Héliotel

Small three-star hotel with a restaurant in the upper part of the village of Héliopolis, the naturist domaine of the Île du Levant, the car-free island off Hyères that can only be reached by boat from Le Lavandou or Hyères (from the jetty it is an uphill walk of about twenty minutes). It has 14 rooms, all with a sea-view terrace, air conditioning and breakfast included, a large pool and a Mediterranean garden; it is open from May to September. In the hotel, the garden and the restaurant you can be naked or clothed, while the pool and the loungers around it are reserved for nudity. The restaurant, also open to non-residents, is the highlight: its terrace overlooking the sea is one of the most sought-after spots on the island for the sunset. On some Sundays in summer there is a naturist brunch with music by the pool, and the restaurant crowd and the DJs can make the atmosphere livelier than you might expect: anyone looking only for silence should bear this in mind. Children are welcome (extra bed in the larger rooms) and small pets by arrangement with the management; the naturist brunch, however, cannot be attended clothed, not even with children. Nearby are the coastal path, the coves with their ladders and the only sandy beach, the plage des Grottes, about twenty minutes' walk away, where nudity is compulsory. Guests praise the view, how well the place is kept and the food; the most frequent criticisms concern the restaurant service and the value for money of the brunch.