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Posts Tagged ‘self-catering’
A weekend in Le Crotoy at the Résidence de la Plage
Last month Pierre & Vacances customer Andy Parker visited Picardy for a weekend get-away. Check out his review of our Premium Résidence de la Plage, and the things to do in Le Crotoy and the surrounding area:
We recently took to the shores of North France for a stay at the Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence de la Plage in Le Crotoy, in the Bay of Somme (just an hour’s easy drive from Calais).
Le Crotoy is a pretty special place. A small town on the bay of the Somme, where Jules Verne wrote the majority of 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea whilst staying in the town, just a short drive from Abbeville. Being a fishing town there are several restaurants all serving fresh catches and we managed to visit the morning market to see what was available straight off the boat that morning.
Le Crotoy, Picardy
Only visiting for a weekend trip we decided to eat out both evenings, but had we stayed longer we would have been more than accommodated to cook my own local foods with the fish markets setting up when the trawlers come back in, an amazing butchers, grocers and patisserie all within walking distance of the apartment.
We stayed in a two bedroom apartment which could quite comfortably have slept up to six people because the sofas were also beds. The living space was ideal, the kitchen was fully kitted and exceptionally clean with the espresso machine and complimentary capsules a nice touch.
There were two bathrooms, one with a bath/shower and the downstairs a spacious shower, both were perfect after a long day walking along the coast line watching the wind and kite surfers.
The view from both the master bedroom and the living room/sun terrace were stunning, spanning all the way across the bay and up the coast line.
The view from Residence de la Plage
Being a cold November, we didn’t get an opportunity to dip into the outdoor pool but its location, facing over the waterfront, seemed ideal.
We took a trip to Abbeville which was no more than 20 minutes by car. The town has a wonderful high street with a strong mixture of high street brands and independent retailers (particularly the chocolatiers). The church in the centre of town has been restored several times throughout its history and information was available in English which helped with our lack of reading French!
There are several landmarks dotted around the town which we uncovered from exploring side streets which reflect how much devastation the town saw throughout 1914-1945.
Great War cemetary in Lebucquiere
Our final trip was to a discrete cemetery for those who served in the Great War in the village of Lebucquiere. Although we’ve never been to some of the larger memorials and cemeteries which are considerably closer to Crotoy, this one held personal interest to me.
It was a drive of several hours and we decided to utilise the toll roads. They really do put UK road services to shame! Yes you do have to pay (maximum journey was from Lebucquiere to Calais at 9 Euros) but they’re fast, direct and pretty empty at peak times.
My top tip - I had no problems with driving on the other side of the road, but remember to check your headlights before leaving to see if you should purchase headlight reverse stickers which make sure you’re not blinding on-coming traffic!
Visit Le Crotoy for yourself! Andy stayed at the self catering Pierre & Vacances Premium Résidence de la Plage in Le Crotoy, Picardy. Pierre & Vacances also has a wide range of self catering apartments around North Picardy, perfect for mountain-biking, hiking and horse-riding, as well as visiting the the Somme Bay and Compiègne forest for sports and bird watching.
October half term offers with Pierre & Vacances
This October we’re making family half term affordable for those after some last minute rays, with up to 20 per cent off self catering Pierre & Vacances accommodation in the south of France and Spain. Our family friendly accommodation along the Mediterranean coastline all have access to swimming pools and a range of activities, with prices starting from just £7 per person per night!
Pierre & Vacances Village Cap Esterel
This half term families can take advantage of the free kids clubs offered at Pierre & Vacances’ Resorts, the clubs are available for three to 18 year olds and provide a range of activities for all ages, such as sports tournaments and handicrafts. Our resorts also organise day excursions to local towns and markets, plus activities such as whale and dolphin watching boat trips in Spain.
Children at Pierre & Vacances’ Resorts kids club
Below are a number of discounted Pierre & Vacances family accommodation. All the examples are for week long stays from 22- 29 October. Enquiries and bookings can be made here or by ringing 0870 0267 145.
Pierre & Vacances Village Cap Esterel, South of France
A two bedroom sea view apartment sleeping up to seven people for a week’s holiday is reduced by 20 per cent to £695- that’s £14 per person per night.
The 210-hectare resort overlooks the Mediterranean and is perched on a red rock hillside. The resort is surrounded by a golf course and gardens and is just 30 minutes away from the white sandy beaches of Cannes. Facilities include three large swimming pools with wave machines, two children’s pools, a small farm, tennis courts and bicycle hire. Kid’s clubs are available.
