Hotel Villa Koegui Biarritz

Although black-and-white photos in the foyer capture images of “Old Biarritz,” there's nothing antiquated about this chic contemporary hotel. Inside, the neutral-toned common areas are sleek yet inviting; outside, the communal patio gives tradition a twist by including a funky little fountain and statues that are ironic rather than ornate. As a result, the place appeals to aesthetes who want to visit Biarritz without overdosing on the Belle Epoque. Couples also come, drawn by specialty add-ons like chilled Champagne and rose petals on the bed. Villa Koegui caters to families, too, by offering kid-centric equipment (think cribs, cots, high chairs, and bottle warmers) in upper-category rooms; childcare from a certified nanny can be arranged as well.  

Villa Koegui sits on a quiet residential street close to this seaside resort’s lively center. Because Biarritz as a whole is so compact, sightseeing guests can easily take in all of the top attractions on foot: even the outlying Phare de Biarritz lighthouse is less than a half-hour walk away. Those who prefer to bask on famous Basque beaches can stroll to the Grand Plage in two minutes or the Plage du Miramar in 15. Using the hotel as a base, drivers can also make day trips to popular French Basque destinations like Bayonne and St-Jean-de-Luz (a 16- and 26-minute drive respectively) or cross the border to San Sebastián, Spain (a 50-minute trip).

• Two-minute walk to Gare du Midi
• Two-minute walk to Jardin Public
• Seven-minute walk to the Grand Plage 
• Seven-minute walk to Casino Barriere
• Eight-minute walk to Place Bellevue
• Eight-minute walk to Place Ste-Eugénie 
• 11-minute walk to the Chapelle Imperiale 
• 12-minute walk to the Orthodox Church
• 15-minute walk to Plage du Miramar
• Seven-minute drive to SNCF Garre de Biarritz (16 minutes by public transport )
• Seven-minute drive to Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (13 minutes by public transport) 
• Eight-minute drive to the Phare de Biarritz lighthouse (21 minutes by public transport)

The sparsely furnished rooms at this intimate hotel are comfortable and cool in a streamlined way. From the walls to the quality bed linens, white dominates decor-wise with a few hits of color adding visual interest. Choices range from stylish little Classics (some with skylights) that are tucked under the eaves at the top of the building to a ground-floor suite with a separate bedroom, a pullout couch in the living room, and a large private patio. Only the suite contains tea/coffee-making equipment, but air-conditioning, safes, minibars, flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, and free Wi-Fi are standard issue in every category; ditto for the up-to-date tiled bathrooms, which have tubs or rainfall showers (the suite has both) plus welcome extras like magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, heated towel racks and individual toiletries. 

Despite this hotel’s pearl status, the features here are few. For instance, there’s no pool or fitness center (luckily beaches, golf courses, and hiking trails are all easily accessible). Nor is there a restaurant, though a breakfast spread complete with house-made pastries is offered daily at extra charge. This can be enjoyed in either the comfy library-lounge or the leafy oasis-like courtyard, which are Villa Koegui’s greatest assets. The former has an inviting fireplace plus a collection of books (many from the owner’s own bookstore in Bayonne), while the latter is furnished with loungers and accented by a stylish fountain. Other on-site features include a welcoming multilingual staff, concierge service, dry cleaning/laundry service, room service, add-on childcare, free newspapers in the common area, and free Wi-Fi throughout.