Unexpected Places to Stay Across France

There are so many famous destinations throughout France to diversify your experience and keep you travelling back for years to come. Obviously, you have Paris, the South of France, beaches, forests, the alps, and wine regions. You could visit any of these places and have a completely different experience than you did at another- you might even feel like you’ve traveled to a different country. 

But if you’re looking to take it even further off-the-beaten-path and make your next French holiday a little more unique, you may want to consider staying in one of these unexpected hotels: 

Coucoo Grands Cépages

Get the Bora-Bora or Bali-style tropical lagoon experience with an overwater bungalow (or thatched nest)  in the heart of France. 

Why We Love It:

• Choose between luxury floating or tree-house style cabins, or book half your stay at each for a land + sea adventure
• In-suite espresso machines
• luxury spa tub indoors and chalet-style soaking hot tubs under the stars
• Romantic rowboats for touring the lake
• Breakfast and Aperitif baskets delivered to your cabin terrace each day
• Romantic Cabin treatments available: Rose petal baths, beautiful bouquets, and bottles of bubbly upon request

Photo credit to https://www.cabanesdesgrandscepages.com/

Dreamsea Surf Camp

Combine the luxury glamping trend with the allure of adult summer camp and choose this no-holds-barred surfing school in Moliets. 

Why We Love It:

• Start your journey in Belgium or the Netherlands and arrive in style by surf bus
• On-site croissant shop 
• Musical instruments are available 24/7 for an impromptu jam session by the tiki bar, or around a beach bonfire 
• All-inclusive experience
• Internationally-inspired cuisine with several plant-based options 
• Open-air gym and ocean-front yoga

Photo credit to https://dreamseasurfcamp.com/

OFF Paris Seine

This floating hotel +  bar, moored at a marina on the river seine is waiting to dazzle you with its eclectic brand of modern luxury; perfectly curated with the millennial in mind. 

Why We Love It:

• Colourful, Instagram-worthy bathtubs
• Situated below the ​​Gare d’Austerlitz rail station, you can watch as trains whiz by overhead
• Vibrant weekend nightlife itinerary onboard
• Infinity-edge plunge pool 
• Exotic Tapas available in addition to daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections
• Boat hop and head out on an afternoon river cruise

Photo credit to https://santorinidave.com/

Kube Hotel Ice Bar

If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in an ice hotel but don’t know if you’re ready to brave the cold, here’s your perfect compromise. This trendy, upscale hotel has an ice bar for experimenting with some fanciful libations, and cozy rooms to warm up in at night. 

Why We Love It:

• Chateau-style accommodation redefined
• Ice-inspired glass headboards
• Floating beds in the Nordik Suites
• Themed, postapocalyptic hotel bar with expert mixologists, ice tables, and a -20 ° C climate. Brrrr….
• Lush, tropical garden bistro serving up creative dishes all day long- try their famous beef cheek and their signature Moscow mule

Photo Credit to https://www.kubehotel-paris.com/

Castlebrac

This stone beauty is no ordinary beach resort. Imagine living in a castle just steps down to the sea and you’re already halfway there. Now add a french, nautical twist, and honey, you’ve got it. 

Why We Love It:

• A Michelin-starred restaurant, Pourquoi Pas’ panoramic ocean views are somehow the least of what the dining experience has to offer you
• Prestigious wellness facilities including a hammam and solarium 
• Exclusively comprised of sea-view rooms with private terraces
• Free use of electric bicycles for touring the town 
• Cliff’s edge pool
• Private wooden yacht (hand-built, of course) for guests to charter up the coast or to islands of the channel 

https://www.castelbrac.com/

Les Echasses Luxury Eco Resort

This humble, yet deluxe eco-resort provides the perfect balance of remoteness (tucked between a tall pine forest and glistening lake) and proximity to all the locations you’d like to explore during your holiday. 

Why We Love It:

• Completely secluded location just minutes from the local beaches
• The minimum age requirement to ensure and quiet, serene escape  
• Built on stilts for a simulated overwater experience
• Hanging nest chairs on the sundeck
• Wood-heated nordic baths  
• On-site orchards, beehives, and gardens for a minutes-to-the-table dining experience
• The extensive organic wine menu

Photo credit to https://www.archdaily.com/

YNDO Hotel

Calling all interior fashion buffs! The YNDO hotel is full of illustrious designs from ceiling to floorboard with a blend of rich amethyst and rose quartz tones, quirky avant-garde furniture, and exquisite 19th-century architecture.   

Why We Love It:

• Enjoy brunches and happy hours in a courtyard flanked by magnolia trees
• One “secret room” on a hidden floor for guests who’d like to be tucked away from other hotel guests. Talk about a romantic hideaway!
• Complimentary bicycle hire
• 4 “crazy rooms” featuring massive art sculptures and a more extravagant design 
• A transformed oyster hut with a steel tub for families seeking a private escape
• Room service in style: You’ll have access to the full, exclusively-local menu served with fine porcelain dishes, genuine crystal glasses, and real silver cutlery. 

Photo credit to https://www.sawdays.co.uk/

La Divine Comedie

For the full floral experience that’s all but synonymous with the South of France, you can’t do better than La Divine Comedie’s historic chateau. 

Why We Love It:

• Home to the largest private garden in Avignon, including a dedicated fragrance garden 
• Museum-worthy art and sculpture throughout including 200+ 17th-19th century paintings
• 15-meter pool amidst the French gardens
• The library of book aficionados’ dreams
• Private indoor dining rooms inspired by alfresco garden dining 

Photo credit to https://www.sawdays.co.uk/

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the valley looks like a modern, bohemian fantasy land, and it is, but it’s also a hotel dedicated to health, wellness, and safe, sustainable weight loss? Yep, you heard that right. Besides its gorgeous interior, this hotel will partner you with a top-class nutritionist and give you access to expansive fitness studios. If weight loss isn’t on your radar, not to worry, you can simply opt for some holistic wellness experiences, like a massage, instead. 

Why We Love It:

• Not one, but FOUR onsite, farm-to-table restaurants with ocean views; including an Italian bistro
• From private forest to private beach clubs and everything in between, Lily of the Valley’s property is stunning and diverse
• Even the most basic rooms have private terraces, indoor/outdoor living spaces, soaking tubs, and impressive views of the hillside
• Upgraded Suites come with their own swimming pools, tucked further away from the main resort for maximum privacy
• Six kilometers of powdered sand for laid-back beach days at Lily of the Valley’s exclusive beach club