Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Domaine de Roquerousse, Salon-de-Provence!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Domaine de Roquerousse, Salon-de-Provence! - A Review from a Real Person (and NOT a Robot)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from Domaine de Roquerousse in Salon-de-Provence, and let me tell you… it's a vibe. This isn't your cookie-cutter hotel review, folks. This is the unfiltered, slightly chaotic, and hopefully helpful recounting of my experience.
Accessibility: Getting In and Around (and Not Getting Stuck!)
First things first, because I know it's important to some of you, and important to me in a different way now, like learning the layout of a building and quickly making friends with a couple because they can tell you if the bathroom is ok for you, that's the thing. Wheelchair accessible. That's a win. They've got an elevator – praise the heavens! (Especially after that gigantic croissant I inhaled at breakfast… more on that later.) There’s Facilities for disabled guests, so it's not just "accessible"-accessible, which is a big difference. The property seems pretty well-thought-out in terms of accessibility. If you're bringing a friend with any mobility issues, you could do worse than here, if they have some access to a helping friend.
Internet, Glorious Internet! (And Free Wi-Fi! Hallelujah!)
Look, in this day and age, no Wi-Fi is a dealbreaker. And Domaine de Roquerousse gets it. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! And it actually works. Strong signal, no buffering nightmares. They also have Internet [LAN] if you're old-school like my grandpa (or need a super secure connection). Internet access offered, so no complaints there. Wi-Fi in public areas is also available. Basically, you can stay connected to the digital world, which is essential for posting those "look at me, I'm living my best life" vacation pics.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Safe (and Not Like You're in a Hazmat Suit)
Okay, let's talk COVID. This is important. They've clearly put a lot of effort into it. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Professional-grade sanitizing services. They're taking it seriously. But it's not overkill. You don't feel like you're walking into a sterile lab. They have Hygiene certification, which gives some reassurance. I spotted Hand sanitizer everywhere. The staff is Staff trained in safety protocol, which is a big relief. Also, there’s Room sanitization opt-out available, which is smart. Rooms sanitized between stays. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter is enforced, which is good. Safe dining setup. They're really trying with this. And the fact that they have Hot water linen and laundry washing and Sterilizing equipment means they're handling it smartly. They also have First aid kit and a Doctor/nurse on call. Not bad. Another plus, but maybe it's a big ask: Rooms sanitized between stays, just so I have to worry that what they are doing is even good?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Prepare to Roll Home! (Literally)
Alright, this is where things get really interesting. The food. Oh, the food! Let's start with breakfast. They have things like Asian breakfast, and Western breakfast. Breakfast [buffet]. Listen, I am not a buffet person. I inherently distrust anything that's been sitting out. But this buffet… it was beautiful. Fresh pastries (that aforementioned croissant!), fresh fruit, eggs cooked to order, and a coffee machine that actually brews decent coffee. This is not that bad. Breakfast in room and Breakfast takeaway service if you're feeling lazy (or have a truly epic hangover).
The restaurants on-site are chefs kiss. A la carte in restaurant. The Asian cuisine in restaurant was amazing. I mean, seriously, I dream about that Pad Thai. The International cuisine in restaurant is also stellar, and I'd still recommend it to any of my friends. There's a Coffee/tea in restaurant, so you can have whatever you need. There's a Poolside bar, which is basically heaven on Earth. Bar is a requirement for me when I'm away. Bottle of water everywhere. They have Desserts in restaurant, and I may or may not have gone back for a second helping of the chocolate lava cake. (Don't judge me!) They have a Snack bar for when you're peckish. Room service [24-hour] is a godsend when you're battling jet lag and just want a burger at 3 AM.
Okay, minor observation: the Salad in restaurant also makes you feel good about all that cheese and wine you’re inhaling.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day! (And a Glimpse of Paradise)
This is where Domaine de Roquerousse truly shines. The spa… oh, the spa. I'm not one for "pampering" normally, but this place had me converted.
I started with the Pool with view, which is just stunning. Seriously, the view alone is worth the price of admission. Then, the Spa beckoned. They have a Body scrub, which is… intense, but in a good way. My skin has never felt so soft. They also have a Body wrap, if you're into that sort of thing. I skipped the Foot bath because, well, I'm not a foot bath person, but I did see people using it and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The Sauna was perfect after a long day of exploring. They offer a Steamroom and they have an actual Spa/sauna. Basically, if you're looking to melt your stress away, this is the place. They have a Fitness center, which I intentionally avoided (because vacation). Gym/fitness available if you're feeling ambitious. And, of course, the Massage. The masseuse was like a wizard. I swear, she worked out knots I didn't even know I had.
