Charm and character in the South West of France
From Cap Ferret to Haute Garonne, with a stop in Les Landes or Bordeaux, my 4 suggestions of places to stay #89
This week was the first one back to work after our wonderful holiday.
I am pleased to report that I still feel pretty relaxed after a week of work. I made one simple change: I decided that I would have a more balanced schedule and stop work every day at a more reasonable hour than before. Having one extra hour at least at the end of the day means that I can have more free time for myself, for chatting with Mademoiselle when she comes back from school or just to prepare diner without feeling rushed. This may not last but it felt good for this week.
As I’m still in the post holiday relax mode, this newsletter is a bit shorter but do read on for a few discoveries and a fellow hotel lover to follow.
Poolside companion: travel and hotel lovers to follow
This week, I’d like to recommend Lisa Corcoran’s Passage to Luxury. I’ve been following Lisa even before I started From the Poolside as she was trailblazing the road of hotel influencers at a time when the concept didn’t even exist! Lisa’s taste is very similar to mine and we often follow each other into a hotel, especially around the UK!
Lisa is just back from a summer holiday in Upper State New York and has some great recommendations. She also is a good one to follow for anything about Mallorca or about Africa and South Africa, both areas she’s particularly fond of and returns to again and again.
5 Extra finds, South West of France
(apart from one :)
Hôtel de la plage, Cap Ferret
From 250 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Hotel de la Plage is one of our regular stops for lunch when we holiday in Cap Ferret. It has a lovely setting in the typical village of L'Herbe and offers good simple food with a simley service. Now, the 12 rooms in the all read and cream building from 1860 have been renovated. Decorated by Delphine Carrère, each room bears a first name, that of a person, known or not, who left their mark on the place. Here, no television, no air conditioning, no mini bar. The idea is to have the impression of spending the weekend with our grandparents! There is no pool.
Salty Woods Lodge, les Landes
From 100 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
In the small village of Soustons on the south west coast of France, Salty Woods Lodge is a modern design clad five-star guest house in a pine forest. The Lodge consists of two houses connected by a large wooden terrace. One of the houses has four bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, while the other includes a fully equipped kitchen, a living area and two further bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The entire Lodge can be rented in summer, and individual bed and breakfast rooms in spring and fall. heated saltwater pool
Maison Bellamant, Haute Garonne
From 170 Euros - Check latest prices and availability
Located in Alan, near Aurignac, 45 min from Toulouse, 2h30 from the Basque Country, in the countryside of the Pyrenean foothills, Maison Bellamant, a former 19th century farmhouse has 5 rooms and table d'hôtes/. Some of the rooms have Nordic baths, whirlpools, and outdoor bathtubs. In the middle of the forest, in a clearing, facing the immaculate nature, a swimming pool of 16m x 5m with a wooden terrace.
Maison Hubert, Bordeaux
From 315 euros - Check latest prices and availability
A great concept of a B&B in Bordeaux specifically designed for families. In an art deco style building, Maison Hubert is a guest house with five spacious suites all beautifully renovated. The smallest measures 70m2 while the largest, duplex, measures 100m2. All of the suites have two bedrooms to accommodate families or a group of friends. And there are tons of services and help for children. No pool.
Abbaye des Vaux de Cernay
From 250 euros - Check latest prices and availability
Located just a 45-minute drive from Paris, this renovated abbey offers a unique blend of chic modernity and serene luxury within a historic landmark. The hotel boasts 146 stunning bedrooms and suites spread across iconic buildings, each meticulously designed by Cordélia de Castellane to reflect a classic country-house style. Guests can enjoy a wide range of activities on the estate, including tennis, yoga, biking, and pedalo trips, as well as leisurely strolls in the forest. The hotel features a pool in the spa.