Provence offers many boutique hotels and chateaus. But if you are looking for the ultimate in luxury, like lounging by a pristine pool in the company of fellow guests who just arrived by private jet and prefer Patek Phillipe to Rolex, Airelles Gordes, La Bastide stands out as our top pick for Provençal experiences. A former place built into a dramatic cliffside in the impossibly picturesque town of Gordes, this ultimate destination hotel features three pools, a spa, two restaurants, and a dramatic collection of antique furniture and art sourced from across France and the rest of the world.
If you’re not already familiar with the group, Airelles is a small group operating what are unquestionably the most exclusive hotels in France — in Versailles, Courchevel, Val d’Isère, Saint-Tropez, and Gordes.
Being so picturesque, Gordes naturally attracts the masses and when we arrived in the tiny but busy hilltop town, overflowing with hikers, selfie takers, and tour buses, escaping into the hotel felt like entering a secluded and exclusive haven. A friend told us, “you can see Gordes in an hour,” but in this case, we weren’t coming for Gordes, we were coming for Airelles.
The service is truly exceptional. The staff greeted us and our son by name as we walked in the door. Since we arrived early, we relaxed by the pool while our room was prepared. Lunch by the pool included shrimp and avocado salad and a delightful burger with fries. The team brought down fresh white robes to the pool so we could return to our room when it was ready, and our son enjoyed the green grass and the pool. A gelato cart — by Ladurée nonetheless — delighted him. Gin and tonics arrived in giant glasses with an extra carafes of gin on the side —a classy touch that reminded us of a martini served with a “sidecar” in the best bars of the world.
The hotel features three pools. The main pool is the most popular, situated on the outside terrace, but there’s also a second pool for children with games and an indoor pool in the spa. Perfect for relaxing, even in less-than-ideal weather as we had on our last day.
When we arrived in our room, the team had spoiled us with gifts, including Airelles pajamas, a sun hat and towel, a large bottle of olive oil from the owner’s estate, and a stuffed Bonton (an upscale French kids’ brand) dog for our son. The room, decorated with antiques and paintings, was spacious. The bathroom, adorned with a painting above the bathtub and Bonpoint (the most upscale French kids’ brand) bath products, was equally impressive.
We enjoyed sunset drinks on the bar’s terrace accompanied by music by a DJ before our multi-course dinner at L’Orangerie Restaurant. The candle-lit dinner featured goat cheese olives and spider crab with broccoli. See more from our dinner here.
Lunch at Clover Gordes — with its menu by one of our favorite French chefs, Jean.-Francois Piège— offered breathtaking views of the culinary garden and landscape. It began with a seasonal spritz and olive oil tasting, ending with a strawberry rosé dessert and soufflé. This has been on our short list of places to prioritize for a while and it didn’t disappoint.
As we checked out, the valet surprised us. They had cleaned our car, leaving it in much better condition than when we arrived. Airelles Gordes offers a luxurious escape with exceptional service, stunning amenities, and exquisite dining. If you’re looking to experience the best of France, we are confident you will find it at an Airelles property. There are so few hotels in the world that you check in and have no reason to leave, and for us, this is one of them.
Note: Airelles Gordes. La Bastide provided support for the reporting of this story.