From Ireland and the UK to St Tropez …
En route to St Tropez is the village of Saint-Raphaël where the effortlessly cool hideaway, Les Roches Rouges, conjures up modernist muses such as Eileen Gray and Le Corbusier through its recent design renovation. All rooms overlook the sea while the hotel’s gorgeous garden, natural seawater pool and towering pine trees offer a slice of the Riviera idyll. Take packing cues from its staff who sport Bensimon tennis shoes and sweatshirts. Launching in May is a new Riviera Suite, ideal for a family of four or friends. A must-do is dinner in the hotel’s Michelin-starred Récif restaurant, as well as a visit to the town’s flea market, on Tuesdays at Place Pierre Coullet. @beaumierhotels
Quirky, nostalgic and bustling with delis (Arno & Co), great restaurants (The Blue Pelican), galleries and vintage shops (La Petite Brocante), Deal on the UK’s Kent coast offers design-led accommodation. The Rose, opened by the former design editor of Wallpaper magazine, Alex Bagher, has colour-drenched bedrooms and a wellness space for sunrise Mysore yoga classes, sound baths and massages. The food is excellent too: Portuguese chef Nuno Mendes, formerly of Chiltern Firehouse, creates the menus each season. @therosedeal
The minimalist, Scandi-inspired One Shore Street is a boutique guest house on the Donaghadee seafront in Co Down. Steps from the front door is a charming harbour. Grab a coffee and try The Groomsport Walk along the coast, or check out the acclaimed National Trust gardens of Mount Stewart, a short drive away. @oneshorestreet
When John Banville wrote his novel, The Sea, the setting evoked his childhood summers spent on Rosslare Strand which he described as “magical” and “cosmopolitan”. It still is. This season, Kelly’s Resort & Spa, Co Wexford, debuts several updates. Bedrooms have been redesigned, as have the Aqua and Leisure Centre and the Blue Room, popular with children. Pop down on the train for lunch at The Sea Rooms, where there’s an interesting new smokehouse concept and menu overseen by head chef, David Harte. @kellysresort
THIS MONTH I’M …
BOOKING: The Harbourview Hotel, Co Antrim. @theharbourview_hotel
PACKING: Body Discovery Set, €36, from Voya.
READING: Secret Montenegro by Ivana Masksimovic, Vendôme Press (published April 28), €65.
