St Tropez - Hotel Pastis

St Tropez is on the way up again. Slick new luxury hotels and restaurants are opening, and one of the best new additions is Hotel Pastis.

Very conveniently located on the main road into St Tropez, Hotel Pastis is easy to miss. It’s on the right, almost opposite the petrol station, by the large “Port” car park. This doesn’t sound very glamorous and the façade of the hotel isn’t, but once you’re through the gates, the hotel oozes style.

Hotel Pastis is named after Peter’s Mayle’s novel of the same name. This connection is not surprising as both Peter Mayle and John Larkin, the hotel’s creator and owner, were very successful “creatives” in the UK’s advertising industry.

Nine rooms are built around a very stylish 'dark greenish grey' swimming pool. Each of the rooms is very well done, furnished with personal items belonging to John and Pauline, his wife, who live in the hotel. It really is more like a Private Club than a hotel. Every evening seems to end in the bar with John and Pauline socialising with the guests.

The collection of photography around the hotel is exceptional, particularly the Hockney’s.

The best rooms are Number 4, which has a large private terrace overlooking the pool, and Rooms 8 and 9, at the other end of the pool, which are ideal for a family or friends.

The hotel offers a good continental breakfast for 20 euros, but the serving of this can be very slow. Light snacks are also available but there is no restaurant, so eating out is essential.

One service which the hotel does not provide is a laundry facility, which we found surprising, especially for a hotel charging up to 600 euros per night. However, it is a pleasant change to have a hotel offer complimentary wireless internet access.

The location of the hotel is perfect, in a town which is impossible to drive around during July and August. You can drive to and from Pampelone Beach without going into town, and the hotel is only a five minute walk from the centre of St Tropez.

We have stayed in most of best hotels in St Tropez and Pastis has gone right to the top of the pack.

Hotel Pastis
61 Avenue du General Leclerc
St Tropez

+33 4 98 12 56 50

http://www.pastis-st-tropez.com

Special Offer for all Hotal Pastis guests

John & Pauline Larkin have kindly offered ArsyCamel.com readers who make a reservation at Hotel Pastis a complimentary 10cl bottle of Henri Bardouin PASTIS ( enough for two stiff double measures). Simply mention the ArsyCamel offer when you make your reservation. (ArsyCamel.com receives no benefit or commission from Hotel Pastis.)