vuittonsofstyle

In the 2009 directory there were 137 Relais & Châteaux hotels and restaurants in France.

What did you think of Le Petit Nice-Passédat, which has been in the directory for many years, so you must have stayed?

MSPeconomist

Mixed. For a number of years I had seen the place and always thought that someday I would like to stay and/or eat there. The time came when I had to be in Marseille for about a week for some meeting where I needed a car and the hotel was on the right side of the old port (which I like, but didn't want to deal with since I needed the car). The other locationally desirable properties seemed to be new and probably somewhat the French version of a plastic resort. The street/alley to access the hotel made me ultimately regret the fact that Hertz gave me a nice upgrade.

My wonderful travel agent reserved some sort of deluxe king room for me, but couldn't answer very specific questions about their room categories. I had a reasonably nice room in the front with a huge round spa tub in the room by a window and a shower stall in the bathroom. I also remember a walk-in closet with minibar; I broke a wine glass when I grabbed my jacket from its hanger one morning. The room itself was a bit nondescript; I have mixed feelings about they way the hotel has implemented modern decor in their classic building.

Dinner there one night was very good, but I remember a bit of a hassle getting a table with a good view. Breakfast was as expected for France; good coffee, croissants and brioche but I wouldn't rave about it.

I liked the pretty but cold little pool. I only used the sun deck for the view as I'm not a tanner. The big old dog was fun but I didn't like it when a waiter hit him for not readily showing that he could shake hands with me. (What a strange memory.) It was fun to find big turtles on the walk and in the garden.

I think this was four or five years ago. Overall, I'm glad I stayed there, but I'm not sure how eager I would be to go back.

Do you know this property well? What do you think?

More random memories

I was there at the end of June, so that it wasn't yet high season in southern France; traffic on the coastal road was just beginning to build up. It was interesting to watch the neighborhood kids fish and swim from the rocks below the hotel.

One day the sea was very rough with dark threatening clouds, but it didn't rain. I love hearing the waves crash against the rocks. It's a stunning location but I personally like it better in bad weather.

Dinner was fresh local fish (sorry, I don't remember the details) with a rose from Bandol, I believe.

One evening I returned late and the valet parkers for the restaurant (very busy that night) put my car over the grate of a big storm drain. The next morning, I was concerned that I would drop my keys while trying to unlock the door.

vuittonsofstyle

Your experience almost exactly mirrors my own, although Gerard Passedat's cuisine was certainly worthy of his 3 Michelin stars and I loved the special plates and dishes they had made for the 3-tier Bouillabaise.

I don't like the rooms or suites - very strange design, but then that is so typical of France. I was not bowled over by the service either, or the breakfast. I would not go back, and yes, that little narrow entrance road, which we drove past the first time, is scarily narrow.

vuittonsofstyle

Just a thought, but every time I click onto the Luxury hotels thread, I see it described as talking about luxury hotels, 'such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons'. As Ritz-Carlton is now Marriott, would it not be more accurate to describe this thread as talking about luxury hotels, 'such as Four Seasons and Amanresorts'? I say this because there are more postings about Aman than virtually anything else!

Other contenders could be Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula etc

Kagehitokiri

http://www.elitetraveler.com/news_de...ebrities-chefs

vuittonsofstyle

Funny, because we bumped into a few chefs we know from other hotels. Definitely a destination to watch.

Kagehitokiri

new FHR incl 27 FS, some amenities priced in €
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13220431-post30.html

MO marbella info moved here >
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13228999-post257.html

vuittonsofstyle

Interesting build, Kage. This MO project appeared to have gone quiet. It was conceived in 2005, but I wonder if and when it will happen.

Ericka

I was reading an article yesterday about the Hotel Montana in Haiti that completely collapsed and how several foreigners were still trapped inside and/or officially unaccounted for. As with all other buildings in Haiti, there were little to no construction standards.

Curiosity got the better of me and I looked up the hotel website. I was expecting to find a comfortable, slightly run-down local establishment. Wow. The hotel was really nice. I would definitely stay there. Looking at the before and after pictures....unbelievably sad.

Now I wonder when we stay in the more impoverished countries what the construction standards are. And when there are few "laws" about such things, can we trust our luxury hotels to build to withstand certain natural disasters? Do these high-end architects really care? Or is design more important?

Kagehitokiri

isnt haiti more like the "least developed" countries in africa? that makes it more an issue of rule of law.

owners of things like hotels are always going to want to manage the risk of their investments/assets. one might be able to estimate say how much an owner values a certain hotel, their perceived risks, etc.

vuittonsofstyle

Haiti is in the Caribbean, next door to the Dominican Republic, not in Africa.

Kagehitokiri

i said "more like." with the unsaid "than other countries in north/south america."

vuittonsofstyle

Sorry Kage, misunderstood the punctuation.

paul2

The presidential palace in Haiti was badly damaged (just to put a hotel into some sort of perspective).
I agree The Montana looked like a very nice hotel in the 'before' pictures.
I also agree with Kage that Haiti is like the least developed African countries and unfortunately more so now.

Canarsie

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Enjoy, and thank you, Luxury Forum moderators!