Hotel Review: Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes
I originally wanted to stay at JW Marriott Cannes, but the nightly rate was unreasonably expensive at the time of booking. I knew that my fiancé and I would enjoy our nightly cocktails and breakfast in the morning, so I turned to AMEX’s Fine Hotels & Resorts (FHR) to look for a property with FHR benefits. Even though booking through AMEX’s FHR may not be the cheapest option, you could receive lucrative benefits such as a $100 hotel credit towards spa or food and beverage, daily breakfast for two people, a room upgrade upon arrival when available, and guaranteed 4 PM late checkout. Those benefits could sum up to more than $200 in value, and after browsing the portal, we chose the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes. It's a historic hotel for film stars to stay in when attending the Cannes Festival. The hotel was massive, and I wish I had stayed a bit longer to experience all the amenities that the hotel offered entirely. Here is what it was like to stay at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes:
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is located at 10 Bd de la Croisette, 06400 Cannes, France.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
The AMEX Platinum card is one of the best premium travel cards available on the market. The AMEX Platinum card currently offers a sign-up bonus of 100,000 Membership Rewards (MR) points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of account opening. I personally value MR points at 2 cents per point, making the sign-up bonus worth about $2,000. The card earns 5X MR points on up to $500,000 per calendar year on flights purchased directly from airlines or on the AMEX travel portal. It also earns 5X MR points on hotels booked and prepaid on the AMEX travel portal, and all other purchases earn 1X MR points.
The AMEX Platinum card is one of the best premium travel credit card on the market.
If you thought the multipliers of the card were mediocre, prepare yourself because the card's annual fee is $695. It is one of the most expensive cards to open, but thankfully, AMEX included valuable benefits to effectively offset the annual fee. Here are the following benefits included in the card membership:
$200 Fine Hotels & Resorts Credit & Benefits
$200 Uber Credit
$200 Airline Credit
Centurion Lounge Access & Priority Pass Membership
Delta Sky Club Access When Flying Delta
Hilton Honors Gold Status & Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
Reimbursed Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fees
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit
$300 Equinox Credit
$179 CLEAR Credit
$100 Saks Fifth Avenue Credit
If you are able to maximize the benefits, you will get much more value in return than its annual fee. Moreover, because the card provides perks for flights, hotels, and daily expenses like digital subscriptions, Uber rides, and Uber Eats, your AMEX Platinum can be your one-stop shop for luxury travel needs!
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Platinum Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
Location
Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes is located in the Croisette neighborhood, which is where the Cannes Film Festival happens every year. If you are looking for a place to party and indulge in luxury goods, you are in the right place. The Croisette neighborhood is surrounded by luxury designer boutiques like Gucci, Prada, and Dior are practically adjacent to the hotel, and Casino Barriere Le Croisette is within steps from the hotel. The Old Town neighborhood is only 1km (about 0.6 miles) away from the property, making Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes an excellent location for veteran Cannes visitors and first-time tourists.
Lobby & Check-In Review
Because we drove from Saint Rémy de Provence and given the limited space for parking, we used the valet parking service. The nightly price was €50, but it was worth it for pure convenience. The lobby was gorgeous; we were immediately greeted with glossy marble flooring and grand modern chandeliers.
The lobby was beautifully designed with modern chandeliers hanging from the top.
Small display space was embedded in every wall column, and each featured luxury goods from high-end stores like Gucci, Prada, and Hermes. Every merchandise was available for purchase, and my favorite was the Monaco Cognac display.
Hotel guests can purchase anything on display, including VSOP Monaco Cognac.
The seating area felt ordered and consistent as all chairs and tables were curated the same way.
The warmth I experienced during check-in indicated the level of hospitality ahead of my stay.
The check-in process was seamless, and the front desk agent recognized that I had booked through AMEX’s FHR portal and briefly mentioned my benefits. Suites were not available at the moment, but she upgraded me to a bigger room with a petite French balcony facing the Mediterranean Sea. As I was leaving the front desk, the general manager approached and personally greeted us. We exchanged a few emails before my arrival, and though she promised to say hello to us, I was surprised that she actually remembered. After the warm welcome from the hotel staff, we headed to the fifth floor, where our room was located.
