France's Hidden seaside resorts - One of many...............

At the end of the Corniche des Maures ( a large mountain chain that fronts the sea near St Tropez), the area called Cavalaire ( Ex-president of France Nicholas Sarkozy has his villa nearby) is quite close to, and quite different from St Tropez. The resorts share the same sun, sea and insouciance, but there floats over Cavalaire no air of billionaire exclusivity. Normal people are made to feel welcome, rather than dammed lucky to be allowed in. Cavalaire brandishes  its family welcome label with abandon.
Granted, there is minimal quaintness. If Cavalaire ( population 7000)  was once a fishing village, its now a mainly post-war creation of apartments ( not has ugly as Nice and Cannes) and modern-ish streets. But palms, pines and sea attenuate the effect, there's holiday-time gaiety, the surroundings are soul-stirring-and  appreciation of quaint is, anyway, a sign of age (I am afraid to say so)  Youngsters don't care a fig for old towns and 14th-century chapels. They want activity-and Cavalaire has it.
The best hotel here is the Relais/Chateaux hotel ( on a private beach)  Le Club de Cavaliere & Spa. 
http://www.clubdecavaliere.com/uk/hotel-luxe-lavandou-site-officiel.php