BudgetTravel

Cannes

Hotel de Provence: A small hotel 110 yards from the La Croisette promenade and just behind the massive Noga Hilton. The rooms are comfortable, the beds firm, and the amenities plentiful. 011-33/4-93-38-44-35, hotel-de-provence.com,$110-$123.

Saint-Raphael

Ambassador Hotel: In a nice resort town, midway between Cannes and Saint-Tropez. A short walk to the beach. Relatively spacious rooms with high ceilings, wrought-iron bedsteads, and thick walls (most rooms don't have A/C). 011-33/4-98-11-82-00, $95-$110.

Les Issambres

Hotel les Calanques: On the edge of a calanque, a rocky cove with a small beach. Out front is the coastal highway. Colorful rooms and cute wrought-iron fixtures. Most rooms have at least a partial sea view. 011-33/4-98-11-36-36, french-riviera-hotel.com, $102-$163.

Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat

Hotel Clair Logis: In a residential area a 10-minute walk from town. Lush garden. Cheaper rooms are very simple; decor improves as the price goes up. 011-33/4-93-76-51-81, hotel-clair-logis.fr, $108-$228.

Sainte-Maxime

Hotel Montfleuri: Elegant pool surrounded by tropical foliage. Pricier rooms have terraces; there are also ones for $115 with small balconies and lovely sea views. 011-33/4-94-55-75-10, bestwestern.com, $102-$222.

A FEW GENERAL TIPS ABOUT HOTELS IN THE REGION

Rates: Prices shown are for a double in highest season: Some hotels distinguish between "high" and "highest" seasons, and you may see prices doubled and even tripled mid-July to August (and during the Monaco Grand Prix in May). Likewise, many properties close during winter.

Rooms: A "mountain" view is often another way of saying the room looks out on the back of the hotel or onto the town. Ask for specifics. All these hotels have air-conditioned rooms, unless otherwise noted.

Breakfast: It's wise--and considerate--to let the front desk know the night before if you'll be taking breakfast. Having breakfast at the hotel adds $7-$14 per person (unless otherwise noted).

Taxes: They're fairly negligible--around $1.20 per person per night--and as a result, not usually included in published rates.