Pan Dei Palais

Arguably it’s not the same place it was when Brigitte Bardot put it on the map, but everything that was great about St. Tropez then is still great about it now: the bay, the beaches, the gentle Mediterranean climate, and a tradition of high-end hospitality. It’s a tradition that now includes the Pan Deï Palais, a 19th-century mansion that’s been transformed into a stylish, contemporary boutique hotel.

The Mediterranean architecture and decidedly Eastern décor are tied together by a story about a love affair between a French general who fell in love with an Indian princess. But these twelve rooms are likely to inspire more than a few romances in the here and now. They’re quite large, and the suites, in one- and two-bedroom varieties, are even larger, with balconies and terraces for a little extra air.

A swanky lounge is full of red velvet and carved wood, and a small spa is on hand to ensure total relaxation. Days are whiled away by the pool, and Pan Deï Palais maintains its own fully serviced beach club at Pampelonne, a ten-minute drive from the hotel.