The grounds of the new Four Seasons Resort Provence at Terre Blanche are so big you have to rely on staff to drive you around in golf trolleys. There are 300 hectares to be precise - that's bigger than Monaco - and when completed, the resort will have two 18-hole golf courses, a golf academy, four restaurants, an extensive spa and 110 suites in one- or two-storey terracotta-tiled hillside villas.
It's on a private expanse of land known as the Terre Blanche, once owned by Sean Connery, who bought it to build a golf course but just didn't have the time. He sold it to a Swiss bank, which then sold it to German millionaire who did have the time, and enlisted the help of the hotel management company Four Seasons.
In true Four Seasons style, it seems that staff are positioned every few yards, wishing you a good morning and jumping graciously to your every command. Rather frustratingly, though, our clumsy attempts at a 'Bonsoir' or a 'Merci beaucoup' were often met with an Anglo-American reply, so guests who don't venture into the outside world might easily forget they're in France.
Around 40 minutes drive inland from Cannes, the resort is in the Haut Var, the heartland of Provence, surrounded by pretty towns and villages. The spectacular Grand Canyon du Verdon, Europe's largest ravine, is a couple of hours away by car. But the lure of the enormous infinity pool with private cabanas (first come, first served) and the view across the valley from your own spacious private terrace, might make it hard to drag yourself away.
Attention to detail is taken to extremes. Staff who delivered room service breakfast (always on time) finished cooking our eggs on arrival, so they didn't get cold on the trip from the kitchen, and after setting up our breakfast table on the terrace, went through each item with us to make sure nothing was missing. Nothing ever was.
Every evening our breakfast menu was left on a tray alongside the next day's weather forecast (always spot on) and at the pool someone came round to refresh us with an Evian spray.
At the end of a busy day spent doing pretty much nothing, we sank into the goose down duvet and pillows of our ridiculously huge and comfy bed, half expecting someone to come and tuck us in with a goodnight kiss.
Four Seasons Resort Provence at Terre Blanche, Chateau de Terre Blanche, Tourrettes (00 33 4 94 39 9000; www.fourseasons.com/provence). Rooms from £330 a night, single or double, including American breakfast.
Beaucoup de bruit autour du Golf-Hôtel de Terre Blanche. Mais en fait le golf est le terrain de jeu qui constitue l'environnement de l'hôtel "Four Seasons" comme le montrent les liens suivants.