Lily of the Valley

Highlight of a week in the french riviera. We decided to try it for a night and now are planning a full week there after having such a great experience. The design is interesting and high quality, well thought through. The activities and coaches are better than any luxury hotel we have been at. Biking, classes, walks, all is well planned and executed. The views are outstanding.

Hotel is not close to much, so not a base to visit the area. The main resto, Vista, has good food but a limited menu. The beach restaurants are nice - good atmosphere, great service, very good food. Waiters in all restaurants are very nice, friendly and efficient. Breakfast at Vista is of high quality. We stayed in the Lily Suite at EUR 2,600/night. The room is spacious and well laid-out but very dark with very limited natural light (and we were allocated this room on the lower floor despite asking for a room with plenty of natural light). Moreover, there are hedges in the balcony which mainly block the sea view from the bed and sofa; you need to stand up to enjoy the view, which is mystifying. Definitely not worth the price. We were shown another room (deluxe suite, lower category, after being told very quickly that they would not refund any difference even though we did not ask) and a villa but both are also quite dark. This hotel seems to dislike natural light in its rooms and villas. Also, in our room: the safe wasn't working; the phone wasn't working and we had to use the speaker in the base with a minimum volume enough to be heard 25m away! We asked for a steamer and that didn't work; when we told them and asked for an iron, it was just an "ok", no one was the least bothered (although they did bring the iron). The service from concierge and reception is poor. Pre-arrival, they sent a form in which they ask if we want recommendations of activities; we ticked 'yes'; after leaving the hotel, we are still waiting for recommendations. Concierge also messed up our reservation of one of the free exercise classes and we could not do it; no one was even bothered, just got an "ah ok". Concierge also got the car for our departure wrong, although that was not a big issue. My wife and I used the spa (facial and massage respectively) and both found it most underwhelming. Other places are far better. Overall, would not recommend this place. It has potential as a resort and has some nice aspects (esp beach club restaurants + breakfast) but it's severely lacking in other aspects and there are many much better alternatives. We stayed in the Arev Hotel near St Tropez at half the price (but also in a very nice suite, the Arev Suite) and that was infinitely better in all aspects (except it does not have a beach club). Very different types of hotel but the Arev was far more relaxing and restful than Lily of the Valley, which is meant to be a spa to rest and relax. Go figure.