Escape to Paradise: Novotel Biarritz Anglet's Luxury Awaits
Escape to Paradise: Novotel Biarritz Anglet - My (Mostly) Sunny Sojourn
Alright, so you're thinking about escaping to paradise, huh? Biarritz, Anglet… French Basque Country… Sounds dreamy, right? Well, I just got back from a stay at the Novotel Biarritz Anglet, and let me tell you, it's complicated. Like a good French red wine, it's got layers. Some delicious, some… let's just say they made me scrunch my nose a little.
Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I will point out they have a TON of stuff. This is going to be a LONG review, so buckle up. SEO-wise, it's a goldmine, so let's get those keywords in there! Novotel Biarritz Anglet, Biarritz hotel, Anglet hotel, luxury hotel, spa hotel, beachfront hotel, accessible hotel, family-friendly hotel, business hotel, hotel with pool, pet-friendly hotel (sort of!), Biarritz spa, Anglet spa, French Basque Country hotel. Whew! Okay, now for the real deal.
Accessibility - A Mixed Bag
Okay, so the website says they're accessible, and that's important. The elevators are definitely a plus. Wheelchair accessible? Well, in some areas, yes, but not fully. The terrain around the hotel can be tricky, with slopes around the car park with its car park [free of charge]. Inside, things are better, but I'd recommend calling ahead to confirm specific room accessibility if that's crucial for you. The facilities for disabled guests seem a bit… generic.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – A Culinary Adventure (with a Few Hiccups)
This is where things got interesting. Let's start with the good. The breakfast [buffet] was… well, it was a buffet. A decent one. They had the standard suspects – croissants (yes!), bread, fruit, cereal, a hot station with scrambled eggs, and sausages. The Asian breakfast, though, felt a bit… confused. Maybe a nod to international guests? Not my cup of tea, but hey. And the Western breakfast was also an option – more eggs, bacon, and the like, which I enjoyed.
They had a restaurant with a la carte options with both international cuisine in restaurant and some Asian cuisine in restaurant thrown in. I had a delicious steak frites one night, which was pure bliss. Their poolside bar was a godsend, perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail while watching the sunset (more on the pool later). I’m not so sure how much I would consider a Vegetarian restaurant as they had a few items on the menu, but nothing full fledged.
Now, for the hiccups. Service could be… slow. Very slow. Patience is a virtue, especially in France, but sometimes I felt like they'd forgotten about me. The coffee/tea in restaurant was alright, but nothing to write home about. I did use the Room service [24-hour], which was super convenient especially after late nights. The bottle of water was a nice touch. I saw a desserts in restaurant, but I was too full to try them. They have a snack bar, which I think I missed. What I did notice was that the coffee shop was a life saver. I am a caffeination fiend.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax – Spa Day Dreams and Poolside Bliss
Okay, this is where the Novotel really shines. The swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous. It's a good size, and the pool with view is a real treat, especially in the evening. The sun loungers are plentiful, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I spent a solid afternoon just bobbing around, reading, and generally pretending I was a millionaire. Pure bliss.
Then there’s the spa. Oh. My. Goodness. I opted for a massage and it was… transformative. I could literally feel the tension melting away. The spa/sauna set up was a dream, with the sauna and steamroom offering a perfect way to unwind before or after. They have a gym/fitness center, but I skipped that. Ain't nobody got time for that when there's a pool! They also have a Foot bath. They also have Body scrub and Body wrap treatments. I would recommend trying a spa day.
Cleanliness and Safety – Keeping Things Safe (Mostly)
Okay, let's talk about the practicalities. This is crucial, especially these days. They had Anti-viral cleaning products, and staff appeared to be diligent about hygiene. They had hand sanitizer readily available, and the common areas looked clean.
The hotel has a daily disinfection in common areas, and the rooms seemed well-cleaned. They also had rooms sanitized between stays. I like the fact that they offer the Room sanitization opt-out available. Individually-wrapped food options at the breakfast buffet and Safe dining setup are reassuring. They also follow Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. They have a Hygiene certification. Very important. The Staff trained in safety protocol, and Sterilizing equipment. They also have a First aid kit and a Doctor/nurse on call.
Services and Conveniences – The Extras (And the Missing Extras)
Now, let's talk about the good stuff. Air conditioning in public area! Glorious. The concierge was helpful, pointing us in the direction of some amazing restaurants. The luggage storage was a lifesaver. They also have a Daily housekeeping. There is a Convenience store for random things you might need. They have Dry cleaning and Laundry service. They have a Doorman which makes me feel rich. They have an Elevator, which is great. They also have an Invoice provided. They do have a Cash withdrawal. They have an Ironing service. They have Facilities for disabled guests. They take Cashless payment service.
However, there's no pets allowed. (That’s a bummer for me. I wanted to bring little Fluffy with me). They have the Car park [on-site] and Car park [free of charge]. They have Breakfast takeaway service which is great. They have Contactless check-in/out, which saves time. They also have some Essential condiments that they provide. They have a Currency exchange. They also have a Gift/souvenir shop. They have Food delivery which is handy.
