Bike. Eat. Drink. Sleep. That’s the DuVine way whether you are on a luxury bike tour or expanding your horizons with an adventure travel trip. But none of it would be truly DuVine if you didn’t get the perfect night’s sleep (and evening’s rest and relaxation) every single day.
So, I give you my Top 10 Hotels of 2011. The only way to be sure that the hotels we bring you to are up to DuVine standards is to stay in them ourselves. So, I sucked it up and bedded down in each of them myself, just for a little quality control. It was hard work, putting my feet up and lounging in the incredible luxury, but someone had to do it. Now here they are for you, to either dream about if you haven’t been or to relive if you have. (These are in no particular order.)
Château Les Crayères
Château Les Crayères in Champagne, France
Complete and utter elegance. That is the only way to describe Château Les Crayères, which is the definition of French-style art de vivre if there ever was one. It is this majestic, 100-plus year-old chateau in Reims that we call home for two nights on our bicycle tour in Champagne, France. The work of Pierre-Yves Rochon, the stunning interior is a prototype of French classicism, and the ideal spot to contemplate a flute of Champagne after a spectacular day roaming the vineyards and countryside on your bike. The only thing that tops it may be the terrace outside, which offers a breath-taking view of the estate’s park. And if you haven’t had enough Champagne yet (could you ever, really?), Les Crayères features the finest in dining at its in-house restaurant, Le Parc, where French haute cuisine is exquisitely married with a comprehensive selection of vintages from the most prestigious growers. From the ride, to the room, to the dinner table, your experience at Château Les Crayères will be nothing short of exceptional.
Relais et Chateaux la Signoria in Corsica
After a day tackling the ceaselessly undulating terrain on the isle of Corsica, come to rest at night at the foot of the Corsican mountains at La Signoria, which will be more than a welcome site for your tired legs and hungry stomach. Looking out over the azure Mediterranean Sea, Hotel Signoria is a magical Genoese estate from the 18th century, whose private beach and pool offer chance for complete seclusion from the outside world while you fulfill he eating, drinking, and sleeping requirements on your DuVine bicycle tour in Corsica.
Lešić Dimitri Palace
The Lešić Dimitri Palace in Korcula, Croatia
Intimate is a word that cannot be stressed enough when you are looking for true refinement. In the 18th century bishop’s palace that is the the Lešić Dimitri Palace, that is just what you will get. Stashed away behind the medieval walls in the town of Korcula, this palace features a mere six residences. Rather than carve up this historic building into traditional hotel rooms, the owners have instead chosen to form each story of the palace into a residence, each with no more than four bedrooms. When you do emerge from the confines of your private residency, the full treatment of a Thai therapy spa awaits, along with an astoundingly fresh meal at LD Terrace, the palace’s own first-class restaurant. On your bicycle tour in Croatia, this will certainly be a highlight.
Château de Roussan in Provence
Welcome to the home of Bertrand de Nostredame, brother of the famed Nostradamus. If only his brother could have predicted how much you are going to adore your stay at the former family chateau. Step inside and marvel at the flawless preservation of centuries of Provencal history. From its library that houses the collective works of names like Socrates and Montesquieu to the luxurious lounges where guests find a cozy seat to chat away, the Château de Roussan feels like paradise in Provence. And if you aren’t tired from you invigorating day of riding on your bicycle tour in Provence, the hotel’s park, greenhouse, and ponds offer a gorgeous landscape to explore on foot before heading off to dinner.
Cap Rocat
Cap Rocat in Mallorca, Spain
Be ready to be shocked when you first step into the island fortress that is Cap Rocat. Once a military outpost, this fortress on the Spanish island of Mallorca has been transformed into a palace of true grandeur. Tucked into the Bay of Palma and featuring a magnificent view, the hotel is one of the most unique we have seen, and has retained many of its defining features from its days of military service while adding all the amenities you could ever desire. Home for two nights on your bicycle tour in Mallorca, Cap Rocat offers the chance for serene relaxation in complete peace, removed from the crowds on the beaches and out in town. And as is the Spanish way, the hotel is just as food-centric as it is luxurious. With two outstanding restaurants on the premises, you will be wined and dined to your heart’s content (and your stomach’s), ready for the next leg of your DuVine adventure.
