When my Dutch book tour ended (screams to everyone who came to sign!), I checked in to the gorgeous St. Gerlach hotel and chateau, looking for a bit of R&R in the countryside. The next three days will be spent walking through the garden, reading my books (now one in Paris) and checking in for a few days to check out. If you’re looking for a little extravagant and want to escape city life, here’s a little insight into my country escape!
Check-in: St. Gerlach Chateau
St. Gerlach is just a 20-minute drive from Maastricht, located south of the Netherlands, near the border of Belgium (France and Germany). Although not too far from the city, hotels feel like they are a world away from reality. It focuses on gorgeous Spari treats, gastronomy restaurants and beautiful gardens. The good news for me was that you can do as much or less as you like during your stay. It was appealing to rent a bike or take a Vespa and spin (I was unfortunately unable to do so as I recently lost my license).
Around the hotel
As the hotel encourages city escape, it was no wonder they had an incredible indoor pool with a full spa menu that they could enjoy. With the hotel and gardens surrounding the chateau (which houses the hotel’s restaurants and bistros), I have explored these very long and made it my mission to switch off after a week of city life. When I live on my home farm in Tasmania, I constantly hope to turn off and enjoy what I had missed since getting on a plane a week ago!
room
The rooms are simple and elegant, decorated in a true country style. My room is above the Level 2 reception, with lovely views of the Winter Garden and is convenient to walk to breakfast in a sweater before strolling around the property every morning.
Gastronomy Foods and Drinks
This food is one of the highlights of my time at St. Gerlach and trust me when the chef here says it’s world class! Which night I enjoyed a casual dinner at the bistro. The food was both exceptional and had excellent service at a reasonable price.
Due to the hotel location in the countryside, there are no other dining options nearby. So if you prefer more options, it would be wise to rent a car and travel to Maastricht, which is just 20 minutes away. The hotel also offers a free shuttle service to and from the city between 10am and 6pm.
Nearby: Maastricht and the borders of three countries
If you decide to stay in St. Gerlach, I highly recommend taking the time to explore nearby Maastricht. When I arrived by train from Utrecht, I left my luggage behind while spending my first day exploring the city here (and more, check-in time is 3pm, so that makes sense!) You can rent a bike and Vespa directly from the hotel.
I am very grateful to St. Gerlach for welcoming me during this 2 night retreat! It was a lovely little end to my book tour in the Netherlands. All the photos and opinions are my own!