Bedroom Review
The bedroom was mainly carpeted and had a traditional atmosphere. The king-sized bed featured an oversized headboard with cushioned leather and abundant throw pillows.
With my FHR benefit, I was upgraded to a slightly enhanced room.
Each side of the bed had a decently sized nightstand with outlets and USB ports for charging electronic devices. If you don’t have a converter for your device, you could use a complimentary converter in the closet drawer, which was a thoughtful touch for tourists.
As an American tourist, I thought it was considerate that the hotel provided an electric converter.
Across from the bed, a wall-mounted TV was positioned above a work desk.
Chromecast effectively diversified entertainment choices, especially for foreign travelers.
The TV had a Chromecast, which significantly expanded entertainment options for international travelers. The work desk was quite busy and didn’t have enough room for work since in-room amenities occupied most of the space. The hotel provided two tubes of hand sanitizer by Co. Bigelow.
These complimentary hand sanitizers came in handy when we were out and about in Cannes.
I encountered the brand when I stayed at The Peery Hotel in Utah, and seeing their brand in Cannes was a pleasant surprise. I ended up not using the sanitizer due to its somewhat slimy texture, but it was considerate of the hotel to provide a portable amenity for guests’ hygiene. I was thrilled to find a Nespresso machine, and the mini bar had various options for your sweet tooth if you were ok with steep price tags. The remaining portion of the mini bar was reserved for afternoon tea and snack.
The minibar was well stocked with candies and Nespresso capsules for an afternoon pick-me-up.
Right by the balcony, a small circular table and two beautifully crafted chairs were available. I could see myself opening the balcony door and enjoying a cup of coffee on a breezy afternoon.
Even though the balcony was tiny, it was refreshing to step outside when I needed fresh air.
The view from the balcony wasn’t the best, but I was still able to see parts of French Rivera partially and overlooked the hotel’s outdoor swimming pool, which was heated.
From the balcony, you could see the ocean as well as the hotel’s heated outdoor pool.
As I finished reviewing the room, a hotel staff knocked on the door and delivered us a delicious mango cake in celebration of my finacé’s birthday along with a welcome letter from the general manager. It was decorated with fresh strawberries and macarons, and the dessert was decadent and delicious.
The mango birthday cake was decadent and was big enough to share by two people.
I didn’t have any status with the Barrière enterprise, so I presumed that the recognition came as a part of my FHR reservation. Regardless of the reason, I always appreciate when hotels go a step further to elevate lodging experiences, and this was an excellent example of superb hospitality.
Every night, the hotel cleaning crews performed turndown service, neatly making our bed.
Speaking of first-class hospitality, I noticed that the hotel performed a turndown service when we returned from dinner. The room was cleaned and tidied up, and I realized that the cleaning crew had put a plush mat by each bedside. I’d never experienced it before, and it felt nice whenever I had to step out of bed. A small, attention-to-detail action like that could make a noticeable, positive difference.
Bathroom Review
The bathroom was right by the room entrance, featuring a single vanity sink and a step-in shower/tub combo. The bathroom vanity was small, but I appreciated that there was a cup holder on each side of the sink.
It would’ve been better not to include the bidet and have a double sink vanity.
However, there wasn’t enough space to lay out personal items. I ultimately chose to lay them out in my bedroom, and it was inconvenient to go back and forth between the two rooms. The bathroom had a water closet, but a traditional bidet was next to the sink.
I always prefer to have a separate water closet since it provides an extra layer of privacy.
I really couldn’t understand the logic behind the placement of the bidet, but perhaps it was the best option based on the limited real estate of the room. The bathtub was big enough to fit two young adults at once and had a slanted/sloped landscape, making the bathing experience more enjoyable. The shower came with a handheld option and a seamless rainfall showerhead with fantastic water pressure.
The bathtub was ergonomically designed but had a significant safety flaw.
The toiletries were by Diane Barriere, the hotel’s in-house spa brand, and were generously sized at 80 ml. The quality of the toiletries was outstanding as they had a pleasant natural scent and didn’t severely dry out my hair and skin.
The toiletries were gentle lasted a long time since each product was substantial in size.
Also, I liked that the hotel included a travel-sized bottle of Marvis mouthwash. I’m a big fan of its products, and the mini bottle was convenient for me to take it wherever I go.