And for a taste of what Cap Esterel has to offer, see a real family’s holiday diary here.
View of Ardèche
Pierre & Vacances’ Residence Bonavista de Bonmont, Catalonia
A two bedroom apartment sleeping up to seven people for a week’s holiday is reduced by 20 per cent to £346- that’s £7 per person per night.
Bonmont lies on Catalonia’s coastline and backs onto the prestigious Bonmont golf course and the famous vineyards of Priorat. Guests can enjoy the aquatic centre which has a heated swimming pool, relaxing jets, a hydro-massage mattress and Jacuzzi. There are special rates for all guests at the nearby golf course and those with adventure in mind can go quad biking or go carting. And for a cultural day drip, Barcelona is an hour and a half away.
Or for a holiday in the countryside …
Pierre & Vacances Village Le Rouret, Ardèche
A one bedroom apartment sleeping up to four people for a week’s holiday is reduced by 20 per cent to £364- that’s £13 per person per night.
Village Le Rouret is a 100-acre multi-activity resort, ideal for family holidays. Set in the Ardèche region with views over the valleys, the village has an aqua area with fountains, water rapids, a rubber ring river and a swimming pool, tennis courts, multi-sports courts, a mountain bike path, sauna and Jacuzzi. Offered nearby is canoeing, canyonning, paragliding, quad biking and go karting. Kid’s clubs are available.
Find out more about family activities to try in the Ardèche region here.
A family holiday to Cap Esterel
Cap Esterel, the flagship Pierre & Vacances Holiday Resort, has recently celebrated its 20th birthday. So Marketing Manager Nick thought it was about time for a visit, here’s the diary of his family holiday in the French Riveria:
The Pierre & Vacances Cap Esterel Holiday Resort is located in the beautiful Massif de L’Esterel National Park between Saint Raphael and Cannes.
Though the resort is under an hour from Nice airport, as our two kids are now both at paying age for flights, we elected to save money and drive and the low diesel costs in France also make this cheaper. But we didn’t need the car much as there’s loads to do on the resort, and the supermarket is more than adequate, the beaches are walkable and there is a train station nearby – what more do you need?!
So driving it was, and we had a great journey across the Channel with Seafrance – friendly staff, great kids play area and loads of room on the ferry! We took an overnight stop in Formule 1 in Chalons en Champagne, then 10 hours later we were at Cap Esterel!
Happy family in our holiday apartment
We were delighted with our apartment: newly refurbished with a bedroom for Granny, bunk beds for the kids (sharing for the first time!) and a sofa bed in the lounge for Mum and Dad. It was nicely decorated with pictures of the L’Esterel National Park and all the usual mod cons including dishwasher, kettle and even a teapot…….Granny was happy!
Cap Esterel teapot
We had amazing views of the med, and the supermarket, shops and bars were only a minute away. Plus we were so close to the swimming pool that when we heard the hourly announcement for the wave machine we could get our trunks on and get down there in time!
View from Cap Esterel apartment
The kids loved the main swimming pool’s wave machine and water slide, and when we wanted a longer swim we went to the upper infinity pool which was slightly warmer and with amazing sea views. We also took the train to the quieter Hameau area which has its own swimming pools and supermarket. There is a main pool (good for lengths) and a children’s pool on a large roof terrace area, also with, you guessed it, amazing views.
The Cap Esterel Train
Apart from the swimming pools the main attractions for the family were the train and local beaches. The train handily stops near the main children’s playground and is so popular that every time it arrives there is a mass-exodus from the playground! If you’re like our family you take the train just for the fun of it [up to 3 times a day!], but it’s also quite handy for getting around the Resort and travelling to the local beach at Dramonts. On Wednesdays the train also takes you to the lovely market at Agay.
Beautiful Agay Beach
We alternated between the beaches at Dramonts and Agay, both with their own advantages. Dramonts is a small and quiet pebble beach with beautiful clear water, while Agay is a larger sandier beach with a choice of restaurants, bars and shops nearby. There is a short cut from the train bridge at the bottom of Cap Esterel over the hills to join the Agay road. It’s probably a 30 minute walk and a bit difficult with buggies but worth the time saving if you like a bit of exercise. There is also a little beach on the main road opposite the entrance to Cap Esterel.
Fred playing on Agay beach
In the Resort itself there is more than enough to keep the kids occupied all holiday. The 9 hole golf course is well looked after, the lake is stunning and there are loads of water sports available. There is also tennis, football, and crazy golf – basically you name it they have it! My wife made good use of the fitness classes and the children’s clubs looked like lots of fun!
