Villa Marie

Villa Marie feels less like a hotel and more like a private, Italian villa. Set in a pine-tree forest, the stucco-building features classic Provençal details: terra-cotta tiling, wood-beam ceilings, coral accents, and wrought-iron furnishings. Antiques and artisanal items create a homey yet elegant one-of-a-kind feel. There are massive glazed pots, tables with ornately turned legs, a giant mirror framed in white seashells, and an elegant painted mural near the front desk. There's plenty to explore outside, too, and the building's giant arched windows, open doorways, and greenhouse-like glassed-in spaces help meld the outdoors with the interiors. The property features stunning gardens with perfectly manicured evergreens, lush palm trees, sweet succulents, and ivy-covered trellises, not to mention pathways that lead to sitting nooks, stone fountains and statues, and the hotel's lagoon-style pool, which looks out, in the distance, to the sea. It's pricey, but for leisure travelers who can afford, the serene spot is a peaceful place to vacation.

Designed as a quiet getaway, Villa Marie is tucked away from the beach and town on a hill amongst seven acres of pine forest with views all the way out to the sea from the restaurant, pool, and some balconies. The hotel offers free, on-demand shuttle service to town and the beaches; the long, sandy Plage de Pampelonne and the heart of St. Tropez are each about a 10-minute drive. The charming town of Gassin is about 20-minute drive. Nice Côte d'Azur Airport can be reached in about an hour and a half. The hotel also offers free parking. 

Like the property itself, Villa Marie's individually decorated guest rooms feel less like hotel rooms and more like private bedrooms. Elegant, transitional decor offers contemporary and traditional details. Rooms might have painted dressers, antique wood writing desks, wrought-iron canopy beds, and/or velvety chaise lounges. Bathrooms usually feature stone basin sinks, walk-in rainfall showers, and separate claw-foot tubs. Many rooms feature "boudoir-style" bathrooms -- meaning all bathroom features, save the toilets, are open to the room. (This layout can be seem as romantic or lacking in privacy, depending on the guest.) Most rooms also have balconies or patios, some offering sea views.

Room start at about 270 square feet while the largest suite tops out at 645 square feet. Some of the "Signature" rooms and suites are gently themed -- the Pampelonne Prestige Room features bright Missoni fabric accents for a more bohemian feel, while the Cap Taillat Suite is decorated in cool shades of blue and turquoise. Rooms are air-conditioned and have flat-screen TVs, safes, and lightly stocked minibars. Bathrooms have hairdryers and Pure Altitude individual toiletries. 

While it's petite in its size and homey in its vibe, the Villa Marie delivers everything guests expect from a luxury establishment, including on-site dining, spa and wellness facilities, and an attentive staff. The on-site Mediterranean restaurant and bar, Dolce Vita, is open for lunch, dinner, and drinks, which are served in a main dining room set under a greenhouse-like glass roofed room or in a sprawling courtyard lounge with cushioned wicker couches and armchairs set under ivy-grown pergolas. A daily breakfast buffet is served on the patio until late morning, though it's not necessarily included in the room rate.

The lagoon-shaped outdoor pool is another highlight, with natural rock accents, a deck surrounded by coral-cushioned loungers, and views over the pine forest and, in the distance, the sea. Behind the pool there's a small gym, with a few pieces of cardio equipment and free weights. The spa features three individual treatment rooms, including one couple's room, for massages, body scrubs, and the like. There's no sauna or steam room.

The hotel welcomes pets for an extra fee, can arrange babysitting, and offers free parking and free Wi-Fi. A favorite feature is the free, on-demand shuttle service which takes guests to the town of Saint Tropez and beaches. Staff are exceptional, offering concierge and 24-hour room service.