When we moved from the UK to the South of France over seven years ago to open up The Lotus Tree there were very few places offering accommodation specifically to the gay market. Now there are many more 'gay' hotels and guesthouses in France. Our success over the years, and the fact that so many of our guests keep coming back, suggest we must be doing something right. So what’s our secret?
For a start, unlike a lot of places you may see advertised, we are an exclusively gay hotel in the South of France. Our guests are gay men of all ages and all nationalities, although we are very happy to welcome lesbian couples too. People have a habit of making good friends from all over the world while staying with us. We've even helped a few relationships get started! But we’re not a gay ghetto. There’s nothing particularly ‘gay’ about the rooms or anything else. We offer style and simplicity totally in keeping with the traditional stone buildings of the South of France and that’s what our guests seem to prefer.
From what our customers tell us, it’s the informal and relaxing atmosphere of The Lotus Tree that attracts many people. We will never fuss over you because we hate that when we travel ourselves. You’ll be free to be yourselves and do things your own way. There are very few rules. But we will make sure that you have everything you need – not least a clean, comfortable room and plenty of outdoor space in which to unwind.
We’re also unusual in that our 'gay hotel' in the South of France offers both bed and breakfast accommodation and self-contained studios. A few home cooked meals can make a nice change however tempting the local restaurants may be. We provide a generous spread for breakfast including fresh fruit, yoghurts, croissants and pastries. You can breakfast late – it’s a holiday after all – and it’s always a sociable way to start the day. We offer light lunches on request and when there’s the demand we hold regular evening meals that are like a big dinner party under the stars. The chances are you’ll know most people by then and as nobody has to drive these are usually very popular, fun nights. Skinny dipping after coffee is not unheard of!
Our pool is large by the standards of most guest houses. Twelve metres long and three metres deep at the diving board end. It’s full of spring water – yes, really – because we have our own source. And that means the water in the taps is totally fresh and safe to drink.
The pool and grounds, and the rooms too of course, are clothing optional. That means you can go naked if you want to, but nobody is going to try to pressure you into it. Whatever makes you feel most comfortable is fine by us.
So because we know there are a lot more choices out there now for gay accommodation we always try to do a little bit more to make a holiday at The Lotus Tree as special as possible. Every year we make improvements to keep ahead of the competition. In 2008 we will be hosting our first gay 'weddings'. This year the pool has been re-done and last year we renovated a new studio in the grounds and built a summer kitchen for breakfast and other meals. There’s a ‘chill out’ area with books and magazines. It’s under cover but open on all sides with views across the valley. So it offers shade in the day and at night it’s lit with candles and solar lights. And we’ve laid well lit paths to link the various parts of the property. You can get an idea of how it all fits together on the next page. But better still come and see our gay hotel in the South of France for yourselves.
We’d be delighted to welcome you.
And just in case you were wondering where we got our name from, the 'Lotus Tree' is the translation of the graceful micocoulier trees which shade the house from the Mediterranean sun.
These are the same trees that, according to Homer, caused his men to “lose all desire for home” once they’d tasted its fruit.
Open your shutters every morning and breathe the fresh air and maybe you'll feel the same! We hope so.
James and Lance
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