Behind its ochre and blue facades, the Byblos St Tropez, entirely redesigned and refurbished, houses 59 rooms and 48 suites, all with air-conditioning, and beautifully decorated in warm colours, complemented with Provence fabrics and furnished with antiques, reflecting all the charm of the region. Like the village of St. Tropez, the Hotel Byblos reveals itself gradually. Pathways go off in intriguing and unexpected directions. Here, masses of flowers spill out from their beds; there hedges are clipped in the formal French style. We pass a Moorish fountain surrounded by blue and white tiles, and a circular patio with an old gnarled olive tree at its center.

Set in the heart of Saint-Tropez, a few minutes from the port and beaches, the Byblos Hotel has all the charm of a true village in the purest Mediterranean style. Surrounded by small courtyards and patios with their fragrances of bougainvillia, lavender and olive trees, this cool haven abounds with the colors and scents of the South of France. A Provençal lifestyle awaits you in the air-conditioned 59 rooms and 48 suites, each futuring Provençal material decor and bathrooms with one-off ceramic tiling, certain of which are fitted with jacuzzis.

We weren't too keen on our room when we arrived but the receptionist was extremely helpful showing us a choice to pick from without any problem at all...