Live music at Cap Esterel
On Friday night there was live music in the main resort village area. This is an area above the main pool with the feel of a little tourist town and of course amazing views! There are about 10 restaurants, a lovely cafe with shop, bar and ice creams, plus take way pizza and rotisserie. All were good value with family offers and menu du jours. The ice creams became a favourite with the kids who worked their way through all the different flavours! And at the far side of this area is the L’Esterel hotel with its own swish restaurant.
As for ‘eating-in’, the on-site supermarket was fantastic with its own bakery, a selection of toys, a wide range of food at reasonable prices and even a special section for English customers missing their favourite ale or sauce! We didn’t bother going anywhere else.
All in all we had fantastic family holiday in Cap Esterel and can’t wait to return!
P&V: So chic – Girly weekend in Cannes!
This week we have a travel diary from Melissa Wood, who recently jetted off for a weekend in Cannes with her friend Laura.
“I’m a city girl through and through but lately, the big smoke had been getting to me. So- when my friend Laura proposed a girly weekend in France I couldn’t think of anything better. We went to Cannes for a weekend just before the festival started and decided to involve ourselves in all things chic…
Saturday
After a relatively easy (but early!) flight with Easyjet we arrived at Nice armed with our overpacked suitcases, big sunnies and a handful of French phrases. It was recommended to us that we get a bus from the airport to Cannes centre- and I’m glad we followed this advice. The bus terminal is the first thing you see, as you exit arrivals. For just 11 euros we managed to get a straight bus from Nice to Cannes (Hotel De Ville). The driver was friendly and actually helped us with our bags straight from the arrivals door.
Hotel De Ville is situated right next to Cannes Harbour and the main location when getting busses/taxis into town. This quickly became the hub of our stay. Buses depart here for local areas and cost just 1 Euro. There is also a taxi rank which always has at least five cabs waiting for pick up.
Thankfully we could get a bus straight to our apartment in La Bocca (Also known as ‘The Old Cannes’) within 15 minutes. Because of our cases we decided to plump for a taxi and this cost us 10 euros. We were staying at Pierre Vacances Cannes Beach in La Bocca- purely because if we stayed in town, we’d never go home and our main aim for the break was to find some time to relax!
We were really impressed with Cannes Beach, it’s a pretty big residence but it’s clean and has a very relaxed atmosphere. The receptionists are fine with our embarrassing attempts at French and were happy to speak English when we gave up. Our apartment was adorable, we had our own balcony overlooking the pool a little kitchen and dining area, a living room with 2 fold out beds, a double bedroom and a bathroom and toilet.
Self-catering is always better for girls like us. Yes we wanted a girly holiday, but we were on a budget. I’d also promised Laura I’d cook for her and was excited about showing off some of my cooking skills whilst we were there. By the way, I’ve now been christened The Omelette Queen!
The sun was blazing, so we decided to walk out of the other entrance, under the subway and onto the beach, which backs onto the residence. Our tip would be to use this route as a really pleasant walk into town but not as a place to sunbathe- the beaches towards Cannes are much more accessible, vibrant and have cute little stores to buy ice creams, crepes etc.
In a cab or by bus, you are 10 minutes away- but the walk to the harbour took us around 40 minutes. It was such a beautiful day and we weren’t in any rush.
Once there, we explored. We spoke to people who had boats, visited the tourism office, browsed the market in the square, walked around the cobbled streets and finally, decided we had better eat some lunch.
There are lots of lovely coffee shops and cafes overlooking Cannes Marina. Take note of which hotels also own the restaurant/beaches on the sea front. Nothing signifies a girly weekend like sitting on a beach in Cannes having a waiter serve you a cocktail! We visited a café which backed onto the market and decided to have some savoury crepes. The French know their food so this was a much-appreciated meal, and with drinks cost us 15 euros each.
It was early evening now, so we decided to walk back to La Bocca and pick up some supplies for our break. There weren’t any supermarkets in town, but there are three or four dotted along the bus route on the way back to La Bocca. We ended up at one with the most gorgeous range of cheeses. Forgetting our no-carb diets we filled up on essentials. All in all, our food for the next 4 days cost us just 40 euros.
Tip: Bus routes into La Bocca- I’d recommend route 1,2, 14 and 22. They are the quickest and all can be found at Hotel de Ville.
