Megan Arkinstall follows the fashionable to Deauville, a glorious seaside town on the Côte Fleurie, the chic French city that influenced fashion icon Coco Chanel.
Coco Chanel once said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."
When thinking of Chanel, it is Paris that immediately comes to mind, but it was in fact the small French town of Deauville that had the greatest influence on the makings of this fashion powerhouse.
The French seaside town of Deuville is known for its old Norman architecture.
After great success with her Parisian hat store, she followed her lover Boy Capel to the Norman seaside town and opened up a second boutique.
It was here that she was inspired to create a range of androgynous women’s sportswear, from high-waisted trousers to jersey sweaters to mid-thigh-length swimwear, all in neutral colours, predominantly beige and black.
Her range was daringly fashion-forward and ultimately changed the way French women looked at fashion, their relationships with their bodies and their lifestyles.
Traditional wind and sun shelters on Deauville Beach, France.
At this time, Deauville was a resort playground for the wealthy; well-to-do Parisians of the roaring ’20s flocked here for its famous beach promenade and Art Deco baths and cabins; for activities such as horse racing, polo, tennis and yachting; to hedge their bets at the flashy casino; and to stay in the prestigious Hôtel Normandy or Hôtel Le Royal, both built by well-known Parisian restaurateur Eugène Cornuché.
Life was relaxed and the people impossibly elegant. And it’s still the case today.
As we soak up some sun along the Promenade des Planches, it’s not hard to imagine exquisitely dressed women from the past strutting along the 653-metre long boardwalk, lined with beach cabins each boasting the name of a Hollywood celebrity (the town hosts the annual American Film Festival in September and along with it come the stars – we saw Will Ferrell working out at the Hôtel Le Royal’s gym during our stay), or basking in the sun on the beach, which is dotted with multi-coloured parasols and deckchairs.
A seafront ice-cream stand, perfect after a walk on the streets. Deuville, France.
Or, for that matter, sipping on a chilled glass of Grande Cuvée at one of the beachside cafes.
Indeed, Deauville is a blessing for those who want to exchange the Seine for some sun, sand and sea.
But the town centre (where you’ll find Chanel’s flagship store) is the clincher that has us waving au revoir to Paris, for a few days at least; it is, after all, only a two-hour journey from Gare du Nord.
Made up of perfectly patterned brickwork streets, quaint cafes with rattan bistro chairs lining the sidewalks, chic designer boutiques, impossibly neat gardens, gushing fountains and charming buildings of Norman-style architecture, with exposed timber and chequered walls, it’s hard not to fall in love with this town, just as Mademoiselle Chanel once did.
Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.
The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.
1. Easy access to good food
Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.
One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.
In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.
In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.
Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.
At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.
While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.
It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.
2. Better sleep options
Sleep deeply with Novotel.
There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.
For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.
The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.
3. More ways to move
Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)
Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.
At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.
Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.
4. Better connections
Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.
One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.
Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.
A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.
Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.
All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.
