BEST KEPT SECRET ON COTE D'AZUR

I have a real soft spot for this small coastal town and particularly this hotel which combines an absolutely magnificent location, stunning views of St Tropez and marvellous restaurant with the relative peace and tranquillity of an of the beaten track hideaway. The rooms are small but beautifully decorated, 200 euros per night in high season I know sounds expensive but for the Cote you can pay three times that in the busier resorts. The breakfast is not included, an extra 20 euros per person but if you cannot stomach that there are a couple of excellent boulangeries nearby and the friendly staff don't mind if you bring your own in, that goes for wine too which I thought was a big plus.

Saint Maxine on the Cote D'Azur was the first place I ever visited in the South of France. I remember at 15-16 going to the only night club and climbing the steep hill to our villa in the early hours. It was the first time I can recall feeling completely free and La Belle Aurore duplicated that sense of freedom for me.

The town is fantastic with an incredible weekend market that attracts more locals than tourists and plenty of local eateries to visit a different one every evening over the course of a two week stay if you don't wish to venture further a field.

You can drive around the coast to St Tropez one way (to avoid hours in traffic in the summer take the ferry) and Cannes, Antibes, Nice the other. For me Ste Maxime gives you the best of the Cote D'Azur and La Belle Aurore provides friendly boutique luxury without getting reemed. Like many smaller hotels in France they are also dog friendly.