The beautiful Ile de Bendor is a private island lying 300m off the Cote d’Azur on the French Riviera. It is quite tiny with a mere 1.5 kilometres of coastline and a highest elevation of just 17 metres.The best (and only) place to stay on Ile de Bendor provides the opportunity to completely relax and escape the crowds in this very special part of the world.

In 1950 Paul Ricard, who singlehandedly reestablished the Pastis spirit industry in France during the twentieth century, bought the Ile de Bendor. Its sole inhabitant was a single sheep! Ricard set about developing a dreamy getaway for himself and his friends, and during the 1960’s the island became a magnet for the French ‘jet set’. Ricard was a keen art lover and conservationist. The island boasts two museums that he established - one an ‘Exposition of wines and spirits’ and the other dedicated to advertising objects. He also set up an Oceanographic Institute due to his concerns about the pollution of the seas.

Today it is still a lovely spot. There is a hotel, five restaurants, an artists' village, and boutiques and art galleries to peruse. For the sporty there is tennis, watersports and diving.

But don't forget that with just one hotel the best place to stay in the Ile de Bendor is a tricky property to book. You'll need to plan well ahead, especially if you plan to visit during the peak summer months.