Residence Arcachon, Arcachon, Apartment for 4 Persons

Scandinavian prison-like interiors, poor service, and an exorbitant price. In summer, expect noisy nights and mornings from heavy street traffic, while the rooms get hot with no air-conditioning or fans.

Groovy.

We spent over 10 days here as a family in August 2024. The location is ideal, with direct beach access and an Aldi nearby that has very good prices. There’s also a small, secure courtyard with a ping-pong table and sun loungers, where the children could make friends with others at the residence. The welcome was disappointing. The residence manager came across as unprofessional, easily annoyed, and sometimes unpleasant, which didn’t leave a good impression of VVF. Parking was difficult too: there aren’t enough spaces, so if you arrive late you often have to park far away or use paid parking. The manager offered no solution and got irritated when we raised it. The accommodation is aging, and we found several problems on arrival: faulty shutters, a bathroom faucet that didn’t work, and a broken door handle. Cleanliness also fell short. The kitchen was dirty, with shrimp remnants on the dishes, a grimy oven, and crumbs around the microwave and on the ceramic hob. Bring a sponge and bleach if you want to clean thoroughly. The value is clearly poor in high season, when it’s very, very expensive for what you get. In low season it’s acceptable.

We paid €1500 per week and expected the studio to have better amenities. I’ve attached a photo of the frying pan. The studio itself was clean and as described. The residence is well located, though getting directly to the beach isn’t straightforward. There’s private parking in the basement.