I visited Cap Ferret, France, and spotted 12 signs of wealth and luxury that reminded me of the Hamptons in New York

As a travel writer with a love of all things luxury, who is married to a French guy, France is, in my opinion, one of the world's capitals of luxury. In addition to Paris, I also consider Deauville, Normandy, and Provence to be upscale French destinations that exude elegance.

But when I visited the town of Cap Ferret with my family last summer, I saw a whole new side of wealth and luxury in France. Friends and locals called it "The Saint-Tropez of the Atlantic" and after spending time in the gorgeous, sun-soaked town, I agree and will be returning the first chance I get.

As a New Yorker, it immediately reminded me of the Hamptons with its natural coastal beauty, beachfront estates, and chic shopping, seafood, and atmosphere. Like the Hamptons, Cap Ferret is also popular in warmer weather and is an ideal beach climate during the summer with beaches for swimming, surfing and water sports.

Throughout my visit, I saw many signs of wealth and luxury that have me wanting to plan another trip back. Here's a closer look.

Cap Ferret is located on a narrow peninsula that extends from the coastline of France into the sea, forming Arcachon Bay. Surrounded by water on both sides, the region is a 1.5-hour drive from the city of Bordeaux, and a 2.5-hour drive from the Basque country border of Spain.

It's important to note that Cap Ferret, which is spelled with an "e," is not to be confused with Cap Ferrat, which is spelled with an "a," that is located on the Mediterranean Sea near Nice, another wealthy beach destination.

The drive from Bordeaux to Cap Ferret takes roughly 90 minutes by car without traffic. But, like getting to the Hamptons on a summer weekend, the traffic can significantly increase the time it takes.

Despite the traffic-filled drive, I instantly knew why the French find it to be a respite for relaxation. I watched the road bend through forest and sand dunes and thought it felt dreamy and peaceful, like we were driving through a nature preserve, even amid bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Across the glittering Arcachon Bay from Cap Ferret is the larger city of Arcachon, which has its own exclusive pockets of beachfront wealth and historic seaside mansions that reminded me of the old money homes of Southampton as we drove by.

Near it is the neighborhood of Ville d'Hiver, which is the most exclusive and wealthy part of the Arcachon Bay, where I saw stunning homes with intricate architectural details.

Ferries that take roughly 30 minutes connect the two high-end communities; you can also drive but taking the ferry saves an hour.

I spotted many luxury homes in Cap Ferret, though I thought they had a more secretive vibe than I've seen in the Hamptons.

While most high-end homes in the Hamptons are tucked behind high manicured hedges for privacy, I noticed that the landscape of Cap Ferret incorporated more thick natural forest, which I thought was a unique way to shield the homes for added privacy.

The houses I saw in Cap Ferret that were visible from the road or public areas were a combination of converted luxe fisherman's cabins and beach cottages, but the majority were villa-style estates with private swimming pools on large pieces of wooded property.

I thought that these homes had an elegant but understated look, and though perhaps different in style from Hamptons homes, they conveyed the same message: massive wealth via glamorous pools in the yard and luxury cars parked in the driveway.

Looking on real estate websites during and after my visit, I noticed that homes in this area are priced in the multi-million dollar range, like this home with panoramic beachfront views, available for $10.6 million.

I've spent a lot of time in France and predominantly only see small Citroen and Peugeot cars on city streets. Similarly, I find SUVs to be much rarer here than in the US.

So I was surprised to arrive in Cap Ferret and see so many Range Rovers and Land Rovers, in addition to Teslas, Mercedes-Benz G Wagons, and other luxury vehicles. They felt to me like a dead giveaway of Cap Ferret's ample wealth.

I also saw many boats docked in neat rows near the shore, including pinasse, which are wooden boats that are long, narrow and antique looking in nature. I noticed many of these boats appeared to be handsomely restored for personal use, as were larger yachts and sailboats.

Prior to my visit, I didn't realize Cap Ferret was such a favorite among A-listers. But like the Hamptons, celebrities are reported to blend in easily here.

Actress Marion Cotillard is reportedly a regular at the local market after filming in the region, and "Amelie" star Audrey Tatou is said to own a house in town. Property owners also include Xavier Niel, a French tech billionaire.

Other celebrities vacation here, like David Guetta, and one of the country's most famous architects and designers, Phillipe Starck, owns a house in Cap Ferret, where he also designed a five-star hotel, La Co(o)rniche.

Compared to the Hamptons where I've noticed new hotels popping up all the time, I was surprised that there are just a handful in Cap Ferret. Though, I thought that added to an overall sense of exclusivity.

