Best for lovebirds
PAN DEÏ PALAIS
Bardot wasn’t the first woman to set hearts aflutter
in Saint-Tropez. Back in 1835, a French general fell in
love with a Punjab princess called Bannu Pan Dei and
built the lavish Pan Deï Palais to celebrate. Traditional
Provençal mansion from the outside, the hotel has a
distinctly exotic feel within. The dozen rooms include
features such as four-poster beds and fresh orchids. A
gourmet restaurant serves fresh, local produce.
ROOMS: £372 (£343), room only. relaischateaux.com
pandei.comBest for budget stays
HOTEL B LODGE
If you’ve blown your budget on Champagne rather
than accommodation, this spot is a good place to rest
your head. Set in the centre of town, its 12 cosy rooms
are decorated in neutrals and rich browns, and are
spread over three floors, some with a terrace. There’s
a small pavement cafe, Café Barock, which is open
until the wee hours. It’s worth noting that there’s no
lift, so if you’re not planning on travelling light, it’s
wise to book a lower floor room.
ROOMS: €120 (£107), B&B. hotel-b-lodge.comBest for setting sail
LA BASTIDE DE SAINT-TROPEZ
Those who enjoy admiring the boats in Saint-Tropez’s
harbour should book into the Bastide de Saint-Tropez
— guests can hire its 72ft Sanlorenzo Yacht to explore
the coastline. Landlubbers, meanwhile, will be spoiled
by the hotel’s beautiful grounds, which feature olive
trees, fig trees and perfumed blooms around an idyllic
pool. Its 26 rooms are set between four Provençal
farmhouses and are decorated in classic regional style.
ROOMS: From £201, room only. relaischateaux.com
bastide-saint-tropez.com
Best for retro glamour
HOTEL BYBLOS
If Brigitte Bardot put Saint-Tropez on the
map, then Hotel Byblos was designed to
keep it there. Sadly for Lebanese billionaire
Jean-Prosper Gay-Para, who built the hotel
in 1967 to woo Ms Bardot, his grand gesture
didn’t result in reciprocated love. The hotel
has maintained its star quality, however,
with Beyoncé, George Clooney and Lady Gaga
among its guests, and its nightclub, Les Caves
du Roy, is where Mick and Bianca Jagger had
their wedding party. With 91 rooms and a
splendid cocoon-like spa, the hotel has bold,
colourful decor throughout with striking
features by ceramicist Roger Capron.
ROOMS: From €357 (£300), room only.
byblos.comJul/Aug 2020 59SLEEP