More hotels should include mouthwash in a bathroom amenity kit!
I had two problems with the shower. The first concern was relatively minor, but there was no drying rack for a loofah. I could leave it by the edge of the bathtub, but it would never dry out. The more significant concern was the water guard for the shower. As I stepped out of the shower, I accidentally leaned my body against it, thinking it was fixed. It turned out that the glass wall was movable, and I almost fell to the bathroom floor. Perhaps I should’ve been more careful with it, but it was a huge safety concern for me. I wish the splash guard were fully intact because I would envision accidents happening when older guests mistakenly lean their bodies against it. Moreover, the splash guard wasn’t oiled well and made a loud squeaking noise as I tried to open it up when taking a bath. The general layout of the bathroom left me confused, and I hope the hotel takes my concerns into account when making updates to the bathroom.
Gym Review
The gym was on the hotel's second floor, and it has been recently renovated. The first thing I noticed was an outdoor deck. It wasn’t substantial by any means, but it was furnished with cushioned seats and tables. I presume people could chat after working out, but I wasn’t sure what audience the hotel targeted, to be frank.
Th outdoor deck was a nice spot to cool down, but not sure how well it is utilized.
From strength machines to cardio machines, the inside of the gym was full of new TechnoGym equipment. One of my favorite features of the latest equipment was that each machine had a small screen displaying a video of how to use the machine properly.
The fitness center was full of the latest TechnoGym machines.
Since these gym gears were technologically advanced even seasoned lifters may get confused because the ergonomics could be different from traditional machines. The fitness center had a handful of cardio machines, and treadmills and ellipticals were facing the outdoor deck.
The fitness center had a dedicated weight room in the deep end of the gym.
I tried one of the TechnoGym indoor cycling bikes, and I liked how easy it was to change the bike's setting.
You could purchase protein shakes from the mini-fridge in the corner.
The fitness center had a dedicated strength room full of dumbbells, medicine balls, and kettlebells. There were two adjustable benches and PowerBlock dumbbells, but the room was densely packed, and I couldn’t see myself comfortably working out with another person next to me.
The weight room was packed with endless possibilities, but the room felt confined and cramped.
There was even a punching bag in the corner, and while I appreciated having various options, the fitness center indeed demanded more real estate to accommodate all available equipment.
Each strength machine had an instructional video showing how to use it properly.
Lastly, if you are interested in booking a personal training session, you can reserve a spot at Spa Diane Barrière, which is adjacent to the gym. As a reminder, if you book your stay on AMEX’s FHR portal, you can use your $100 hotel credit towards getting a facial or massage.
The FHR hotel credit could be used towards spa treatments.
Bar Review—The Gallery Bar
The Gallery Bar was on the ground floor, a few steps away from the front desk.
The Gallery Bar and Le Bouquet’s will appear after you pass this gorgeous entrance.
It was adjacent to the main restaurant—Le Fouquet's. The bar was brimming with beautiful gold-accented decor and was busy with guests enjoying bar snacks and fancy cocktails.
Many guests visited The Gallery Bar to experience delicious cocktails.
Luckily, we could grab a small table without waiting, and we ordered cocktails using my $100 AMEX FHR benefit. The Gallery Bar was known for signature cocktails by Emanuele Balestra, a world-renowned mixologist. We ordered La Grande Dame and Lavandou, and both cocktails were really smooth and delicious.
The Gallery Bar delivered an unforgettable mixology experience.
The best part of the experience was when the server used a perfume bottle containing essential, edible oils and sprayed it on my drink as well as on my wrist of the hand holding the glass. It was as if a bartender was freshly expressing the oils from a lemon rind. It was one of a kind experience and definitely enhanced our drinking experience. The service and cocktails didn’t come cheap; each cocktail was €25, but the bar provided mixed nuts as a complimentary snack.
The red carpet makes you feel like you are in the Cannes Film Festival.
If you plan on enjoying cocktails at the Gallery Bar, make sure to head down early since the bar closes at midnight. Because of the upscale environment and unique mixology experience, I highly recommend trying out The Gallery Bar, especially their signature cocktails.
