Cap au Sud

The pool felt oddly lifeless, with just six loungers and rules against jumping, inflatables, food, drinks, and even sunscreen. People seemed to use the loungers only to sunbathe, without getting into the water. It gave the impression of a senior residence where nobody wants their usual comforts disturbed, which is a shame. The residence sits in the hills above Menton, in a pleasant spot, but the beach isn't nearby. Narrow paths and stairs take you down, and then you have to climb all the way back. The first beach is for dogs, so you need to keep going. Les Sablettes is about a 20-minute walk, as is the town, though the bus is handy. Shops and other services are too far away. Menton itself is lovely, tucked between mountains and warmly colored houses, and the plants and flowers are beautiful.

We had dinner for six in mid-August 2020, and I'd happily go back. The portions were generous, the food was really tasty, and the staff were wonderfully attentive, including people who weren't serving our table. The place was packed, too. The modern decor was lovely.

The setting is wonderfully quiet, with greenery all around and views of the sea. It's up high, about a hundred meters from the shore, and has a garage, pool, and terrace. The building is fairly tidy and is currently being renovated.

You get a view over the port of Menton, and there are plenty of pensioners around. The building is nice, though it has a few quirks. Parking spaces are limited compared with the number of apartments. Also, as is usual in France, the toilet is separate from the bathroom, so someone with dirty hands has to touch two handles before washing them. But I guess that's the same everywhere.