Fodor's Expert Review Le Byblos

Forget five stars—this toy Mediterranean village (grouped around courtyards landscaped with palms, olive trees, and lavender) has a "palace" classification, not to mention access to the exclusive Byblos Beach Ramatuelle. Guest rooms, done up in à la provençale, have ultramodern comforts; when you can tear yourself away, lounge by the piscine, and enjoy a light lunch at Arcadia. For dinner, if you can get a table, head to Alain Ducasse's concept restaurant, Cucina Byblos, for authentic and generous Italian cuisine. Speaking of food, the kitchens here get produce from le jardin de la Piboule, an agroecological garden with 70 varieties of vegetables, fruits, and aromatic flowers. As evening falls, anyone who is anyone goes to the hotel's Caves du Roy—a kitsch disco extravaganza where squillionaires order €25,000 bottles of Champagne. It's paparazzi-free and virtually impossible to get in unless you arrive early or reserve a table in advance.