FranceOctober 9, 2020, by Maartje

The youngest surprise in the most beautiful part of France: Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer

By the sea
France, October 9, 2020, by Maartje

The youngest surprise in the most beautiful part of France: Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer

Anyone who has been watching us here for a while knows that we make an annual summer trip to the French coast. Please also read this article just a little while longer - you're going to like it, even if it's just about anticipation. Done? Then you have also read that the most underrated part of the French coastal region is La Croix Valmer, and that is precisely why we love it there so much. Underrated, the word says it all. It's a treat Côte d'Azur. You will not (yet) come across a beautiful sea and the Dutch Hockey Club.

 

And it is exactly the place where we found one of the most beautiful (rest assured: it is gorgeous), nicest (you really don't have to leave the house anymore) and most friendly (un-French, so to speak) hotels that we visited last year. : Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer. 

 

(of course, as the pictures already reveal, Lily of the Valley is certainly not the most affordable hotel, but it is still affordable (because it is new) so don't wait too long - the place will certainly only become more popular. You have been warned )

Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer

Lily of the Valley in La Croix Valmer

Not to be missed: the elegance of the entire hotel, the fantastic print and color combinations and the fantastic view of the ocean. Restaurant Vista is managed by top chef Vincent Maillard, the right-hand man of foodie household name Alain Ducasse and the hotel was, surprise, designed by Philippe Starck. Surprise? Yes. Anyway. When we think of Starck, we don't necessarily think of these warm tones and eclectic combinations. We like it. All rooms have a private terrace and sea or pool views. 

Until 2016, this place was home to a small traditional hotel with a spectacular location. The joke is that we once slept there too (because dogs were welcome back then and St. Tropez was too pricey for our budget... One of the richest French families had their eye on the place, bought out the previous owners and the rest is – sort of speaking – history. Oh, they also bought most of the surrounding land and a piece of the coast was called in to turn it into a neoclassical meets rustic modern hotel where nature and luxury come together A clear briefing and anyone visiting the hotel can only confirm that Starck knows his trade.

Have you dropped out? Don't! Remeber that friendly nature of the hotel? Lily of the Valley is still an independent family hotel! Small children are doing crafts by the pool and the atmosphere is just really relaxed. Good for a hotel of this size and allure. To underline that the owners really have no posh intention in mind with their hotel: when the hotel opened they did not organize a big party for all kinds of celebrities and 'influencers', but all local shop owners and traders were invited. We like.

Restaurant Vista serves polished Provencal cuisine with an emphasis on local ingredients, served on the spectacular terrace or by the pool. There is also a small restaurant at the spa, but we skipped that: only very healthy smoothies and salads here ;-).

The rooms are nothing but beautiful: wicker lampshades, marble bathrooms, rattan rugs and plump bedding – all just right. There is a coffee machine (no milk – you drink your coffee here Black, French style), bags of hand-blended herbal tea, a demi-bouteille of the local rosé and a small selection of homemade cookies. 

Well, that's not cheap at all. That's ok because you are also welcome at the restaurant alone!

 

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