Seriously, if you book this place, book a spa treatment. Do it for me. You won't regret it.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
They have a Concierge so you can plan your activities. Daily housekeeping. A Dry cleaning. Laundry service. Luggage storage. They have Air conditioning in public areas, because France gets hot! Cash withdrawal, if you happen to run out of Euros. Currency exchange. They can provide Invoice provided. Elevator. Facilities for disabled guests, again, this is important! Meeting/banquet facilities and Meetings, if you're there for business, but honestly, with these views, you’re just going to procrastinate. They offer a Smoking area. Terrace for enjoying the view. Gift/souvenir shop. What more do you need? They have a car park [free of charge] and car park [on-site] which is just useful in general.
For the Kids: Family Friendly? You Bet!
I didn't have kids with me, but the Babysitting service and Kids facilities looked great. They also advertise Family/child friendly which is a good sign. They had a Kids meal option. Happy families.
Available in All Rooms: Comforts Galore!
This is where the details make a difference. Additional toilet. Air conditioning, thank god in France because it gets hot even in the evenings. Alarm clock. Bathrobes, which are a must! Bathroom phone, for important calls (like room service). Bathtub. Blackout curtains, essential for those late-morning sleep-ins. Coffee/tea maker and Complimentary tea. Desk and Extra long bed, which I loved. Hair dryer! High floor for a nice view. In-room safe box. Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless. Mini bar. Mirror, which is helpful for getting ready! On-demand movies. Private bathroom. Refrigerator, for keeping your rosé chilled. Satellite/cable channels. And a Window that opens, which is so important!
Safety and Security: Peace of Mind
They have CCTV in common areas, and CCTV outside property. Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, and Smoke detectors. Security [24-hour], which is always a plus. Safety/security feature, to make you feel safe and secure.
Getting Around: Easy Breezy
They offer Airport transfer, which is a game-changer. Bicycle parking. Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]. Taxi service, and Valet parking. Basically, they've got you covered no matter how you get around.
The One Thing I'd Change (If I Had to):
Honestly? Nothing major. Maybe a slightly bigger selection
RAAS Jodhpur: India's Most Luxurious Desert Escape?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your glossy travel blog. This is real travel, the kind where you spill coffee on your passport and accidentally eat a whole wheel of cheese before lunch. We're talking Best Western Domaine de Roquerousse in Salon-de-Provence, France. Let's see if it lives up to the hype, shall we? (Spoiler alert: it never quite does.)
DAY 1: Provence, Please Don't Be a Pain
8:00 AM: Wake up. Actually, more like drag myself out of bed at (ahem) 8:00 AM. Jet lag is a beast. The pillow? Comfy. The air? Thin. (Wait, did I even pack enough protein bars?) The room at the Domaine de Roquerousse seems nice enough, not stunning, but then again, I haven't seen the light of day much. Just glimpses through the curtains. I feel like a mole. This morning light is…harsh. Really, really harsh.
8:30 AM: Breakfast buffet. The word "buffet" always sounds so promising. Visions of mountains of croissants and mountains of ham. Reality? A slightly limp croissant, lukewarm coffee that tastes suspiciously like dishwater, and a man who looks like he’s about to faint next to the toaster. (Bless him. I feel ya, toaster buddy.) I grab a tiny pain au chocolat – gotta start somewhere.
9:00 AM: Attempt to plan the day. This is always the point where things go sideways. Google maps, the bane of my existence, suddenly decides to hate me. The tiny screen is telling me a roundabout, three left turns, then a bridge, then another. It's all in French. Honestly, half of it seems to be in some weird alien language. I just… want a map that works.
10:00 AM: Finally, the car is running. I’ve become a master of French road signs, with their confusing shapes and their insistence on making everything the wrong way around. Driving in France is like navigating a minefield of roundabouts and tiny, tiny streets. My knuckles are permanently white after all the gripping.
