To be honest, all I ever thought Monaco was about was the casino. And the casino is pretty awesome, but I learned there is so much more to this small 2.1 km² (0.81 mi²) country after attending a recent FAM in Monaco, hosted by Global DMC Partners, Ikebana Monaco, and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.

Instead of going by our day-to-day itinerary, I’m going to highlight my top experiences during this FAM and why I think Monaco makes a great incentive destination.

1. Groups Will Experience The WOW Factor

We experienced the “wow” as soon as we landed in Nice. Instead of taking a 30-minute car transfer to our hotel from the airport, we were flown in - in style - via a thrilling 7-minute helicopter ride taking us right to the shores of Monaco!

From there we were treated like important VIPs at every stop along the way – from our hotel check-in at SBM’s Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, to every meal and stop for the next few days.

I’m not going to hide it. I drank a lot of champagne on this trip. Champagne is treated like water here. Cocktails before dinner: champagne. Drinks during one of our meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner): champagne. Post dinner drinks: champagne.

One of our evening outings took place at Jimmy’z, and you do feel cool crossing that velvet rope at midnight and having your name on the “list” of the legendary club. And being treated with bottle service table, which of course, was nothing other than Dom Perignon.

2. The Hotels!

There are some amazing hotel properties in Monaco that we were able to site and experience each of their unique charm, thanks to Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.

Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort – located right at the sea, this is the property we stayed at which had more of a younger vibe with its cool art pieces, bar, and resort feel.

Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo Monaco – Probably the hotel of Monaco, located right in the heart of Monte Carlo and oozing elegance. We also had the opportunity to dine at its Michelin star restaurant, The Grill, with top notch service and stunning views of the bay.

Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo Monaco – connected right next to the Hotel de Paris, another elegant and grand heritage property located in casino square.

The Maybourne Riviera – a 5-star design masterpiece built in the cliffs of Monaco with spectacular views. Another place we had dinner, at the Riviera Restaurant, with gorgeous night views of the coastline.

3. Guests Can Live Out Their James Bond Fantasy

Fast cars. High stake games. Exclusive Access.

The Monte Carlo Casino is a special place and obviously a must see at any stop when in Monaco. Upon your arrival, there is a lot of energy outside this venue. High end sports cars strategically parked in the square and the buzz of crowds snapping photos next to these amazing machines as you step up the stairs through to the doors of the casino.

Inside the casino is another world. The rich history of the place that saved Monaco, radiant art along its walls, and the overall ornate grandeur of its beauty as you stroll from room to room. Circus Circus this is not.

And the interesting thing is anyone can play here. These are not all high roller tables – so it was great for our group to get to play roulette and the craps tables without having to remortgage our homes. Games start as low as $5 a play, so you can stay here for a few hours and play, or - just people watch the interesting characters straight out of a Bond movie.

4. The French Riviera & Endless Beaches

The beaches here are where the rich & famous vacation and are gorgeous, so are more than enough incentive to motivate any group to come here. We spent a day out in the Riviera – taking speedboats along the coast gawking at monster yachts and celebrity seaside villas; lunching at the Jasmin Restaurant located in the Royal Riviera and doing site inspections of both the equally gorgeous properties - the Royal Riviera and La Chèvre d’Or located on the French Riviera. And my favorite spot on this day excursion – exploring the narrow streets and shopping at the art galleries in the medieval town of Eze.

This experience would not have been possible without Global DMC Partners hosting this program and both Ikebana Monaco and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer for creating a fantastic experience. It is really hard getting back to living a “normie” life after living the rich & famous life. Cheers Monaco – I look forward to seeing you again soon!

-Author: Paul Della Mora, Bond