My friend Nicolas Zimmerman, who is the marketing and sales director for Heloise’s Choice, a company that represents luxury hotels, resorts, and properties throughout France and Europe, invited me to stay in the Villa Clarisse and Hotel Toiras in Ile de Ré.
I had stayed at the Villa Toiras in 2018, and enjoyed my experience very much, and I was happy to return. I arrived about noon on a Tuesday, two weeks ago, and checked into the hotel. Fortunately, I was given the lovely Madame Sevigne suite again, a beautifully decorated suite with antique furniture, exquisite French fabrics of satin and brocade, and a view facing the harbor. I also enjoyed a candlelit dinner on the lovely garden terrace at La Table de Olivia.
It was a warmer and sunnier day on Wednesday than it was on Tuesday when I checked into the Villa Clarisse, the sister hotel to Hotel Toiras. Located on a quiet residential street just a five-minute walk from Hotel Toiras, Villa Clarisse was a contrast to its sister hotel. Villa Clarisse is more of the hedonistic, informal, and bohemian sister to Hotel Toiras, the elegant and refined, old world style sister.
Villa Clarisse was originally a private mansion from the 17th century and has been converted into an intimate hotel with just five suites plus four rooms, decorated by top French interior designer, Yves Rochon. The reception person showed me around the hotel before showing me to my room. The dining room where breakfast and lunch was served, was done in soft neutral colors, with art works in vibrant colors, and the tables were set with white ceramic dishes and oversized coffee cups, The long, manicured lawn with two towering cypress trees led to the pool area, which had a heated pool (almost unheard in France) and cushy chaise lounges. Those last two elements plus the warm sun above, prompted my decision to spend the afternoon by the pool.
I loved my airy suite on the second floor in the main building, which was designed with a black and white palate. My quilt cover was a large-scale, graphic print, the floors were a wide- wood plank and the pale stone floor, I believe, was limestone. There was an antique writing desk and a seating area with club chairs and a comfy couch. The bathtub had a window above it with views of the terra cotta rooftops and the separate shower stall had a rain shower head.
I savored my afternoon by the pool, lounging, reading, and napping, as I realized this was only the second time all summer I had been near water, plus this was possibly the last opportunity this year to do so, as it was already mid-September and the weather would be changing soon.
The next morning, before I checked out, I got in another swim in the heated pool and had a breakfast of a perfectly cooked cheese omelet with fresh croissants, and bread with homemade preserves. I wish I could have spent the afternoon again at Villa Clarisse because I found out the hotel can make a picnic lunch to have on their lawn or by the pool.
Villa Clarisse will be installing a full service spa next year.
Villa Clarisse
5 Rue du Général Lapasset, 17410 Saint-Martin-de-Ré
https://www.heloise-choice.com/etablissement/la-villa-clarisse-ile-de-re/
