Lily of the Valley
France is having a moment. The Olympics have something to do with it, but that’s not the whole story. Paris will be busy during the actual games, and our contacts on the ground tell us that hotels are staffed up and ready. Needless to say, if the Olympics are on your bucket list, Paris is (always) a good idea.
Outside of the buzz of the Olympics…our bookings data shows a clear story that the French Riviera is trending hard this summer (perhaps the Positano of 2024?). Nearly half of our top-booked properties in France are on the Côte d’Azur. And with Delta offering their first day-time flight from JFK to CDG, there’s never been a better time to jet away to France.
If you want to get in on the action, we’ll help you do it right. We have our eyes on a few new up-and-comers — plus some tried-and-true favorites that still have (quickly diminishing) availability.
Save yourself from some social media FOMO: Connect with Fora to plan and book your South of France summer getaway.
AREV St Tropez
Images courtesy of AREV St Tropez
AREV St Tropez just opened, and it’s getting a ton of buzz. (AREV is a homophone of a rêve, French for “dream.”) The 50-room, luxury boutique stay is walkable to everything in town. It feels super warm and personable.
The hotel brings vibes, but not over-the-top party vibes, said Fora’s Co-Founder and seasons travel expert Henley Vazquez. She loves the “incredibly cute rooms” — glamorous, retro, nautical-chic.
The spa is outfitted with hammams, and all its treatments incorporate natural, locally produced products made with nourishing ingredients like Mediterranean sea salt and regional herbs. Staying active here is easy: play a game of padel on AREV’s padel court, take an outdoor yoga class or head to the modern, Peloton equipped gym.
AREV is the perfect place for an intimate, cool and fun homebase in the South of France.
“Plus they still have space!” Henley added. “This is the place to look if you’re looking for last-minute availability.”
Hotel Esencia — Château de Curzay
Henley is rightly obsessed with Hotel Esencia, one of the best boutique hotels in Mexico. So it’s no surprise we were all thrilled when its owner opened his first European location, in France’s Poitou region. Château de Curzay sits on 350 acres of rolling countryside, hills, forest and fields. The 18th-century estate took four years to renovate and sleeps a mere 12 people.
You’ll get a private, 24-hour butler. You can have them arrange meals at local restaurants or hire a private chef for the duration of your stay. The vibe is tranquil, laid-back and undeniably luxurious. Antiques and 18th-century artwork sit beside pieces by Picasso and Georges Jouve. Boldly patterned wallpaper and sumptuous fabrics add historic charm to the luxe, cheerful rooms. It’s the ultimate splurge for a private castle moment for a special occasion.
Auberge La Coste & Villa La Coste
Image courtesy of Villa La Coste
Auberge La Coste, in Aix en Provence, is the new, more approachably priced sister property to Villa la Coste, which has no fewer than three Michelin Keys. The charming 76-room Auberge La Coste feels like a cozy, delightful secret. It sits among the vineyards of the larger Château La Coste, the art-filled estate that encapsulates both the Auberge and Villa.
Expect terracotta floors, centuries-old oak ceilings, rustic hearths and biodynamic farming. Le Bar de L’Auberge adds an elevated take to your go-to village watering hole. Enjoy comfort classics like golden pommes frites and chicken pot pie topped with the flakiest puff pastry, all served in a moody space with handsome leather and brass.
“You should go before everyone else finds out about it,” Henley said.
Fora Perks at Villa La Coste:
€50 spa credit, welcome treats & an upgrade whenever possible.
Hôtel Royal-Riviera
Image courtesy of Hôtel Royal-Riviera
This regal, breezy, pink Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat icon is Fora’s top-booked hotel on the Côte d’Azur this summer. In other words, it’s a coveted property. If you have your heart set on specific dates, book now. Fora Advisor Lindsay Richter has personally stayed at the hotel twice, and shared that its pool, breakfast buffet, beach and location are what make it special.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat was once a fishing village, and maintains a calm, intimate vibe. At Hôtel Royal-Riviera, you can lounge beneath chic white beach umbrellas, or try your hand at paddleboarding and water skiing. The private, heated outdoor pool is an oasis surrounded by gardens. And the hotel’s garden game is strong.
This being the South of France, luxury cars are big. Fora Advisor Lindsay Vaughn said the hotel also shines in this respect. It regularly hosts exclusive car launch events, has its own luxury car park and has exclusive exhibition spaces amid its manicured gardens.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, an upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Lily of The Valley
Image courtesy of Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley, one of our five top-booked hotels in the South of France this summer, is a wellness destination. Like all of our most popular properties, the sooner you book, the better your chances at snagging a room. The St. Tropez hotspot takes a different approach to wellness — you won’t feel deprived here. There are programs dedicated to weight loss, detox, fitness and better aging, but even if you opt in, you can still, quite literally, have your cake (and wine!) and eat it.
“You feel like you are at home,” Lucie Weill, the owner of the hotel, shared with us. “And it was really important to us that you feel at ease at the hotel.”
Fora Advisor Celine Mahdavi said the hotel gives a “five-star experience with a relaxed wellness focus that's not too extreme.” Lindsay Richter added that she loved the off-the-beaten-path feel, private beach club, gorgeous seaside views and yoga classes (and the locally sourced, nourishing food).
Plus, Lindsay said Lily of the Valley is a great spot to bring babies or to enjoy a babymoon. She was pregnant when she stayed there, and met several other pregnant women, plus families traveling with infants and young children.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, breakfast daily, upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Carlton Cannes, a Regent Hotel
Image courtesy of Regent Carlton Cannes
The Carlton Cannes is, unsurprisingly, among our five top-booked hotels on the Côte d’Azur this summer. (Again, book right away to secure a room this summer; this gem is in high demand.) The opulent hotel has been a French Riviera landmark for centuries, and after a recent €350 million renovation, it’s as glamorous as ever. The beach club is legendary and chic, all striped towels, wooden pavilions and vibrant nautical vibes (pops of blue and yellow work especially well here).
There are elegant restaurants and casual, cool haunts. Don’t skip the fun, lively Rüya Restaurant, which serves contemporary Turkish cuisine — colorful mezze, fish perfected in a charcoal oven — perfect for sharing. Pierre Louis Renou, the hotel’s general manager, told us that the hotel really comes alive at night, complete with DJs and sunsets — “an unforgettable experience.”
Rooms are sleek and minimalist — tasteful spaces bedecked with lots of white and the strategic colorful accent. For something especially private and luxurious, book one of the new residences, which range in size from one to four bedrooms.
Fora Advisor Alex Torgueman, one of Fora’s top Carlton Cannes bookers, added that the historic hotel masterfully combines contemporary, plush design with the craftsmanship of those who have worked on the Palace of Versailles. He also added that the hotel’s location, Cannes’ notable Boulevard de la Croisette, is itself undergoing a €1.3 million renovation. In other words, there’s never been a better time to go.
Fora Perks:
$100 hotel / resort credit, welcome amenities, breakfast daily, upgrade & late check-out whenever possible.
Ready to travel to the French Riviera? Connect with Fora to plan and book your dream trip.