I just did a google search for villa rentals in ste maxime and this was one of the first that came up. It sleeps 6.

http://www.locationsmer.com/Location....php?view=1590

I'm less familiar with this area than further east. I found the website justfrance.com from the classifieds in Harvard magazine. The area around St Tropez is listed separately from the Nice/Cannes area on their site. Maybe that's why you're having problems?

Here's the link to the section you're interested in. I notice there are some listings in Ramatuelle. I have been there. It's very nice & quite near St Tropez.

http://www.justfrance.com/properties/cotevar.html

Check out www.frenchconnections.co.uk - privatley owned apartments and homes to rent direct from the owner. Most of the rental costs are negotiated in euros or british sterling - keep that in mind when you are looking at the prices.

Bormes les Mimosas is another town to check out - its beach areas are sandy (although I thought it was crowded compared to other beaches we visited)- there is a vineyard to visit within walking distance to the beach (Faviere) where you can fill up your jugs for wine on the beach or for home later (approx 2 euro for a 2 liter bottle). It also it has a cute little hill top village to visit.

ok, you got my interest up, and may change my Bordeaux area trip plans to the beaches instead. Where does one fly into from paris to be closest to Ste. Maxime / San Tropez area/ thanks.

Ps, which area is the least pricey / best value to use as a base.....

You can fly into Nice and St. Tropez/St. Maxime is about a half hourish drive from there (maybe a little more).

IMHO if you stay anywhere west of St Tropez the prices are more reasonable for private beach rentals, fod at restaurants, apartment and home rentals. St. Tropez was really expensive (we traveled with our kids and at one time we paid $45.00 for 4 scoops of ice cream and two drinks - buy did we enjoy those drinks on the beach!!)

Nice to St. Tropez in 1/2 an hour? I don't think so, unless you're going by helicopter! Never done it, but would expect the drive to take about 1.5/2 hours.

marcym20, if you're looking for something REALLY laid back, then perhaps you should look at the island of PORQUEROLLES. Heard it's great.

www.porquerolles.com

Hope this helps,
Andre

The trip from Nice (closest airport) to St Tropez is looong, especially during the summer. Minimum 2 hours drive. The train only goes as far as St Raphael & then you have to go by bus to St Tropez OR get off the train at St Raphael , take the bus to Ste Maxime & then ferry to St Tropez. Here's a post on that

Author: Feiny
Date: 05/12/2003, 11:16 am
Message: We took the noon train to St Raphael (maybe 1.5 hours or so), connected to the bus at the train station, (only a 10 minute wait), and rode the bus into St Tropez. We SHOULD have exited the bus in St Maxime, and boarded the boat. The bus leaves you off in St Maxime just across the street from the harbor. However, even in April, the last leg of the bus from St Maxime took at least another l.5 hours or so while the boat would have been 15 minutes! I think it took us a total of about 4.5 hours. We corrected our mistake on the way back. We boarded the boat for St Maxime (which leaves every 15 or 30 minutes), walked to the bus stop (which was right there), boarded the bus which comes every 30 minutes or so, and rode to the train station in St Raphael and then on to Nice. PS. The price you save on the bus ticket about makes up for the boat. Even though we spent more time than necessary getting there, the ride was gorgeous the whole way. And the small towns along the way were so lovely. The boat ride was gorgeous too, as you can imagine.
----------------------------------------
I recently read they were planning ferry service to St Tropez from Nice airport so maybe that will make this trip faster/easier.

My vote is for Sitges, Spain right outside Barcelona. ahhhhhhh pure bliss.......

Sorry I know my suggestion was not in France but I got lost in the title and my mind went straight to Spain...

St Maxime is less pricey than St Trop, and there is a boat that takes you right to the centre of St Trop from St Maxime. The road from St Maxime to St Tropez alone can easily take 1 hour in summer (believe me, I've done it). Nice to St Trop can take 3 hours if you are unlucky. I have heard great things about Porquerolles; no cars allowed, peace and quiet, but haven't been yet.