Lizzy Dening enjoys Champagne, private planes and shopping en France.
Thought you needed a whole weekend to enjoy la Vie en Rose? Think again. Thanks to a special package you can now spend a day at Le Touquet on the French coast – via a private plane – for as little as £222 per person. Not a bad option for a special occasion – swanky hen do, anyone?
How to get there
World Executive Airways (a division of Lyddair) offers a charter package from Lydd Airport in Kent, including return transfers form anywhere in London or the South East and transfers to and from the town centre when you get there. Oh, and a glass of Champagne before you jet off too, darling. Our flight, in a charming Piper Chieftain aircraft (love the '60s style leather interiors) was a smooth affair of just 15 minutes. We flew low above the sea, under the clouds, which led to some beautiful views of the coast as it appeared – not to mention some pretty smug #privateplane selfies. It was so quick and effortless – none of that airport security faff, just bacon sandwiches, Champagne, and ‘Oh, we’re in France then.’ Magnifique.
Where to shop
Le Touquet – famed for its glamorous casino that was the setting for Bond novel Casino Royale - is known as ‘Paris on the Sea’, and is in many ways what The Hamptons are to New York. Enjoy the sea breezes and sunshine at one of many street bars – take advantage of advantageous wine rates – before exploring the market. Be warned: you need your elbows at the ready. But it’s worth it for the food stalls, where you can stock up on local cheeses, olives and other goodies. In fact, the whole town is a foodie paradise, with highly Instagrammable tinned fish shops, elegant wine emporiums (seriously cheap – plus you can take up to 12 bottles each back on the flight home!) and, oh, the chocolatiers. Our pick of the best was Le Chat Bleu, where their signature blue-tipped truffle is packed with a nut brittle, but pretty much everything is a safe bet. Our goodies didn’t even make it home…
Where to eat
Visit the impossibly glam Westminster Hotel (when we arrived there was some sort of sexy supercar convention going on) where the vibe is truly Hollywood – props and cameras are everywhere. I loved the elegant cage lift too (straight out of the Aristocats – the height of French sophistication to my mind…). There’s a huge buffet to enjoy with a mixture of seafood, meats and salads – although (as always in Europe!) as a veggie I found it slightly tricky to work out what was meat-free.
Take a wander
Le Touquet is a playground for the rich, so it’s fascinating to nose around – we spotted a total of three velvet-coated cars. There are golf courses, horse races and loads of massive houses to envy, plus there’s the beach itself. There are always lots of sporty types kite surfing and yachting – but personally I was much more charmed by an old fashioned carousel on the seafront. Simple pleasures. Burn off that Champers with some serious cardio climbing the steps of the '50s lighthouse (allée des mésanges)– also an excellent way to spy on everyone’s fancy swimming pools.
**World Executive Airways’ hospitality charter packages offer three private flight options: **
Executive Piper Chieftain PA31 – complete package price £1,995 for up to nine passengers
Luxury King Air B200 – complete package price £2,995 for up to nine passengers Super-fast Beech Jet 400A – complete package price £3,995 for up to eight passengers
For further information about World Executive Airways’ hospitality charter packages, or to book, call 01797 322207, email info@worldexecutiveairways.com or visit worldexecutiveairways.com and view or download the e-brochure. Scheduled information on LyddAir’s flights and services is also available at lyddair.com