Arguibel Review

The first thing that crosses your mind about Arguibel is just how quaint it looks, sitting up on its elevated grassy terrace, with its white and red colour scheme and shuttered windows. The second thing that strikes you, once you’ve crossed the threshold, is how entirely unlike the exterior and interiors are.

There’s not a hint of rustic rural anywhere to be seen in the hotel’s ground floor public areas; instead the place is a vision of sharp, designer-y cool. Chairs from Bertoia and Bokja (in trademark vibrant, almost psychedelic, patterns) sit alongside cool Arco floor lamps and Verner Panton tables, as well as vintage pieces like a row of cinema seats and plenty of excellent art on the walls. It’s all very bold, but it also works.

The style factor doesn’t lessen up in the five rooms. And neither does the owners’ apparent fondness for bright colours, with each having a shocking shade of its own – from turquoise and lime to orange and raspberry. Colour and decor aside, they deliver on everything they should do being spacious, comfortable and coming with a couple of nice complimentary techno touches, in the form of free WiFi and iPod docking stations. Each room has its own terrace (with lovely views of rolling pastures and mountains) while the roomy bathrooms range from slate grey to bright mosaics and black and white tiles and gleaming chrome.

In keeping with the general boutique B&B vibe that runs throughout the place there’s not a great deal in the way of facilities. In the evening there’s an honesty bar so you can pour yourself a drink and sit back in one of those super-cool chairs with a book from the library, or out on the terrace, to enjoy the cool night air.

Highs: 

- The views

- The iPod docking stations and free WiFi in the rooms

- The setting – it’s just a mile or so from the beach, but doesn’t suffer from a crowded coastal location

- Breakfast out on the terrace

- The friendly owners, Francois and Mariannick

Lows: 

- No restaurant or pool

Facilities & Important Info at Arguibel

Number of rooms: 5

Check-in/check-out times: 11am and 12noon (although they’re pretty flexible)

Room service: No. Although drinks can be brought up to the room

Swimming pool: No

Spa: No. But in-room massages can be arranged

Child-friendly: Yes. Despite the heavy design emphasis, children are welcome and as well as the extra beds, cots and bottle-preparing facilities available the suites are family-sized. There are also plenty of things to keep the whole family busy in the surrounding area, from learning to surf and playing on the beach to taking one of the hotel’s bikes out for the day.

Dogs welcome: No

Restaurant & bar: It’s breakfast only at Arguibel – but with local hams, cheeses and pastries served out on the terrace, it’s a cracker. To make up for the lack of a restaurant, nearby Guethary is foodie heaven. The hotel’s bar is staffed until 9pm, after which it becomes an honesty bar and you can just help yourself.

Location: Just 10 minutes’ drive from Biarritz with the huge beach at St Jean de Luz even closer to home. The neighbouring village of Guethary is charming and has several excellent cafes, bars and restaurants as well as a typical Sunday market.

Getting there: Rail Europe (raileurope.co.uk), has return fares from London to Biarritz (with the journey from Paris taking around five hours); EasyJet, Ryanair and Air France all fly to Biarritz from London Gatwick. Having arrived at Biarritz Airport there are plenty of car hire firms to choose from.