Lonely Planet Review

Imagine you're invited to stay with ultra-connected, urbanite friends in downtown Nice at their nightclub-style, futuristic pad designed in part by Philippe Starck. The fun, welcoming vibe at this hi-tech hotel means (for a price!), you are.

Burnished stainless steel doors conceal a combination of four room categories (urban, active, studio and terrace). There are nine spatial concepts such as 'digital', with plasma TVs, swimming goldfish and pixel-influenced modular blocks that can be moved around; and 'technocorner', with a beamer and giant double-sided screen, so you can watch DVDs from your bed and/or your central volcanic rock bathtub, plus a surround-sound stereo with music programmed by French DJ Laurent Garnier. The terrace suites have private outdoor Jacuzzi, and there's a rooftop party deck with a splash pool and waterbeds, framed by 360-degree views of Nice, the Med and the Alps. Throw in a free hammam, Zen yoga/meditation area, all-organic breakfast, Internet access (their laptop or yours) and candy-coloured lobby/lounge strewn with design books and CDs.