Terre Blanche Hotel Spa & Golf Resort

Provence's sole true resort, Terre Blanche has 115 suites, four restaurants, two 18-hole golf courses, tennis courts, a huge infinity pool and an expansive spa.

• The excellent Kids’ Club, a rarity in Provence
• The massive Terre Blanche villa with a private pool and Jacuzzi
• The spa's elegant heated 20-meter indoor lap pool connected to a “vitality” outdoor pool, equipped with reflexology and high pressure jets

Situated in the rolling hills of eastern Provence, half an hour from Cannes, the Terre Blanche Hotel Spa & Golf Resort is a former Four Seasons (management changed in 2012). It now has 115 suites spread amongst a series of freestanding villas that span the property. The villas have traditional terra-cotta roofs, tiled floors, Provencal rugs and exposed brick walls. Although some of the furnishings have a slightly corporate feel, the overall impression is more authentic than you’d expect. And the sense of space – a separate living room and bedroom plus terrace, walk-in closet and expansive bathroom – is a true luxury, especially for families. The villas’ weathered stone walls are the real thing, and the fragrant Fragonard products in the bathroom remind of the wild lavender fields a only a stone’s throw away. Each suite is 645 square feet and has a sofa bed in the living room.

Beyond the villas, the property has true resort amenities – again, a draw for busy families. The 34,000-square-foot spa complex includes fourteen treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools and a fitness center furnished with the latest equipment. For children, the kids’ club offers separate spaces and activities for kids of all ages plus a dedicated children’s pool. In the main building, there are two additional pools with spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and excellent restaurants. At the gastronomic restaurant, La Favientia, the chef excels in refined Provencal specialties; the more casual option, the vast bar lounge Gaudina, features a lighter menu with a creative Asian twist on Mediterranean dishes.

Of particular note is the golf program, which is so extensive that you could almost describe the hotel as a golf school with rooms rather than a resort with golf. In addition to the two championship courses, there is a golf academy and a one-of-a-kind training center complete with video-equipped facilities for perfecting your swing and a full staff of pros who have worked with major names in the sport.

Families looking for a resort experience; golfers; spa-lovers.