As Jay Gatsby said: "You Can't Repeat the Past? ...Why of Course You Can!" ...in Monaco

F Scott Fitzgerald's short life was restless. He never set down roots, instead drifting from glittering 1920s New York and France to Switzerland and the American south in the 30s, with many waypoints in between. Hotels were a defining part of his existence, providing not only temporary homes, but also places to gather material and write.For those who dream of inhabiting his glamorous world, Fitzgerald left behind ample documentation of his whereabouts, including his choice of accommodations. Happily, they all continue to welcome guests – and if some room rates are a bit pricey, all have bars, restaurants and even themed events where you can enjoy the ambiance of the author's era for a few hours.

                                    (The lobby of the Hôtel de Paris, Monte Carlo)

Quick getaways around the Riviera provided diversion in mid-1924, when F Scott Fitzgerald was writing The Great Gatsby while living in St Raphaël. One such stop, Monte Carlo's sumptuous, sprawling, belle epoque Hôtel de Paris, reminded the couple of "a palace in a detective story" – a playful remark that suggests how hotels were always potential sources of material. With nightly live jazz, the hotel's Bar Américain is a good spot to make like a character from Tender is the Night. Hotel guests can access the hotel  private beach for an activity that had begun to enjoy a great vogue during the Fitzgeralds' time in the region: sunbathing.