Emeraude des Bois

The dinners were fantastic and great value, and the hotel is right by the cycle lane, with easy access to the beaches. Our hosts and their staff were so welcoming. I asked about renting a bike and one was brought out for me to borrow almost straight away. We had a really good four-night stay. It may be a two-star hotel, but it felt like much more.

We stayed in the treehouse and were amazed by how spacious it was and how nicely the interior was done. There’s lots of wood throughout, including most of the furniture. The bathroom is modern and excellent, though the ladder down to the second bedroom beside its door is very steep, so take care. The terrace sits 12 metres up and has great views. The steps up aren’t steep, and there’s a rope ladder for the kids. The hosts were lovely and helped us with what we needed. The hotel rents bikes for the ride to the beach, about 5-10 minutes away. The restaurant serves excellent local food at low prices. We first paid 244€ a night, which felt expensive, but on our return they offered us 150€ a night with breakfast included without us asking. Great place in the Bordeaux - Biarritz area. We’re looking forward to coming back a second time.

We barely slept. The room was hot and humid, and with the windows wide open we got bitten all over. When we told the family running the hotel, they said we should have asked for a fan. We tried several times, but from our 11am check-in onward, we didn’t see anyone at reception all day, including during the stated opening hours. It’s a basic hotel, and I’d have rated it three stars otherwise. I felt the owners could have anticipated the problem based on the room they gave us.

The photos don’t do the interior design details justice. Fedoua and Pierre Aupetit were excellent hosts, and the restaurant was excellent too. Stunning hotel. Our visit was far too short, and I’m looking forward to returning.