La Villa d'Andrea

You travel through peaceful Var countryside to reach these studio apartments. Sandra’s deft handiwork immediately catches the eye – driftwood furnished into her own designs, including a striking table and chairs in the studio with the beautiful stone interior. Provençal in style, with pale walls, blue shutters and terracotta roofs, the whole pretty place is divided into two sections.

The more traditional Sud whose apartments are typified by wood, wicker and wrought-iron furniture, and softened by pastoral scenes from local artists; and the much more exotic Zen whose quirky touches – to bedheads, lamps, tiling and intricate pebble framed mirrors – run throughout.

All but four come with kitchenettes and private terraces but you can have breakfast up at the hotel. Open windows wide to take in the gardens and two lovely pools, complete with stone bars, lush plants and pine trees, and roof supports made from tree bark.