Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 - (Page 21)

THE POTIRON ROOM in L’Auberge at Château de Berne (right) has a warm and bright ambiance. to a large terrace with chaise lounges overlooking the valley or golf courses. Top Touch: The marble bathroom has a heated floor, spacious glass-enclosed shower and large double vanity. We luxuriated in the deep soaking tub, which boasted L’Occitane bath amenities. The crème de la crème at Four Seasons Provence is the fully detached three-bedroom, two-bath Villa Terre Blanche. At 3,230 square feet, your VIP clients will feel as if they are in a posh Manhattan apartment, but with the peaceful hills right outside. The view can be enjoyed from the spectacular terrace and the private pool and whirlpool. Your clients can entertain in the indoor or outdoor dining areas, both of which seat eight. The master bedroom has a king bed and oversized dressing room, while the two other bedrooms have their own living rooms with sofa beds and private terraces. The en-suite marble bathroom pampers guests with a free-standing deep soaking tub. The Spa sits in a two-story Provençal villa with 12 sleek treatment rooms—four with private terraces—including two VIP couples’ suites, a Zen studio and a beauty center. Guests can choose from treatments and products from ESPA and Terraké. Heat “experiences” include a sauna, laconium, steam room and vitality pool. The ultimate in pampering here is the Provençal Escape, which uses coarse salt from Camargue, olive oil and lavender buds for exfoliation. The spa director is Delphine Quargnul (delphine. quargnul@fourseasons.com; 011-33-04-9439-3891). On-site dining includes the Michelin-starred Faventia, which serves contemporary Provençal cuisine. The Guadina Lounge is an elegant yet casual lounge bar with a pianist to entertain in the evenings. The property features two 18hole courses—Le Château and Lew Riou. There’s also a David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Children are welcomed with child-size robes, special toiletries and a surprise treat. The Kid’s Club is open to ages 2-12 and hosts a variety of programs, including a flora and fauna discovery workshop. For VIP requests, luxury travel advisors should contact Director of Sales and Marketing André Devillers (andre. devillers@fourseasons.com; 011-33-04-9439-3661). One of the most classically beautiful properties in the Provence countryside is L’Auberge at Château de Berne (www.chateauberne.com), a member of Châteaux et Hotels de France and Relais & Châteaux. This romantic estate has a history dating to Roman times. In the middle ages, Cistercian monks lived here; since 1985, it has been praised as a top wineproducing estate. The estate is so enormous that once we drove onto the property, it took another 10 minutes to pull up to the main house. (Note: There is no concierge, although there are receptionists and luggage handlers.) The feel of a turn-of-the-century vineyard lives throughout the property, evoking true Provençal country ambiance—in a word, gorgeous. The hotel has just 19 rooms and suites, all named after herbs or fruits, such as Lavande, Thym and Jujube. Ours was the Basilic, which has a rustic, countryhome layout. Charm Factor: The bathrooms throughout are fitted with old-fashioned copper knobs, handles and faucets and country-style blue-and-white tiles. The balconies afford views of the entire domain, including the Old Cave of the winery and vineyard. The “Grand Suite” is Olivier. It has a king bed with a canopy, sitting room, dressing room, large bathroom with clawfoot tub and a private roof terrace and balcony with a magnificent view of the estate. All 19 rooms can be booked for weddings or special events, which can be held in one of the reception rooms, including the Salle de Bacchus, a 755-foot covered terrace. For a unique wedding, arrange for a ceremony in the 500-person, Roman-style amphitheater. Insider Tip: A bride can land via helicopter onto the extension for a most memorable entrance. The restaurant at the Château de Berne serves gourmet Provençal fare. Our menu was a delightful orchestration of misé en bouche (appetizers) of ADVISOR INSIGHT: Brenda Newsome, owner of Newsome Travel, says SaintRémy-de-Provence is her favorite part of the region. “You have to visit St. Rémy on a market day,” she says. “You can experience all the Provençal products—incredible foods, savons, flowers, fruits and vegetables.” To take in the natural beauty of the region, she recommends the Hostellerie Vallon Valrugues (www.vallondevalrugues.com) in St. Rémy. “The hotel has an idyllic setting, nestled among the vineyards, olive trees and fields of lavender. The gardens are lovely and relaxing,” she says. 21 www.luxuryta.com January 2009 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR http://www.chateauberne.com http://www.vallondevalrugues.com http://www.luxuryta.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Lucca Egypt Provence Great Honeymoons Cover Story: Dan Flannery Girlfriend Getaways Croatia The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Meetings & Incentives Supplement Aruba Turks and Caicos Los Angeles Laguna Beach, CA

Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2009

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