St Tropez - Hotel Residence de la Pinede
Summer 2007
Frank's view 
Being in arguably the best position in St Tropez, does not give a luxury hotel the right to be the most smug and pompous in town.
La Residence de la Pinede is undoubtedly phenomenally located. It sits on the edge of town, on the junction of the road to Pampellone and Ramatuelle, and the main road into St Tropez from Ste Maxine. When you wish to head to the beach you simply call reception, and before your WAG can say “Louis Vuitton beach bag”, your Ferrari will be awaiting your right foot, poised in glorious exhibitionism, by the hotel entrance. Should you wish to go into town, it is a comfortable stroll and when you are ready to head home, it’s a quick right out of the grand gates, and you’re on your way back to Monte Carlo.
La Pinede sits on the water’s edge and is truly wonderfully positioned. If you do book make sure you have a sea view room. Despite my opening “pop” we have stayed there a few times. Well positioned rooms are 224 and 223. The best room in our view is 208, the one in the little round tower by the water. The rooms, however, are not grand, although the décor is very loud and ostentatious. Don’t expect an impressive bathroom, let alone a separate walk in shower. Looking quickly beyond the grandiose décor, it is very quickly apparent that the rooms are fairly basic.
If you decide to stay, booking is not something to take for granted. This hotel is very busy, generally with “interesting” clientele. During one stay the next room was occupied by a proud aging Scottish businessman accompanied by a petit Asian boy. It's certainly the closest "father/son" relationship we've witnessed??
It’s not cheap either. Expect to pay at least 800 euros per night for a decent room, breakfast extra. Don’t stay in a basic room because the only good point about this hotel is its position. If you can’t see the sea from your window don’t go there.
The real sore point we have about La Residence de la Pinede is the restaurant. It is ludicrously expensive and is so unbelievably up itself.
We ordered at 8.30pm and our main course arrived at 11.15pm. The waiters swarmed around the two guests at a table close by all evening. Our pleas for sustenance were ignored. As we angrily withered from enforced starvation, we increasingly inflicted mortal wounds on ourselves for going against our better judgment and booking the damned restaurant.
The swimming pool is fabulously positioned by the edge of the sea on its own manicured lawn of beach.
We have considered staying here again strictly on a room only basis. The cost of eating is ridiculous. If you are considering La Pinede, go off season (although that is tricky because it is only open over the summer), go for a good sea view room, and think carefully before booking the restaurant.
La Residence de la Pinede
St Tropez
+33 (0)4 94 55 91 00
Be Frank: agree or disagree? What do you think?
