The Top Five Places to Stay on Your Golfing Holiday in France
France is a golf enthusiasts' heaven. However, it also boasts more hotels than any other European country and this huge choice can confuse and waste time. Plus, the hotel star-rating in France does not include a Five-Star - even though the country has several of the finest hotels in the world...President Sarkozy wants to reinvent the hotel rating system...But not until 2011.
So, we've trimmed the field down to the top five places to stay on your golfing holiday in France - these are destinations in their own right, places where the most discerning golfer (and non-golfer) will be very happy. Places where you can eat, sleep and play in the greatest of comfort.
5. Hotel and Spa de La Bretesche, Brittany
One of only three resorts in France to open a golf course, spa and Michelin-Star, La Bretesche is also a member of the reputed Relais et Chateaux association. Located on a beautiful lake and adjacent to a fairy-tale chateau, La Bretesche has only 28 bedrooms but lots of top-notch facilities. Inside, the hotel sports a new, more contemporary look and it contracts very nicely with the stone buildings. The Hotel and Spa de La Bretesche provides a perfect place to stay for anyone on a Golfing Holiday in Brittany, combining luxury with easy access to some of the most charming ports and towns in France.
4. Royal Champagne, Champagne
A list of great hotels wouldn't be complete without one in Champagne. The region features some outstanding places - all with the advantage of being located in the most famous vineyards in the world. The Royal Champagne is decorated with great taste - glamorous yet cosy, and offers a gastronomic restaurant, afternoon teas overlooking the vineyards and bedrooms to die for. A truly French Golf holiday, just three hours from Calais.
3. FourSeasons, Provence
FourSeasons is the world-leader in hotel service and its resort in Provence is no exception. Plus, it's in a secluded yet very central location and it's got a massive Romanesque spa and 36 holes of great golf. With a Michelin-star restaurant, two other eateries and huge, very comfortable bedrooms, the resort has proven to be deservedly popular in the three years since it was opened.
And with such a central location, you can get to other great courses such as Taulane, Royal Mougins and Barbaroux and visit Cannes and Saint Tropez. However, once you get to FourSeasons Provence, you won't want to live. It's the Dolce Vita in Provence.
2. Hotel Normandy Barriere, Deauville
Three hours from Calais, the Hotel Normandy Barriere is perfect for those looking for great golf during the day and lots of après-golf in the afternoon and by night. The hotel is a huge Normandy mansion, impeccably maintained and located on the beach. With a casino, theatre and lots of shops and sports on its doorstep, golfers and their non-golfing companions will be more than content. The Hotel Normandy Barriere has a special place in my heart as that is where I met my wife...We try and go back there every year and it's as good as it's ever been. A real French icon and close to three super courses.
1. Trianon Palace, Versailles
The Trianon Palace in Versailles hosted the Treaty of Versailles to end WWI. It's a stunning building in a stunning location - looking out over the gardens of the Chateau de Versailles. With a complete refurbishment, a beautiful spa and Gordon Ramsay's first French restaurant, it's set for the 21st-Century but keeps it history in full show too.
As well as visiting the chateau and beautiful town, golfers can play Golf National, the home of the French Open, Saint Germain, Le Prieure and Golf Parc...Four courses to whet the appetite of any serious golfer. Under three hours from Calais and just 30 minutes from the Eurostar station at Gare du Nord, you've got Paris/culture/golf/gastronomy and style all rolled into one.
About the Author:
Morgan Clarke is the Managing Director of GolfPlanet and French Golf Holidays, a company that has been providing bespoke golf holidays for over 25 years. They are experts in the world's best places to play, including golf holidaysin France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Dubai, Morocco and over 20 other countries. The award-winning specialist tour operator is determined to ensure that all golfers will enjoy an unforgettable experience wherever they go.