Bungalow Toison d'Or Saint Tropez

The beachside setting is wonderful, and we watched the sunrise every morning. Plants and trees around the bungalows give them a private feel, even without a sea view. There’s a fully equipped kitchen, air conditioning in the living room and one of the two bedrooms, plus a small market selling fresh bread and croissants, a boutique, spa, pools including a kids’ area, ping pong tables, and parking. The rooms were so small and cramped that we had to rent another room elsewhere for two couples. There’s no room service, we had to put the sheets on ourselves, and towels aren’t replaced, so we washed them by hand. Basic things like soap and a hair dryer were missing too. For the high price, the lack of service was disappointing. The setting is lovely, but ask about all the details before booking so you aren’t surprised.

You get a lush little village right on Pampelonne Beach, just a few minutes’ drive from St Tropez, with plenty for kids and adults to do. It’s perfectly placed for families, and we didn’t want to leave.

This isn’t a traditional hotel, more like a five-star campsite where you have your own bungalow, so keep that in mind when booking. It’s a great way to enjoy the beach, and the resort has good facilities, including a small supermarket and a pool. The staff are very friendly, and Saint-Tropez is close enough to drive to for dinner.

We spent Monday to Friday here and were hugely disappointed. For around €2,500, we got a tiny cabin with a small bed and an extremely hard mattress. The “living room” had no sofa, just a strange cabinet with a plastic cover. The room needs renovation and updating, and was simply unpleasant to stay in. There were no basic toiletries or an iron. We had no cleaning service at all during the five days, so we kept the same sheets and towels for the whole stay. After a long journey, we arrived to find the room unprepared and had to make the bed ourselves. Breakfast costs extra, €23 per adult and €18 per child from age four, and wasn’t worth it. There was no fresh fruit, even though it was peak season in Saint-Tropez. They served canned pineapple, and when we asked for fresh, they said they only had grapes and grapefruit. The selection was very poor, mostly pastries, and breakfast ends at 10:30 am, which isn’t ideal on holiday. There were almost no activities for children. The swimming lessons with a good instructor were the only positive part of our stay. Check-out is strictly at 10 am, check-in is no earlier than 4 pm, and they wouldn’t register us even ten minutes early. Internet was practically nonexistent, just weak 4G that made working impossible. Reviews say dirty dishes can bring a €50 charge and late checkout will be charged to your card. The value for money was zero. I don’t recommend this place and we’ll never return.