Hôtel Ile de la Lagune

Minutes from Perpignan and the Spanish border is the coastal enclave of Saint-Cyprien; behind its long stretch of beach, on an island in the middle of the lagoon of the same name, is — as you might have guessed if your French is in decent shape — the Hôtel Île de la Lagune. It’s a lovely little villa-style resort, a mere 30 rooms and suites, and styles itself “a large holiday home” — a slight exaggeration, perhaps, but clear evidence it’s got no mega-resort ambitions.

At this scale you get seclusion, genuine tranquility, and some quirky personality. The bulk of the rooms are set in the main building, and are decorated in a modernist-inspired Mediterranean maritime style; six more occupy the Newport Pavilion, and take the Hamptons and coastal New England as their model.

There’s heated outdoor pool on the rooftop, as well as a thalassotherapy spa, and excursions by bike or by sea, including day trips to the beach, can be arranged by the hotel. And on site you’ll find a pair of restaurants: the hyper-local fine-dining restaurant L’Almandin and, by the poolside, a surprisingly authentic Italian eatery called L’Aquarama.