Tag Archives: 5 star

France, Arcs 2000: Hotel Taj-I Mah

A Room With A View

The Pleasure of Mountain

Long live the skiing season! Few years ago, I’d never imagined I could like the mountain and ski as much! I am back in the French Alps, for the inauguration of the Taj-I Mah, the first 5-star hotel of Les Arcs 2000 at the foot of the slopes.     

Blue sky, snowy peaks bathed in bright light. It’s pretty difficult to leave my terrace. The air is invigorating with hypnotic view. The comfortable room is well soundproofed, a cocoon with impeccable bedding. The interior design reminds me the rooms of the Koh-I Nor in more intimate version (the same owners).  

The bathroom with its deep large bath, opens onto the bedroom and mountain view (a large sliding glass door allows to separate the two spaces, picture left above). I like the separate toilet in the entrance of the room.

  

Lunch at L’Atelier d’Eric

Between Activities,

I sit down at one of the hotel’s outside terraces (great!). Picture above: the long terrace of the lounge, where I am rocked by the warm rays of the sun. It quickly becomes really complicated to leave (LOL)! Except for discovering the menu of L’Atelier d’Eric, one of the two restaurants of the Taj-I Mah, under the leadership of the Chef Eric Samson.

I had lunch there a few times (pictures below): tasty simple inventive cuisine nicely presented. Excellent tuna prepared with scallops. I love  the Valrhona chocolate with pear dessert (picture below), a treat!

A Massage at The Spa

The Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi

have a panoramic view to the slopes and the peaks! The last two days, I made a long stop at the Cinq Mondes and Carita spa: 400 m2 including a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi, salt wall, showers, relaxation area and treatment rooms. The icing on the cake is the Cinq Mondes facial massage (inspired by Shiatsu) that relaxed my tensions in the neck and shoulders.

Dinner at The Diamant Noir

Voluptuous Dessert

The second evening, I have a dinner with a journalist friend at the Diamant Noir, the gourmet restaurant of the twice starred Chef Eric Samson. We start with an apetizer of raw tuna with egg yolk and cream. 

I don’t take any first meal. While reading the menu, I recognize one of the Koh-I Nor’s first meal I really recommend you: Grilled foie gras acidulated with the passion fruits and Savoy wine, Mango and Litchi. A surprising extremely fine dish! So delicious!

I choose the Supreme of Farm Poultry filled with foie gras, Périgueux sauce and potatoes. Really good and not greasy. When the dessert The Chocolate Caraïbe at 66% in Different Textures arrives, I capsize! It looks like a haute couture piece and tastes fantastic! Gorgeous!

  

The Ski

Finally!

Energic wake-up to the aurora and meditation on the empty icy main terrace of the hotel. I am happy, I will ski from 9 am to 11. I haven’t had the opportunity to discover the Paradiski ski area (which includes Les Arcs) yet. The previous days, I visited as a pedestrian a bit of the Arcs 2000 (altitude 2100 meters) and 1800

I couldn’t leave without making at least a morning of skiing! After being equipped at the ski shop of the hotel (picture below), I follow the ski instructor on slopes. First, we head to Les Arcs 1950 and cross the village in ski. Then we take the chairlift to the Col de la Chal (altitude 2600 meters). From where we ski to the Arc 2000 surrounded in a beautiful panorama. To be continued…

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs

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Many thanks to the team of the Taj-I Mah and the Tourist Office of Les Arcs for this beautiful invitation! As always are my opinions.

