Best for: Fragrance fanatics, exhausted divas and anyone wishing to sign off from the humdrum of modern life.
The signature treatments: Souffle sur Les Planches, a two-hour massage-and-facial ritual inspired by Deauville’s beach; Éclat de Star, a red-carpet facial that turns grey tired skin into a superstar glow; and Puissance Équestre, a strong massage that treats the body with the same care and precision as a prized racehorse.
Best therapist: Ask for Marion Randon, a local therapist from nearby Honfleur who has the golden touch. The team undertakes monthly Guerlain training, covering its precise facial techniques, lymphatic sculpting for face and body and assisted stretching.
The food: Normandy sole, roasted Camembert with honey and lavender, and Côte de Bœuf, followed by honeyed macarons, madeleines and calissons.
The rooms: Toile de Jouy wallpaper and bathrooms generously stacked with Guerlain products. Decadence is infused in every corner with Champagne on ice, freshly baked banana cake and stands of fruit to greet you on arrival. For cinematic history, choose the Un Homme et Une Femme suite, named after Claude Lelouch’s film that was made here.
Accessibility: Twenty bedrooms are wheelchair accessible, with ramped access into the spa. Deauville is largely flat and its enormous beach can be explored via Les Planches, the famous wooden boardwalk lined with Art Deco bathing cabins bearing the names of Hollywood stars.
Family friendly: Extremely. Petit VIP spa experiences include My First Guerlain Moment; a play with the make-up, and the option for a child to join Mum and Dad for a 30-minute treatment including a mini scalp, hand and foot massage.