TOP TIPS FOR DISCOVERING THE MAGIC OF MONACO

1 Monte Carlo Casino, which has starred in James Bond movies including Never Say Never Again and GoldenEye, is a 15-minute walk from Port Hercules. The lavish belle époque building (below) is open to the public, but spend some time at the Place du Casino – the front entrance – a top spot for people- and car-watching. “You’ll see the wildly expensive sports cars being valet-parked – conspicuous wealth is a hallmark of the Monaco lifestyle,” says Odell.

2 Café de Paris, on Place du Casino, is another Monte Carlo institution. It’s worth visiting for a coffee and the views, but if you want to lunch like a local, head to Le Marché de la Condamine.

“It’s a buzzy food court with shared tables, behind the open-air Place d’Armes market and a favourite spot for Monaco’s local residents,” says Odell.

3 Prefer a more leisurely lunch? Odell’s top picks are Miami Plage, a restaurant on glamorous Larvotto Beach, and a best-kept secret, plus the clifftop dining establishment, La DifférAnce in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin. Both are a stone’s throw away from Port Hercules.

4 Beyond Monaco there are some beautiful towns and villages that you can visit on full or half-day excursions. Taking it from the top, why not take a helicopter flight for lunch at Alain Ducasse’s restaurant, La Bastide de Moustiers. The Michelin-starred restaurant is in the famous chef’s boutique hotel, a 17th-century inn near the Provençal village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

“It’s an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever,” says Odell.

Regent Seven Seas has 43 cruises visiting Monte Carlo this year and in 2023.