USP A jaw-droppingly grand spa in the heart of the lavender-scented
Provencal countryside, a 45-minute drive from Nice airport. It’s the new
addition to the all-suite resort with its two championship golf courses and
stunning infinity pool with views of medieval hilltop towns. Expect the
characteristic Four Seasons double whammy of superb service and top of the
range kit, presented in such a friendly, unsnooty way that even spa virgins
wouldn’t feel intimidated. But what it also delivers are those very modern
luxuries – space and calm.
AMBIENCE The 3000 sq metre spa is housed in a two-storey ochre villa
and its temple-like lobby is dominated by the view through to the 24-metre
black granite pool which stretches out between white columns to the garden
and outdoor hydrotherapy pool beyond with its jets and bubbles. It’s all
very gorgeous and the attention to detail as fine as you’d expect, from the
super soft cotton and towelling robes to the relaxation room with its eight
day beds which can be raised at the touch of a button and the trays of dried
fruit in case hunger strikes.
Apart from 14 treatment rooms, including two for couples with outdoor terraces
and cabanas, there’s a manicure and pedicure studio, gym, hair salon and
studio for yoga and pilates classes, as well as saunas, steam rooms,
laconiums and “experience” showers with tropical rain and arctic mist.
The spa also offers the ultimate in fitness and wellbeing assessments, using
the fabulously high-tech Huber, a machine developed for athletes by a
professor of biomechanics at Aix en Provence University which assesses
posture, mobility and balance so that coaches can custom build a fitness
programme. I’m tempted to return for this, and for a few sessions on the LPG
Cellu 6 machine, which looks as if it has been borrowed from the set of
Doctor Who but uses a “connective tissue simulation technique” to deal with
pesky cellulite.
EXPERIENCE I had two treatments and a pedicure and the French
therapists were uniformly excellent – the sort who inspire total confidence
as soon as they touch you. Their English was good and they explained the
treatments thoroughly. My 110-minute Espa Provencal Escape started with a
tingling body scrub using Camargue coarse salt, olive oil and lavender buds
which I showered off before being cocooned in a white heather honey, aloe
vera and red clay concoction and then wrapped up snugly to relax while my
hands were massaged. After another shower came a massage using olive oil
infused with lavender and rosemary which was hard enough to feel that it was
making an impact but still enabled me to drift off. It was an ideal way to
prepare my parched winter skin for summer, as was my “Pure Light” facial
using products by French brand Terraké. This was the ultimate in pampering
facials – no extractions, just cleansing and massage ending with warm
“snowflakes” being sprinkled on my face, followed by a cold gel to detox the
skin. The best part for me was when therapist Mildred pulled a warm flannel
across my skin so gently that it felt like a small wave breaking across my
skin. Bliss.
FOOD The four set menus at Infusions, the spa café were designed by the
hotel’s Michelin-starred chef Philippe Jourdin using local produce. I loved
the chicken steamed with tarragon and asparagus and the fromage blanc with
blueberry purée and cystallised violet, washed down with a chilled infusion
of lemon thyme. But most spa-goers hotfoot it back to the hotel for lunch on
the terrace. Don’t miss the puddings – the macaroons are better than Ladurée
and the pastry chef is a genius.
IN-CROWD Mainly smart Brits and Americans who will pack this place
year-round now that the spa is open. They bring their children too – Four
Seasons is famously good at looking after kids who have their own club and
playground.
WALLET WATCH The Spa Discovery Package starts from euros 695 (£473) per
night b&b in a suite, plus a 55 minute treatment per day, based on two
sharing. Spa day packages start at euros 295 (£201) including 165 minutes of
treatments.
NEED TO KNOW Four Seasons Resort Provence at Terre Blanche, France
(00800 6488 6488, www.fourseasons.com/provence).
British Airways flies to Nice from £68 return (0870 850 9850, www.ba.com).
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