Hotel Palace Plage Review — A Stunning Beachfront Stay in the South of France

Two nights, sea views, an incredible spa — and an honest take on travelling here with a dog

Hotel: Hotel Palace Plage

Location:South of France

Dog-friendly rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overall rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Perfect for: Beach lovers, spa obsessives, couples, anyone who needs to properly recharge

After the dreamy vineyard romance of Château de Sacy, our next stop on the drive down to Marbella couldn't have been more different and in the best possible way. We pulled up to Hotel Palace Plage on the south of France coast and were immediately hit with that view. The beach. The sea. The light doing that thing it does in the south of France where everything looks like it's been photographed through a golden filter.

We decided to stay two nights here rather than one, and I'm so glad we did. After a long stretch of driving, both Ralph and I genuinely needed to stop, breathe, and actually enjoy where we were. This was the perfect place to do it.

The Location — Absolutely Unbeatable

Beachfront. Properly beachfront. You walk out of the hotel and you're on the sand. For Ralph, this was a moment. He'd been in the car for days and the second he hit that beach he just went….. there's no other word for it….. feral with joy. Running, bounding, nose down, ears back, absolutely living his best life. I genuinely could have watched him for hours.

The beach itself is stunning the kind of south of France coastline that you see in films and assume must be slightly exaggerated. It isn't. The water is that colour. The light is that good. If you've been driving for days and you need a reminder of why you did all of this, this beach is it.

The Room — Simple, Fresh and That View

I'll be straight with you here: the room itself is on the simpler side. Don't come expecting the same level of interior luxury as a château, it's clean, fresh, well kept, but fairly pared back. Think boutique beach hotel rather than five star opulence in the room itself.

But then you step onto the balcony and none of that matters even slightly.

I had a sea view room, and the view from that balcony is genuinely one of the most beautiful things I've ever woken up to. Just the beach, the sea, and the sound of the waves. I lay in bed that first morning with the balcony door open just listening to it, with Ralph curled up at the end of the bed, and I thought this is exactly what this trip is supposed to feel like. Dreamy doesn't cover it.

If you book here, get the sea view room. Non-negotiable.

The Spa — An Absolute Highlight

This is where Hotel Palace Plage really comes into its own. The spa is amazing and I don't use that word lightly.

The hammam is included complimentary with your stay, which alone is worth shouting about. There's also a jacuzzi, and you can book treatments on top. After days of driving through France and Spain, sinking into a hammam and then a jacuzzi felt like the most luxurious thing in the world. I booked a treatment too and came out feeling like a completely different person.

If you're doing a long drive and you need to recharge and I mean properly recharge, not just sleep and get back in the car…. build in two nights here and spend a morning in that spa. Your body will thank you.

The Food — Genuinely Exceptional

The restaurant is where this hotel really shines. The food is brilliant, the kind of meal where you're still thinking about it three days later. Very luxe, beautifully presented, the kind of menu that makes you want to try everything. The setting in the restaurant is gorgeous too, elegant without being stuffy.

Breakfast is a buffet and a good quality one. Fresh, well stocked, everything you need to set you up for the day. It doesn't have the à la carte option we had at Château de Sacy, but it's a solid spread and the setting looking out towards the beach makes everything taste better.

Travelling Here with a Dog — Honest Take

I want to be transparent here because I think it matters for anyone planning this trip with their dog.

The good news is that Hotel Palace Plage is genuinely dog-friendly in the ways that really count — as long as your dog is on a lead, you can go everywhere in the hotel. No restricted areas, no awkward conversations, no being made to feel like you're inconveniencing anyone. Ralph was on his lead and completely welcome throughout, which made the stay really relaxed and easy.

Where it differs from somewhere like Château de Sacy is the little touches, there was no dog bed waiting in the room, no welcome bowl or snacks. Totally fine, and honestly not the end of the world. We had Ralph's own bed and bowls with us anyway but worth knowing if you're expecting that full five star dog-guest experience.

As for the beach a word to the wise. It isn't an official dog beach, and technically dogs aren't supposed to be on it. That said, people do walk their dogs there and Ralph absolutely had his moment in the sun on that sand. Just be aware: we were told to keep an eye out for the police as they do patrol and can move you on. So go early, keep him on the lead, use your common sense, and you'll probably be absolutely fine but go in with your eyes open rather than assuming it's a free for all.

The beach access is still one of the best things about staying here with a dog. Just be savvy about it.

Would We Go Back?

Yes — but I'd go knowing what to expect. Come for the beach, the spa and the food. Come for that balcony and those waves. Come because after a long drive you deserve two nights of proper rest somewhere genuinely beautiful.

Just don't expect the room to blow your mind, and if you're travelling with a dog who needs extra pampering, pair it with a night somewhere that really rolls out the red carpet like we did in Champagne.

Would I recommend it to dog owners? Yes — dogs on leads are welcome everywhere, the location is incredible, just bring your own bed and bowls, and be savvy about the beach situation. Would I recommend it to everyone else? Absolutely — especially if the spa and the beach are calling your name.

Next up in the series: our final destination — Marbella. Coming soon.🐾

Read the full series: [Driving from the UK to Spain with a Dog — The Complete Guide] | [Château de Sacy Review, Champagne]