CABIN fever is still a fact of life with us only slowly emerging from the lockdown.
But as Europe prepares to reopen tourism this summer, one French hotspot is way ahead with social distancing measures — making it the perfect post-pandemic getaway.
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And you don’t need to hop on a plane to get there.
Coucoo Grands Cepages hotel is a few miles from Avignon, a town in the South of France that can be reached easily by Eurostar to Lille and then on by speedy TGVs.
Forget struggles to keep to the two-metre rule.
The resort is made up of 20 wooden cabins positioned around 100 metres apart — so avoiding other holidaymakers is easy.
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The cabins are scattered across stunning Lake Lionne on stilts, floating on the water or tucked into vegetation on the banks.
All are perfectly secluded and blend seamlessly into the landscape.
Before Coucoo opened in 2017, this serene lake was a rubbish dump.
Now each cabin has a netted overwater hammock built into the floor of the terraces.
So you can lie back and enjoy the low hum of nature with birds tweeting, exotic shrills from cicadas and the gentle splash as a fish surface in the water below.
‘Press pause’
Squint and this could be the Maldives.
“The privacy of our guests is a priority,” says hotel owner Gaspard de Moustier.
“Our cabins are far apart so people can get lost in nature. It’s the perfect safe escape after weeks of confinement.”
But be warned, there is no wifi, TVs or telephones inside the cabins. The aim is to disconnect from that world.
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Gaspard says: “We do not like to disturb our guests. They can press pause on their stressful lives and leave the worries of Covid-19 behind.
“I will feel happy when someone stays for two days and tells me it felt like two weeks.”
Meals are pre-ordered online and left in baskets by staff, who remain unseen and unheard after check-in.
They ring a bell to tell guests their food has been delivered.
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Everything from the cured meats to the classy condiments comes from local producers dotted around the surrounding countryside and restaurants in the quaint neighbouring village of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, which is world famous for its quality wine. Coucoo closed in March amid the coronavirus outbreak and reopened to welcome guests in mid-May.
Gaspard says: “In a post-Covid world we will move towards more responsible, local and sustainable tourism
“This is the time to be supporting local businesses and embracing nature.”
And that is easy to do with rows of bikes at the reception free to ride around the 40-hectare site.
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The cabins accommodate two to six people and have plenty of eco-friendly details. Each cabin is insulated with sheep’s wool, and tap water is purified in a glass bottle with a bar of activated charcoal.
Even the outdoor hot tubs, found outside a handful of cabins, are eco-friendly.
‘Amazing smells’
With every new bookings made, staff will send out a “health charter”, which is a document outlining all the safety measures in place before guests arrive.
Gaspard says: “Only one guest can be in reception at a time, the cabins are cleaned thoroughly and regularly and hydroalcoholic gel is provided. Staff will wear masks and gloves at all times, but always with a big smile.”
The swimming pool will be closed until July.
But apart from that, it is business as usual.
Gaspard says: “I love the nature here — the wildlife, the amazing smells, the vivid blue colour of the water. It’s full immersion into nature.
“We need fresh air and open space to cut off from our screens.
“That desire is stronger in the wake of this crisis.”
GO: Coucoo Grands Cepages hotel
GETTING THERE: Eurostar has services to Avignon via Lille from St Pancras with prices from £73 each way. See eurostar.com.
STAYING THERE: The cabins at the Coucoo Grands Cepages Hotel start from £207 per night for a cabin sleeping two people. For more details, see cabanesdesgrandscepages.com.
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