Do you prefer long, blonde beaches lined with pine trees or wild coves nestled in cliffs battered by the Atlantic? From Arcachon to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, New Wave hotels invite you to relax to the rhythm of the tides. Whether you prefer surfing, cycling or excursions between oyster beds and fishing ports, here are seven places to relax, explore and recharge your batteries, one on one with the ocean!
A marine oasis in Andernos-Les-Bains
Just a stone's throw from the jetty in Andernos-Les-Bains, this brand new boutique hotel has been conceived as a veritable oasis: the 19 designer rooms and suites are set around a large interior garden with a heated swimming pool. Mascaret", "Surf" or "Driftwood", the names say a lot about the vocation of this place dedicated to the pleasures of the sea... After cruising around the Arcachon basin, it's on the shores of the Indian Ocean that you'll find yourself in the evening, at the bar-lounge Le Bérive, a reference to a rum plantation on the island of Réunion. Aperitifs can be enjoyed here while watching the fabulous sunsets over the basin.
Un boutique-hôtel nouvelle vague à Arcachon
A new wave address for the third generation of the establishment! Completely renovated, the Aquamarina has become the T Boutique Hotel, a hotel that makes you feel at home, with colourful decor and spaces designed for socialising. With their play of materials, patterns and colours, the 30 rooms, including 3 suites, invite you to let yourself go to the rhythm of the Bay of Arcachon: it's just a stone's throw away! Take a stroll to the fish market in the harbour or to the Winter Town with its extravagant villas, or take a trip in a pinasse boat to the Banc d'Arguin nature reserve or to the Pyla dune, which has been reopened to the public - except for the forest - after the fire at La Teste-de-Buch. At the helm? Mathilde, daughter and granddaughter of hoteliers. She's full of ideas to share her beloved basin with you!
A cool and chic Surf Lodge in Hossegor
The calm waters of a marine lake or the waves of the Atlantic? There's no need to choose at Les Hortensias du Lac! With its feet in the water, this legendary Hossegor address with its Art Deco influences has been transformed into a chic and cool surf lodge. Can't wait to catch a wave? The boards line up along the neo-Basque façade. In need of some oxygen? Hop on a bike and pedal through the pines. And there's everything you need to take it easy: 25 rooms and suites with a refined decor, a gourmet restaurant suspended above the lake, a spa with marine curves and a beach hut for lunch with your feet in the sand or an aperitif with the ocean as your backdrop.
Art Deco with your feet in the sand in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
It's a metamorphosis that has been eagerly awaited. After 10 months of rejuvenation, the Hôtel & Spa Hélianthal Thalazur Saint-Jean-de-Luz has reopened its doors on the main beach, more Basque than ever, with 96 rooms and 10 new suites in the restaurants! Between land and sea, the renovated spaces invite you to take a trip back to the region's roots: emblematic blues and reds punctuate the natural materials and clean lines of the 1930s ocean liner. Even the terraces are green! On the seafront you can enjoy the bistro cuisine of L'Atlantique, while in the garden you can sample the delicacies of Erdiko, the tapas bar. Next stop, the reopening of the Enfin this autumn, where you can indulge in a spa treatment at the Thalassotherapy Institute.
A new generation hostel in Bidart
How about rediscovering the spirit of the inns of yesteryear? In the heart of the village of Bidart, the old post office has been transformed into an "auberge autrement", thus continuing its vocation to create links! The Auberge Koskenia, named after the old watchtower, offers accommodation in cosy rooms and dormitories, a café-bar-restaurant with local flavours, a coworking space, a stage for shows and a village grocery store! Craft beer from Bayonne, pickles from Anglet or cherry jam from Ixtassou, you can fill up on energy, flavours and meetings with all those who keep the Basque way of life alive!
A Basque cocoon in Saint-Jean-de-Luz
Weaving links between the Basque inland and the Atlantic coast: that's the (successful) aim of Le Madison in Saint-Jean-de-Luz! Closed in 2011 after a century in business, this emblematic hotel in the corsair town has been completely renovated with the help of Jean-Vier, specialists in Basque fabrics. Stripes are the inspiration behind the design of the 32 rooms and suites, which have been conceived as cosy cocoons! The softness of the ocean, in blue and green, is also reflected in the decor of the brasserie with its local flavours and the cosy tea room. Between muxu and macaroons from the great houses of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, you can savour the flavours of the golden age of Luz!
At the Marquis de Cuevas' home in Biarritz
Stay in the villa of an authentic aristocrat in Biarritz? What better way to capture the soul of a city that has seduced so many royalty! A stone's throw from the Phare golf course, the former home of the Marquis de Cuevas now welcomes guests for a timeless holiday. An avid dancer, the whimsical Marquis, the 8th in his line, hosted a sumptuous 'Ball of the Century' at the Chiberta Golf Course in 1953, dressed in an extravagant costume by Pierre Balmain. The elegant rooms of this Art Deco inspired house are a reminder of this unprecedented splendour: 3 spacious bedrooms, a 54 m2 suite, and bright lounges where 1930s reminiscences mix with contemporary comforts.
Recommendations and advice Do you love the South West and its beaches? Whether you opt for a break close to the most prestigious or the most confidential beaches, the Aquitaine coast offers its guests the opportunity to recharge their batteries and enjoy a variety of leisure activities in exceptional locations. However, to make the most of your visit, have you thought about organising your break out of season? That way, you can avoid the rush of high season and benefit from the best prices. In addition, to ensure that you can enjoy these jewels for a long time to come, wherever possible, use a bicycle or public transport to get around the sites. That way, you'll be actively helping to preserve them. We wish you an excellent iodine bath!
Find out more
Also to be read - 6 dream beaches in the Basque Country and We're taking you to the land of stripes
By Anne-Claire Delorme
Globetrotting journalist anneclairedelorme@yahoo.fr
