Eden Hotel is a magical place to stay in the heart of paradise, and in this case the South of France's hidden gem Juan Les Pins. Just outside of Antibes, Juan Les Pins offers pristine sandy beaches and beautiful pine trees as the name suggests. With Cannes and Saint Tropez to the west and Nice and Monte Carlo to the east, Juan Les Pins is a prefect base for exploring the Côte d'Azur
Eden Hotel is nestled one block from the beach in a wonderful neighborhood of shops, pharmacies, restaurants, and cafes . The hotel was built in 1913, but today it has been modernized in a way that has allowed the building to retain its charm and character. A mirrored lobby gives way to a sweeping grand staircase that you take up to the first floor lobby.
Here you will be greeted by your hostess Patricia and her daughter Aurelie, who run the 17-room hotel as if you are a friend of the family. Your bags will be quickly whisked away from you and taken to your room, and this is just the start of the magnificent treatment you will receive.
The rooms are clean, quiet (featuring soundproof walls) and well appointed. There are flat-screen TVs in the rooms, and the beds are extremely comfortable. The air conditioning works well, but you may want to open the doors or windows to take in that beautiful view.
If you have any questions, Patricia and Aurelie go out of their way to assist. Maps, lists of great nearby restaurants, and directions to the train station (a five minute walk away) are offered with warmth and good humor.
Guests and staff all are required to wear face masks indoors, and there is hand sanitizer available in public areas. Eden goes out of its way to make guests feel safer, and the rooms are deep cleaned daily which reassures you that you are having a good time but that protocols are in place to meet the challenges that still face us with the pandemic.
We alternated beach days with sightseeing days, although sometimes we ended up going to the beach in other places. Patricia offers large beach towels for you to use and also has a closet filled with umbrellas, chairs, and floats for your use. Having beach towels available is a perk in an area where there is a charge for everything beach related elsewhere.
In the morning if you're looking for a light or substantial breakfast, Eden offers a lovely covered back patio where you can eat while birds chirp happily in the trees. You can choose from an American breakfast, continental breakfast, or quick bite. Service is outstanding, and you feel like you're eating in a French home because you essentially are.
Each evening after a long day of beach or sightseeing, there are many places to choose for a wonderful dinner. Choices range from fast food to elegant dining, and there are even options to eat right on the beach like I have never seen before.
After coming home at night, I would go down to the reception to get ice for a nightcap, and Patricia would fill my cooler and then wish me a good night. Each day started and ended with us feeling cared for and pampered by our gracious hosts.
On the day we checked out, Patricia and Aurelie wished us a safe journey, and it felt like we were not ready to leave. When we all got into the car for the ride to the airport in Nice, we looked up at the building that had been our home away from home in France. We all knew we would miss the South of France, and we were going to miss Eden Hotel.
I highly recommend Eden Hotel in Juan Les Pins if your travel plans include the South of France. You may be able to stay in more expensive properties in the area, but the experience of staying at Eden Hotel is priceless.
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