Areias do Seixo: Awesome Eco-luxury Hotel in Portugal

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Before exploring the beautiful cliffs and beaches near the Areias do Seixo, 

I have tea with a friend in the large lounge-dining room of the hotel (pictures 1, 2 & 3). I really like how light brings rhythm in the big hall, drawing shadows, chiaroscuro. The view of the nearby ocean (photo 7). Decoration: a successful mix of raw concrete, antique objects, the omnipresence of wood, cabinet of curiosities and ultra modern structure. The whole creates an unique world really contemporary and poetic. We are in the Costa de Prata, under an incredible blue sky, but I can also feel a little elsewhere, Morocco, Scandinavia … nomadic setting.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-6-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-Gonçalvo Alves-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

In the evening I meet Gonçalvo Alves, 

co-owner of the Areias do Seixo with Marta Fonseca who are a couple of travelers, from Torres Vedras: 

– We wanted a big house where people meet to share simple things. We also had a real interest in ecology and sustainable development. We wanted something beautiful and very simple in hippie chic spirit, the best of luxury. We worked with the architect Vasco Vieira and designer Rosarinho Gabriel to create a unique place dedicated to people who are in love.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-4-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-5A-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

How the Areias do Seixo is it an eco-friendly hotel? 

– We have a green cover on the roof to balance temperature. To consume less, geothermal underfloor heating and thirty solar panels for electricity and heating. We use compost to fertilize our garden and vegetable garden. Products of the restaurant are from organic agriculture and most of them are from the region, including wine. 

Ninety percent of people who work at the hotel are locals. It becomes common to worry about the environment in Portugal. Our great-great grandparents were very green and sustainable. And Portuguese remained very authentic, very attached to their roots. We draw our knowledge among the ancients. We apply the rule of the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle.

Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-Breakfast-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014Areias do Seixo-Portugal-Hotel-1A-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2014

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2014, tous droits réservés. 

What would you like your guests to take away from their experience of Areias do Seixo ?

– Some say they have redesigned their life and relationship to the environment after their stay here. It’s wonderful for us because it is our passion !

Obrigada to Gonçalvo Alves, Marta Fonseca and all the team !

Informations  

Areias do Seixo – Charme Hotel

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HOTEL REVIEWS & DESTINATIONS  

My friend and I were guests of the Areias do Seixo hotel and as always these opinions are mine.

Wellness & Fooding Weekend in Poland (Part 2)

Poland-Kielce-Odyssey Restaurant-3-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

For all those who will party and eat quite a lot tonight, here is an idea of detox weekend’s destination! Few months ago, I was invited in the region of Swietorkrzyskie (Holy Cross) in southern Poland for a wellness and fooding weekend. After the discovery of the Baseny Mineralne, a new spa complex and the Malinowy Zdroj Medical Spa **** , I plunged with delight in the design pool of the Odyssey hotel (pictures 2 & 3) ! What a pleasure to swim while enjoying a panoramic view of the city of Kielce ! It changes the monotony of back and forth swimming ! Mademoiselle, come on, stop pretending just swimming! Ok I confess, I mainly tested the jacuzzi (but it’s also a hard work to tone!). Time to slip into a wide bathrobe for a facial at the spa hotel (pictures 4 & 5). And I fear a little, I’ve never tested SkinCeuticals cosmetics. My therapist has magic fingers and quickly I fall asleep. Wake up, my ultra sensitive skin radiates ! And I’m a kind of picky, always looking for skin imperfection. After the effort, the comfort, I have to go dressing for the dinner at the Space Odyssey Restaurant. The chef Tomasz Pawluska offers a tasty simple lightweight Polish cuisine (pictures 1, 6 & 7). And if like me, you really enjoy the simplicity, you will feel spoiled here ! The food is delicious and the presentation is neat with an efficient discreet service. Time to enjoy food after training, LOL !  

MERRY CHRISMAS TO ALL OF YOU!

Poland-Kielce-Odyssey-15Bis-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Poland-Kielce-Odyssey-Pool 1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Poland-Kielce-Odyssey-19-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Poland-Kielce-Odyssey-20-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Poland-Kielce-Odyssey Restaurant-2-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013Poland-Kielce-Odyssey Restaurant-1-Photo Mademoiselle Le K-copyright 2013

Photos : Mademoiselle Le K – copyright 2013, tous droits réservés. 

ODYSSEY HOTEL CLUB WELLNESS & SPA

Discover my whole trip in my POLAND page and in the Facebook of  the Polish Tourist Organisation. You can also follow my TWITTER and my NEW FACEBOOK page! ENJOY!

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DESTINATIONS & HOTEL REVIEWS