rates, more choice in properties, and even to avoid the crowds in certain locations.

This also extended to those searching for a property to buy but off-peak periods in the region, simply because they wanted to experience what life might be like here during a quieter part of the year when it is more back to the locals, the range of property choices, and when an agent has more availability away from the height of the season so there is less of a rush for all parties involved. So clients were arriving during the winter months and springtime.

Currently, this Autumn, owners of villa rentals have decided to keep their properties open for guests longer simply because the weather is still summer-like but mainly because the demand is still there. Typically after summer is when people either arrive for their first time or return after spending a summer vacation here to look for a property to buy as the rush of summer is over so viewings can be done at a calmer pace. 

There has always been an unspoken secret with the locals which suggested that September is also a great time to enjoy the region as the weather is still perfect for swimming, prices are slightly lower, heat waves are rare, and overall the main flux of visitors are have left having to get their kids back in school and traditionally more people are back at work.

That secret is no more if the past two months of September are any indication. One could tell a slight decrease in the number of tourists during that month, but not by much. Hotels and restaurants were still booked up, beaches were full, and nightlife was in full swing as with everything else, with the mood being that of the height of summer and this has now extended into October to a large extent.

There are regional hotels that usually close for the winter season that have decided to stay open an extra month longer with rates only slightly decreasing and the same goes for Airbnb rentals. Some locals seem a bit surprised by the activity but as with the roar of summer here, it’s best to evolve with it all.

So my advice is this, if you are considering booking a villa for a holiday, the sooner you do it, the better as you can possibly get the property you want at a great rate (possibly even discounted if the stay is long enough), and in the location you desire to avoid areas and properties that tend to be completely booked out early.

Before the pandemic hit, typically people would book a villa rental for a week or two at the most. Now people are booking anywhere from one month to three or even six months, just so they know they have a property they love and can use as as a base to come and go from during the summer months. Don’t let this dissuade you though, rentals are still available on a weekly basis, it’s just best to book them early, especially if you have a tight budget.

If you are looking for a property to possibly buy, anytime before or after July or August is usually the best, this way you won’t feel rushed with the pace here in summer, also it is more pleasant when you can look at a property when there isn’t a potential heat wave taking place, agents, and owners will also have more time to focus on you and what you want.

Keep in mind, that August is also the month when most people in France take that whole month off for their yearly holiday, so that can restrict some access. But as they say here, things just seem to have a way of working out, and for ourselves, we have a resourceful way of making things happen.

With social media and the plethora of information out there, travelers have become more knowledgeable about what is going to work for them in terms of a vacation or business trip. It’s always a pleasure to work with those who educate themselves about this beautiful part of France and to help guide them more on how they can get the best out of their trip.

Let’s get planning for 2024!

Monaco Summer Tourism Stats Shine

 

Monaco held strong this past summer when it comes to tourism in the Principality.

A plethora of non-European visitors, including an uptick in the number of global tourists, is partially to thank for a prosperous summer season in Monaco.

An initial review was held on how well Monaco’s various attractions and venues had done over this past summer and it indicated record visitor numbers, such as the record-breaking Monet en Pleine Lumière exhibition at the Grimaldi Forum as the Monaco Tourism and Convention Department has released its official report on the 2023 summer tourist season. 

Monaco has always garnered an international appeal. And although occupancy rates in hotels are still down slightly on the prodigious pre-pandemic year of 2019 (likely due to costs), they did hit an impressive 75% in July and 72% in August. This is primarily due to a high influx of tourists from North America, Italy being close by, along with France at its border, and the UK, who round out the Top Four nations who most visited the Principality.

“Monaco attracts a very good clientele,” says Monaco Tourism and Convention Department Director Guy Antognelli. “What we are seeing overall compared to 2019 is a growth in non-European customers, including a strong increase in the Middle East.”

Asian visitors have lowered in number, according to the data, but global tourists made up for those numbers.

“Japan has picked up this year, China is at just under 40% of the outbound tourism it had in 2019… It’s still a little complicated,” explains Antognelli. “Australians are present in [good] numbers in Monaco, an increase compared to 2019. These are markets with a promising future for the Principality. We will see them much more present in 2024.”

The Tourism Department is now looking ahead to the autumn, with several high-profile conventions and events on the horizon, amongst them the recent Monaco Yacht Show, followed by Assises de la Sécurité, Luxe Pack, and Sportel. 

“These are all major events, which are sold out and some of which will attract more participants than in previous editions,” assures Antognelli. “Requests for 2024, 2025, and 2026 are already coming in. This proves that the Principality also remains attractive for business conferences and seminars.”