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A once-glamorous coastal town on the French Riviera is losing its luster, many tourists say.
Long known as a playground for celebrities and the ultra-rich, Saint-Tropez has found a new audience: influencers who showcase its designer shops and picturesque waterfront.
Luxury travel influencer JQ Louise, who has been visiting Saint-Tropez for 15 years, told Fox News Digital in an interview that the destination is “packed.”
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“I think influencers have really captured how picturesque it is,” said Louise, who is based in Boston. “Saint-Tropez is a dream destination.”
But that exposure comes with a downside, Louise said — particularly during the height of summer.
Saint-Tropez has long attracted celebrities and wealthy travelers, while social media has introduced the French Riviera destination to a wider audience. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
“If you go in June, July or August — and particularly July and August — Saint-Tropez is packed,” she said, adding that visitors could find themselves “shoulder to shoulder” with crowds at the port, popular cafés and beach clubs.
Once a quiet Mediterranean fishing village, Saint-Tropez exploded into a global hot spot in the 1950s, sparking a massive, decades-long surge in tourism, the National Geographic reported.
“The crowd has become almost unbearable.”
Today, the town of just 4,000 permanent residents is stretched to its absolute breaking point, absorbing up to 80,000 daily visitors during the July and August rush, the Saint-Tropez Tourism Office noted.
The sheer volume of summer crowds has become so unsustainable that the mayor, Sylvie Siri, is now publicly pleading with travelers to visit during the off-season instead, according to the BBC.
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On a Reddit forum dedicated to luxury travel, one traveler recently asked whether the French Riviera was even worth it.
In response, many were quick to voice their frustrations with the popular vacation spot.
“It’s a scene, and overcrowded, definitely NOT my definition of vacation,” one person wrote. “Expensive does not [equal] luxury for me.”
Travelers say Saint-Tropez can become especially crowded during the peak summer months of July and August. (Clement Mahoudeau/AFP via Getty Images)
“The crowd has become almost unbearable,” another said.
“Saint-Tropez isn’t for tourists. It’s for residents,” another person said, citing its limited appeal and accessibility for ordinary visitors.
“Just because it has this aura of ‘old money’ and rappers singing about it doesn’t mean it’s good for visitors. It’s for locals who have houses there,” the user added.
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“Going there just to say you are vacationing in Saint-Tropez is dumb considering how difficult it is to get there as a tourist, unless you have a car.”
Others were quick to defend the popular vacation spot.
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“Certain resorts are incredibly relaxing and worth every penny,” one Redditor said.
“The Riviera is unreasonably beautiful, and the high-end resorts know how to do hospitality well.”
Travelers praised the beauty of the French Riviera, which includes destinations such as Grimaud, seen above, near Saint-Tropez. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images)
Louise said timing can make a big difference for travelers who want to avoid crowds.
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“Try to go in the shoulder season,” she said, referencing those who feel it’s worth it. “Avoid July and August. It’s too packed.” She said she prefers September, October, April and May.
She also said there are plenty of other places in the Riviera to visit “that are just as beautiful, if not more beautiful.”
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“I love to tell people to pick a place as a home base, then plan kind of a few day trips or plan a few side trips as part of your vacation,” she said.
Saint-Tropez remains a popular French Riviera destination even as some travelers express frustration about crowds during peak season. (Eye Ubiquitous/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“Whether you’re staying in Saint-Tropez or if you’re staying in Cannes or Monaco or Nice, there are so many villages all along the Riviera and honestly, they’re all beautiful,” Louise said.
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“Most of them are not crowded even in peak season. I would say go a little bit more on the road less traveled.”
