Hotel review: La Bastide de Moustiers, Provence, France
La Bastide de Moustiers hotel review
AOL Travel reviews La Bastide de Moustiers, a rustic-chic inn located in Provence, France.
Written by: Ruth Doherty
La Bastide de Moustiers hotel
Date published: 09/03/2012
5 / 5 stars
First impressions
Glam-rustic chic sitting atop a hill arrived at via a cyprus tree-clad winding driveway, and flanked by limestone cliffs. Beautiful.
What's to love?
The lust-list at Alain Ducasse's inn is endless: the stunning thermal pool; the beautiful gardens bursting with herbs, lavender and olive trees; the hammock and petanque area; the helipad (OK, we can't use it, but it's cool...). What really stood out, however, were the little details: the freshly picked lavender left on your bed; the homemade buttery biscuits on your pillow; the cotton his 'n' hers nightwear on the chaise longue. And the friendliness of the staff makes you feel completely at home. Jeremy, the warm and smiling manager, implores us to treat it like our own during our stay, and the relaxed yet elegant vibe is hard to beat.
Best rooms in the house
All of the 12 rooms are decorated in Provencal pastels, enhanced with locally-crafted ceramics (Moustiers is famous for its pottery and the house once belonged to a potter), all balanced out with dark antique furniture. The rooms are not flashy, but contain all the necessary mod cons (flatscreen TV, iPod dock, minibar).
Where to eat
The restaurant terrace is where the magic happens. As one of the most Michelin-star-decorated chefs in the world, guests would expect top-quality fare from an Alain Ducasse-owned property, and it certainly doesn't disappoint. But don't expect pomp and circumstance, this is intelligent yet earthy food, mostly made with ingredients from the on-site garden (which features 30 different types of tomatoes, btw), and prettied up with edible flowers. The view over the spectacular surrounding hills will blow you away.
This place is perfect if you...
Appreciate the finer things in life, with a laissez-faire attitude.
Top tip?
Don't miss a trip to the nearby Gorges du Verdon; locals and tourists flock to its almost-turquoise mountain-water lake to soak up the rays and soak in the rugged views.
Price
From €205 per night, breakfast is an additional €20 per person.
Details
La Bastide de Moustiers, Chemin de Quinson, Provence, 04360. Book at mrandmrssmith.com.
Getting around
Nimes Airport car hire starts from £23 per day or £157 per week with rhinocarhire.com.
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