Villa L'ensoleillade

Villa L'ensoleillade is for divers who would rather have a proper apartment than a standard room, and who appreciate the useful luxury of being able to make their own breakfast, rinse off the salt and sit outside with a view. The setting is residential and quiet, with the sea, sand and pine trees doing most of the talking. There is no need for a poolside animation team to explain the afternoon to you.

The accommodation suits couples wanting their own space as well as families or groups who need separate sleeping areas and a kitchen. Apartments have a private garden or a large terrace, a living room, one or two bedrooms and a bathroom. English is spoken by the dive centre closest to the villa, while the accommodation's own website is available in French.

You are in La Londe-les-Maures, not Hyères, on the Var coast between Hyères and Saint-Tropez. The villa sits directly beside Plage de l'Argentière, with access to the sandy beach and sea views towards Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant. The beach is the sort of neighbour that never asks you to dress for dinner.

Several other beaches are close by: Plage de Tamaris is about 0.9 miles away on foot, while Plage du Pellegrin is roughly 1.3 miles away on foot. The Sentier Littoral and its coastal coves are within reach, and Parc de la Brûlade la Londe is about 1 mile away. Fort de Brégançon is around 5 miles away, and Parc National de Port-Cros is about 9 miles from the property.

You have nearby places to eat, including La Plage within a short walk, with L'Hemingway and Le San Remo also close by. A shopping centre is available nearby during the April-to-September period. Toulon–Hyeres Airport is about 7 miles away by road, while Hyères railway station is around 8 miles away.

These are apartments rather than rooms, which matters when you return hungry, sandy and carrying more clothing than any sensible person needs for a week. The larger apartments are the natural choice for families or groups of up to six, while the smaller layouts work better for couples or a smaller party who would rather not pay for unused space. All have a sea view, a private bathroom and a kitchen, with the apartment cards below showing the exact layout and capacity for each option.

The kitchens are properly set up for self-catering: you have a hob, oven, microwave, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, toaster, coffee machine and kettle, along with kitchenware and a dining table. That gives you somewhere to prepare an early snack before a dive, keep cold drinks ready for your return and deal with damp holiday laundry without turning the bathroom into a temporary utility room. There is also a seating area, a sofa bed and either a terrace or private garden, depending on the apartment.

Soundproofing should help keep the night civilised, while heating is available for cooler evenings. The apartments are non-smoking, and quiet hours run from 23:00 to 08:00. Bed linen is not included, so you need to bring it or arrange rental. Cots and extra beds are not available, which is worth checking carefully if your group includes young children.

There is no stated breakfast or half-board arrangement, so the kitchen is the practical centre of your food plan. You have the equipment for a full meal rather than merely a kettle and a hopeful packet of biscuits: oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dishwasher and dining table. An outdoor dining area and barbecue let you move the evening outside when the sea view is doing its usual bit of work.

The property has a bar, and a snack bar operates during high season. It is located about 100 metres away with the reception, pool and tennis court, so your first drink may involve a short walk rather than a lift ride. That is hardly an expedition, although tired legs have been known to exaggerate distances after a day in the water.

For a meal away from the apartment, La Plage is within a short walk, while L'Hemingway and Le San Remo are also nearby. The accommodation works best for a flexible, self-catering stay: breakfast when you want it, a quick plate between activities and a proper dinner either at your own table or close to the beach.

The heated pool is the obvious place for a low-effort afternoon, with a sun terrace, loungers and a separate children's pool. It is open from April to October inclusive. The beach adds the simpler option: a chair, a parasol, clear water and no appointment to keep. The garden and terraces give you somewhere to sit when you have had enough sand but are not ready to go indoors.

For something more active, there is a tennis court about 250 metres from the villa, with tennis equipment available. Bicycle rental is also available. The surrounding area supports kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and jet skiing, while walkers can follow the coastal paths and explore the coves around the shoreline.

On land, you can play golf at the international 18-hole Valcros course, take excursions towards Saint-Tropez, Hyères-les-Palmiers, Grimaud, Rayol-Canadel, Sillans-la-Cascade or Bormes-les-Mimosas, and visit nearby historic sites. For a slower day, the combination of terrace, garden, beach and pool is quite enough. Even divers are allowed one day off; the sea will still be there tomorrow.

Free private parking is available on site, with no reservation required, which is useful if you are bringing dive luggage, beach gear and the usual collection of things that apparently cannot be left at home. Wi-Fi is free in the apartments. Pets are allowed, and the property is non-smoking throughout.

Check-in starts at 16:30, and you need to let the property know your arrival time in advance. Check-out is by 09:00, an early start that is worth factoring into the final evening. A rental contract must be signed and returned within seven days of booking. Parties and events are not permitted, and quiet hours run from 23:00 to 08:00.

Children of any age are welcome, but there are no cots or extra beds. The accommodation is not adapted for guests with reduced mobility. The property accepts cheques, cash and bank transfer, and you should keep cash available for extras during the stay. Toulon–Hyeres Airport is the nearest airport, around 7 miles away by road.