St Tropez

St Tropez is not Nice. It is not Cannes. It is a fishing village that became famous and somehow stayed small. There is no airport, no train station, and in the off-season the population drops to about 5,000 people. The hotels here reflect that scale -- most are boutique properties with 30 to 60 rooms, tucked into converted farmhouses or perched on the hillside above the Vieux Port. A suite in St Tropez feels private in a way that the big Riviera resort hotels cannot match.

In the Village vs. Outside

The village itself (around the Place des Lices and the old port) has a handful of hotels where you can walk to everything -- the morning market, the cafes on the quay, the Citadelle. Hotel de Paris St-Tropez sits right on the port with suites that look out over the yachts. Hotel Lou Pinet, set back slightly from the port, has a more residential feel with a garden pool and suites decorated like a very stylish Provencal house. These in-village hotels let you stumble back from dinner, which in St Tropez is a genuine luxury.

Outside the village, along the Chemin des Tamaris and Route des Plages, the properties get bigger and more resort-like. Chateau de la Messardiere sits on a hilltop with views across the bay. Hotel Sezz and La Reserve Ramatuelle (technically in the neighboring commune, but the same stretch of coast) offer suites with private plunge pools and direct access to Pampelonne Beach. This is where you go if you want to spend the day at the beach and do not need to be in the middle of the village bustle.

What Makes These Suites Different

St Tropez suites lean into indoor-outdoor living more than almost any other destination. Expect private terraces with day beds, outdoor showers, and in some cases your own pool. The architecture tends toward Provencal -- terracotta, shuttered windows, bougainvillea -- but the interiors at the better hotels are contemporary. The combination of old-village charm with modern design is the signature of the good properties here.

The other thing worth knowing: St Tropez hotels are seasonal. Most close from late October through March or April. The season is short and demand is intense in July and August, when suite rates can easily hit 1,500 EUR per night or more. June and September are the sweet spot -- the weather is excellent, the beaches are operational, the restaurants are open, and prices drop by 30-50%. Early October can work too, though some beach clubs start closing.

Getting There

The closest airports are Nice (90 minutes by car) and Toulon (75 minutes). In summer, there is a seasonal ferry from Nice that takes about two and a half hours. Many of the better hotels arrange private transfers, and some offer helicopter service from Nice airport -- fifteen minutes versus an hour and a half on the A8. If you are booking a suite for a special occasion, ask about it. The cost is less outrageous than you might think, especially split between two or four people.