Relieved to escape the stress of endless security lines, overweight baggage, and general airport hassle, we set off on the train from London to Paris. We arrived in the French capital after an easy two hour journey and headed to our first stop – Hotel Le Grand Mazarin.
Le Grand Mazarin, the fourth hotel in the Maisons Pariente collection, is in the heart of Le Marais and just a short Metro ride from Gare du Nord station, so I continued my stress-free travel day. The hotel exudes timeless Parisian style with modern flair, provided by local artists.
Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the hotel boasts luxurious amenities, including the Boubale restaurant, an indoor swimming pool and hamman, and exclusive spa offerings. Our time was spent enjoying the flavours of the Levant at Boubale, admiring the ornate decor at the hotel, and exploring Le Marais with a concierge-recommended tour group.
From Paris, we continued our train journey south and in less than three hours on the train, we arrived in Avignon and took a short car ride to Hotel Crillon Le Brave. Within a traditional Provencal village, this Maisons Pariente property flawlessly combines stone walls and rolling hills with fine dining and a luxurious spa. In between delicious meals, we spent our days basking by the pool, tasting regional rosés, and visiting local markets and antique fairs.
The last leg of our journey was to chic St. Tropez. Once again, we avoided airports by taking the train. Upon arrival at Lou Pinet, the glitz and glam of the town was replaced by the charm of a family home. Though it is impossible to dismiss the grandeur of simple luxuries at Lou Pinet. The garden is perfectly maintained, and each decoration is tasteful and intentional. Lou Pinet offers frequent shuttles in and out of St. Tropez, which is only 2km away. We went into the town for our fix of shopping, yacht-watching, and exploring, but were relieved to return to our laid back oasis.
Rather than battle the endless misfortunes of air-travel, trains proved to be an ideal alternative. We were able to enjoy our trip to the Maisons Pariente hotels without ever stepping foot in an airport, which in my mind is a luxury in itself (and that’s without counting the fine dining, spa treatments, and grand suites!).
