A holiday in Biarritz

Biarritz cuddles up a mere 18 kilometres from the Spanish border, seated beside the Bay of Biscay in the SW of France. It is situated in the department of 'Pyrénées-Atlantiques', which is one of the five departments that make up the region know as Aquitaine.

The town has long made a living from the sea. In earlier times it served as a whaling port, and then in the nineteenth century it first attained prominence as a health resort and spa town. Ozone from the sea has long been considered beneficial to the health, but in the case of Biarritz it was the sea itself that brought it to prominence. Health holidays in Biarritz centred around 'Thalasso therapy'. This uses seawater and the products from the sea such as seaweed to treat ailments in the human body. The benefits are great as seawater contains vital minerals and over a hundred chemical compounds that promote health and maintain balance. The spas disappeared for a while but now they are back with a vengeance. Pampering yourself is certainly one of the reasons for going on holiday in Biarritz. 'The London Times On Line' dubbed the town ' a surfing spa with elegance'. It is Europe's surfing capital, with big breakers rolling in from the notoriously choppy Bay of Biscay. It is a far cry from Newquay but for those aficionados of 'Baywatch' lessons can be had for about Euro 20.00 per hour.

The 'celebs' might have moved on to La Cote d'Azur, but Biarritz has a lot to recommend it. It was a dazzling destination in the mid-nineteenth century when the Empress Eugenie wife of Napoleon 111 built a Palace that she called 'Villa Eugenie'. It is still there on the north end of the Beach near the lighthouse. It is now' La Palais Hotel. 'Its wedding cake tiers in scarlet and cream' make it stand out. It was once the haunt of Frank Sinatra and Ernest Hemingway, and is today simply a wonderful place to stay when your holiday in Biarritz. Empress Eugenie gave Biarritz her stamp of approval so soon it became a watering place for many of the crowned heads of Europe. Queen Victoria holidayed there, as did her son Edward V11 and King Alfonso X111 of Spain was a frequent visitor. The 'Suite Edouard V11' in 'La Palais' is 152 square metres in area, which makes it larger than many of the apartments that can be bought or rented in the town. Oh, the guestroom has a spa bath and a Jacuzzi and I expect is a lot more expensive than the ordinary double rooms that cost out at about GBP 250.00 per night!

The restaurants in Biarritz are superb, and so after dinner you can stroll along to the Casino Barriere if you would like to try your luck at the tables, or the slots if the former are a little too racy. Then there is 'La Phare' golf course named after the 73-meter high lighthouse. It was built by British residents in 1888, and offers a stunning round beside the sea. All these are ingredients to make a holiday in Biarritz an unforgettable experience.

Some like it so much they have decided to stay. You can find a two bedroomed apartment, perhaps a little smaller than Edward V11's suite at 'La Palais Hotel' for about Euro 295,000. That works out at approximately GBP 200,00. Is that enough to tempt you to holiday in Biarritz?