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Destinations
Five chic destinations in France
Scattered along our coastline, chic seaside resorts abound. Some, however, stand out for their history, their environment and their legendary hotels. YONDER takes you to 5 chic French destinations on the Atlantic, English Channel and Mediterranean coasts.
1. A chic vacation in La Baule
Backed by the sublime Guérande salt marshes and the Brière regional nature park, La Baule offers all the glamour of one of the world's most beautiful bays, fringed by a 9 km long sandy beach, where it's not uncommon to see a few horses passing by early in the morning or at the end of the day. This chic destination also boasts the timeless charm of opulent Belle Epoque villas nestled in the pine forest, renowned open-air music festivals in the heart of the Parc des Dryades, gourmet addresses, some with their feet in the sand, and top-of-the-range boutiques.
And a plethora of internationally renowned hotels, including the must-see L'Hermitage. Facing the beach, this seaside hotel owned by the Barrière group brilliantly cultivates the seaside spirit. Its rooms and suites, which open onto the ocean and the hinterland of La Baule, are adorned in subtle monochrome fabrics suggesting the blue of the waves and the white of the sand, while the sleek furniture completes the sophisticated decor in a resolutely contemporary style. When it comes to well-being, L'Hermitage pampers its guests with a luxurious spa, a high-tech fitness center, a sauna and a hammam, as well as two swimming pools, one heated indoors and the other open-air, with its terrace, deckchairs and parasols out of sight.Lovers of active vacations will enjoy a wide choice of activities, from golf and tennis to cycling and padel.
The plus? Ciro's, a gourmet restaurant in La Baule, as well as Le Pavillon, a winter garden with a chic yet relaxed atmosphere. While parents enjoy the benefits of the sea and its trace elements at the hotel spa, children aged 4 to 12 are welcomed to the Studio by Petit VIP at the La Baule spa hotel for fun activities based on cinema, photography, the art of the table, music and even French etiquette.
Hôtel Barrière L'Hermitage La Baule
5 Esplanade Lucien Barrière, 44500 La Baule-Escoublac
hotelsbarriere.com/en/la-baule.html
2. A chic vacation home in Dinard
Once a fishing village on the Emerald Coast, Dinard charmed the British aristocracy and the Parisian elite who came here to enjoy the sea. It also attracted artists such as Oscar Wilde, Debussy, Jules Verne and Picasso. Heir to a rich architectural heritage, this elegant and ever-inspiring chic destination in France has a few nuggets in store for its visitors, such as the romantic Promenade du Clair de Lune, winding its way between Art Deco villas, neo-classical hotels and palm groves; the Pointe du Moulinet, lined with castles built by English lords on the seafront; and the Saint-Énogat district, the birthplace of the city, famous for its beach and pretty villas. And it's in this Breton setting that the Grand Hôtel Dinard has found its home, perpetuating a tradition of elegance. This spa hotel in Brittany has adopted the codes of seaside chic, dressing its 86 rooms and suites in soft beige and deep blue, echoing the sea, the private garden and the heights of the town.
In addition to a Clefs d'Or concierge, the Dinard hotel offers top-of-the-range services including a kid's club for children aged 4 to 12, who are pampered by the staff, while parents enjoy the Shiseido spa, heated swimming pool and wellness area with sauna and hammam. Bicycles are available for rides around town or along the coast, not forgetting a restaurant with large windows offering a breathtaking view over the bay of Le Prieuré. Meticulously prepared fish and local cuisine delight the taste buds in the restaurant, while cocktails are served on the terrace overlooking the sea.
The plus? A breathtaking view of the ramparts of Saint-Malo.
Le Grand Hôtel Dinard
46 Avenue George V, 35800 Dinard
hotelsbarriere.com/en/dinard
3. Le Touquet, Paris has its chic beach
Le Touquet-Paris-Plage (as it has been known since 1912!) is undoubtedly the most British of France's chic destinations, the "Pearl of the Côte d'Opale", and enjoys an unrivalled setting in the natural region of Marquenterre, between immense forest and fine sandy beach, hemmed in by dunes, a paradise for sand yachts, kitesurfing and coastal sailing. The resort's extensive Anglo-Norman architectural heritage, developed by a British businessman at the beginning of the last century, is complemented by Art Deco and neo-medieval houses, giving it an elegant, delightfully eclectic style that has included the internationally renowned Le Westminster hotel since 1924.
