Need to know
Rooms
93, including 65 suites and five Madrague Houses.
Check–Out
Noon; check-in is at 4pm. Both are flexible, on request and subject to availability.
More details
Rates include breakfast at either Delos Lounge or Soukana, as well as unlimited boat transfers and a selection of activities in the Village des Artisans.
Also
At Zannier Île de Bendor a choice of rooms and suites set on the ground floor may be suitable depending on your mobility (they are more spacious, but not specially adapted). One of the Madrague Houses has a ground-floor bathroom and its living room can be arranged with a bed on request (although the upstairs is only reachable by stairs). Most communal areas are wheelchair accessible and there are dedicated adapted public toilets and reserved parking spots at the hotel’s carpark in Bandol.
Hotel closed
Zannier Île de Bendor opens seasonally from 1 April to 1 November.
At the hotel
Tennis court, three pickleball courts, pétanque pitch, table tennis, volleyball nets, yoga platform, gardens, Village des Artisans, concierge, paid laundry service and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: Bluetooth sound system, Nespresso coffee machine, tea-making kit, minibar, free bottled water, bathrobes, slippers and Mēditatif bath products.
Our favourite rooms
Zannier’s founder Arnaud set out to create three hotels in one, so that rooms in each sector of the island have their own distinct decor. Delos rooms and suites are ideal for couples and put you at the heart of the island; check out the clutch of Cloister hideaways installed in their historic namesake building. Soukana has a village feel of its own with the spa and a showstopper pool, restaurant and bar; it’s well suited to families or those focused on wellness. Traditionalists should make a beeline for one of the restored Madrague Houses, each with a small garden.
Poolside
As if the glimmering Mediterranean wasn’t enough of an incentive to take the plunge, Zannier Île de Bendor’s quartet of swimming spots means you’re never far from your next dip. At Delos, a pool akin to a lozenge of tranquillity sits on a suntrap platform that cleverly elevates your sea views. If focused laps are more your style, Soukana’s 30-metre-long pool delivers — and its striking backdrop will exercise your admiration, too. Two more pools await at the spa — one indoors, framed by graceful arches; the other is kissed by a sea breeze, and outdoors.
Spa
The wellness centre is as impressive in range as it is in its 1,200-square-metre scale. Its north star is promoting harmony between body and mind, with plenty of kit to back its ambition. Boosts to your wellbeing can be as light touch as a sensory ritual or as committed as a personalised journey. You could easily lose most of a day to its hammam, duo of pools, Iyashi dome (Japanese sauna), tearoom and relaxation area. Therapies dished across eight treatment rooms run from restorative massages to cryotherapy, osteopathy and acupuncture. Ideal for honeymooners, there’s a private spa suite, too. A fitness centre is equipped with weights and cardio machines, plus reformer Pilates equipment, and a yoga platform is set in sea-wrapped scenery alfresco.
Packing tips
For your wardrobe: let Brigitte Bardot be your muse with baby-doll accessories, playful stripes, gingham and ballet flats. For your bookshelf: Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald, Perfume by Patrick Suskind and Bardot’s memoir, Initiales BB.
Also
Bath products at Zannier Île de Bendor prove that brilliance in the Zannier family is not just the preserve of hotelier Arnaud: his wife, Alicia Rountree-Zannier, is the founder behind conscious beauty brand Mēditatif.
Pet‐friendly
Pets up to 30 kilogrammes are welcome at Zannier Île de Bendor for a nightly charge of $35 each. A comfortable mat and a bowl will be provided. See more pet-friendly hotels in Provence.
Children
This family-friendly hotel extends a warm welcome to children.
Best for
All ages are well catered for here, from babes in arms through to teenagers.
Recommended rooms
Soukana Family Suite sleeps four; Soukana Two-Bedroom Suite hosts up to five; for trios, plump for a Soukana Sunrise or Sunset Junior Suite.
Crèche
Zannier Île de Bendor's kids’ club opens daily from 8am to 5pm, and welcomes children aged four to 12 (accompanied under-fours are also welcome). In the care of dedicated professionals, junior Smiths are kept entertained across the club's indoor and outdoor play areas.
Activities
Board games, creative workshops and storytimes are in the mix with outdoor games at the kids' club. Beach days exploring the island's quiet coves are catnip for families; older children will enjoy the watersports on offer, including windsurfing, SUP, Hobie Cat sailing and sea kayaking.
Meals
Soukana Restaurant is set in the hub of the hotel's family-friendly, village-like namesake area and is the obvious dining option for those with children in tow.
Babysitting
Arranged through the concierge team with notice for an extra charge; price on request.
Sustainability efforts
As much as Zannier Île de Bendor’s rebuilding is about family legacy, it’s also a tale of sustainable restoration. The island has been rewilded, with 15 per cent more trees than before and native planting around its extensive gardens. Original buildings have been brought back to their former glory, including five fisherman’s houses. Materials have been chosen with longevity and environmental impact in mind. And community connections have been protected through the addition of the locals-welcome harbour café and Village des Artisans.
Grey water will be re-used in the gardens; use of plastic is minimised, including the choice of water bottles and responsibly sourced bath products, which are full-size and refillable. Food waste will be monitored and targeted for reduction; menus spotlight plant-led dining, and the kitchens work with local suppliers and seasonal ingredients.