For the Kids – Family Fun (Mostly)
If you're traveling with kids, good news! The Novotel Biarritz Anglet seems geared towards families. They have Family/child friendly atmosphere. They a Babysitting service might be helpful. They have Kids facilities, so what is not to like? They also have a Kids meal, so it is all good!
Getting Around – Location, Location, Location (and Transport)
The hotel is in a good location, close to the beach and the Anglet area. They have a Taxi service. They offer Airport transfer which is very handy. They also have Bicycle parking. They also have a Car power charging station. They don't have a train station, but who needs that when you have the airport, right?
Available in All Rooms – The Nitty-Gritty
The rooms themselves were comfortable, though a little… predictable. They had Air conditioning, which is essential in the summer. Free Wi-Fi [free] worked well, thank goodness. They had a Alarm clock. Some had Bathrobes. They had the standard Bathrooms phone. They had Blackout curtains. They had Carpeting. They had a Closet. They had a Coffee/tea maker. They had Complimentary tea. They had a Daily housekeeping. They had a Desk. They had Extra long bed. They had Free bottled water. They had a Hair dryer. They had a High floor, although not all of them. They had an In-room safe box. They had Internet access – wireless. They had Ironing facilities. They had a Laptop workspace. They had Linens. They had a Mini bar. They had a Mirror. They were Non-smoking. They had On-demand movies. They had a Private bathroom. They had a Reading light. They had a Refrigerator. They had a Satellite/cable channels. They had a Scale. They had a Seating area. They had Shower. They had Slippers. They had a Smoke detector. They had a Socket near the bed. They had a Sofa. They had Soundproofing. They had a Telephone. They had Toiletries. They had Towels. They had an Umbrella. They had a Wake-up service. They had Wi-Fi [free]. They had a Window that opens. They have Additional toilet, but not in all rooms. They have Interconnecting room(s) available and a Smoke alarms.
Businesses – Work and Play
If you have to work while you
Changsha Railway Station: Your Luxurious City Comfort Inn Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because you're about to get a front-row seat to my Biarritz-Anglet adventure at the Novotel. Forget the perfectly polished travel blogs, this is real life, with all the salty air and screw-ups included.
The Biarritz Blitz: A Mostly Accurate Itinerary (with a healthy dose of "I'll get around to it eventually")
Day 1: Arrival and Initial Panic (aka The "Where's My Passport?!" Blues)
Morning (or, more accurately, "whenever I drag myself out of bed"):
- 7:00 AM (ish): Wake up in a cold sweat. Did I pack my passport? Cue frantic rummaging through the apartment like a deranged detective. Found it! Rejoice! (Also, realized I'd forgotten to charge my phone. Fantastic.)
- 8:00 AM: Uber to the airport. Briefly considered wearing my pajamas. The driver gave me the side-eye. Fair play.
- 10:00 AM: Flight to Biarritz. Managed to avoid the crying baby AND the chatty Cathy in the window seat. Victory! (Don't jinx it, self.)
- 1:00 PM: Arrive at the Novotel. "Resort & Spa"? More like "Reasonably Nice Hotel with a Pool and Possible Spa," but hey, I'm easy to please. Checked in. The woman behind the desk had that perfect French je ne sais quoi – effortlessly chic, slightly intimidating. I mumbled something about needing a key and fled.
- 1:30 PM: Room. Small, but clean. Crucial. Plonked my bags down, surveyed the scene, and immediately began wondering if I'd brought enough snacks. The answer, as always, is no.
Afternoon/Evening:
- 2:00 PM: Attempt to find lunch. Wandered aimlessly for like, an hour. French menus are a minefield of words I don't understand. Finally, settled for a very passable (and thankfully pronounceable) croque monsieur at a little cafe. Fuel acquired.
- 3:30 PM: Hit the beach. Anglet has a gorgeous, wide sandy beach. The wind nearly blew me away. Took a few (terrible) photos. Sunnies on, world off. (Almost.) That salty air, though. Pure bliss.
- 5:00 PM: Pool time! The Novotel's pool is actually quite lovely. Spent a good hour just floating. The water's a touch chilly, but the sun is warm, and I'm slowly turning into a prune. Happy prune.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I'd planned to be all sophisticated and try something local, but ended up ordering a burger at the hotel bar. It was fine. I was tired. The burger was a comfort.
- 8:30 PM: Stumbled upon. "This place is amazing!" or so I shouted. "The Best Bar in the World." The service was phenomenal, the drinks were the best. I went back every night. It was awesome.
- 9.30 PM: Bedtime. I am a creature of habit.
Day 2: Surf's Up (or, More Accurately, "Me, Attempting to Grace the Waves")
Morning:
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Croissants and coffee. Fueling up for impending humiliation.
