Hotel Atlanthal

There aren’t any other food or shopping outlets in the area, and the beach cafe was closed during our visit. We spent five days here out of season, and the hotel met our needs. It’s in a quiet, leafy residential area right by the beach. Locals use the sports and leisure facilities at this hotel and the neighbouring one, and there’s a good full programme of activities. We took cheap local buses to Bayonne and Biarritz, then explored on foot.

The rooms are a good size, the air conditioning worked great, and the shower was amazing. There were enough power outlets, and the wifi was easy to connect to and use. It’s walking distance to the beach, with a great seawater pool, and only a short bike ride from the centre of Biarritz. Outstanding hotel, with super comfortable rooms and staff who were very service oriented.

The place felt overpriced, overcrowded, and had no views. There’s an old bathhouse for older people downstairs and an equally old gym upstairs. At the counter, a stereotypically rude French man greeted us, Jean Marc or Jean Michel. I can’t imagine what it’s like in summer. This place would go out of business in London. The bar is set very low here. Don’t be fooled, go somewhere else.

The fresh air and long beach walks helped me reconnect with myself after months of chemotherapy. The baths and exercise, together with an expert Shiatsu therapist, did me a world of good. One problem, though: I couldn’t find anything healthy without shellfish, and I’m allergic!