Behind its superb pink-brick Art Deco façade, with its discreet luxury and hushed atmosphere, this jewel in the crown and the only 5-star hotel on the Côte d'Opale, combines history and modernity in the heart of the town. While the spa, fitness center, sauna, hammam and indoor pool ensure the well-being of guests, the rooms, at once cosy and cheerful thanks to a skilfully designed Art Deco atmosphere, invite absolute relaxation. In addition to the lounges and magnificent bar-lounge, reminiscent of an English club, this legendary address boasts the Pavillon, a 30-seat, 1-Michelin-star gourmet restaurant, a bistronomic table, and a superb reception area also devoted to breakfasts. The Studio by Petit VIP welcomes children aged 4 and over for fun and educational workshops based on the major arts: photography, comics, cinema, sculpture, etc. A signature of all Barrière hotels.
The plus? A unique Art Deco spirit that British guests love.
Hôtel Barrière Le Westminster
Avenue du Verger, 62520 Le Touquet-Paris-Plage
hotelsbarriere.com/en/le-touquet
4. Deauville, a walk on the Planches
A vast expanse of golden sand colored by charming wooden beach huts and graceful parasols, stud farms just as famous as the racecourse, voluptuous Belle Époque villas, splendid half-timbered buildings, manor houses and other architectural masterpieces, the most glamorous American Film Festival and the famous Planches, which, after seeing the Tout-Paris of the Roaring Twenties, can now be described as a French-style "sunset boulevard". Deauville, France's chic vacation destination with a wealth of influences, boasts the luxury of an elegant bohemian atmosphere.
Since 1912, the Barrière Le Normandy, Deauville's emblematic spa hotel, immortalized in Claude Lelouch's film Un homme et une femme, has stood majestically in this gentle environment, just a stone's throw from the beach. In the contemporary rooms, the walls are lined with photos and toile de Jouy in sepia, blue, indigo, orange, green or carmine tones, diffusing the light of the Côte Fleurie. At the spa, expert treatments offer precious moments of well-being, as does the swimming pool coiled under a translucent roof, after a visit to the fitness center, sauna or hammam. At the bar, original cocktails are sipped perched on the high chairs of the magnificent mahogany counter or in the lounges, facing portraits of prestigious guests such as Coco Chanel or Winston Churchill. Generous local specialties can be enjoyed at La Belle Époque restaurant, whose huge windows overlook the Normandy courtyard, with its Années Folles ambience, while in season, you can dine at the whimsical Bar de la Mer, on the Planches, for a breathtaking view.
The plus? The Club Ado for young people aged 13 to 17, and the Studio by Petit VIP, which entertains children aged 4 to 12 with a program based on art and unusual activities: haute joaillerie design, soundpainting, fashion show, educational farm..
Hôtel Barrière Le Normandy Deauville
38 Rue Jean Mermoz, 14800 Deauville
hotelsbarriere.com/en/deauville
5. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, the stars and their villas
Between Nice and Monaco, the Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat peninsula is one of the Côte d'Azur's most exclusive resorts. A natural paradise where prestigious estates, including the emblematic Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, were built at the beginning of the last century, this destination has seen a plethora of artists and personalities pass through its doors. Picturesque coastal paths offering exceptional panoramic views, countless unspoilt beaches and coves lapped by crystal-clear waters, lush gardens, historic monuments and the unparalleled aura of Mediterranean culture are just some of the attractions of this refined yet discreet retreat, prized by visitors from all over the world who come here to recharge their batteries in complete tranquillity.
And stay at the prestigious Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, one of the Côte d'Azur's most legendary addresses for over a century. This Four Seasons palace, nestled in 7 hectares of gardens overlooking the Grande Bleue, boasts sumptuous rooms and suites, including an incredible penthouse with views stretching from Monaco to Nice, as well as 3 luxurious private villas, nestled in the heart of the pine forest, for a total sense of privacy and exclusivity. Helmed by Michelin-starred chef Yoric Tièche, the cuisine served in the 3 restaurants, including the gourmet Le Cap, sublimates Provencal and Mediterranean specialties, while cocktails are prepared by talented bartenders in the library bar and on the terrace. For wellbeing, a cardio fitness area in the gardens and a top-of-the-range spa with indoor pool take the edge off tension, unless you prefer the cosy private outdoor cabanas overlooking the sea.
The highlight? The breathtaking heated infinity seawater pool at Club Dauphin, one of the symbols of the Grand Hotel.
Grand Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat
71 Boulevard du Général de Gaulle, 06230 Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat