The Most Expensive Hotel in France Recently Sold. Here’s What You Need to Know.

A €200 Million Hotel Cap Estel Sale That’s About to Change Travel in the South of France

Tucked between Nice and Monaco, Hotel Cap Estel has long been one of the Riviera’s most discreet sanctuaries. Built in the 1920s as a private estate, it occupies a rare peninsula that juts into the Mediterranean, a setting so private that many guests arrive by car only to disappear behind its gates for days.

For decades, it’s been the kind of place whispered about among luxury insiders, hosting royalty, film icons, and private-jet regulars. Its manicured gardens, infinity pool, and Michelin-level dining (led by chef Patrick Raingeard) have earned it recognition as one of France’s “Palace” hotels a designation reserved for only the country’s most exclusive five-star properties.

It has always been under the radar, but that’s about to change fast.

Why Hotel Cap Estel is Suddenly on Everyone’s Radar

The boutique, 20-room hotel recently sold for €200 million, or about €10 million per room, setting a new record for the most expensive hotel transaction in French history.

I was there just one week after the big sale.

Here is the tea that I heard… the name isn’t changing; the spa is being completely updated; they are investing BIG in global marketing.

Basically, this place is going from quiet luxury to next-level hype. So if you want to experience it before it gets overrun (and overpriced), the time to go is now

Who Bought Hotel Cap Estel ?

The buyer? French billionaire Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH, the global powerhouse behind Louis Vuitton, Dior, Cheval Blanc, and Bulgari Hotels

LVMH’s hotel portfolio is known for merging high design with soulful hospitality.

At Cap Estel, expect:

• World Class Renovations

• A reimagined spa and wellness concept with oceanfront treatment rooms.

• Cheval Blanc-level service standards—refined, intuitive, and deeply personal.

• Expanded global marketing, bringing Cap Estel’s quiet reputation to the world stage.

Why This Matters for Posh Trips Clients ?

I stayed at the hotel and even switched rooms each night to get a feel or the different options, so I know exactly which room is my favorite and what to recommend!

I toured the entire property and got to know the team to understand what’s changing—and what remains timeless.

That means:

• I know the best rooms

• I know the  current pricing and what’s changing.

• I can get you in before it becomes fully booked

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Cap Estel is still quiet, for now. But it won’t stay that way.

Ready to Book a South of France Trip?

Now is the time to book if you want that "hidden gem" feel before Cap Estel becomes headline news.

A stay can be paired with:

• Private yacht days along Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

• Provence wine tastings and lavender-field drives

• Michelin-star dining in nearby Èze and Beaulieu-sur-Mer

• Optional extensions to Cheval Blanc St-Tropez or Monaco

Whether it’s a romantic getaway, birthday trip, or honeymoon, I’ll make sure you get insider access.

Visit PoshTripsTravel.com to start planning.

Cap Estel is still quiet—for now. But not for long.