With just 11 rooms, La Maison du Bassin is close to Cap-Ferret's charming white-and-red painted lighthouse, and its restaurant with a romantic outdoor terrace came highly recommended to me by friends. Beach-inspired guest rooms have wood details like shiplap and dark wood paneling in a restored residence that is just steps away from the beach.

Cote Sable is another contemporary Cap Ferret hotel where rooms have private outdoor spaces or terraces, and some have large soaking tubs with views of the sea.

However, the Phillipe Starck-designed La Co(o)rniche is the hotel I would like to stay in most in Cap Ferret. It was originally a hunting lodge steeped in history, and rooms feature wood paneled details, marble slabs, and objets d'arte.

In my research, I also stumbled upon another hotel designed by Starck just down the street. Called Ha(a)ïtza, the art-infused property dates back to the 1930s and has hosted many ultra-wealthy guests.

In my opinion, Cap Ferret is a very exclusive place to rent a home for the summer — much like the Hamptons.

My sister-in-law, who has spent a lot of time in Cap Ferret, told me that many people plan to secure summer lodging far in advance, often staying two weeks, a month, or even the entire summer.

When I looked at rentals on Vrbo, I noticed many dates were already blocked off for this upcoming season.

I found modest houses with pools renting in August for $850 night on Vrbo, a more contemporary 4-bedroom villa with a pool renting in August for $1,127 a night, and a glamorous modern villa for $1,703 a night.

Meanwhile, an exclusive 9-bedroom seafront villa with a cinema room, large soaking tubs, gigantic infinity pool, and sauna can be booked for $6,500 a night in high season.

In Cap Ferret, oysters are not just fresh and local, they're an intricately linked part of the culture, and are considered some of the most desired oysters in the world.

After trying them, I wholeheartedly agree. The oysters I had in town were all grown in Cap Ferret, and I thought they tasted excellent with a delicate flavor and firm, plump texture.

I saw many examples of the oysters being grown in estuaries in the sea, a charming scene outside many of the numbered cabins where they're served.

I ate at the cabin #57, where I highly suggest a reservation because tables are limited. Surprisingly, I thought it was incredibly well priced at 7 euros each, while bottles of wine were just 15 euros. In the Hampton's, these prices are much more expensive. I've paid $18 for oysters, $20 for shrimp, and bottles of wine easily cost over $50 a bottle.

I really enjoyed the laidback-yet-upscale shopping in Cap Ferret.

I wandered into Jane de Boy, a shop selling chic clothing and accessories, jewelry, art, books, $128 Mad et Len candles, and decor. Horizon Lointains had similar merchandise, including upscale women's swimwear and cover-ups for lounging in the sun at your Cap Ferret home or on a yacht.

Hedonic had a silver Porsche and tricked-out motorcycle parked inside, which made sense when I learned that they create custom cars for high-end clients including Porsche 911s and vintage Land Rovers — all with a "price upon request.

Other merchandise I saw at Hedonic included high-end Leica cameras, electric scooters and bikes, surfboards, and longboards, while a chilled magnum of wine bottle greeted guests on the bar — another giveaway that prices here would include a few extra zeros.

In the Hamptons, I can often find pop-ups of boutique fitness studios that are trendy in New York City, where single classes cost over $45, such as SoulCycle or Barry's Bootcamp.

Similarly, in Cap-Ferret, I saw many boutique fitness studios including an indoor-outdoor Crossfit, pilates studios, and boho yoga studios.

Despite clearly being a destination associated with wealth, I was surprised that Cap Ferret felt so laid-back and relaxed. I think the beautiful beach setting helped contribute to this overall feeling.

While there are plenty of beautiful sandy beaches in the Hamptons, nothing, in my opinion, compared to the gorgeous sands at Dune du Pilat.

This popular attraction in Cap Ferret is a giant sand dune that you can climb upon for sparkling views over the sea. I saw many couples and groups of friends there relaxing on blankets with spreads of wine, cheese, sandwiches, and other snacks.

I accessed Dune du Pilat up what is essentially a few flights of stairs that have been anchored into the sand. I was even able to carry my small dog up to the top so he could enjoy the view and run around.

The surrounding park had some luxe facilities too, including a fancy food stand selling gourmet ice cream.

I thought Cap Ferret had luxurious experiences in spades, and I can see the destination becoming much more popular with American tourists in the coming years.

As a travel writer and a regular visitor to France, everything about Cap Ferret surprised me. I enjoyed the region's casual elegance, which did not feel stuffy or pretentious, and I cannot wait to return to discover it further.