Les Hortensias du Lac

For those who want to experience a French beach town in a beautiful setting, I would recommend Les Hortensias du Lac. Hossegor, just north of the more famous resorts of Biarritz and St. Jean de Luz, has a wonderful relaxed atmosphere of people enjoying the outdoors. Les Hortensias is idyllically located outside town, only 300 meters from the sea, on a hillside looking through towering pines to a lake. The main building faces directly onto the lake and here you find the reception and a very pleasing and restful guest living room with a clustering of off-white sofas set on beige and white throw rugs in front of large picture windows, which frame a beautiful water view. Below the living room, with an equally lovely view, is the breakfast room where a lavish breakfast buffet is left out until the decadent hour of noon—just one of many ways Patrick ensures his guests a relaxing and enjoyable stay. While a few guestrooms are located in the main building, most are found in a group of two-story cottages and all were recently renovated for extra comfort. The rooms are all nicely furnished, and vary most dramatically as to whether or not they enjoy a lake view. I would definitely request a water view (cottage rooms 20 to 25 and 30 to 35) as it is the setting that makes this place so special.