La Villa Mauresque

Laid-back luxury on the Côte d'Azur - 2 magnificent villas available for romantic B&B, family hols by the sea or weekly rental for groups of up to 20

Fancy the romance of the Riviera but find the glitz and glamour exhausting? Then head to Villa Mauresque, an upmarket but chilled-out B&B. Situated between Cannes and St Tropez, it escapes the Côte d’Azur’s crowds, but has a fabulous sea-front location. The atmosphere is laid-back, the service friendly and unobtrusive, and it’s flanked by 30 beautiful beaches.

Designed in 1860 by Riviera architect Chapoulard, the 2 big turreted villas are hidden within rose-coloured walls amongst tranquil, palm-lined gardens. Grand neo-Moorish facades conceal comfy, homely interiors; each villa has its own sitting room and dining room. Bedrooms are big and bold, some with Moroccan rugs and painted doors, others stately fireplaces and brass-crowned four-posters; most overlook the turquoise sea. Whether you come à deux or book an entire villa, the laid-back nature of the place is blissful. No formal grandeur, no dressing for dinner - it’s all about lazing by the pool, going waterskiing or sailing from the private jetty, and relaxing utterly.

Highs

• The gorgeous villas ooze the glamour of the old-style Riviera
• They're set amongst vast, immaculately kept gardens, with a sea-front location
• There's a personalised chef service in high season: for a total break from domestic chores, there's no greater luxury
• There are spacious terraces for socialising at sunset, but also plenty of secluded spots in the grounds
• The private boatyard is filled with canoes, motorboats and other nautical toys

Lows

• The cost: it's not a cheap place to stay - but neither is the rest of the Côte d'Azur
• Don't expect 5* hotel service (porters, bar staff etc); think of it as a friendly, homely retreat
• Reception is not always staffed, but there is always one person on duty who can help
• Bedrooms with top floor terraces catch some traffic noise
• The coast at the end of the garden is rocky so it can be tricky to swim