Tag Archives: provence

Dolce Frégate Resort, St Cyr Sur Mer, Marseille, Provence

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archMarseille [400x300].JPGBy Avril O’Connor

 

Dolce Frégate is a perfect hotel for a long weekend. It’s about one-hour’s drive from Marseille – so you can do France’s second largest City and escape to the tranquilty of this five star hotel, set beside a links golf course.

The service at Dolce is exceptional and the staff are friendly – not intimidating. 

As the sun goes down I pop along to the bar for a Kir Royale. I am welcomed and made to feel at home.

Then its off to the terrace for dinner. The food here is superb and the wines are mostly from Provence, including the hotel’s own vineyard, Domaine de Fregate, in the Bandol region,  which I visit earlier that day.

Historically, a fregate (in English frigate) was a sailing warship, of a size just below that of a ship of the line (the main and most heavily armoured fighting ships)| Just over 2 km from Dolce Fregate is the fishing village of Bandol, which gives its name to one of Provence’s most internationally recognized wine regions. The Bandol AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée) covers production from eight neighbouring communes, whose limestone soil and warm, coastal climate is ideally suited for the late ripening Mourvedre grape. The Mourvedre accounts for at least 50% of the composition of most red and rose wines from this area.

The Bardo vineyard is is set in fields of huge lavender bushes with all kinds of beautiful butterflies and bees flying around – it’s magical.

 There is lots to do nearby if you don’t want to relax exactly. You can take a trip out to the Calanques – a rocky coastline to which Corsica was once joined.

 

CalanquesMarseille [400x300].JPG

 The famous Calanques – rocks which were once  joined to Corsica

 

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Outside pool

O Digoit Superior room with golf and sea view [640x480].jpg A Provence-style stone floors and a view of the sea and golf course

 

The stunning Dolce Frégate resort exudes the quintessential Provençal character from beginning to end, with earthy tones, Romanesque roof tiles, and panoramic views of the Mediterranean coastline.

The 4* hotel presents 133 superbly appointed guest rooms and suites, complete with terracotta tiled flooring, solid oak furniture, and the finest linen. Additionally, the rooms are fitted with private balcony or terrace, and all the expected contemporary features, including full climate control, satellite television and direct dial telephone.

The fantastic Provençal destination is a comprehensive venue that caters well for groups and families, with excellent facilities and culinary options, explaining why Dolce Frégate is firmly entrenched as one of the most desirable luxury golf holiday options.

The Dolce Frégate resort has superb leisure facilities; soak up the reliable rays from the sun terrace which surrounds the stunning three-tiered outdoor swimming pool, or work up a sweat on the tennis and petanque courts. Inside the hotel you will find a gym, featuring the latest in cardiovascular training technology, two saunas, a jacuzzi, and a swimming pool, while the beauty salon offers a wide range of excellent relaxation therapy.

Gastronomy is to the fore at Dolce Frégate; head to Mas Des Vignes for fine Provencal classics, or the more informal La Restanque brasserie.

The resort also boasts 13 meeting rooms and excellent conference facilities, making it a great corporate golf destination.

The gourmet experience will be accentuated by the finest vintages from the Domaine de Frégate vineyard.

Conceived by the esteemed and prolific American designer Ronald Fream, Frégate is considered to be one of the most beautiful courses in all of France. As the course winds around the resort’s impressive estate, visiting golfers are presented with awe-inspiring views down over the Mediterranean coastline.

The golf course which  is very pretty at least from a female perspective has one draw back, the little lakes and ponds are full of frogs which croak at full blast throughout the night FACT BOX

Dolce Frigate Resort Route de Bandol 82 270 Saint Cyr Sur Mer T: + 33 (0)4 94 29 39 39 reservation-fregate@dolce.com http://www.fregate.dolce.com

L’Occitane

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L’Occitane, pronounced “lox-ee-tahn,” gets its name from the ancient province that once stretched across the south of France. The company, founded in 1976, manufactures body and skin care, men’s grooming items, hair care, and home fragrance products incorporating natural ingredients from the Provence area. L’Occitane owns Olivier & Co., an olive oil producer and retailer, and operates subsidiaries in the US, Hong Kong, and the UK. Products, most of which have Braille labeling, include Precious Cream from Immortelle (anti-aging), shea butter lip balm and hand cream, orange nutmeg incense sticks, Lavender Harvest fragrance, and the L’Oranger line. Clarins holds a minority stake in L’Occitane.

www.loccitane.com

Udai vilas, Udaipur, Rajasthan

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T:+91 294 243 3300; www.oberoihotels.com

The resort has two large swimming pools which are heated in winter, a gymnasium, boutique and a library with a selection of music and DVDs. Private excursions and cruises on the lake can be organised by the hotel. The spa, managed by Banyan Tree, offers holistic treatments and therapies to pamper and revitalise mind and body using holistic therapies and massages combining the best of East and West. Massages, facials and body beautification methods use ancient Ayurveda and aromatherapy as well as Thai and western techniques designed to relieve stress as well as create a sense of wellbeing. The spa has a private pool and individual therapy suites with views of Lake Pichola, the Aravali mountains and City Palace. Each of the eight suites has its own steam sauna and Victorian style bathtub. The gym and hair salon are located around a central domed foyer with a marble fountain.