Fairmont Monte Carlo and the Casino de Monte-Carlo: a members' weekend
The Belle Époque facade of the Casino de Monte-Carlo behind its gardens in Monaco. Photo: Alexkom000, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
A weekend in Monaco built around the Fairmont on the Grand Prix hairpin and the Casino de Monte-Carlo a few minutes away: what to know about entry, dress, games and timing.
Few hotel and casino pairings are as famous as this one. The Fairmont Monte Carlo sits on the sea side of Monaco, wrapped around the slowest corner of the Formula One circuit, and the Casino de Monte-Carlo is only a few minutes' walk up the hill. For points collectors it is a rare chance to spend a weekend in one of the world's most glamorous places while still earning in a familiar programme.
The hotel on the hairpin
The hotel opened in the 1970s and joined Fairmont in the 2000s. Its rooftop pool and terraces face the Mediterranean, and the hairpin bend below is named after the hotel. During the Grand Prix in late spring, rooms with a view of the track are among the most sought-after hotel rooms anywhere, and prices rise accordingly. Outside race week, it is a calmer, more reasonably priced base than the palace hotels on Casino Square.
The casino
The Casino de Monte-Carlo opened in the 1860s, run by the Société des Bains de Mer, and its present building includes the opera hall designed by Charles Garnier, the architect of the Paris Opera. Inside, gilded salons host European roulette, blackjack, punto banco and other table games, with slot machines in separate rooms.
Practical points
- Entry: adults only, and you need a passport or national ID card. The gaming rooms charge an entrance fee during part of the day; check the current rules before you go.
- Dress: smart clothing is expected, and jackets are usual for men in the evening rooms. Sportswear and beachwear are not welcome.
- Locals: by long tradition, citizens of Monaco are not allowed to gamble in the casino.
- Photos: the atrium is open to visitors, but photography in the gaming rooms is restricted.
Roulette in Monaco
The casino offers single-zero European roulette, which gives the house an edge of about 2.7 percent, lower than the double-zero wheels common in North America. It is still a house edge, of course. Most visitors set a fixed budget for the evening, play a few spins for the experience and spend the rest of the night at the bar or on the terrace of the Café de Paris across the square.
Making it a points weekend
Book the Fairmont directly so the stay earns points and counts towards status. Dining at the hotel restaurants usually earns points when charged to the room. Our guide to earning points explains how spending turns into status.
