The number one priority for many St Tropez holiday makers is proximity to the sea. Here are some of the reasons to rent one of the many villas in St Tropez near the seaside.

As with all beach resorts, the sea is the main factor which draws people to visit St Tropez. The Côte d’Azur, or French Riviera, which runs along the Mediterranean coastline, is known as one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Europe. It gained its name from the pure ‘azure,’ or bright blue, colour of the sea in the area. The stunning Mediterranean Sea is seen at its best in the South of France, and whether you come to St Tropez as a water sports enthusiast, with a yacht or small boat, or simply to swim and sunbathe, it’s sure to make up a huge part of your St Tropez experience.
Brigitte Bardot was discovered in St Tropez, and her iconic look centres on her beach outfits: the damp tangled hair, striped sailor’s tops and bare feet which encapsulated casual sexy glamour for a century. Most of the visitors to rent a St Tropez villa come to get a taste of seaside life, and none are disappointed by the idyllic slice of beach life which St Tropez offers.

Which Beach?
There isn’t just one beach in St Tropez – the last few decades of tourism have made several nearby beaches popular. The most famous beaches – those originally enjoyed by the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Coco Chanel – are those along the Pampelonne stretch. However, these can be very expensive. A villa in St Tropez along Pampelonne can cost over £10,000 a week. While some people think that the iconic nature of these beaches makes them worth the money, others are prepared to compromise prime location in exchange for a hefty drop in price ticket. Below are outlined some of the most popular alternatives

• Gassin is becoming increasingly popular. This area is still south of the town, so that good beaches are not too far away (approximately four kilometres), and is full of pretty and picturesque villages which can provide a wonderful Cote d’Azur experience. The beach is only a short drive, but the countryside is lovely and the roads less crowded.
• Grimaud is a perched village dominated by an 11th century castle, located seven kilometres west of St Tropez. Villas here are popular with boat owners, as the port is very close. It’s also the perfect place for people who want a quiet break, as the old village of Grimaud is completely traffic-free.
• Golfers visiting St Tropez tend to stay in Beauvallon, mainly because of Beauvallon Golf Club, which hosts a fine 18 hole golf course in a rural setting around the village. Beauvallon is separated from St Tropez by a narrow gulf, which means that villas here often have a direct view of St Tropez and of the sea. The downside is that the traffic around the gulf into town can be bad but he Beauvallon Hotel operates a ferry service which can take thosewho don’t feel like driving over the gulf to St Tropez in a matter of minutes. Beauvallon is close to some beautiful beaches, and is becoming more and more popular.

Wherever you stay in the St Tropez area, you’re sure to be close to some fabulous quality seafood restaurants and rural French bars. The beaches of St Tropez boast their own extravagant night clubs, such as the Club 55 and Nikki Beach, which are available to anyone coming into the St Tropez city beach from one of the villas in the other regions. The St Tropez region is designed around tourism, and all St Tropez villas offer easy access to the beach – so don’t be intimidated by Pampelonne prices, but pick the villa that’s right for you and enjoy the time of your life on this historic stretch of the Cote d’Azur.

We all want a relaxing holiday with no stress and no money worries, and by following these tips, you can save money, while still enjoying a fab holiday.

Booking your holiday
There are really 2 options here. Book your holiday as far in advance as you can, or book it last minute. The latter option is usually the cheapest as tour operators normally reduce the costs of unsold holidays at the end of the summer so they’re not left with empty
spaces.

Look for newspaper deals
A number of the larger newspapers run holiday deals every year. Some are for holidays here in the UK, others for elsewhere. Usually they involve collecting tokens and sending them off with your choice of holiday and payment, and not every single one of them is a good deal, however some are, so they’re an option to look at.

Book online
The internet has opened choices up for everyone in so many ways, and holidays is just one of them. Look for deals online and then when you’ve found one make sure you check to see if you can go via a cashback site like Topcashback or Quidco to get a little extra saving.

Pre-book your airport parking
If you drive to the airport and just park you’ll pay ‘on the day’ booking fees. Like a lot of things today however, if you book in advance by phone or on the internet, you can save quite a bit of money by doing so. Discounts like this are offered at most airport car parking, including by Airparks onGatwick parking and Heathrow parking. one of the UK’s most well used airports.

Budget airlines
Flying no frills is becoming more popular and they can be the cheap option but only if you do it right. Check which payment option will be cheapest as some incur extra charges, and make sure you pack yourself a meal, drinks and entertainment as otherwise you’ll pay extra on the flight for these.

Passports
Sort your passport out at least two months ahead of when you want to travel. If you have to rush through getting it you’ll pay an additional premium for doing so. If you’re travelling to Europe sort out an EHIC card too – this shows you’re entitled to free medical treatment if you need it and will stop you having to pay and then claim money back.

Compare currency exchange prices
Most of the best currency exchange deals are online today, but do check your high street prices as well just in case. The better the exchange rate you can get, the more spending money you’ll have while away.