Hôtel Royal Bon Repos

Cozy comfort seems to be the design aesthetic at Hotel Royal Bon Repos, a sharp and simple boutique hotel that's right in the center of Sainte-Maxime. This is a simple property -- without too many bells and whistles -- and arriving is a bit like stepping into your own living room at first. The lobby is dotted with plush leather couches and comfortable armchairs. A handsome wooden bookcase lines one wall, while a flat-screen TV hangs on another. The atmosphere is homey, and plenty of guests appreciate laid-back features like the bar and billiard room. Still, there's not much to do on-site here, and it's best used as a quiet option for exploring the town and region. Given its quaint style in the romantic Cote d'Azur, it's perhaps no surprise that most guests here are couples on vacation. 

There’s a classic Mediterranean beauty about old town Sainte-Maxime, and the hotel sits on a street corner just east of the marina. With its tree-lined roads and backdrop of rolling hills, the town is charming and makes a great home base for exploring the Cote d'Azur. It's quieter than some of the region's glitzier towns, but there's enough to keep guests entertained, including lots of restaurants, shops, and cafes. History buffs may want to check out the Musee de la Tour Carree, a stately museum housed in an ancient tower that’s two minutes from the hotel on foot. Port Prive de Sainte-Maxime is a three-minute walk, and Sainte-Maxime beach is less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Saint-Raphael train station takes 40 minutes to reach by car, and it can take up to an hour to reach Saint-Tropez. Expect a 70-minute drive to the Cote d’Azur Airport.

Individual styles give each room its own unique flavor, all of which are sharp and classic -- a little bit French countryside and a little bit rustic. The variances are found primarily in color palettes -- cool blues, pale yellows, soft beiges, and dusty mauves -- along with matching print fabrics and antiqued, whitewashed furniture. It's worth noting that some rooms are tiny, like the Standard Room that we visited, which also had a maritime theme that was a bit less upmarket than the decor in some other rooms. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, Nespresso machines, air-conditioning, safes, and mini-fridges. Ground-floor rooms are a bit more scenic, with their own private landscaped gardens separated from neighbors by a hedge. Other rooms throughout the hotel offer either courtyard views or a glimpse of the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Larger quarters are fit for families, and some include sofa beds and kitchenettes. The bathrooms were designed with a Mediterranean palette in mind -- the shower, floor, and countertops are all laid with terra-cotta tiles. Keep in mind that the hotel doesn't have an elevator, so those with mobility issues will want ground-floor rooms.

For a property of its size, Hotel Royal Bon Repos manages to pull out as many stops as possible, though that doesn't add up to too much in the end. The lounge area is cozy and includes a billiard table in a room that doubles as a breakfast nook. It’s a connected space scattered with mustard-toned chairs, colorful artwork on the walls, and a flat-screen TV. Breakfast basics are laid out every morning on a charming little bar, though it’s worth noting there’s a fee for it. The light-flooded conservatory outside the back door is filled with wrought-iron chairs and vintage-style tables, an idyllic setting for a lazy breakfast or an afternoon cocktail. Despite this being largely a holiday town hotel, there is a meeting room and small computer station with a printer, though Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel. There's a gated self-parking lot with 16 spaces, which can be reserved upon check in and comes with a fee. Pets are also welcome here.