Great new chateaux hotel
My recent journey through Provence concluded at Chateau de Montcaud, which I reached after crossing the Rhône and driving through vineyards with Mont Ventoux forever in my rear-view mirror. While designer fashion houses are at the helm in Saint-Tropez at Le Cheval Blanc, the four-star Chateau de Montcaud celebrates its connections to the couture of […]
Best places to stay in Languedoc
With its Roman architecture, varied coastline, Pyrenean foothills and vibrant cities, Languedoc is the ‘other’ south of France, but oh so different to Provence. Here are my pick of the 20 best places to stay in the region. 20 best places to stay in Languedoc One of my favourites among them is Village Castigno (pool […]
Switch off in Village Castigno
Village Castigno PDF Village Castigno, a ‘scattered hotel’ in the Languedoc village of Assignan, has transformed a dying village into a vibrant centre for relaxation, creative workshops and wine-tasting… but forget about Instagramming it (published in Metro, 23 July 2018). The new winery just outside Village Castigno, a welcoming village hotel in the south […]
A weekend in Nîmes
A weekend in Nimes, The Times, 5th May 2018. With the opening of the brand new Roman museum opening in June 2018 (I was the first non-French journalist to visit), it seemed the perfect time to explore Nimes, its Roman heritage, and soak up the Mediterranean sun. Read the article here Or here: A weekend in […]
Total Guide: Seaside France
For Sunday Times Travel Magazine’s August 2017 issue, I wrote more than 4000 words about Seaside France in a variety of different formats. This included: Two longer pieces on the Roussillon coast and Roscoff (including the Ile de Batz), Top tens on best seaside hotels, secret coastal towns, sun-drenched beaches, lazy seaside meals, ways to […]
The best French hotels for foodies
Being a bit of a foodie, I already knew some of the best hotels in France for a gourmet experience but during the course of researching and writing Lonely Planet’s France From the Source I stayed in some excellent hotels that offer a superb gastronomic experience for a variety of budgets. It was great, therefore, to pull […]