Stardom is in Saint-Tropez’s DNA. The secluded fishing village first shot to fame because of a film (Roger Vadim’s “And God Created Woman” (1956), starring Brigitte Bardot), and its cinematic appeal has lured generations of filmmakers. Nowadays it’s the ultimate celebrity playground: Diners nibble on Arnaud Donckele’s straight-from-the-sea cuisine at Cheval Blanc, night clubbers hit the dance floor at Les Caves du Roy, billionaires bronze their bodies on the Plage de Pampelonne. Here, the champagne flows like the surf spraying over the prows of superyachts.
Could there be a more perfect setting for “The White Lotus”? HBO’s monster hit, chronicling the capers and crimes of the ultra-luxe on vacation, was previously shot in Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand. For Season 4, which started filming in late April with a rumored budget of around $120 million, creator Mike White sharpened his claws to skewer the film industry in a satire centered on the Cannes Film Festival. Settings include Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de La Messardière (converted to White Lotus du Cap on screen) and Hôtel Martinez Cannes, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt (White Lotus Cannes), with other cameos in Monaco and Paris (Mandarin Oriental Lutetia).
Speaking of the plage: getting to Pampelonne was a breeze. In high season, the roads in Saint-Tropez are notoriously clogged with traffic, meaning boat arrival is the best way to do it: Access is part of the reason for Saint-Tropez’s exclusivity; there’s no train line serving this end-of-the-road peninsula. The newly debuted COMO Le Beauvallon, situated across the bay, circumvents the problem by offering a complimentary eight-minute boat service for stylish arrivals directly into the Saint-Tropez marina.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Luxury Travel Advisor.