That night I cooked us a lovely chicken salad and we decided to stay in and chat and read on the balcony instead. Thankfully we remembered our Ipod speaker, and it provided nice background music as we relaxed. Cannes Beach is set up so that most rooms look over the swimming pools. There is also an outside eating/bar area where people seem to congregate. We popped down for a drink and met lots of people from all over the world- however; everyone seemed to be in town for the Festival- bar us!
Sunday
This was our day of exploring. We both wanted to get on a boat, so got up early and made it down to the dock. The Îles de Lérins are a fabulous side to Cannes. Filled with extreme beauty and history, both islands; Île Sainte-Marguerite and the Île Saint-Honorat make a great day out. From Cannes harbour you can also catch boats to Monaco and St Tropez- we would have loved to have visit if we had some more time.
St Marguerite is an area of “extreme beauty” and was also home to the Man in the Iron mask. We decided to visit Saint Honorat After being told its very serene, peaceful and full of old churches to explore. This is as far removed from London as you can get, and injected some culture into our chic visit.
After arriving, we walked around the island and stopped to explore little coves and bays which were relatively untouched.
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We walked round and explored old churches, chapels and a castle which we climbed to the top of the one so we could see Monastery- Laura was very amused to find that even Monks use solar panels!
We took in the views for a while and then decided to explore the churches more fully. We had been playing around the whole day, laughing and joking- but the “silence” rule in the monastery meant we had to explore calmly and we were glad, it made us take in the surroundings better.
We passed a few monks amongst the lush surroundings and they were so peaceful and happy- a model to us all!
We then explored the vineyards and decided to have the snacks we packed sitting amongst them. Chickens were running around, the sun was beating down and I was very, VERY happy. Then we made our way back to the restaurant where we had hot chocolates over looking the bay before we went back to the boat and the mainland.
We caught the bus back to the apartment to grab some dinner. I made an amazing omelette and salad in our kitchen and it set the evening off nicely. It was 5pm and the pool was empty, so we grabbed our bikinis, ran down and had a swim for a good hour or so. Once ready, we got a cab back into town.
There are plenty of bars and clubs in Cannes, depending on what you like from a night out. Jimmy’z is on the marina and seems like the biggest club- but that isn’t our thing. We just wanted to have a drink and chat to people. Because of the festival, there were so many people about. It was so funny to see the town magically transform over night- the shops, bars and restaurants are heaving with people from all over the world. I can imagine how kitsch the town is for the rest of the year, too.
Tip: for other girls is to venture up to Rue D’Antibes if you aren’t confident with your language skills the first day you arrive. There are a few English/Irish bars, which serve nicely for your first drink. This gives you a chance to practise your French and talk to the barmen who will also recommend other traditional places in the local area. All the drink was very well priced, but we are used to London prices so we are rarely shocked at a bar bill!
Monday
The next day we had a lovely breakfast overlooking the pool. We had friends who had flown in for the festival, and were staying just down the road at Villa Francia. We decided to meet them for lunch and were told to bring our swimming gear- we were glad we did! Situated in the hills above La Bocca, Villa Francia has the most gorgeous infinity pool, which looks right over the bay.
We ate lunch on the terrace and finally were dragged away from the gorgeous view because Laura wanted to explore La Croisette. This is the more uptown part along the coast, you will notice endless of amounts of designer stores such as Dior and Gucci, but the prices of the restaurants and cafes increase also.
We jumped on a bus again, and decided to take in the different hotels. Overnight Cannes had transformed into a Hollywood mecca. Paparazzi had begun to gather, the red carpet was being put up, hotels had film posters, cars with blacked out windows were cruising the streets, tents for the illustrious press conferences were being put up- it was an amazing sight.
It was during our walk I noticed the town is very accessible by foot, as you do not even realise how far you have walked. The town itself if beautiful with Artwork on buildings and artwork in sand, you are consistently entertained by small characteristics of the town. I think we were very lucky to experience the town both before and during the festival.
We decided to play tourist and spent some time on the walk of fame. We ventured down to the sandy and walked up as far as we could. Everyone was so friendly. We treated ourselves to a massive ice cream before heading back to the hotel for dinner and spent some time in the restaurant chatting to both staff and other customers. After venturing into town for a while, we went back to the apartment, absolutely shattered.
Tuesday
This was our last day, so I finished up the last of our supplies by creating a great breakfast. Laura popped to the markets in La Bocca to pick up fresh fruit and orange juices. We finally managed to shut Laura’s suitcase and made our way down to reception- the receptionist was really nice, our bags were taken into a room to be looked after for the day and she also asked the shuttle bus to wait for us.
