17 Best Hotels in the South of France

"A vast palace hotel set right in the crux of La Croisette—the oceanfront road in Cannes that's home to exceedingly smart hotels and stores—might sound intimidating. Yes, the Art Deco design is as handsome as they come; all soft blues and whites designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon (also responsible for The Savoy in London and Hotel George V in Paris). The seventh floor is home to two of Europe's biggest penthouses, so you might see filmmakers or A-listers hopping out of a Bentley out front before being whisked away by impeccably dressed staff. There's a top-notch spa and a garden for relaxing by the swimming pool, two restaurants (one that can lay claim to being the only two-Michelin-starred spot in the city), a bar and a buzzing beach club. This is an old school hotel that's always reinventing itself. —Sarah James" - Lanie Goodman, Sarah James