Tag Archives: Beautiful Landscapes

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.

Informations   

Taj-I-Mah, Les Arcs

Related posts : DESTINATIONS, HOTEL REVIEWS & BEAUTY

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.

Ski And Cocktails In Meribel, France

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-14-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Skiing Among The Fir Trees

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-11-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

In The Late Morning

I arrive in Meribel and quickly discover the beautiful resort, with finely carved wooden houses, under a thick blanket of snow and blinding sun. Time to drop off my luggage at the hotel and get my skis and you can find me on the slopes with my globetrotter buddy and emeritus skier, Helen.

Sunny day, I am amazed by discovering the stunning surroundings: mountains and slopes lined with firs (just for us or so, there are not many people, we are off season)! I get used to Val Thorens, where there is no tree on the edge of the slopes. Skiing among the fir trees is magical!

At the end of the afternoon, we stop atop Tougnète (at 2405m, fantastic panorama), at the mountain restaurant, Les Cretes. As I am not really hungry, I choose a walnut tart with tea. And VIP treatment, we go down to the resort into groomer (a big thank you to the team of trackers)! What an thrilling experience!

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-12-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-8-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-6-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-13-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-16-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-15-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Meribel-Chaudanne-Slopes-17-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Cocktails & Dinner at The Savoy

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Savoy-Meribel-Bar-Restaurant-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

A Break In My Hotel

to enjoy a super long shower, I’m exhausted. Towards 8-8.30 p.m. I join the bubbly Elizabeth for a cocktail at the bar of Le Savoy and then dinner at Le Resto. I immediately liked the chiaroscuro lighting and colors of the very cozy lounge.

Comfortably sat in a deep sofa, with a glass of champagne vaguely listening to another lounge music mix. Hovering after a busy day of skiing! The atmosphere is relaxed and a little chic. I really enjoy the fireplace (lol). 

The interior design of Le Resto is really nice too. On the photo montage below, some details that I really liked and the entry of Ravioles de gambas dans un jus de citronnelle et bergamote (Prawn ravioli in a lemon and bergamot juice). Quite a journey … To be continued …

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Savoy-Meribel-Bar-Restaurant-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-Hotel-Le-Savoy-Meribel-Bar-Restaurant-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Back To The Hotel

France-Meribel-Ski-Resort-By-Night-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-By-Night-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le KFrance-Meribel-Ski-Resort-By-Night-3-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

Informations  

www.meribel.netwww.les3vallees.com

Related posts : DESTINATIONSHOTEL REVIEWS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks to the 3 Vallées and Meribel Tourist Office for this beautiful invitation. As always these opinions are my own.

Swarovski Optik: Binoculars CL Pocket 8×25

Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-7

I tested the binoculars CL Pocket 8×25

Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-1

I love being surrounded by nature

but I must confess I’m not a bird watcher. I’m more obsessed with the Ocean and I really like spending my freetime to walk along the coast to enjoy the endless view and sometimes surfer friends in the water. When I received the beautiful binoculars CL Pocket 8×25, I decided to try them in Sagres, one of my favourite part of Portugal. 

So I went to the Fortress of Sagres (Fortaleza de Sagres), overlooking a cliff facing the Atlantic Ocean with spectacular views. The fortress is near Cape St. Vincent, the most easterly point on the south-western part of Portugal. A very windy area, but this time I was lucky, no wind and an incredible light. I guess the best conditions to test binoculars and make these pictures. 

Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-2

Bel objet, great luxury design

The binoculars CL Pocket are so small and compact that they are easy to slip into a small bag. By cons I found them a bit heavy to put in the pocket of my jacket. Finally I’ve kept them around my neck.

It wasn’t so easy to adjust both lens. Believe me or not, it was the first time I used binoculars (yep!). And as I never read the instructions before (LOL)… When I succeeded, what fun! It was like a new world opened up to me! Even the birds have started to become more interesting to me! Unfortunately, the lens of my camera is not able to show the scale of what I was looking through the binoculars. 

I’ve never thought binoculars could change as much my perception of what surrounded me. The quality of the lens definition is amazing! It’s like having the full picture with all of the details. 

Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-9 Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket- Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-2Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket- Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-4Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-8Portugal-Sagres-Swarovski Optik-Binoculars-CL Pocket- Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K-1

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Swarovski Optik

Related posts : LIFESTYLE, HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TRAVEL & DESTINATIONS