Le Clos Saint-Martin on the Île de Ré

When you wake up at the Clos Saint-Martin Hotel & Spa, you’ll want to fling open your windows and admire the white island light—so distinctive of the Île de Ré—reflecting off the pool and garden grounds. This four-star hotel is one of those places that’s beautifully grounded in its setting and reflective of this coveted destination off the Atlantic coast in Poitou-Charentes.

There are just 21 rooms and 12 suites, styled with natural materials in a neutral colour palette that’s fitting for the island setting. Our pick: the rooms with a pool-facing terrace, where you can eat breakfast and marvel at the meticulously landscaped garden, fragrant with flowers and decorated with eye-catching sculptures. If you choose to start your day in the breakfast room, you’ll appreciate home-made confitures and a bountiful spread.  There is also a bar lounge for aperitifs and light bites overlooking the family pool. (The other heated pool, nestled in the garden, is for adults only.)

The Spa by Clarins is a place of instant calm, designed with noble materials and serviced by a team of highly trained therapists. Treatments run the gamut from facials and exfoliating scrubs to the signature “Bord de Mer” and “Chemin des Dunes” treatments, created exclusively for the Clos Saint-Martin by Clarins.

Depending on the season, rates start at 149€ in a standard room. The Prestige suite goes for 324€ in the low season, and 565€ in the high season.