Maison Felisa

Mr & Mrs Smith have just got back from an anonymous review trip to this boutique hotel in Languedoc-Rousillon, and just as soon as they’ve unpacked their bags, a full account of their stay in southern France will be with you. In the meantime, just to whet your wanderlust, here’s a quick postcard from boutique bed and breakfast Maison Felisa…

This little maison de vigneron (rural family home with a courtyard) in Languedoc’s Gard department is the B&B brainchild of Swiss couple Philippe and Isa (hence the hotel’s name), and they’ve more than made their mark on the property. Interiors are soft-toned stone, with occasional bright pops of colour in the form of silken eiderdowns or bright bathroom tiles, and smart contemporary furnishings that edge towards minimalism without becoming austere. Philippe brings his tactile talents as a masseuse to the hotel’s little spa (as well as running daily yoga session); Isa, it turns out, is equally gifted in the kitchen, and prepares a mean table d’hôte at the weekend (as well as offering cooking lessons to the culinary-curious). The pair have brought their extensive experience of Southeast Asian travel to bear on their own style of hospitality: laid-back, personality-led and attentive without being invasive. This convivial home-from-home ambience, coupled with the all-out emphasis on relaxation (the scent of essential oils is constantly in the air), means that Maison Felisa fosters that ideal combination of warm welcome and chilled-out atmosphere – the place to take it easy.