Biarritz, a posh surfing spot in South West France (Biarritz (France))

Member Name: meumeu77

Product:	Biarritz (France)
Date:	09/11/08 (137 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Stunning coastline, a chocolate museum, a sea museum

Disadvantages: May be too posh for some

Biarritz is a very classy town located in the French Basque country (South West of France) near Bayonne (see my other review on Bayonne) and Anglet.

Biarritz in Basque means "two rocks". You will easily notice those 2 huge rocks in the sea. A lighthouse ensures boats do not come too near the rocks.

Biarritz is a posh area with gorgeous listed buildings boarding the Atlantic Ocean. No matter what the weather, Biarritz is one of those places which will always look amazing.

It has a great Casino (you must wear smart dress as in most casinos) and 6 stunning beaches. La Grande Plage is the biggest and most famous one. If you prefer a smaller beach, head towards Le Port Vieux, which is better sheltered from the wind and much sought-after by families with young children.

Do not expect to eat/drink for cheap in Biarritz, it's nearly impossible. For that you'll have to head to the slightly less posh and more laidback Anglet beaches. And if you want even cheaper than Anglet, you'll have to head to Bayonne (but there are no beaches there).

The Hotel du Palais which was formerly the summer mansion of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenia (it is in the shape of an E in her honour) overlooks Biarritz's main beaches and the Atlantic beyond.
I would recommend it to anybody who's rich, which I'm not! I'm sure it's marvelous though.

Without breaking the bank, you can stroll along the beaches, walk through Le port des pecheurs, the most lovely fishermen's port and even stop there for a drink in one of the cafes (decent prices).

I'd recommend you head to the Rocher de la Vierge (the Virgin's Rock dedicated to the Virgin Mary as you will have guessed) and finish your visit with a trip to the Sea Museum ("Musee de la Mer").

If you fancy a bit of shopping, you may want to re-mortgage first! Ok, I am joking but there are a lot of upmarket boutiques. I'd advise you to head to the Planete Musee du Chocolat instead where you'll be able to find out about the History of Chocolate in Biarritz/Bayonne and best of all taste chocolate too.

I'd also highly recommend visiting the Imperial Chapel and the Orthodox Church.

If you are a sporty person, you will be able to enjoy surfing and golfing.

If you just want to treat yourself, head to one of the 4 spas. I personally recommend Les Thermes Marins as I found them friendly and professional all the way. I paid them a visit before getting married, spent a whole afternoon there and absolutely loved it.

I hope I didn't show Biarritz in a bad light. I do prefer Anglet and Bayonne as they are not so posh and I don't do posh. But I do love its monuments and landscape.

If you have a bit of money to spend, you won't regret it. Although there's always a way to visit it without spending much.

Oh and you can fly there for affordable prices with Ryanair from Stansted, Birmingham and Luton.

Summary: Definitely worth a go if you're in the area