THE SPA at HOTEL LES ROCHES ROUGES
Inaugurated last May in the Saint-Raphael area of the French Riviera, between Cannes and Saint-Tropez, Hotel Les Roches Rouges is a hotel with a mission. Perched directly on the azure waters of the Mediterranean, and designed by the beautiful, stylish and talented duo Hugo Sauzay & Charlotte de Tonnac (both ex fashion models) of the Parisian firm Festen, the hotel – epitomizing the essence of understated luxury – aims to brings back the original glam of the Cote D’Azur of the Fifties. Airy rooms and suites with minimal décor and spectacular views promote communion with nature and total relaxation: some bathtubs have sea views, and terraces invite to read a book basking in the balsamic air. The barefoot chic lifestyle continues with a plunge in the seawater pool carved in the rocks, or a swim in the cobalt sea, accessed from a private pebble beach; or with a walk through the fragrant garden, where aromas of mimosa, lavender, rosemary and verbena will inebriate you. Activities include paddle boarding, kayaking, yoga and petanque, the traditional bowling played in French villages. The restaurants serve traditional Provençale cuisine realized with fresh local ingredients sourced in local farms and markets (the tapenade is really yummy). To hone your bikini body to perfection, the Wellness Center by Esthederm – the French skincare brand founded by biologist Jean-Noel Thorel specializing in protection from the sun and on the reversal of photo-ageing – offers an array of beauty treatments ideal for pre and post-sunbathing. Start with the Essentiel Gommage, a scrub that will shed away every dead cell on your body (25 min € 60); continue with the Jeunesse du Corps (55 min, € 85) that will tone and reshape your silhouette. For tan lovers, the Bronz-Impulse (55 min, € 85) is a boosting treatment to prepare the skin, while the Sublim-Bronz soothes and prolongs the tan. The facials are outstanding as well: choose l’Equilibre Hydra (45 min, € 85) for an instant plumping effect. Add that the bergamot-infused shampoos, conditioners, shower gels and body lotions provided in the rooms have been formulated for the hotel by Grasse-based brand Le Labo, responsible also for the scent (marine notes with geranium and amber) emanating from the candles burning at reception, and you can see why this resort is really “very chic”.
