Relais & Chateaux
Relais & Chateaux is an exclusive collection of 480 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 56 countries.
Established in France in 1954, the Association's mission is to spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting outstanding properties with a truly unique character.Furthermore, Relais & Chateaux is also a family of hoteliers and Grands Chefs from all over the world who share a passion for and personal commitments to ensuring their guests are privy to moments of exceptional harmony. To choose Relais & Chateaux is to experience an unforgettable celebration of the senses.
From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa, Relais & Chateaux offers a chance to explore the Route du Bonheur and discover a special place in a variety of destinations.
The Relais & Chateaux signature reflects this ambition:
"ALL AROUND THE WORLD, UNIQUE IN THE WORLD."
Information and reservations:
Tel.: 00 800 2000 00 02
Website: www.relaischateaux.com
Maison des Relais & Chateaux
10 E. 53rd Street New York, NY 10022
Planters InnIntroducing the Southern Route du Bonheur
Discover the South on this Weeklong Getaway
Looking to sample the South by savoring its finest local cuisine, staying at its finest independently owned luxury properties and traversing its most romantic, scenic byways? Experience this through your personal Route du Bonheur – or Road to Happiness – via three distinct Relais & Chateaux properties. An easy drive to one another yet located in separate states and geographies – from Virginia's Blue Ridge mountains to North Carolina's Piedmont to South Carolina's low country – these inns offer an exceptional way to experience and learn about this vibrant and vast region.
What is the Route du Bonheur?
In 1954, five unique small properties in France banded together to create a touring route from Paris to Nice, called the "Route du Bonheur" (Road to Happiness). Guests were welcomed to each unique and special property in turn as they traveled south. As people began to experience the quality and service these properties offered, the Relais & Chateaux association began to grow. Today, Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 475 of the finest hotels and gourmet restaurants in 55 countries.
The American South
No picture of the U.S. is complete without an understanding of the South. It contains over one third of the U.S. population and is its fastest growing region. From ancient mountain ranges to beautiful broad white sand beaches, the South offers stunning natural beauty. The region's pivotal role in American history – from colonialism to the Civil War to the civil rights movement and beyond – offers priceless historical sites. And learn why it's the birthplace of jazz, gospel, country music, folk art and other forms of popular expression that have been exported around the world!<
The Properties
For the first stop: the incomparable Inn at Little Washington, in Virginia. Only an hour's drive from Washington, D.C. and located at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Patrick O'Connell has created a luxurious hideaway in the country, lauded by many as the finest American country inn. This 18-suite property, centered in the charming colonial village of Little Washington, features luxury accommodations and American gourmet cuisine locally sourced from the Virginia countryside. The Inn at Little Washington also has two tables in the kitchen which allow guests to watch dinner creation nightly.
Five hours south is your final destination, Planters Inn in Charleston, SC, one of America's most historically significant and romantic cities. Planters Inn offers the best location in town, overlooking the Old City Market with its galleries and shopping, in an exquisitely restored historic building. Expect to find upscale period-style furnishings and four poster beds in each of its 64 luxurious rooms. Antique shops, art galleries and the theatre district are just outside the door. The Peninsula Grill – named Charleston's best restaurant 12 years running – offers award-winning fine gourmet dining and wines.
To learn more about area activities and other regional Relais properties, visit:
http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/destinations/region/276/US-South/276/southerndelights/4142/iti/detail
Travel
Starting and concluding your Route du Bonheur at the same or different airports is easy with these airports to choose from: Washington, D.C.'s Dulles Airport (IAD) and, in North Carolina, the Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Charlotte's Douglas International Airport (CLT). All offer both national and international service. Charleston's airport (CHS) offers direct service to a number of Southeast and East Coast cities.
Reservations and Contact Information
There are two convenient ways to reserve your Southern Route du Bonheur. First, reserve at all three properties at one time by contacting Relais & Chateaux's Central Reservations via email at http://www.relaischateaux.com/en/ or toll free in the United States at (800) 735-2478.
Second, contact the reservations department of each property directly:
The Inn at Little Washington
Middle and Main Street
Washington, VA 22747
www.theinnatlittlewashington.com
Reservations:
(540) 675–3800
The Fearrington House Country Inn and Restaurant
2000 Fearrington Village Ctr
Pittsboro, NC 27312
www.fearrington.com
Reservations:
(919) 542-2121
fhouse@fearrington.com
Planters Inn
112 North Market Street
Charleston, SC 29401
www.plantersinn.com
Reservations:
(843) 722-2345
reservations@plantersinn.com
The innkeepers of The Inn at Little Washington, The Fearrington House and Planters Inn look forward to extending the genuine and personal hospitality for which Relais & Chateaux is renowned.
