If, like us, you’re hooked on Sky’s new thriller, Riviera, then how about planning a Côte d’Azur caper of your own this summer?Four Seasons Grand-Hotel du Cap-FerratIf you’re doing it properly, there’s only one place to stay: the Four Seasons Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, above and top, also featured in Riviera. Set in 17 acres of landscaped gardens on the tip of the peninsula, this Grande Dame is so revered it even has a ‘Palace de France’ distinction, granted by the French government, no less. In fact, for many this cool and unutterably glamorous hotel is the Riviera. From around £300 per night. Cannes, Planet RailThe most appropriate way to reach the Côte d’Azur is by open-top sports car. Failing that, how about taking the train? The journey from London St-Pancras to Cannes, above, takes around nine hours – granted, that’s more than double the time it takes to fly (if you include travel to the airport and check-in), but so much less stressful. Then when you reach your destination, you can take the train right along the coast, from Fréjus to Monaco, stopping at all the Riviera towns in between. Planet Rail has a Cannes & the Côte d’Azur package from £595 per person sharing, including return first class rail (standard premier on Eurostar) London to Cannes via Lille and Cannes to London via Paris, four nights’ four-star hotel B&B accommodation and taxi transfer between stations in Paris.Cap d'Antibes villa, The Wow House CompanyJulia Stiles’s character in Riviera lives in a lavish apartment overlooking the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. That three-bedroom apartment is available to rent for a cool £48,000 a week so you might prefer this five-bedroom villa. It’s just along the coast in exclusive Cap d’Antibes and a snip from £14,995 a week. Most of the large bedrooms have a sea view as well as direct access to the terrace leading to the gardens. Outside, there’s a private heated swimming pool, with pool house equipped with kitchen area, BBQ and seating. Sleeps 10 from £14,995-£22,995 with The Wow House Company.Chateau du Royal, AvenueEqually Riviera is Château du Royal in Rayol-Canadel, between Le Lavandou and Cavalaire-sur-Mer. Against a backdrop of maritime pines, this classic Riviera residence is perfect for a large group. It sleeps up to 20 guests in eight beautiful bedrooms, each one decorated with striking artwork and eye-catching furnishings. Outside, the magnificent pool and pool house are shielded from prying eyes by over an acre of walled garden. A week’s rental from €30,000 with Avenue.Walking on the French Riviera, InntravelThe Riviera may be a byword for glitz and glamour, but it has a quieter side, too. Inntravel’s easiest hotel-to-hotel self-guided walking routes combine coastal strolls, town trails and cultural visits, with accommodation in two four-star sea-front hotels. You can amble from Menton, past Villa Rothschild, and on to pretty Villefranche-sur-Mer or explore Monaco and Cap Ferrat before continuing to Italianate Nice. Inntravel’s Along the Côte d’Azur package costs from £698 per person, based on two sharing, including six nights’ B&B accommodation, route maps and notes, and luggage transfers between hotels.

BY MAGGIE O’SULLIVAN