In a bucolic setting, this hotel overlooks the vineyards and gardens between the old port and the famed sandy shoreline. It may not hit the same high notes as La Bastide de St. Tropez, but this place has more room to move about.
Set on five hectares, the low-key hotel comprises a cluster of late 19th-century farmhouses ringing a shaded courtyard. The village atmosphere created by the buildings is quite charming enhancing the already luxurious facilities. Not to be mistaken for some of Monte Carlo's grand dames, the low-key exuberance here still stands out.
A small reception area guards the entrance to the courtyard and embraces a small lounge area done in easygoing tropical style. Rattan and bamboo pieces blend well with the owner's fine collection of Provencal antiques, potted plants,
stucco walls and cool tile floors. The exterior views are reminiscent of a L'Occitane advertisement, and the outdoor fragrances of lavender, olive trees and pine are even more familiar.
The main restaurant off the lounge is a subdued room with a regional menu. Breakfast is in a sunny room under ancient beams. A Romanesque mural enlivens the space, but the pink and white decor clashes. The bar has an aging 1950s look with tired leather club chairs. A pianist pecks out romantic tunes into the wee hours, but a regular schedule is hardly kept.
Recreation centers on the plain rectangular pool and the hotel's campy private compound on Bora-Bora beach. (Guests must cough up a handful of euros for the privilege of using an umbrella and beach mattress and also drive their own cars to get there.) A 
modest grill and bar anchor the beach site, which also offers watersports rental. Bora-Bora has some of the best sands in the south of France, and a nearby nude stretch provides some visual variety (not always pleasant). The unimpressive meeting room for 80 has garden views, good natural light and good audiovisual equipment.
The air-conditioned guest rooms are furnished in the same vein as the public rooms, mixing middle-grade contemporary, tropical and antique appointments. Hardly heart-stopping, they are in reasonably good taste and come with carpeting or tile, large sitting areas, phones, TVs, minibars, safes and roomy storage space.
Baths provide hair dryers, water closets, and toiletries, including pretty soaps that look like tiny tangerines. All but the six smallish Standards provide 
terraces or balconies. One unit is a duplex with expanded sitting areas. Room service is during mealtimes only. Pets are allowed for a fee.
The pool is the high point, and the average facilities are downhill from there. Service is surly and inclined toward brush-offs at this overpriced offering. Renovations are not planned and have not taken place in years.
For those looking for a no-fuss option with few amenities, this is a good choice; others should look elsewhere. Far more kitschy than St. Tropez deserves, traditionalists will be disappointed. With average expectations though, European value seekers will be pleased. This property is closed October to early May.
