Rent premium cars in Saint-Tropez

Pampelonne Beach and the Route des Plages. The coastal road serving the beach clubs gets congested at midday in high season, so an early departure suits a convertible rental better than a taxi queue. Club parking is limited; valet is common at the larger addresses.

Ramatuelle village and Cap Camarat. The hill village has narrow lanes closed to most traffic near the centre, so cars are left at the perimeter car parks. The onward drive to the Cap Camarat lighthouse is short and better suited to a compact or convertible than a large SUV.

Gassin and the vineyard back roads. Inland from the coast, the roads around Gassin run through vineyard estates with light traffic outside peak afternoon hours. A GT or convertible with a smooth ride suits the winding, well-surfaced lanes here.

Port Grimaud and Sainte-Maxime, around the gulf. Circling the Gulf of Saint-Tropez by road takes you past Port Grimaud's canals and on to Sainte-Maxime; the coastal stretch has several viewpoints worth a stop. Traffic builds through the day, so a mid-morning drive is easier than late afternoon.

Cap Taillat and the Escalet coves. The final approach to Cap Taillat narrows and the surface roughens, with limited parking at the trailhead. A car with reasonable ground clearance is more practical than a low-slung sports model for this last stretch.