Girls Getaway to the French Riviera - Cannes, Zplage & Rose Wine

With 300 days of sunshine per year, 560+ miles of coastline and beaches, 18 golf courses, 14 ski resorts, 3,000 restaurants, countless casinos, incredible shopping (from Versace to Gucci) and the Cannes Film Festival, its no wonder that the French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur) was one of the first modern resort areas and is still a popular vacation destination. Located on the Mediterranean coastline of the southeast corner of France, the French Riviera is the perfect place for a Girlfriend Getaway. Plus, you know you are going to a great destination when a supermodel is aboard your flight!

On the famous Boulevard de La Croisette in the heart of downtown Cannes, next to the beautiful sandy beach is the iconic Hotel Martinez, which would be our luxurious home for the next two nights. Stars such as Eva Longoria, Benicio del Toro, Tim Burton, Woody Allen, Javier Bardeem, Naomie Watts, Meg Ryan, Lionel Richie, Pharrel Williams and Mila Jovovitch have all stayed at the Hotel Martinez, so (of course) we felt right at home as we each checked into our own suite with an outdoor terrace overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

The Hotel’s own private beach, Zplage, is just steps across the boulevard from the front door and evokes a laid back atmosphere in the daytime with sun loungers on the pontoon, as well as delicious food and drinks. At night in the summer, Zplage turns into a Cannes hot spot complete with music (focusing on disco and seventies), cocktails and a tapas menu.

After lunch at Zplage’s waterfront restaurant, we were treated to our choice of spa treatments. I chose the one-hour Lancaster Facial Absolute Oxygen Sensation. For most facials, you must chose either moisture or anti-aging. However, with this treatment options, you no longer have to choose. This beauty ritual does it all, responding precisely to what your skin needs with in-depth re-oxygenation and regeneration of the skin. After our spa treatments, we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the Zplage Beach Club with our own sun loungers on the pontoon and a bottle of rose wine. I quickly found out that in the French Riviera, they don’t ask you if you want wine, they simply ask you what color wine you want.

Our evening began with champagne at the hotel bar, Bar l’Amiral that features live music and both indoor and outdoor seating, and was followed by dinner at the Bistro Le Relais Restaurant. We all turned in early as we were still trying to adapt to the time change.