I Planned My Entire South of France Honeymoon Around This

Welcome to Fashion’s Finest Stays, a travel series where we lend our fashion-editor POV to the world of hospitality. Here, we’ll give you exclusive insider access to the world’s most renowned hotels and resorts, uncovering every detail you’d ever want to know before you book.

When planning a honeymoon, most newlyweds start big picture with a loose idea of cities they want to visit and activities they want to explore. Beach or mountains? Adventurous itinerary or flat-out relaxation? I had a hotel—a plush, extravagant “Marie Antoinette would geek out over this” hotel. I didn’t know much about the surrounding area (it would be my first time in the South of France), but I’d been obsessing over the historic cliffside palace ever since I met Natacha Bonjout, French pharmacist and cosmetic chemist, for lunch to discuss her award-winning skincare brand. I told her I had recently gotten married and was hoping to organize a summer honeymoon, and she immediately responded with, “You have to stay here.” She pulled up her Instagram, and there it was: Airelles Gordes, La Bastide—the elegant, extremely intimate 16th-century maison in all its glory. When I later mentioned it to a travel advisor, she unwaveringly agreed, calling it “heaven on Earth” and “one of the best hotels in all of France.” And just like that, we were honeymooning in Provence.

To be clear, Airelles isn’t the type of hotel you book on a whim unless you’re some sort of heiress or perhaps a cast member on The White Lotus. (Its Saint-Tropez property, Château de La Messardière, is a confirmed location for season 4.) It’s top of the line in terms of luxury, hence why it took a special milestone like my honeymoon to justify the splurge. A month later, however, I don’t regret it one bit. Here’s every reason why it’s worth booking and why I’m already dreaming of the day I can go back.

Gordes is known as one of the most beautiful villages in the Luberon, and at its top rests the five-star Airelles. It’s perhaps more accurate to say that the property is wedged into the cliffs themselves. The entrance is street level, but the inside is a vertical labyrinth of stone buildings, terrace gardens, and winding staircases. What was once a private seigneurial manor in the 16th century, the space underwent a full restoration in 2015 with the help of 150 local artisans to honor its rich history. At the helm of said project was architect and interior designer Christophe Tollemer, who also sourced authentic antique furniture and over 2000 pieces of period artwork. As a result, no two rooms are the same in design.

There are 40 rooms and suites in the entire hotel with views over the village or the Luberon valley. I stayed in the Deluxe Village Bedroom, which is technically on the lower tier in terms of price (I’d rather spend more of my budget on dining and excursions) yet is still one of the most high-end spaces I’ve ever slept in. Despite its authentic woodwork and rare antiques, like an 18th-century writing desk, it comes with all the modern fixings of a luxury hotel, including a marble-finished bathroom, a Dyson hair dryer, Jardins Baulieu toiletries, and a fully stocked and complimentary minibar.

As soon as you set foot into the airy lobby, you’re treated like royalty—quite fitting for one of the 33 hotels in the region awarded Palace status by the French government. The staff, dressed to the nines in period-style uniforms, somehow knows exactly what you need before you even know you need it, be it a fresh cocktail, garment press, or list of recommendations for exploring nearby villages. A tote bag, a straw hat, and custom-embroidered pajamas were waiting for my husband and me in our room upon check-in, and each night, we returned to find surprise gifts, including a sunglasses case, a toiletry bag, and an eye mask.

Upon checkout, a staff member brought us out to the terrace for a quick Polaroid photo to look back on (as if I could ever forget such opulence) and escorted us to our rental car, where chilled bottles of water, Ladurée macarons, and personalized luggage tags were resting on the front console. Small touches like these set Airelles apart from other five-star stays. The experience makes you feel like a noble yet completely at home.