"Hotel Byblos*****" - St. Tropez, France.

Hotel Byblos is as marvelous today as it was when we covered it just a hand full of years ago, but now they are celebrating their 5th star giving them the highest rating possible. In, 2007, they launched a fabulous small and personal spa, "the Byblos Spa by Sisley Cosmetics" which makes it even more of a destination than it was before. They are doing this hand in hand with one of France's premiere beauty and cosmetic companies, Sisley, who manufacture an exceptional brand of spa products "Sisley", a perfect marriage of two small, French family owned companies that cater to a high end clientele.

If you are in the mood for a stellar dose of glamour, Hotel Byblos, in Saint Tropez, is the place to stay to see and be seen and just plain enjoy yourself in one of the best run hotels in the center of "chic", the south of France. Immaculately run with attention to the finest detail, with charm and comfort throughout, this is THE place to be when staying in St. Tropez famous or not. Located on one side by the park of the Citadel and on the other by the central market square, it is at once quiet and peaceful and on the other in the center of the action.

In 2010, Byblos is renovating 32 rooms and suites, located in the oldest part of the hotel. A third of all the rooms of the hotel will be refurbished in luxurious fabrics by Canovas, Lelievre or Frey, for an explosion of cheerful fresh colors, a testament to the French Riviera and to the joy of summer. Warmer and more luxurious bathrooms will be created to extend the beach experience. Clear marble by Botticino, with a mixture of beautiful mosaic tiles and polished pebbles will guide the guests to their showers. The room colors vary from light yellow to chocolate-brown and plum, cheerfully highlighted by turquoise, yellow and sometimes fuchsia.

Conceived in star dust, its whole history has been saturated in celebrity and "chic" not to mention glitter. In 1967, Bridget Bardot led the way in making this a celebrity hangout that endures to this day. It was here that rock star Mick Jagger and model Bianca Perez were married celebrating with Beluga caviar and hundreds of bottles of champagne. Out of respect to their privacy, we will refrain from naming all the celebs who call this spot "home away from home." But while we were there, our was the only room not reserved by the entire Lyons soccer team and families in town for a demonstration match with the local soccer team.

It matters not whether you are a film star, however, or a guest wanting to play in this delightful village, the service and attention to your needs and desires remain the same. What we loved about our stay there was the genuine warmth and friendliness of the entire staff. This is not always the case in a hotel with a high celebrity count. The rooms and suites are all lovely decorated in the soft colors of Provence many overlooking the flowered covered terraces, passageways, hidden courtyards and the central pool. The soft Mediterranean color palette adorns the buildings that are grouped gracefully around the pool and continue to flow down the hill to arrive at the street below where the restaurant "Byblos Spoon" is set right on the corner of the large place where the weekly village market is held.

The trendiest bar/club in Saint Tropez (if not all of the south of France) is also to be found at Byblos. “Les Caves du Roy” where the hippest people planet party into the wee hours and is accessible even to the non-celeb as long as you possess the right look.

Two restaurants grace Byblos both under the capable hands of Executive Chef Vincent Maillard one of Alain Ducasse's brigh lights and formerly of "Bastide de Moustiers" from which we remember both him and his cusine fondl and with great relish. Byblos has two restaurants both in the capable hands of chefk Maillard. The newly launched "B" Restaurant is essentially open round the clock serving light fare from a menu that is devoted to fresh, local ingredients, simply but sophistically prepared when ever you want it, where ever you want it - in your room, by the pool, in the shade of the indoor/outdoor bar area or in the more formal dining room that overlooks the pool area.

This is a great place to hang out with friends, meet for a light meal or snack in your choice of sundrenched environments. The food calls on Provence for many of its tastes serving the best Soupe de Pistou we have every enjoyed, or the Byblos Burger, or a Ceasar Salade, Tuna with Foie Gras and salad, and the list goes on. Chef Maillard does not limit his palatte to Provence, however. It reflects the many dimensions that make the Byblos experience, namely oriental, Middle Eastern and European-influenced cuisines.

There are the light "tasting" dishes that chef Maillard calls "Byni’z" built around three to four different tastes and threaded together by a common theme. These light bites are a kind of mezze, kemia, antipasti or tapas, depending on the interpretation made by the international clientele of Byblos. (see slide show below). Then there is the larger but still light menu that will serve a full meal of fish or fowl or meat, pizzas and pasta, cold plates and, of course, tassty desserts.