SMALL COUNTRIES OF EUROPE

Planning your trip to Monaco

By Susan Spano, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
06:16 PM PDT, September 26, 2008

THE BEST WAY TO MONACO

From LAX, Air France and Lufthansa offer connecting service (change of planes) to nearby Nice, France. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $536.

CURRENCY

Euro

TELEPHONES

To call the numbers listed below from the U.S., dial 011 (the international dialing code), 377 (country code for Monaco) and the local number.

WHERE TO STAY

Hotel rooms don't come cheap in Monaco. For less pricey accommodations, try Nice or Menton in France.

Hôtel Metropole, 4 Avenue de la Madone; 93-15-15-15, www.metropole.com, near the casino, is dreamy and totally first-class, with a teak deck and pool overlooking the ocean and Espa spa; doubles start at $700.

Hotel Port Palace, 7 Avenue John F. Kennedy; 97-97-90-00, www.steinhotels.com/port palace. A contemporary hotel with a first-floor lobby on the port and a rooftop terrace close to the casino; doubles start around $425.

WHERE TO EAT

Express, 22 Rue Comte Félix Gastaldi, 97-77-59-09 A pleasing sidewalk cafe in the upper town near the palace; one course about $20.

Joël Robuchon at the Hôtel Metropole (above), 93-15-15-10. Has only two Michelin stars compared with three at Alain Ducasse's Louis XV at the Hôtel de Paris. But the atmosphere at Robuchon is more fun, and the food is divine; about $100 for the club tasting menu.

TO LEARN MORE

Monaco Tourist Office,www.visitmonaco.com.

Consulate General of Monaco, (212) 286-0500.

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