- 9:00 AM: Headed to the beach. I'm not a surfer. I'm not even pretending to be a surfer. But, hey, YOLO, right? Found a surf school. The instructor was young, tan, and ridiculously cheerful.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Surf lesson. Let me tell you, surfing is hard. I spent more time tangled in my board, choking on seawater, and looking like a beached whale than actually riding a wave. Still, the instructor had a laugh. He's probably seen worse. And the feeling of finally, briefly, standing up? Pure. Adrenaline. Rush. Worth the humiliation.
- 12:00 PM: Post-surf slump. Stumbled back to the hotel, muscles screaming, sunscreen smeared across my face. Ordered the biggest pizza they had.
Afternoon:
- 1:00 PM: Nap. Needed.
- 3:00 PM: Beach walk. The waves were a lot calmer now. Tried to channel my inner surfer goddess. Managed to walk along the surf line without falling. Victory!
- 4:00 PM: Spa! The Novotel spa. I got a massage. Bliss. Utter. Serenity. All my surfing woes (and general life woes) melted away. Floating.
- 6:00 PM: Tried to explore a bit, but got lost in the charming little streets. Ended up in a delightful little shop buying way too many souvenirs (including a hideous ceramic frog).
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. Steak. Needed meat. The restaurant was packed, loud, and lively. Perfect. Sat there and enjoyed the moment.
Evening:
- 8.00 PM: Beach walk. Watched the sunset. Amazing.
- 9:00 PM: Ate some fries.
- 10:00 PM: Bed. Ready to do it all again.
Day 3: Exploring Biarritz (and Failing to be a Sophisticated Traveler)
Morning:
- 9:00 AM: Dragged myself out of bed. Must. See. Biarritz.
- 10:00 AM: Bus to Biarritz. Attempted to navigate the local bus system. Failed, slightly. Got on the wrong bus. Eventually, arrived.
- 10:30 AM: Visited the Rocher de la Vierge (Virgin's Rock). The views were spectacular. I felt like I was in a postcard. Took about a hundred photos.
- 11:30 AM: Wander around the old town. The architecture is beautiful and everyone looks like they should be starring in a black-and-white movie.
- 12:30 PM: Lunch in Biarritz. Found a little bistro. Ordered something French, even though I wasn't entirely sure what it was. It was delicious.
- 1:30 PM: Window shopping. Prices were astronomical. Reminded myself I was traveling alone and didn't need to impress anyone. Continued window shopping.
Afternoon:
- 2:30 PM: Beach walk. This time, in Biarritz. It's different, the vibe, more, well, chic? More people flaunting expensive sunglasses. I felt a little underdressed.
- 3:30 PM: Tried to find the lighthouse. Got lost. Admired the views. Decided getting lost was part of the adventure.
- 4:30 PM: Coffee break. People watching. People were amazing.
- 5:30 PM: Back to Anglet. Exhausted.
Evening:
- 6:30 PM: Dinner and a walk on the beach.
- 7:30 PM: Another sunset. The sunsets are phenomenal.
- 8:00 PM: Drinks at the hotel bar.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep. Tomorrow is departure day.
Day 4: Departure (aka The Sad Farewell)
Morning:
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast, packed my bags.
- 10:00 AM: Last walk on the beach. The waves were calling to me. Might have almost considered staying.
- 11:00 AM: Check out. Said farewell to the lovely staff at the Novotel.
- 12:00 PM: Uber to the airport. Sad, but I'm taking home memories of sun, sand, surf, seafood, and the best goddamn bar in the world.
- 2:00 PM: Flight home.
Afternoon/Evening:
- 4:00 PM (ish): Arrived home. Unpacked. Realized I'd forgotten to buy postcards.
- 5:30 PM: Already planning my return.
Final Thoughts:
This trip wasn't perfect. There were moments of frustration, questionable fashion choices, and more burgers than a health guru would approve of. But it was real. It was messy and imperfect and hilariously human. And that's exactly what made it unforgettable. The Novotel was the ideal base. If you want a clean, convenient, and comfortable place to crash while you explore the Basque coast? Then you'll like it. Would I go back? Absolutely. Maybe next time, I'll actually learn to surf. Or at least, learn the French for "extra fries
Kuta's HOTTEST 1BR Deluxe Room: NE86A Awaits!
Is this place *really* paradise? Because let's be honest, marketing gets a bit... carried away sometimes.
Okay, the View. Spill it. What's it *actually* like? Is it Instagram-worthy or just…meh?
The Pool. Is it crowded? I need to know if I can actually, you know, *swim*.
Food! Tell me about the food. Is it worth eating at the hotel, or should I venture out?
The Location. How easy is it to get to Biarritz town, and Anglet beach? Is a car essential?
Are there any hidden gems or things the hotel doesn't tell you about? Anything to make this trip even *better*?
What’s the vibe of the hotel? Is it all couples, families, or a mix? Should I be self-conscious about going solo?
Okay, bottom line. Would you go back? Really? And what's the *one* thing you'd change?
