Hotel The Originals Biarritz Aeroport Amarys

Amarys Inter Hotel Biarritz is a functional budget airport hotel, and with that comes a lack of style and atmosphere. It’s a low-rise motel-style building with a chalet-like exterior. Inside, functionality takes priority over style, with rooms and the restaurant done in a predominantly brown and beige decor, and lots of wood-effect furniture. The hotel attracts leisure travelers stopping over ahead of an onward flight or crossing the border into Spain. It’s a clean and relatively quiet base for a one-night stay. It’s also useful for business travelers -- the hotel has a seminar room and is opposite the Centre International d'Affaires. 

Amarys Inter Hotel Biarritz sits in an industrial estate off the main boulevard (Marcel Dassault Aeroport) that leads to Biarritz Pays Basque airport. The hotel has its own large plot thanks to the extensive parking area, so its neighbors -- which include a golf shop -- aren’t too close. The Centre International d'Affaires is opposite the hotel. It’s just a five-minute walk to Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (many guests choose to make the walk), or a two-minute drive. Biarritz’s main tourist attractions -- including La Grande Plage, Casino Barriere, and Phare de Biarritz lighthouse -- are all a 10- to 15-minute drive or bus journey away. There's a bus stop within a couple minutes on foot.

Simple, sound-proofed, motel-style rooms are a small 170 square feet (16 square meters) and have neutral decor with unstylish teal- and brown-striped fabrics. All rooms have double or twin beds, a TV, desk, clothes rail, and free Wi-Fi, and look out to the parking lot and some greenery. Rooms have a fan but no air-conditioning -- something that’s worth bearing in mind in warmer months. Basic bathrooms are typical of budget chain hotels; most have a shower/tub combo (with shower curtain) and a hairdryer. Rooms adapted for guests with reduced mobility are on the ground floor and have a walk-in shower. Some rooms have a slightly nicer bathroom color scheme than others -- blue and white tiles versus brown and white. The only benefit of choosing a Superior Room over a Standard Room is that Superior Rooms come with coffee-and tea-making facilities and include free mineral water. Access to the rooms is external; stairs and passageways sit along the hotel's exterior. Despite the proximity to the road and airport, most guests note that rooms stay relatively quiet. 

For travelers simply using the hotel as a place to sleep ahead of an onward journey, the large restaurant is a handy feature. Like the rooms, it’s a functional space with little atmosphere. Decor-wise, think red feature walls, resin wicker chairs, a few booths, and potted plants. There’s a small bar in the corner of the restaurant. Guests can also dine outside on the terrace, which fronts a lawn. Breakfast (at a fee) starts early to accommodate travelers with early departures. The restaurant serves fresh local produce from the Basque Country, and the dishes offered at lunch and dinner get good reviews from previous guests. Room service is also available. Wi-Fi is free, as is parking -- there’s a large parking lot with plenty of spaces. For business travelers, there’s a 375-square-foot (35-meter-square) seminar room.