11:00 AM: Arrive in Salon-de-Provence. Apparently, this is where Nostradamus lived. The town is charming, I guess, in the way that old, slightly crumbling places are. I wander around, getting lost (surprise!), and stumbling upon a market. So many olives. So many. I try a few, and suddenly my mouth is a sea of salty perfection. Then I try a tapenade…oh my god. I could live on this. Tapenade and baguettes. My entire trip, right there. (This is the moment I really start to care for this town.)
1:00 PM: Lunch. Find a charming little bistro called "Le Chat Noir" – because, of course, a cat-themed place. The server, a tiny woman with a towering beehive, barely acknowledges my existence. I fumble through my French, order a salade niçoise, and it arrives… with canned tuna. I nearly cry. (Because seriously, canned tuna in France?!) But the tomatoes are glorious, the dressing is divine, and I shove it down anyway, because: hangry.
2:30 PM: Stroll through the Chateau de l'Empéri is better than I imagine. The views are beautiful, even if the audio guide sounds like it was recorded by a bored teenager.
4:00 PM: Back at the hotel. A quick nap is a must. The sun drains you, you know? You'd think a nap would be easy. You'd be wrong.
7:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. "Restaurant" is too generous a word. It's the hotel dining room, which is functional, but reeks of institutional food service. The food is serviceable, but the service is slow, and the wine list looks like it was drawn up by a committee of accountants.
9:00 PM: Collapse into bed. I'm tired, I'm full of olives and tapenade, and I'm starting to think I might actually be falling in love with Salon-de-Provence, even if the "romance" feels more like a slow burn than a blazing affair.
DAY 2: Nostradamus and the Quest for the Perfect Pastis
- 9:00 AM: Up again. Coffee situation slightly improved, but still needs work. I consider sneaking into the kitchen and making my own damn coffee, but I'm too tired. (See a pattern?)
- 9:30 AM: Explore the Musee de Salon, which is dedicated to Nostradamus. I find it, honestly, a bit underwhelming. I’m pretty sure my cat has more dramatic theories. But, hey, the guy was famous.
- 11:00 AM: The fountain in the place is rather beautiful. I'd be delighted to just sit there, but there's so much more to do.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. I'm on a mission: the hunt for the perfect Pastis! A local told me about a spot that "makes the best in town". I find a little cafe, order it, and…it's aniseed heaven! The taste is all licorice, but subtle and delicate. I order another one. And another. I may have a problem.
- 2:00 PM: Driving in the countryside around Salon-de-Provence, winding roads are scenic and I can’t pull over to take pictures.
- 4:00 PM: Back at the hotel, again. I'm starting to feel the pull of the pool. But right now? Another nap seems to have the priority.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Tonight, a slightly better restaurant. The waiter is charming. He flirts. He tells me all about the wine. And the food? Actually pretty amazing. This is the kind of place that makes you forget about canned tuna.
DAY 3: Leaving, Sadly
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. Slowly. This time, a sense of longing. I don't want to leave.
- 9:00 AM: One last breakfast. The croissant is still mediocre, but I'm happy.
- 11:00 AM: Final wanders around Salon-de-Provence. I buy a huge jar of tapenade (obsession achieved) and a few souvenirs.
- 12:00 PM: Drive out again.
- 1:00 PM: Back to the airport.
Emotional Verdict:
Best Western Domaine de Roquerousse? Not the most luxurious place on earth. But it was fine. It gave me a place to crash, a semi-decent breakfast, and a good base. Salon-de-Provence? Wonderful. The market, the people, the tapenade, the Pastis… I’ll be back. And I'll learn some French before I do. Maybe.
So, do I regret it? Never! The trip was a mess. But the mess is what made it mine. And wouldn't trade it for anything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go… and open that giant jar of tapenade.
**Escape to Paradise: Unveiling the Gulmohar Grand Hotel, Una, India**
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Domaine de Roquerousse, Salon-de-Provence - Or Is It? My Messy, Honest FAQ
Okay, spill the tea. Is Domaine de Roquerousse truly "unbelievable luxury"?
Alright, buckle up. "Unbelievable"? Yeah, in a certain light. Look, the place is undeniably gorgeous. Think sprawling vineyards bathed in Provençal sunshine, stonework that practically hums with history, and the kind of pool that makes you want to chuck your phone into a (carefully guarded) bag and just...be. That's the good stuff. That's the "unbelievable" you see in the glossy brochures.