Breakfast Review—Le Fouquet's
As a part of my AMEX Platinum card’s FHR benefit, the breakfast was covered for my fiancé and me. Buffet-styled breakfast was served at Le Fouquet's. Because Le Fouquet's is a fine-dining restaurant, the dining space was beautifully curated.
Le Fouquet’s expressed the same level of elegant interior design on par with the Barrière brand.
The bread station had mountains of croissants and pain au chocolat, but they weren’t as delicious as other buttery and flakey croissants I’ve had at French hotels such as Domaine De Manville.
These croissants and cakes were mini-sized, meaning I could try many kinds without wasting them.
The meat and cheese station didn’t feature many choices, and a small portion of the station was reserved for salad.
The meat and cheese station was simple, but the restaurant didn’t skimp on quality.
Yogurts and other dairy products were displayed in an orderly fashion, and the fruit salad was bursting with natural flavors.
The dairy products were neatly organized, and the fruit salad was juicy and ripe.
The highlight of breakfast was the omelet station. Similar to the experience I had at Hilton Tokyo, there was a chef making French omelets for hotel guests.
No need to wait for the chef to finish cooking your omelette since a waiter will deliver it to your table when done.
I made a veggie omelet with mushrooms, cheese, and chives, and a waiter delivered my food to my table when it was complete. The omelet was buttery smooth and melted in my mouth.
The omelet was the highlight of the breakfast buffet.
Some may think it was “too runny,” but it was perfect for me. While browsing the buffet, I noticed that the restaurant dedicated a small section for kids. It featured Chouquettes, chocolate cereal, and other delicious items I would enjoy as a kid. Though I’m not a parent yet, I thought it was considerate of the hotel to prepare a fun kid’s section for hotel guests.
A kid-friendly breakfast station made it easy for parents to explore food choices for their children.
While the buffet offered more savory options than sweets, and I was happy with the overall dining experience. If you are looking for a convenient option that doesn’t compromise on quality, check out Le Fouquet's.
Start your morning with healthy breakfast options at Le Forquet’s.
Positives & Negatives
Positives
The mixology experience at The Gallery Bar was fabulous. Even though the cocktails were pricy, they were skillfully crafted and presented. I’m sure other cocktails at the bar are delicious, but I highly recommend getting the signature cocktails by Emanuele Balestra, if you want to indulge in the finest cocktails that the bar offers.
The level of hospitality I experienced from all staff was incredible. From the moment we entered the hotel to the very last minute, I was showered with kindness and smiles. Putting a plush mat by the bedside during the turndown service was a thoughtful touch, and the birthday cake was a delicious surprise.
The location of the hotel was perfect for any type of visitor. You have Old Town right next to the hotel, and if you want to shop at high-end boutiques, the shops are practically adjacent to the hotel. Moreover, the hotel has a private beach, and you will appreciate it in the summer when Cannes becomes crowded with visitors looking for sunbathing spots on the beach.
Negatives
The bathroom was my biggest disappointment, mainly because of the water guard for the shower. I nearly fell to the floor because I assumed it was completely fixed to the tub, so be cautious when you step in and out of the shower. Additionally, some of the bathroom amenities were questionably placed or positioned in the room.
Hotel Review: Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes offers a private beach only accessible to hotel guests.
Summary
My stay experience at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic Cannes was primarily delightful. Because I made my reservation using my AMEX Platinum card’s FHR portal, I received lucrative benefits—a $100 hotel credit towards spa or food and beverage, daily breakfast for two people, and a room upgrade upon arrival when available—that made the stay worthwhile. The hotel's opulent lobby indicated that the property was indeed a top Barrière hotel in Europe. The general manager personally welcomed us and sent us a delicious welcome amenity when we checked in. While I had safety concerns about the shower, I genuinely cherished the hotel staff’s level of detail and hospitality. The mixology experience at The Gallery Bar was one-of-a-kind, and I was impressed with the newest workout equipment from TechnoGym. The breakfast buffet could offer slightly more selection, but the made-to-order omelet was delicious and silky smooth. The Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes doesn’t come cheap. Still, if you’re looking for a conveniently located luxury hotel with superb service and extraordinary cocktails, I highly recommend you stay at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Platinum Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! Click HERE to access my referral link!
