Buckingham & Lloyds – Cannes

You know what struck me first about Buckingham & Lloyds? It’s actually on the Boulevard de la Croisette – like, the real Croisette where all the film festival madness happens – but somehow it doesn’t feel pretentious. I mean, you’re literally a two-minute walk from where they roll out the red carpet every May, yet the vibe here is refreshingly unpretentious for a 3-star place in this neighborhood.

The location is honestly pretty perfect if you want to be in the thick of things without paying those ridiculous palace hotel prices. You can stumble out the front door and grab coffee at one of those tiny sidewalk cafés, or head down to the beach clubs – though honestly, the public beaches are just as nice and way less expensive. The staff actually knows the area well, which I appreciated. When I asked about avoiding the tourist trap restaurants, the front desk guy pointed me toward Rue Meynadier (the old market street) instead of just shrugging like so many hotel employees do. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare during festival season – well, it’s Cannes, so parking’s always sort of a nightmare – but they’ll help you figure out the closest public garage.

What really won me over was how the place feels authentic to Cannes without trying too hard. The rooms aren’t massive, but they’re comfortable and you can actually open the windows to get that Mediterranean breeze (something you can’t always count on). The 8.2 rating makes sense – it’s not going to blow your mind with luxury, but everything works, it’s clean, and the beds are decent. I loved that you could hear a bit of the street life below, especially in the evenings when people are out for their leisurely dinners. Some might find it noisy, but to me it felt like being part of the city rather than sealed off from it. The shower pressure was surprisingly good, and honestly, after walking around Cannes all day, that matters more than fancy marble or whatever. If you’re planning to visit during the film festival or summer peak season, book way ahead – this kind of reasonably priced spot right on the Croisette fills up fast. But even in the quieter months, there’s something special about staying here. You get that glamorous Cannes address without the attitude, and you’re close enough to everything that matters.