But, and this is a big but – reality, she's a messy mistress. My first impression? Utterly breathless. Then, my luggage got lost. And that fancy welcome drink? Tasted suspiciously like a particularly enthusiastic spritz that may or may not have been watered down. So, yes, "unbelievable"...in the sense that you're continually teetering between blissful awe and a nagging suspicion that someone's pulling your leg.
Side note: My husband, bless his heart, kept muttering about the price of the air conditioning. He's less "unbelievable luxury," more "practical accountant."
What's the vibe? Is it stuffy and pretentious, or relaxed and welcoming?
Ooh, this one's a toughie. It wants to be relaxed and welcoming. The staff are generally lovely, always smiling (maybe a little too much sometimes, like they're rehearsing a play). But there's this undercurrent of... well, let's call it "careful elegance." Think a little bit of "please don't mess up" and a whole lotta "remember you're on display."
One evening, I tripped (yes, I tripped, in a long, elegant dress, naturally) in front of the entire pool area. Mortifying. The staff were incredibly solicitous, of course, but the way they *looked*...you could practically hear the whispers about the clumsy American. So, relaxed? Mostly. Welcoming? Definitely. Stuffy? Only if you're clumsy. And I am. Always.
The Rooms! Are they as dreamy as they look in the pictures?
Okay, the rooms. Oh, the rooms. They are dreamy. Think four-poster beds, crisp white linens, bathrooms bigger than my first apartment. Our room had a private balcony overlooking the vineyards, which, let me tell you, is pure magic at sunset (ignoring the mosquitoes, of course).
But (there's always a but, isn't there?) the air conditioning... it struggled. Like, really struggled. It was like they were trying to cool the entire Provençal countryside, not just our room. And the wifi? Sporadic. A digital detox, they called it. I called it a mild panic attack when I couldn't upload my Instagram stories. Priorities, people.
What about the pool? Is it as Instagrammable as it seems?
The pool. Oh, the pool. It's the star of the show, isn't it? Infinity edge, crystal-clear water, sun loungers strategically placed for maximum aesthetic appeal. And yes, it's highly Instagrammable. I spent a solid hour wrestling with my angle, trying to capture the perfect shot while subtly avoiding the other guests.
However, the pool is also where I saw the "clumsy American" incident. And it’s also where I discovered that the carefully placed plush towels attract tiny, invisible bugs. You’d think for the price of a stay, they could, you know, fumigate. But, hey, beauty comes at a price, and sometimes that price is a slightly itchy derrière.
What's the food like? Michelin star worthy?
The food...okay. It was good. Very good. Think exquisite presentation, locally sourced ingredients, and tiny portions (because, you know, luxury). The chef clearly knows their stuff. The bread was divine. The wine pairing was impeccable.
But I'm a simple soul. I like my portions to be generous, and I don't want to spend an hour deciphering what I'm eating. I craved a burger. A proper, greasy burger. Sadly, Domaine de Roquerousse doesn’t do “burgers.” They do “deconstructed Provençal beef symphony.” Which, let's be honest, is just fancy for a tiny patty. I ended up sneaking some crisps (chips) from the minibar to curb the hunger. #Luxuryproblems.
What activities are available at the Domaine?
They offer a range of activities, including wine tasting (which I highly recommend, especially if you enjoy getting tipsy), cooking classes (surprisingly fun, even if I nearly set the kitchen on fire), and spa treatments (pure bliss, until you see the bill).
They also had guided tours of the vineyards, but I’m not a big "walking around getting lectured" kind of person, so I gave that a miss. My husband, however, loved it. He's very good at pretending to be interested. Me? I'd rather be by the pool, contemplating my next Instagram post.
Is it a good place for a romantic getaway?
Oh, absolutely. The setting is undeniably romantic. Candlelit dinners, sunset walks through the vineyards, whispering sweet nothings...assuming one partner can ignore the other's desperate attempts to find wifi.
I will say, though, the romance can sometimes be a bit...staged. It felt like they were trying a little too hard to create the perfect atmosphere. But hey, maybe I'm just a cynical old romantic. My husband loved it. He proposed there. So, yeah, maybe it's amazing for romance after all.
Is it kid-friendly?
Hmm...that depends on your kids and your definition of "kid-friendly." I didn't see many children during my stay. It's more of a "quiet luxury" kind of place. Loud, boisterous kids might be frowned upon. I’d probably leave them at home if I were you.
That said, there were some lawns to be played on and the pool, albeit a bit sereneWorld Wide Inns
