Although it started as a winter resort for wealthy Brits at the end of the 18th century, the Cote d’Azur or French Riviera is now firmly a summer hotspot: arrive in summer and you can barely move for all the visitors and luxury yachts crowding the marinas.

It’s not a budget destination: you’ll pay for the location, but that’s not to say there aren’t some charming, service-oriented gems among the sprawls of hotels and villas along the coastline. Below is our selection, chosen by our readers as tried and tested.