Location and design
The Lily of the Valley Hotel was designed by prolific French architect/designer Philippe Starke, and you can feel his visionary approach throughout the hotel. The way it's been built into the natural landscape shows the lengths he went to in order to minimise the ecological footprint of the structure. And what a landscape it is! Exactly what you'd imagine from the French Riviera. With olive trees, umbrella pines and lavender bushes surrounding the Mediterranean coastline. The interior is an eclectic mix of styles with warm colours that make you feel comfortable and at ease.
The team
The team is young but highly skilled, and overseen by the highly experienced and approachable General Manager, The service is impeccable without being stuffy and they were all very friendly. A couple of the restaurant staff took me under their wing and helped me stay on track with my weight-loss meals, which I highly appreciated. I was very impressed with the therapists at the spa. All extremely professional but also very intuitive, reading me well and what my body needed rather than following strict protocols.
The food
Mouthwateringly delicious. If you like gastronomic food — especially seafood — then you will not be disappointed. I can honestly say that I did not feel like I was having weight-loss meals at all, and every meal was a fine dining experience. From lobster with a quinoa salad to a scallop carpaccio. The weight-loss meals are based on high protein and low-carb principles, which not only helps to shift the pounds but also increase muscle — which we lose at a faster rate as we get older.
Wellness facilities and activities
The wellness offering at Lily of the Valley is based around the Shape Club, a stylish corner of the hotel dedicated to getting in shape. I enjoyed swimming in the heated lap pool and I admired the well-kitted out gym from afar. I’m not a gym person but I did enjoy taking part in the sports activities like sea wading (wearing a wet suit, I may add!), and the restorative yoga class, which was excellent. The spa is impressive with the facilities you'd expect from an ultra-luxe hotel.
My wellness experience
I tried the 4 Day Healthy Ageing programme, which has been designed to help you look and feel more vibrant, which is something I would imagine we all want to feel as we get older.
The programme started with a Bioimpedance Analysis that measured body fat percentage, muscle mass, and how hydrated my cells were. The nutritionist then discussed the results with me, talking through diet to lose some of the weight around my organs and also build more muscle. This information was then relayed to the chef to build my personalised meal plans.
This was followed by a Kinvent fitness check-up with the personal trainer, which uses equipment to measure balance, range of motion and strength. This technology is used for elite athletes and physiotherapists to customise training plans as we, of course, are all different. For example, even though I'm right handed, I didn’t realise how weak my left side is, so special attention was given to the left side in my personalised PT sessions.
The programme was full of treatments at the spa, ranging from holistic massages and reflexology using Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques, to more aesthetic-style treatments to help my skin glow. I spent a lot of time at the spa and was feeling very relaxed by the time I left.
My personal highlights
- The food was so delicious and I fully understand their tagline of losing weight with pleasure. I also had a cheeky glass of wine one evening which didn't affect my results. When in France…
- The programmes are very targeted without you realising as it's all fun. I was happy to see that I had gained a little bit of muscle in four days, which made me want to continue on the path when I got home.
- The location is absolutely stunning, with views of the St Tropez peninsula and the lush vegetation.
- The eye contour treatment, which did actually lift my eyes. I was amazed how a manual technique could do that and the lovely therapist gave me some tips on how to do it at home.
Areas for improvement
As much as I loved the treatments, I felt there were too many in the programme and I didn’t have enough time to just relax in the stunning environment. For some this would be ok, but if you're like me, then I'd recommend taking another of the programmes and just adding a couple of treatments on if desired.
Who's it for?
- Couples. It has such a relaxed vibe and you can find activities to enjoy even if you're not on a programme. For example, my husband enjoyed the mountain biking and TRX class but didn’t want any spa treatments.
- Those who want to stay in an ultra-luxury hotel and do a goal-oriented programme without sacrificing any of their creature comforts.
- Those who only have time for a short break but want maximum results.
Insider info
- There are a lot of steps at this hotel. If you struggle with your mobility it's not the best choice, especially during the heat of high summer.
- The sun shines all year round in this part of the world, so if you want a programme the best time to visit in terms of value are the winter months.
Stella visited in March 2024.
Whether you're looking for relaxation or a confidence boost, you'll find it at Lily of the Valley. To follow in Stella's footsteps, get in touch with our expert team to plan your personalised stay.
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
