Le Grand Hotel de la Plage

The hilltop location in Biscarrosse is amazing, with the sea views and plenty to do nearby. I stayed for three nights in August. The room was clean and modern, though only okay overall. Each afternoon when the kitchen got going, the air conditioning carried a fish smell into the room, which was unpleasant. There's a nice little pool, and most of the staff were friendly. Our last day and a half were spoiled by the manager's rude response when our group ate our own lunch outside our room. In hindsight, we shouldn't have done that, but a simple request not to eat outside food there would have been enough. Instead, he went way over the top in front of the kids. The restaurant was overpriced and its food wasn't suitable for them, but that didn't justify his behavior. It left me wondering whether the hotel wants guests to come back.

The location is what makes this hotel, with direct beach access, sea views, and the sound of waves coming through the open window at night. The room was clean and small, but cleverly laid out, and the terrace came with comfortable loungers and a sunshade. Staff were friendly and efficient. Breakfast was good, though the hot-plate food was cold. The restaurant was a letdown: the same limited menu every day, and it was overpriced. I found the hotel very expensive.

Our room was beautifully furnished and very clean, and the housekeeping team was efficient, pleasant, and thorough. Still, the hotel had several problems during our visit. Cliff erosion meant most outdoor spaces were restricted and the beach below couldn't be accessed. Some staff had a poor attitude when explaining the issue. The restaurant and bar were also closed for our first two days. That was very inconvenient, and there was no compensation.

We enjoyed the terrace and its lovely view of the Atlantic from the top of the dune. The beds were good and the room was quite nice. Breakfast was okay, though not special enough for the price. Even with four other tables occupied, the two bar staff took half an hour to bring us two drinks. We skipped lunch and dinner at the hotel, since several beach restaurants are only a few minutes' walk away and we prefer those. The gorgeous view is what you're paying for; the rest is fine, but without that view I'd consider it too expensive.