La Villa Gallici, Provence, France

I suppose it's a bit ironic that my last post was all about being tired of the stereotypical, over-the-top design of Moroccan interiors and today I feature the most ridiculously garish, cliché version of a Provençal hotel.  Well, you know what?  Deal with it.  Sometimes matching fabrics on the curtains, wallpaper, bench, bedspread, and headboard is just the right thing to do.  Also, it was raining yesterday and I could not resist the draw of that sun-kissed bathtub.

La Villa Gallici is an 18th century residence-turned-hotel in the region's capital city, Aix-en-Provence.  The photos are all from their website.

     

Hotel Verneuil, Paris, France

In the last 24 hours, Paris has really punched me in the face.  I fell asleep reading the English translated French novel Enough About Love, I woke up to read the New York Times review of Adam Gopnik's new book on French cuisine, and then sat down to my computer to watch the trailer for Martin Scorsese's new Paris-based film Hugo.  (Super excited about this movie, btw!)  Needless to say, I took this as a sign and went hunting for a Paris hotel that plays into all the fantasy we Americans often feel about that city.

Meet the Hotel Verneuil on The Left Bank.  This is a converted 17th century townhouse with 26 little rooms and with its bold wallpaper, stone vault restaurant and cozy little study, it seems just perfect.  Also, it's affordable, so perhaps my Paris fantasy could someday become a reality.  

Photos from i-escape.

Domaine De Murtoli, Corsica, France

In general, when I hear the phrase "French Country" in reference to design style, my mind just completely checks out. Those words always evoke images of the bad cabinets and tacky linens in the Orange County tract homes of my youth.

That is, until this place came along! Domaine De Murtoli is a French villa that is arguably more rustic than country. And, if we're getting technical, it's on the island of Corsica, so obviously it's not going to have typical Provençal country style. But wouldn't it be nice if we all just agreed that "French Country" actually looked something like this?

The beautiful photos are from the website boutique-homes.com, which is where you can also book this place for super cheap.  (Just kidding!)

 

Welcome Beyond: Tents + Yurts

And now for the second installment of my favorite hotels from the Welcome Beyond website. See here for the first installment.

I always love the idea of camping, communing with nature, etc., but dislike trying to put on contact lenses with dirt all over my hands.

Problem solved. Fancy tents! (There is a very annoying trend to call this "glamping," a.k.a. glamorous camping. I refuse to jump on that bandwagon. It sounds like some gross form of plastic surgery.)

Welcome Beyond features a number of these types of hotels and I want to go to every single one of them.

Patagonia Camp in Patagonia, Chile


Le Camp in Tarn et Garonne, France


Paperbark Camp in New South Wales, Australia


Elqui Domos in Elqui Valley, Chile

All photos above from Welcome Beyond

p.s. It is no coincidence that I am to be married at El Capitan Canyon resort, 20 miles north of Santa Barbara. Look at how sweet that tent is!

Photo from Groupaway