Best for: all-round children’s wonderland
One might be hard-pressed to find a hotel more fairytale-like than Airelles St Tropez Château de la Messardière. As the electric gates draw back, there is an audible gasp from the back. For once, my daughter is completely speechless. The majestic, apricot-hued 19th-century palace rises from the rows of cypress and oleander, and we are enveloped by the scent of lavender and rose, blending in the warm summer air. The staff, all smartly clad in Chic at Work-designed outfits, whisk us to our room. For younger guests, a bed full of gifts awaits: an organic cotton backpack, a miniature cherry-adorned suitcase, and a fluffy rabbit. For adults, bespoke pyjamas and custom Orlebar Brown shirts, straw hats and a teal sarong. A change of outfits is in order for both of us – this is a Dior-to-breakfast level of smart (thank goodness for a pre-holiday Vinted haul); hair brushed and morning crumbs removed, we head off to discover the kids’ club. A hoot signals the arrival of the infamous kids’ club train, a replica carriage that transports little ones there and back (and parents back to a golden childhood).
The 500m sq pleasure filled space spans a games room for older children, a Lego salon, fridges bursting with Myrtilles & Noisettes protein bars, photobooths, a gloriously appointed nap room for babies and a full-size swimming pool with candy striped miniature sunbeds and parasols. Gallic-style dressing up rails are more fashionable than Disneyland. For those who can’t stretch to the staying in the hotel, there is the ingenious option of paying €248 (Rs25,440) to use the kids’ club all day to membership of the Summer Camp (€1,490 (Rs1,52,850) week or €3,450 (Rs3,53,914) a month), which includes the three course lunch and dinner (no cheesy pasta in sight here, this is young feasting at its finest – sesame seared tuna tataki, sole meuniere with brown butter and Cajun chicken with quinoa) and what is the undisputed highlight of the day, the treat-filled afternoon tea, where watermelon dinosaurs, fluffy brownies and crepes smothered with salted caramel keep energy levels going for the rest of the day. Daily trips to the on-site farm prove to be very popular, where children can help unearth eggs hiding under sprigs of hay and scamper after the fluffiest white bunnies before baking gateaux with the fresh eggs. There are magic shows, face painting and origami lessons, pony rides and gardening sessions.
Back at the hotel, mealtimes are a chance to don the smartest dresses – the ebullient General Manager Mauro Governato joyfully embraces families wholeheartedly himself, from bringing the HUGE resident teddy bear to sit next to offspring at mealtimes to cycling the smoothie bike – as the wheels turn, the fruit and milk are blended into a delicious morning treat. Other days are spent being spirited in the house Mini Moke (or maxi Rolls Royce) to the beach club, where day beds are available to rent for an afternoon, sifting sand and munching on crisp-skinned chicken and fries. Traffic is notorious around here, especially in high season; however, most find that there is little reason, if any, to leave this magical hotel. Doubles from Rs1,30,000.
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