Villa retreat
Everyone has an idea of St Tropez. Yachts and millionaires. Bardot and bikinis. This one time unassuming fishing village is the centre of the glamorous season and its reputation is all money and show. But it’s easily possible to find peace here and to enjoy a relaxed holiday away from the glitz of the port.
Despite all the money in circulation, you won’t see fancy new villas being built, or luxury new hotels. Planning laws here are tight, making ugly new builds nigh on impossible in the region – protecting the views and keeping property prices high. They just won’t let anything ugly happen here, so St Tropez is a picture of prettiness, from the town’s designer clothes shops and people-watching seafront cafes to the beautiful surrounding countryside and, of course, the celebrated expanse of perfect sand that is Pampelonne beach, where the world came to see the young Bardot in the 1950s.
Renting a villa is the way to do St Tropez, not least because there are far too few hotel rooms to go round but also because of the sheer stylishness of the houses here. Among the vineyards surrounding the town are secluded roads that hide mansions of all kinds, from the rustic farmhouse to the international jetset style retreat. There are vast structures that could be in LA, all white and climate-controlled for the yacht millionaires, set in grounds full of vast mature olive trees, high-maintenance flowers, impressive pools and helipads. There are traditional sprawling villas with stylish French chateau-inspired tiles and metalwork, beautiful palm trees and elegant shady gardens. Anything is possible in St Tropez, and there are holiday houses to suit all needs.
One thing the luxury market here needs is a fixer. Someone who can organise anything, at any time, for whom nothing is a problem. Luxury villa rental company The Villa Book prides itself not only on connecting people with properties that exactly suit their needs but also with supplying bags of local knowledge in the friendly form of resident St Tropez expert Joe. Our trip began with Joe, who instructed us to meet him at a vineyard, from where he escorted us to our villa, answered all our questions and stayed for a drink. Joe seemed like nothing would phase him. We could have phoned him at 3am looking for a corkscrew and he would have helped. If we set fire to the barbecue he would have fixed it. If we’d wanted a helicopter transfer to Nice he’d have fixed that too. Holidaymakers in St Tropez are unpredictable in their requirements and Joe’s discretion is his trademark. He’ll arrange staff for your villa, book you a table anywhere and smooth over your holiday with his always-available manner and answers to all possible queries.
Ours was a sprawling, five-bedroomed villa with a large and stylish pool and a beautiful tiled outdoor jacuzzi. Large grounds featured a tennis court and children’s playground. The kitchen was fully equipped for entertaining, as was a poolside barbecue. Accessed by an easy-to-miss turn off the road from St Tropez to the beautiful medieval hilltop village of Ramatuelle, the house was hidden away in a landscape inhabited by wild boar. And from the terrace we could see the sea. A short drive took us into St Tropez for some seafront style spotting, giving us the best of everything: access to the town, port and beach, plus the seclusion of our own house, garden and pool. Holidaying in St Tropez doesn’t get better than this.
The Villa Book is a family-run provider of luxury villas and services at reasonable prices, with contacts all over the world. Over 1000 properties are featured at www.thevillabook.com and an online request form can pinpoint ones that suit you. Or call 020 7917 6830.