Tip: During summer months (starting with the festival) there is a free bus into town, which saves on cab and bus far
es- the driver was so friendly and told us a few places to stop in at before we left.
Tuesday meant one thing for us- shopping! Normally I’m not brave enough to walk brazenly into designer shops back home, but we had so much fun exploring Dior, Gucci and the other shops. We spent a fair bit on clothes, but I also managed to stake out a few French shops where we could pick up a few summer items.
We hit the beach again, after making our way through the crowds.
Festival fever had really hit. We stopped at a pavement café and decided to people-watch for a while. Then we started on the souvenir hunt. Our driver had recommended a traditional sweet shop and a few film memorabilia stalls to pick presents from. The market was on again, and was filled with antiques and art- we made a few guilty purchases there, too.
We took a stroll around the marina and were amazed at the size of the boats after pausing to look at them in detail. Eventually we made our way back to Cannes Beach to grab our cases. We decided to leave a little earlier and save money on getting the bus back to the airport, where our flight was delayed, but we didn’t really matter because we were so content.
All in all, Cannes was exactly what we needed- the chance to be girly, cultured and relaxed in one swoop. I still can’t believe somewhere as beautiful as this is just 1 ½ hours away. We had the most glorious time. Choosing self-catering meant we had the time and money to indulge in French food and drink without breaking the budget.
La Bocca was so adorable. Full of bakeries, butchers, tiny bars and an exciting mix of people from all over the world- I’m glad we stayed here. La Croisette is a gals dream, and a great place to indulge for an afternoon- everyone likes to pretend they are in a fairy-tale, don’t they! Îles de Lérins- Never overlook these islands if you visit Cannes, those islands seem more magical than Gucci ever will!”
Where to stay
Melissa stayed at Pierre Vacances Cannes Beach, and flew in to Nice from Gatwick with Easyjet. Melissa also visited friends at the Pierre Vacances Villa Francia. Both properties are situated in La Bocca but PV-Holidays have many other properties in the Cannes/Nice area.
Save at least 22% on your next holiday with PV-Holidays by taking part in our Beat the Euro campaign. If you visit the website and enter the code: 8258, you can claim your discount. Great news for all is that the code can be used in conjunction with any summer holiday dates- which is ideal for any other girly mates, families or couples who want to visit France or Spain this summer.
Visit www.pv-holidays.com for more details.
Thanks for reading,
PV-Holidays
Pierre Vacances: Self catering and the city guide: Biarritz
As canny city break addicts are quickly discovering, the cheapest way to explore Europe’s finest cities is to check into a self-catering apartment.
Whether you’re escaping for a romantic weekend , or looking forward to a cultural tour , cooking up your own meals means you can easily cut down the cost of your trip.
Swapping an expensive hotel for a self-catering apartment doesn’t mean foregoing comfort or central locations. You’ll find a vast choice of clean, modern apartments in Paris to Rome, situated in the heart of the action.
And why not pack a glossy cookery book, forage in the markets for delicious local produce and whip up gourmet treats in the comfort and privacy of your own little home from home?
Each week, we’re featuring a city break destination with money-saving tips and the best self-catering apartment deals to ensure you get the most out of your hard-earned cash.
Biarritz on a budget
Dreaming of a city break destination with a beach? In a peachy part of France? On a budget? Forget snooty St Tropez and make your way to the infinitely cooler Biarritz for a heady mix of nightlife, beachcombing and, of course, surf culture – French style.
Situated on the Atlantic coast on the Bay of Biscay , this vibrant seaside town combines belle epoque grandeur with boho chic. While the beaches, elegant bars and smart hotels continue to seduce the rich and famous, this youthful town is now the European centre of upmarket surf action where barefoot and tousle- haired boys and girls rub shoulders with models and watersports-mad millionaires.
This surftastic playground is accessible to those on the most modest of budgets. Here’s how to get your place in the sun for less…
Getting to Biarritz
You can get to Biarritz by rail in under nine hours from the UK if you take the Eurostar train from London via Lille or Paris.
Or fly in with a low cost airline. Both easyJet and Ryanair fly to Biarritz with daily departures in high season. The Aéroport de Biarritz-Anglet-Bayonne is located just four kilometers from the city centre.
Beach life
Biarritz boasts some of the best beaches in Europe and has won multiple awards for cleanliness and top ocean front facilities.
Beachcombing is free! Explore the vast swathes of sandy beaches from Grande Plage to the Plage Miramar – the hubs for top people watching and sunbathing action. Picnic in the sheltered coves of little Plage du Port Vieux and watch the sun go down with a cold beer at the Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin’s Rock), which is floodlit at night.
