Cote D'Azur, Port Pin Rolland

Tucked into the wind-sheltered Bay of Lazaret on the Saint-Mandrier peninsula, Port Pin Rolland is a small private marina that doubles as a working shipyard — so if you need repairs done, you're in the right spot. It's a no-frills, practical kind of place with a real local feel, though be aware it's not well protected from the mistral when it kicks in. The village of Saint-Mandrier-sur-Mer is right on your doorstep, with the open waters of the Toulon roadstead just beyond.