Stuck for a room for the festival?

I'm a little surprised, but there are still some rooms available in and around Cannes for the festival. I did a quick check and came up with three within 5 kilometers. Your best bets are in either Mandelieu or Juan-les-Pins. Click on this hotel selection for an example. But don't be surprised if the link draws a blank first time as rooms are booked. You might have to spread the range further. Good luck.

Stuck for a room for Mipim? Try a boat

I couldn't help noticing that Reed Midem are offering rooms aboard a liner for Mipim this year. I'm not too sure what to think. Given the extraordinary number of people that attend Mipim, it makes sense to stay in the bay rather than in places as far away as Nice. Plus, boats are romantic (kind of). I've joined Stella Artois when they had luxury liners in the bay. What can I say? One gets used to 5-star treatment after a while! Plus, it really is nice to wake up aboard a boat. The MV Rhapsody is not quite 5-star. But it's still worth considering, with prices from €350 per night per cabin. For details, visit the Mipim Boat.

Midem deadline fast approaching

If you're thinking about attending Midem in Cannes this year, don't wait too long to decide. The Early Bird deadline is on December 21. The price of €805 represents a 25% discount over the walk-in rate. I also did a quick check with hotels and airlines. Most of the hotels in the inner "banana" (the area closest to the Palais in Cannes) are booked. However there are still rooms available in the "residences" outside town at reasonable prices. Shuttle buses are available to reach these. Some cheap flights can still be booked (although I only checked the European airlines flying to Nice airport).

Good luck - and maybe see you down there. For more info and bookings, visit Midem.com.

Death of an eccentric

For years, pontoon B in the Old Port of Cannes was home for what many people considered the quintessential "English eccentric". His dilapidated old yacht stood out from his neighbours, some of the most luxurious vessels on the Riviera. It was his home for some 20 years. Last January, however, the frail body of the 91 year-old was discovered floating not far from his yacht. As no next of kin could be found, he was given a pauper's funeral.

However, an article in a British newspaper revealed the remarkable life of Laurence Legge, once a colleague of Lawrence of Arabia. For the full story, visit Hampshire.net.

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat sold to Russian oligarch

Over the past few years, the Russians have become a very notable presence along the Riviera and inevitably have started investing there. So the news that the Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat between Nice and Monaco has been sold to Russian "oligarch" Leonard Balavatnik is not entirely surprising. Roman Abramovich had already bought Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc near Cannes last year. These magnificent hotels are favourites with the major stars that visit the Cannes festival.

Over the years, noted guests at Cap-Ferrat have included Tsar Nicholas II, Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis, Pablo Picasso, Sir Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. Visit their site here.

Carlton Hotel: What would you pay?

According to a report in The Times, the Carlton Hotel is about to change hands. The grand old favourite of Cannes' wealthier visitors is currently being sold together with other properties in the InterContinental Hotels Group. Of the £400 million price tag, the Carlton is estimated to be worth £150 million. The new owner will most likely be Morgan Stanley Real Estate Fund. InterContinental, however, will retain day-to-day management for some time to come (although there are rumours about a senior management figure moving to London).

The Carlton has been in the movies again with France's "Quatre Etoiles/Four Stars" being the most recent film to use it as a location. It was also completely booked out during the recent Cannes Film Festival, despite the downturn in the movie business. The Carlton is consistently one of the favourite places to hang giant billboards (significantly, one for "Casino Royale" replaced "Da Vinci Code" after the first-night reviews).

Site of the week: Sleeping in airports

No, we've never had to sleep in Nice airport. But if you've got a very early flight, it's something that people occasionally consider, figuring that it could be more convenient than paying for half a night's sleep in a hotel and trying to pack suitcases in the morning on time for that 40 minute drive from Cannes.

Well, if you go by the comments on this site, Nice airport is far from being the worst option if you have no other choice. I quote: "I'd say Nice is a perfectly okay airport for sleeping in. The toilets were clean and had plug sockets so I could recharge my phone which was really helpful." Nice to see the girl has her priorities. The hardness of the seating seems to be the major drawback. However, for some horror stories, check the comments of people that slept at Nice railway station.

And if you think that sleeping in Nice airport might be a possibility, whether by choice or not, check out the site's Tips for Sleeping Airports.

Where to stay at Midem 2006?

Originally posted on January 12, 2006. If you're still making plans, don't despair. Midem 2006 is going to be one of the busiest in years. That's the good news. The bad news is that all the hotels in the centre of town are full. So you're going to have to try either for an apartment (see ads elsewhere on the page) or look further afield. Out of town, my first choice would be for Juan-les-Pins. It's about 6-8 kilometers, but the train will whisk you to the Palais in a few minutes. There are deals from about €190 for three nights in some hotels. You could also hire a car or a mobylette. Try this link for last-minute hotels or check the booking button to the right.