The depths of the Bay of Biscay outside Biarritz form a “wave funnel”, enabling surfing here all year round. For a ringside view of surf action, head to the Cote de Basques beach, situated in town. It was this beach with its colossal breakers which spawned European surfing culture, and it now plays host to the annual Biarritz Surf Festival in July.
Grand Plage also has powerful waves breaking right in front of the town centre. This is where the Biarritz Surf Trophy is held in October every year.
The beaches of Ilbaritz – Marbella, Bora Bora and Edouard VII – are located south of the town centre, and Anglet, to the north of Biarrit, is where you’ll find the beaches of Les Sables d’Or, L’Ocean, La Madrague, Marinella and Les Corsaires. Good peaks break at all points between the jetties that separate these beaches.
If you fancy learning to surf and can’t persuade a salty local to show you the ropes, the École du Surf (102 rue Pierre de Chevigné, 05 59 23 15 31, Surftraining.com offers affordable one-hour lessons in addition to its celebrated week-long courses.
City tour of Biarritz
The town’s architecture is a visual feast. As you stroll around you’ll discover a blend of gabled Basque houses and art deco villas.
To get your bearings, take a walk from the Côte des Basques and follow the winding trail to Port-Vieux. Then cross the footbridge to the Virgin Rock, named after its statue of the Virgin Mary, and climb up to the Atalaye Plateau for panoramic views across the town and beaches and the old seamen’s huts on the Fishermen’s Harbour.
Museums in Biarritz
On rainy days, or if you simply crave a break from the sun, there are plenty of cultural havens to explore.
At the sweet smelling Musée du Chocolat (avenue Beau Rivage, 05 59 41 54 64) you’ll not only learn about the history of Basque cocoa production but get to sample a generous selection of the fruits of the bean.
If you’ve got little ones in tow, come and meet the sealife at The Musée de la Mer (esplanade du Rocher de la Vierge, 05 59 22 33 34, www.museedelamer.com). Time your visit for either 10.30 am or 5pm and you can watch the keepers feed the hungry resident turtles and seals.
Discover the city’s illustrious past at the Musée Historique de Biarritz (rue Broquedis). Housed in the former Anglican church, this little museum features a memorial to the fallen officers at the French Napoleonic wars.
Markets in Biarrtiz
Rub shoulders with the locals and fill you baskets with Basque delights at the bustling covered market, Les Halles. The market is open every morning and local ham, chorizo, breads and luscious fruits and vegetables are among the rich pickings.
Also buy a bottle or two of chilled wine or cider. Shop well in the market for fresh produce and the supermarkets for staples and you can create delicious breakfasts, picnic lunches and dinners at a fraction of the cost of dining out.
Eating Out
When you don’t feel like cooking and want a treat, tapas bars and cafes are the cheapest options but that doesn’t mean you’ll miss out. Sample Basque specialities such as piperade (ham and peppers), chipirons (baby squid), spicy meatballs and potatoes washed down with cider.
For a big treat, the fish restaurant Le Corsaire (00 33 5 59 24 63 72), situated at the Port des Pêcheurs ,is a local institution and guaranteed to impress.
Nightlife
Kick off the evening at the Café de la Grande Plage situated on the beach-level floor of the Casino, and you’ll get one of the best sunset views included in the price of the cocktails. The Old Port offers a wealth of buzzing watering holes and affordable tapas bars. The surfing fraternity convenes in the bars on rue Mazagran.
Local treats
Saunter around like a local in a pair of espadrilles – one of the traditional crafts that will actually come in handy for just a few Euros.
You may or may not be excited to learn the Basque town is also famed for its high quality table linen but everyone loves the chocolate. The region produces some especially delicious chocolate and there are plenty of chocolate shops crammed into the town. Patxaran (a liqueur made from aniseed, wild prunes and vanilla) is also a local must-try.
Accommodation in Biarritz
Pierre & Vacances has a selection of affordable self-catering apartments close to the top beaches, including Pierre Vacances Haguna Residence (17 avenue de la Reine Victoria), which offers a choice of self-catering studios and one-bedroom apartments.
All apartments offer a great base for visitors looking to soak up the city’s charms on a budget. Each apartment has its own fully-equipped kitchen, and comfortable living accommodation within easy reach of the beaches, cultural attractions and nightlife.
Hot offer
Apartments costs from just 290 Euro per week and short breaks (minimum two nights) are also available. For latest deals, visit www.pv-holidays.com
