NUMBER OF ROOMS: 14 rooms
CLOSED ANNUALLY: Open all year round
THE STORY: An institution on the Ayguade harbor in Hyères for roughly seventy years now, La Reine Jane has been looking significantly younger ever since the new owners, Lisa and David Pirone, worked their magic on her. Even though the white façade and sky blue sign (so emblematic of Mediterranean style) are still there, the 14 bedrooms have been given brand new makeovers by 14 designers – all celebrated for the occasion at the Design Parade festival organized by the Villa Noailles since 2006. The result? A pretty mishmash of styles: sleek décor taken to the extreme with whitewashed alcoves in room number 4, by Jean-Baptiste Fastrez; a nautical mural with mermaids, octopuses and star fish in number 15, by Thomas Defour & Antoine Grulier; green mosaic tiles and a dimly-lit ambiance in number 5, by Claire Lavabre & Adrien Goubet, etc. Double rooms starting at €120 a night.
TOILETRIES: Casanera shower gel, body lotion and shampoo.
INTERNET: Wifi (free)
BREAKFAST: €18, with coffee or tea, freshly pressed juices, organic breads, viennoiseries, crepes, cereals, fresh fruit, cheese and charcuterie.
MINI-BAR: No, but there’s a Nespresso coffee machine in every room.
LITTLE LUXURY: Taking a yoga class on the 200-square-meter rooftop on Sunday mornings.
