Blog
Road Trip to St Tropez
As promised, here we are with the third and last part of Jennifer and her family’s road trip: St Tropez!
The Gulf of Saint Tropez is surely the most famous beach destination of the Var coast which provides some of the most spectacular colours in the south of France, the blue waters and white sandy beaches set perfectly against the red rocks from the glorious mountains.
Although its port hosts the largest ships of the French Riviera, originally St Tropez was a simple fishing village discovered by Guy de Maupassant and Paul Signac in the 19th century and in the 20th century became officially what it is today, a glitzy, fashionable hot spot in the south of France thanks to Roger Vadim’s film ‘And God Created Woman’, starring the French sex symbol Brigitte Bardot.
Fully satisfied with their days in Provence amongst the scented lavender fields, little medieval towns overlooking the sea, unmissable museums, exciting horse rides and exhilarating hiking trails, Jennifer and her family left this lyrical landscape straight to St Tropez arriving at Hotel Byblos’ in time for a dip in the pool and lunch.
They then drove out of St Tropez to Ramatuelle to visit ‘Hotel La Reserve’, an intimate and infinitely pleasing home away from home that offers hotel rooms, suites and villas.
There they met Alexandre Lebrat, the Director of Sales, with whom they had an exquisite aperitif with. We would like to thank Alexandre for his warm welcome and great hospitality!
Their first day ended with them dining at ‘Chez Camille’, a lovely on-the-beach restaurant located in Bonne Terrasse, at Ramatuelle. Since 1913 ‘Chez Camille’ offers an authentic ‘family cuisine’ which includes the famous bouillabaisse - a traditional Provençal fish stew originating from the port city of Marseille - recognised as the specialty of the house, as well as a great selection of seafood and Mediterranean lobsters grilled over a wood fire.
Jennifer loved both the spot and the food. It was her first time trying bouillabaisse and her husband Luca said it was so good that he had four!
On the second day Jennifer decided to visit the traditional open air market held twice a week - every Tuesday and Saturday morning at the famous Place des Lices.
This is a fantastic market which sells a huge range of foods including bread, pastries, cheese, sausages, flowers, olives, spices, herbs, fruit and vegetables, as well as souvenirs, good quality home accessories, antiques, mirrors, vintage posters, paintings, arts and crafts and necessary items such as t-shirts, bags and the typical French Riviera style fashion accessories.
Jennifer loved shopping there and the prices were so good she ended up buying a couple of dresses and cover ups and recommended them to any market lover!
The day ran smoothly and they were particularly excited for the evening, they had a very special aperitif at the Three Michelin Star Restaurant ‘La Vague d’Or’ at ‘Hotel Cheval Blanc St Tropez’.
We would like to quote Jennifer on this: ‘It was amazing!!! It is such a special and insanely beautiful hotel’ gorgeous place to watch the sunset, a true St Tropez hideaway of the rich and famous.
Jennifer truly loved the hotel's position and view of the coast as well as the food at the restaurant. Highly recommended!
After the aperitif, the driver from the ‘Hotel Cheval Blanc St Tropez’ drove them to the port in their Riviera blue Bentley to view some of the biggest and luxurious yachts they have ever seen! They then had dinner at the ideally located ‘Le Girelier’, a charming enlightened venue with an elegant décor, chic crowd and a wonderful view of the harbour, they ate an amazing fish meal.
The morning after they were ready for another great day! They went hiking to the Sentier du Littoral with guide Jean Bernard. It was a very scenic walk, rocky, but very nice to enjoy the coast – encountering some hikers along the way as well as sunbathers on private beaches. The views were really beautiful and there were some quiet spots which really make the south of France such a special place.
After a great hike under the sun they were definitely ready for lunch and a refreshing swim, and headed straight to the cool and very chic ‘Club Les Palmiers’ a premium moment by the sea!
‘Club Les Palmiers’ is an eco-friendly beach club, gorgeous décor with a very cool crowd, the perfect place to relax and lose yourself in the blue horizon. Both the restaurant and the beach were well-equipped; you can enjoy your swim while receiving great service right at your chair until sundown...
In the evening, they went for dinner in town, at the Place des Lices, where there is no market at night, just lots of people hanging out under the beautiful lamps and trees and playing pétanque - a form of boules where the goal is to throw hollow metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden ball called cochonnet. The atmosphere was magical, a great spot for people watching!
Another day, another lovely beach club, ‘La Réserve à la Plage’ located on Pampelonne beach, echoes exceptional natural surroundings.
The service was another level! You will never find a grain of sand on your sunbed again! The wonderful staff regularly brush the sand off your sunbed before you comfortably lay and relax.
Using your phone on the beach has never been so easy with the good wi-fi connection along with secure lockers where you can charge your phone or keep your belongings. In addition, you can also get a relaxing massage at your sunbed, as well as food and drinks.
Bar, restaurant, beach shop and sunbathing are available from morning to night, and amid the chic bohemian atmosphere, a few surprising details recall the heady pop-art vibe of the original Tropezian myth.
Before lunch Jennifer and her daughter Lily went parasailing and were collected by boat, the experience was unforgettable!
The views were sensational, taking in sites of the beach, the inland and the amazing yachts docked at the harbour made the adventure super exciting, Lilly absolutely loved it and wanted to go again immediately after!
We highly recommend this experience to anyone who would like to try something different with their families and have loads of fun!
In the evening, they had their last dinner in St Tropez at ‘Le Strand’, an idyllic restaurant and champagne lounge which offers a chic and relaxed atmosphere, paired with a succulent selection of French dishes. The location, food and service got a ten out of ten by Jennifer and her family too!
Although Cinque Terre and Provence were truly stunning, St Tropez definitely stole Jennifer’s heart! It was her and her family’s favourite destination from their entire road trip.
It is always very sad to reach the end of our holidays, and this is what Jennifer felt too, but it was lovely to share her special time on the road with us all.
If you liked the places Jennifer visited, you can check below the best way to explore this gem on the southern coast of France.
We leave you for now, but we might come back soon with another trip to tell, who knows!
Welcome to St Tropez is the perfect full day experience to explore the city. Your private driver/guide will take you on a tour to discover this centuries-old town, its harbour, its lovely market, and glamorous lifestyle. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy the local fresh food and a boat tour around the famous peninsula.