I’ll be honest… before I went to Saint Tropez, I thought it was going to be exactly what everyone thinks it is.
Full of glitz and glamour. Posh, fast supercars. Very white, very middle class. Very… “I’ve taken my man’s credit card out for the afternoon so I can shop in designer stores and sip champagne on a random Tuesday with my little chihuahua” 😂 You know the vibe.
I expected big yachts, rich people enjoying their downtime, ridiculously priced restaurants and bars… And if I’m being completely real? I wasn’t expecting to feel welcomed.
I thought I’d feel like an outsider. A tourist. A spectator.
Dipping my toe into a world that wasn’t mine… and never would be. But clearly, that didn’t stop me from going.
First Impressions
When we got there, the first thing that surprised me was how… small it felt. Not underwhelmingly small. Just not what I expected.
It felt like a little town. Quite close-knit.
Yes, you could tell it was a tourist spot… but it also felt lived in.
Especially the old town.
Still very posh… but also strangely normal.
Like a neighbourhood where people just happen to have money, but they’re still living everyday life.
Little bookstores. Cafés. Boutiques.
People going about their day like it’s nothing.
Then right next to that… heavy pockets of tourism.
What really surprised me was how many Americans were there.
Honestly, I heard more American accents than British ones. I still don’t know why that was 😂
Compared to somewhere like Cannes, which felt quite seamless. Where the “posh” just blends into normal life. Saint Tropez felt more… separated.
There were tourists..and then there were the people who actually live that life.
You could feel that difference.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like it… I just couldn’t fully see myself in it.
I couldn’t quite find where I fit.
What Was Actually Worth It
Now don’t get me wrong… Saint Tropez is still beautiful.
The south of France has this charm that’s hard to explain.
Even when somewhere looks a bit rough around the edges, it still feels… French. Effortless. Warm. Alive.
Saint Tropez still holds that feeling.
You feel it walking along the marina.
Seeing the little fishing boats against those big yachts.
You feel it in the old town.
Those cobbled streets. The history. The pace.
It’s subtle… but it’s there. And if you want luxury. Even just for a day. Saint Tropez will give you that. You will feel special.
There are some genuinely lovely restaurants too.
For me, La Ramande stood out.
Still high-end… but not stiff. Beautiful, relaxed, open… welcoming. That balance made all the difference.
What People Don’t Tell You
This is where I think people get it wrong.
In parts, Saint Tropez felt like style over substance.
Unless you go looking for it… the first thing it shows you is:
“Look at me.”
Whether that’s the Instagram crowd, or just people who casually look like they’ve got money without even trying… it’s very “on show”.
And for the price you pay?
Personally… I don’t think you always get the value back.
But that’s my definition of value.
If you have been following me for a while, you’ll know that for me, value isn’t about what something looks like. It’s about how it feels. I want to feel. Relaxed, comfortable. Like I belong. Like I can just..exhale.
If I’m spending a lot of money but still feel a bit… stiff? That’s not money well spent for me.
But for someone else? That might be exactly what they love.
They might feel at home there. Confident. Alive.
If that’s you… then it’s worth every penny.
So… Is Saint Tropez Worth It?
Honestly?
It’s a yes… and a no.
I’ll go anywhere once. Always. But whether I go back depends on how it makes me feel. And Saint Tropez is one of those places for me.
If you’ve got a car, time to explore, and you’re already in the area?
Then yeah… go. Why wouldn’t you? But if I was travelling with young kids? No.
They’re not going to get much out of it.
What are they going to do… watch yachts go up and down? 😂
I’d rather take them somewhere like Nice.
Let them play on the beach, wander into little shops, eat gelato that doesn’t cost Saint Tropez prices… and actually enjoy it.
Now if you’re a couple, or travelling solo?
That’s different.
Saint Tropez could be a really nice stop.
A slow wander through the streets.
A meal in a cute restaurant.
A glass of wine or coffee while you people watch as the sun goes down…
That’s a vibe.
But if you’re short on time, budget, or it feels like a bit of a mission to get there?
You’re not missing out on something you can’t get elsewhere.
The French Riviera is full of beautiful towns and villages that will give you that same charm… without the pressure to spend.
Final Thought
If someone asked me whether they should go…
I wouldn’t just say yes or no.
I’d ask them why they want to go.
Saint Tropez isn’t about whether it’s “worth it”.
It’s about whether it’s worth it to you.
Want the full story behind our visit? Read my original Saint -Tropez travel story here.
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