La Ferme d'Augustin ★★★★

La Ferme D’Augustin is a charming family-run farmer’s inn just a short walk away from the beach on Pamplonne Bay – the best beach in the region! However, choosing this resort didn’t mean we had completely side-stepped the glamorous St. Tropez… it was less than 10 minutes’ drive away. We had already been charmed by the rustic outside and now, upon entering the hotel, it was time to be charmed by the tiled floors, chequered sofas and decorative flowers. We were welcomed by the owners like old friends and they truly made us feel at home.

The farmhouse is cosy and warm, plenty of room to snuggle and cuddle on lounging sofas and around warm fireplaces in winter. Everything from the antique furniture to the paintings exude Provençal charm. The bedrooms continued with the same ambience, yet with all the modern-day essentials like a television and of course the all-important high-speed internet connection. The bathroom was also up-to-date with all the modern facilities like our smooth tiled bathroom and bath that included a showerhead. I was thinking for our next visit that we could indulge a little, maybe book a junior suite and ask for a hammam style shower so we could benefit from spa-type facilities in the comfort of our own room.

The hotel’s restaurant served up delectable cuisine with Mediterranean and Provençal flavours. The breakfasts were also excellent, boasting homemade jams, including a watermelon jam which I had never heard of! No doubt that what made their food so delicious was that much of it was sourced from the farm itself, their orchard, their grounds; even the wine comes from their own vineyard. At the end of our trip I took a look at their products on offer to take a few home… homemade jams and wines, scented candles by friend of the farm, Pierre Boudon (creator of certain perfumes by Davidoff and Dior!), and other handmade wares.

The farmhouse provides a convenient shuttle to St. Tropez; however we used our car, which was safely parked in the hotel’s supervised car park. We also had a bit of fun taking advantage of the hotel’s bike and scooter rental service. Plus, with a glorious beach only 100m away and the hotel’s onsite heated whirlpool, we never end up straying far from the cosy and comfortable grasp of La Ferme D’Augustin!