Convento do Espinheiro in Evora, Portugal
Staying with the theme of transformation, this gem in the Alentejo region of Portugal has been the home of serenity for over half a millennium. Originally a 15th century convent and now a UNCESCO world heritage site, the Convento has set the standard for luxury as long as anywhere we know of. Home for two nights on you bicycle tour in Portugal, the Convento do Epinheiro features not only marvelous guest rooms in which to recharge after an exhilarating ride, but also the first-class Diana Spa, where you can fully immerse yourself in the depths of relaxation. And after two days of outstanding cycling, Divinus Restaurant, which sits in the hotel’s ancient and charming wine cellar, offers an intimate experience with the sophisticated yet authentic local cuisine.
Ashford Castle
Ashford Castle in Ireland
Steeped in tradition in more ways than one, Ashford Castle in Mayo, Ireland is also a part of one of the most well-known Irish institutions today: Guinness. While the original structure was erected in 1228, in 1852 Ashford fell into the hands of Sir Benjamin lee Guinness, who extended the estate to 26,000 acres and added thousands of trees and two large Victorian style extensions. Today, it is a five star hotel and recognized by many as one of the top 50 resorts in Europe. In addition to the magnificent rooms that have been meticulously preserved over time, the resort features a golf course, equestrian center, and countless lakes and rivers for fishing, any of which are the perfect way to pass an afternoon after a day spent tackling the Irish the countryside on your bicycle tour of Ireland. That is, of course, after you’ve indulged in a celebratory pint at the cocktail bar.
Rosa Alpina Hotel & Spa Relais & Châteaux in Badia (Dolomites ski tour)
Set in the village of San Cassiano in Badia, right in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, the Hotel & Spa Rosa Alpina is renowned for a discrete and refined hospitality. It belongs to the tourist district of Alta Badia, which was voted “Queen of the Alps” by the prestigious Italian Touring Club. Home for the first leg of your Dolomites ski tour, Rosa Alpina is the ideal spot to warm up by the fire and loosen your muscles at the spa or in the hot tub after a day carving turns in the Dolomiti.
Castello Cememi
Castello Camemi in Sicily
Shouldn’t a hotel leave you feeling like royalty when you finally settle in for the night? Nestled deep in the Sicilian countryside, Castello Camemi is sure to do just that. Tucked away in this spectacular 15th century castle that has since been converted to a 5-star hotel, it will be easy to believe that you are Italian nobility, enjoying a summer retreat in the Ilbei mountains of Sicily — that is, of course, until you step back on your back the next day, when you’ll realize that life is even better than that on your DuVine bicycle tour in Sicily. With just fourteen rooms, the Castello Camemi will feel for all the world like your own private castle, with your own private dining room and wine cellar to boot.
Solage in Calistoga, California
Is 22 acres enough to call your own? We’d like to think so, and at Solage in Calistoga, California, those are 22 of the finest acres that Napa Valley has to offer, flanked on either side by the Mayacamas and Palisades mountain ranges and which offer only the most stunning of viewpoints from which to watch the sunset, glass of chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon in hand. Solage is home to far more than just breath-taking views and world-class guest rooms, though. The epitome of over the top, it boasts in the number one rated spa in the Americas, as voted for by Conde Naste Traveller, as well as the Michelin-starred restaurant Solbar, where we will refuel our engines after a day of scenic wine country riding on your bicycle tour in Napa Valley and Sonoma.
been. And with our Top 10 Blog Posts, as voted for by our guests and followers, we can see what your favorite moments were as well.
