Variety Confirms White Lotus in Saint-Tropez: Here Is Why the Riviera Is About to Sell Out

The iconic turrets of Airelles Château de la Messardière overlooking the Bay of Saint-Tropez. Now the confirmed filming location for The White Lotus Season 4. (Image courtesy of Airelles Château de la Messardière)

When it was announced that the next season of The White Lotus would take place in France, the conversation immediately shifted from where to which France.

For three seasons, the show had been closely associated with Four Seasons properties, from Maui to Taormina to Koh Samui. Because of that history, early assumptions for Season 4 felt fairly specific. Paris? Saint-Tropez? Possibly Megève?

I’ll admit, I was rooting for Megève. Alpine, elegant, slightly claustrophobic. The kind of place where everyone wears cashmere indoors, no one admits they’re cold, and resentment builds quietly over fondue. A winter White Lotus would have been restrained, icy, and deeply psychological.

But that theory didn’t hold.

Variety has now confirmed that filming will take place in Saint-Tropez, specifically at an Airelles property. The "Four Seasons pattern" has officially been broken, and the Riviera is the clear winner.

Which, honestly, makes perfect sense. Sun, money, visibility, temptation. Everything happens outdoors, in linen, in public. It’s louder, brighter, and much easier to unravel in front of an audience.

I’ll always mourn the missed opportunity for a snowbound season of polite hostility, but I understand the assignment. The impact is the same: The South of France is about to get very busy.

The Confirmed Setting: Airelles Château de la Messardière

The move from a global resort brand like Four Seasons to Airelles is significant. Airelles is a boutique French collection known for smaller key counts and extreme exclusivity, which means availability just became much tighter.

Airelles Château de la Messardière sits above Saint-Tropez like it knows something you don’t. A 19th-century château surrounded by gardens, parasol pines, and views that make time feel optional.

Inside the suites at Airelles Château de la Messardière. Guests can expect panoramic Riviera views and interiors that blend 19th-century grandeur with modern luxury. (Image courtesy of Airelles Château de la Messardière)

This is not a loud hotel. It’s a composed one. Long lunches. A serious spa. Private beach club access that feels civilized rather than performative. Rooms that make you cancel plans without guilt. Exactly the kind of place where nothing appears to be happening, which is usually when things happen.

The Unavoidable Wild Card: A Private Villa

The White Lotus never lives entirely on property. It always needs a second setting, and in the South of France, that almost certainly means a villa.

Not a charming one. An extraordinary one.

The private villa aesthetic: Secluded courtyards and pools at Airelles Saint-Tropez. This level of privacy is why the property is a top choice for celebrities and film crews. (Image courtesy of Airelles Château de la Messardière)

Perched somewhere dramatic, maybe between Saint-Tropez and Cap d’Antibes. Long stone drive. Terraces that stretch toward the sea. Private chef. A place designed for serenity that quietly encourages bad decisions.

Insider Note: Villas of this caliber already book far in advance. A cultural moment like this doesn’t create availability. It eliminates it.

Other Hotels That Will Benefit From the Moment

The White Lotus Blast Radius: The confirmed filming location at Airelles (red pin) vs. the overflow icons in Antibes and Cap-Ferrat.

Not every hotel needs to be a filming location to feel the ripple effect. Once Saint-Tropez becomes the backdrop, travelers look for the same feeling, often just outside the center of the storm.

• The Maybourne Riviera: Perched high above Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, it’s sleek, architectural, and unapologetically modern. All glass, steel, and infinity edges. It’s exactly where people look when Saint-Tropez feels too obvious.

• Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat: Iconic without being showy. It remains one of the most livable luxury hotels on the Riviera, with a pool scene that earns its reputation.

• Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc: It cannot get any busier than it already is. I’m currently booking a client stay and won’t receive confirmation until February. That’s normal. That’s Eden-Roc. It will remain impossible regardless of the TV hype.

• Château Saint-Martin & Spa: For something quieter and more introspective. Elevated, removed, and very intentional.

Where the Storylines Spill Out

No one on this show stays quietly on property. If they’re in Saint-Tropez, the social choreography is predictable:

• Club 55: Linen tablecloths, barefoot lunches, bottles appearing without discussion. Not trendy. Permanent.

• Gigi Ramatuelle: Italian fantasy under the pines. Live music, golden light, and a La Dolce Vita mood imported directly to the Riviera.

• Loulou Ramatuelle: This is where the long lunch happens. Beautiful views, just enough scene, excellent food, and an audience. Sunglasses on. Tone carefully managed.

• Nikki Beach: For better or worse, every season needs a descent into chaos. This is where it usually happens.

• Amazonico (Monte-Carlo): If the storyline drifts toward Monaco, this is the obvious stop. Lush, loud, and built for dinners that don’t end calmly.

And Yes, There Will Be a Yacht

There is always a yacht. If this season is set in Saint-Tropez, the water will be as important as the land.

Expect scenes aboard something sleek and expensive, where conversations feel casual until they aren’t. Long lunches that drift. The kind of floating privacy that accelerates bad decisions. Chartering on the Riviera has already become more competitive year over year; a moment like this only tightens things further.

Beneath the Buzz

The South of France doesn’t ease into popularity. It spikes.

The hotels with real atmosphere disappear first. Villas go early. Summer dates turn into waiting lists. And once everyone decides they’ve always dreamed of the Riviera, it’s already too late.

So if the South of France has been on your list for 2026 or beyond, consider this your nudge. Book earlier than feels reasonable. Choose your hotel carefully. And don’t wait for television to make the decision for you.

If you’re thinking about it, message me. We’ll do it properly.