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Boutique hotels in St Tropez

Holidays in St Tropez, France

St Tropez Overview

France

Cityscape
Jet-set Riviera, Côte d’Azur
City life
Flashbulb-fabulous port

A millionaires’ playground of yachts, nightclubs and nu-retro hedonism set against an azure backdrop, St Tropez is the glittering epicentre of the Monte Carlo/Cannes party route.

Under a hot Tropezian sun, the Dior-sunglassed brigade poses on the promenade before the refulgent gleam of super-yachts and super-tans. Honeymooners, movie-stars and millionaire movers ’n’ shakers alike mingle in slinky cocktail lounges – while the cream of the die-hard St Tropez party crop soaks each other with champagne at Nikki Beach club. But as helicopters drop A-listers at the hottest parties in town, step back a little, away from the port, and a different Riviera light shines through. Cue ultra-relaxed St Tropez; with its clicking of pétanque balls in sandy, tree-lined squares, and dusty French cafés packed with locals supping pastis. From the stylishly simple to the downright ostentatious, this town’s contradicting personalities jostle for space as skillfully as they harmonise each other.

Suitably St Tropez

Hire a boat, from €450 a day, from L'Echo Nautique, 6 rue du Clocher (+33 (0)4 94 97 73 66; www.echonautique.com), and remember: in St Tropez, size matters...

Local knowledge

Taxis
Are expensive and can’t be hailed in the street. Book from your hotel: Azur Limousine (+33 (0)6 21 14 52 93); Taxi Marc (+33 (0)6 15 21 23 56). Be warned: a taxi from Pastis Hotel into town costs around €25 (it’s a two minute walk).

Tipping culture
Service is always included in France. Round up cab fares to the nearest euro.

Siesta and Fiesta
Most shops are open from 10am –1pm and 3pm–7pm (or until 8pm, mid-summer). Most banks open from 8am–12pm and 1pm–5pm (most are closed on Sat/Sun/Mon). Restaurants get really lively around 11pm, while the bars and nightclubs stay open until 5am.

Packing tips
Allegra Hicks kaftan, jewelled sandals.

Recommended reads
The Hairdressers of St Tropez by Rupert Everett. Out to Lunch in Provence by Mike Aalders. Anything by Colette or Anaïs Nin, both cult St-Tropéziennes.

Cuisine
Local fish is expensive, but acclaimed; feast on tuna tartare with grilled sesame and shellfish with chorizo – to a backdrop of bobbing yachts.

Currency
Euro.

Dialling codes
Country code for France: 33. Provence: (0)4.

Do go/don't go
In July and August, the olde fishing village is submerged beneath a touristic tidal wave: it’s fun but crazy. The big yachting races come to a close mid-end October, after that you’ll experience the pretty French coastal town.