| Roundtrip Flight | SLH Name | Hotel Booking | Pros | Cons |
| Air France Business Class: ~S16,000; Award Booking: Flying Blue 300K points | Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose | Cash:$600-800/ night or 30K Hyatt points | Superb location, free parking, free breakfast, and heated swimming pool | Rooms are hard to get to, and small elevators. |
Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose is in St. Tropez, one of the most beautiful coastal towns in the French Riviera region of France. The south of France has some of the most scenic nature including Verdon gorge which has been on my bucket list. The hotel is less than a 2-hour drive from both Marseille (MRS) and Nice (NCE) international airports.
Award flights to Marseille
Finding a return trip business class flight to Marseille or Nice was relatively easy with Flying Blue miles (https://awardcracker.com/flying-blue-partner-redemption-sweet-spots/). When I booked the trip there was a 25% transfer bonus to Flying Blue from Amex MR points, which helped my award booking. I paid close to 300,000 miles (225K MR points with bonus) and ~$1000 in taxes for 2 return trip tickets, which in my opinion was worth it for the business class. Please see the screenshots below for the sample trip for next May.
How I Booked the Hotel Room
I used Hyatt points to book for 5 nights but finding all the consecutive days for the stay was difficult since this hotel rarely releases award nights. I ended up booking 3 nights one time and then each night separately whenever I found the availability (https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/france/slh-althoff-hotel-villa-belrose/tlnya). The hotel typically charges ($600-800) and it is a good value for using Hyatt points or a Globalist free night certificate at this property.
Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose Location & Amenities
We arrived at the hotel in a rental car less than two hours from the MRS airport. The Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose is located high up on a hill with a completely private terrace area where breakfast is served and a large, heated swimming pool is located one level below. There is a very small gym next to the pool with some basic weights, benches, and a treadmill. Valet parking is included which is a big plus since almost every other place in that region charges at least 30 euros per day for parking.
Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose Check-in
The hotel lobby area is small but opens to expansive water views with a large seating area and a deck. I can easily say this hotel reception area has one of the most beautiful views in the world. When checking into any SLH hotel, I always confirm that I paid for the entire stay with points so there are no misunderstandings (I had a few bad experiences which I will mention under other reviews). The front desk agent was very pleasant and after showing us the amenities, she took us to our Superior Double Room with Garden View. No room upgrade was offered which is quite normal for SLH hotels with a limited number of rooms in the busy season.
Superior Double Room with Garden View
The hotel has 2-3 levels of stairs that take you down to your rooms and elevators are very small. The front desk will arrange for the luggage to be delivered to your room. The rooms are very spacious and beautifully decorated, and the queen mattress is very comfortable.
Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose Breakfast
Breakfast (free) is the real highlight of this place with a breathtaking view of St. Tropez and served with various options of eggs along with assorted French pastries, fruits, and yogurts. There is dinner served in the same area as well, but we never tried it because of the various dining options available in the nearby town. Another unique offering in this hotel is a free evening snack (fresh French pastries in a box), which is waiting for you in the room when you return from your daily adventures.
Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose Nearby Scenic Attractions
We made several day trips to explore the nearby scenic nature and some of the highlights include Verdon gorge, Calanques national park, Regional Natural Park of Camargue, The Ochre of Roussillon, and lavender fields. One should not miss the opportunity to visit Verdon gorge, which is very scenic, and it is very easy for visitors to rent a boat or do nearby hikes. I recommend visiting the Calanques national park by booking a day tour instead of trying to drive and wasting time finding parking.
We did not drive towards Nice, Eze, or Monte Carlo, since I wanted to make another trip to cover that region. Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose also offers a free service to drop you in the shopping area and pick you up whenever you call them. St. Tropez town has all the luxury high-end boutique shopping, but it is impossible to find a public bathroom. You must go to a small bar or restaurant and buy something to use in the bathroom.
Summary
The Althoff Hotel Villa Belrose should be considered among the top 10 SLH properties in the world with wonderful water views, customer service, free parking, and breakfast. If you have a stash of Hyatt points and are lucky enough to find award availability, you can book this hotel without any hesitation. Out of all the SLH properties I stayed at, Grand Hotel Victoria Concept and Spa (https://awardcracker.com/review-grand-hotel-victoria-concept-and-spa-italy/) is the only one that has an edge over this place due to its well-equipped gym and mind-blowing spa area.